BURMA NEWS INTERNATIONAL

 

22 November 2004

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(1) India On Track for Railway Link with Vietnam through Burma

(2) Suu Kyi's Party Welcomes Burma Junta's Move

(3) Army set to move command from Rangoon

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India On Track for Railway Link with Vietnam through Burma

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Surajit Khaund/Mizzima News

November 21, 2004

 

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said the present government

has embarked on a plan to connect railway links with Vietnam through

Burma to have better connection with the Asean countries.

 

"With the growing economy, we should look beyond the East in a bid to

increase our business growth,"  he said, at the ceremony of laying the

foundation stone of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line Nov. 20.

 

He asked help from the Manipur government to carry forward

developmental activities. The nearly 100-km railway line would link

with Burma.

 

The ceremony, which was attended by Indian Railway Minister Laloo

Prasad Yadav, asserted that the Indian Government committed to upgrade

the present communication system between North East India and the

bordering areas of Burma.

 

He said that, according to the plan, the railway connection with

Vietnam would be completed by 2020.

 

"We are committed to finish the projects as per schedule, for which we

seek cooperation from our neighbouring countries," the railway

minister said. He also asked the militants operating in the region to

shun the path of violence in the greater interest of the people.

 

CAR Rally:  A big Burmese team has arrived in Guwahati, capital of

Assam, to participate in the India-ASEAN car rally to be flagged off

by the Prime Minister Singh.

 

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Suu Kyi's Party Welcomes Burma Junta's Move

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Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

20 September 2004

2: 15 P.M

 

Burma's main opposition party National League for Democracy has

welcomed the release of some political prisoners by the military,

according to the party statement issued Nov. 20.

 

"... to realize inappropriate manner and to correct it is an honor for

the country and therefore we welcome the move. It is a sign of

positive engagement," said the statement read by an official of the

NLD headquarters, located on west Shwegondine street in Bahan township

in Rangoon.

 

The statement also urges the government to continue the release of

other political prisoners.

 

"We believe that the government would release all prisoners without

any discrimination among them, including prisoners of conscience," it

stated.

 

But party leader Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy are

still under house arrest.

 

The state-run media announced Nov. 18 that 3,937 prisoners would be

set free because it is considered that they were inappropriately

arrested by the National Intelligence Bureau that was dissolved by the

regime in October.

 

The release of over 600 prisoners from prisons around Burma Nov. 19

included only 22 political prisoners.

 

Amnesty International's 2004 report estimated that there are over

1,350 political prisoners in Burma. But the military junta had never

admitted to holding political prisoners.

 

The statement also encourages the released political prisoners,

saying, "the reason they had been detained is because of their belief

for democracy and human rights in Burma. Therefore the National League

for Democracy encourage those released political prisoners to continue

without frailty to stand on to their beliefs."

 

According to reports the afternoon of Nov. 20, fervent families and

well-wishers of the political prisoners are gathered in front of

Insein prison in Rangoon, waiting for the release. Foreign journalists

and photographers were also present.

 

Veteran journalist U Win Tin was rumored to have been released Nov.

19, and the family of Dr. Than Nyein, a senior NLD member, was told to

wait at home and was assured that authorities would safely bring them

home if they are released.

 

Many rejoiced and were filled with delight at the release of student

leader Ko Min Ko Naing, who was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to a 20-

year prison term.

 

The Junta's unexpected move came as a surprise, and signs were shown

of people's expectation for them to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as

well.

 

"They should also release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, so that

there will be someone who can negotiate," NLD party spokesman U Lwin

told Mizzima News.

 

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Army set to move command from Rangoon

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21 November 2004

Shan Herald Agency for News

 

Gen. Thura Shwe Mann, Joint Chief of Staff of Burma's Armed Forces, is

making preparations to transfer the War Office to Pyinmana, 244 miles

north of Rangoon soon, according to a source close to the military,

writes Hawkeye from the border:

 

No details are available, but the report agrees with a short article

contained in News on Burma (http://www.democratic-burma.com/), an

online daily newspaper published by the opposition Nov. 10 that spoke

of ongoing creation of a new town near Pyinmana.

 

A number of construction firms including Asia World of former druglord

Law Hsinghan, Olympic of U Aik Htun, and Htoo of Quartermaster General

Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo are involved in the project, it says.

Construction of the military installations, on the other hand, are

being handled by the Army's engineering corps.

 

Pyinmana is located roughly halfway between Rangoon and Mandalay

further north, and some 50 miles southwest of Panglawng, a town on

Shan State's southwestern rim. A road had already been built to

connect Pyinmana with the railroad in Panglawng that continues to

Taunggyi, the Shan capital, 82 miles further.

 

Pyinmana is known by Shans as Piang-mark-na, Plain of Myrobalan Fruit

(terminalia bellerica). It was an important way station for Shan

bullock caravans travelling between the Shan hills and Rangoon

centuries ago.

 

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Burma News International is a network of nine exiled media groups

such as Mizzima News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Kao Wao News Group,

Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara News, Kaladan Press Network,

Independent Mon News Agency, Karenni Information

Network Group and Network Media Group.

 

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