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Burmese
soldiers looted Arakan village in Indian border
Aizawl, June 26, 2001
Mizzima News Group
Burmese soldiers crossed the international
border and looted an Arakan refugee village situated in Mizoram
State of India last month, reports reaching Aizawl today said.
On May 18, six soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion No. 20
based at Myeit Wa village in Burma's border entered into Indian
territory and looted valuables from villagers living at
Hmawngbuchhuah village in Chhimtuipui District in Mizoram State.
About two hundred Arakan refugees are living in the village,
which is located across the border in India side.
After entering into the village, the Burmese soldiers beat the
refugee villagers and took away valuables and food including a
VCP, Indian rupee 1700, and some fish-cans, chickens and a
cassette.
Hmawngbuchhuah is an Arakan village established after 1990 when
the Arakan refugees left their villages in Chin State and Arakan
State of Burma due to forced porter and tax-collection by the
Burmese army units. The transport and communication from the
village to the nearest town of Lawngtlai in southern part of
Mizoram is difficult due to the porous terrain. The villagers
complained that Burmese soldiers often intruded into the Indian
territory and looted whatever they could see in the villages.
There are four Arakan refugee villages in the area along the
border.
Source: Mizzima News Group, June 26, 2001
TOP
Myanmar
Takes Measures to Tackle Power Shortage Problem
by Duan Tingchang
June 25, 2001
YANGON, Jun 26, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The
shortage of electric power is a major difficult problem which
the Myanmar government has long been facing. It has not only
restrained the country's economic development but also brought
about extreme inconvenience with people's daily life.
After taking over the state power on September
18, 1988, the Myanmar military government took various measures
in tackling the electric power shortage problem and made certain
achievements.
The main measures taken by the Myanmar
government to solve this problem are as follows:
Firstly, breaking
the monopoly of the state on electric power industry, permitting
and encouraging cooperatives and private enterprises to engage
in the exploitation of electric power resources to appropriate
scale.
For a long
duration, Myanmar's electric power industry was entirely
monopolized by the state, thus hindering the development of the
industry to some extent.
The Myanmar
government introduced in 1994 a policy permitting cooperatives
and private entrepreneurs to build small-sized hydropower
stations in places where conditions suit.
The policy grants
the cooperatives to set up such small hydropower stations of a
capacity up to 750 kilowatts (kw) and the private entrepreneurs
to establish such stations of a capacity up to 3,000 kw.
Although the
policy limits the sizes and scales of hydropower stations built
by the two sectors, it has still made a major step forward
compared with the past.
Secondly,
strengthening cooperation with foreign countries in the
exploitation of electric power.
In October 1998,
the Yunnan Machinery Equipment Import and Export Corporation of
China and the state-run Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE)
signed a contract on building in Myanmar's northern Mandalay
division the Paunglaung hydropower plant which has an installed
generating capacity of up to 280 megawatts (mw).
This major
project, now under implementation, is expected to solve 25
percent of the country's domestic power consumption on
completion.
In November 1998,
China International Trust and Investment Corporation and the
MEPE endorsed another contract on the implementation of the
Thanphanseik hydropower station in Myanmar's northwestern
Sagaing division and the Mone power station in southwestern
Magway division.
The installed
generating capacity of the two small hydropower plants are
respectively 30 mw and 75 mw.
In addition, the
Japanese government announced in early May this year that due to
failure of maintenance of the Lawpyita hydropower station, built
for Myanmar by Japan in the 1960s, and outdated equipment, the
Japanese government plans to extend 3.5 billion yens ( 28.6
million U.S. dollars) of aid to Myanmar to be used as
maintenance cost for the station.
Thirdly, Raising
highly the electricity charges. Since February 1999, Myanmar has
raised highly the electricity charges, introducing a system of
collecting the charges in sections, that is 2.5 Kyats per unit
if monthly consumption is within 50 units, while 10 kyats per
unit if between 51 and 200 units and 25 kyats per unit if over
200 units.
Meanwhile,
electricity charges for industrial use rose the sharpest with 30
Kyats per unit.
According to the
figures published by Myanmar's Central Statistical Organization,
as of 2000, the installed generating capacity of the MEPE came
to 1,172 mw, an increase of 509 mw or 43.4 percent from 1988. Of
them, that of natural gas power plants rose 255 mw, while that
of steam power ones 143 mw and that of hydropower ones 111 mw.
Meanwhile, the
MEPE's electric power generated in 2000 was 5.028 billion
kilowatt-hours (kwh), up 55 percent compared with 2.226 kwh 13
years ago.
Although Myanmar
made some achievements in easing the tension of electricity
shortage, but as the country's economy develops, the demand also
increases accordingly.
It can be said
that Myanmar's present generated power is far from meeting the
domestic demand, thus restricting to a large extent Myanmar's
economic development.
Source: PMA Online, June 26, 2001
TOP
AIDS Is
Rampant in Myanmar
Monday June 25 6:48 PM ET
By STEVE GUTTERMAN,
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Shunned by a repressive military
junta and shut out by their own fearful communities, AIDS (news
- websites)
-stricken people in Myanmar are dying in numbers that
researchers say may be more than 50 times higher than official
figures.
In a country where information is so tightly
controlled that an unlicensed fax machine can land you in jail,
the extent of Myanmar's HIV (news
- web
sites) crisis has until recently been withheld, both from
the outside world and from many of the people it is killing.
``The problem with this epidemic has been the
tremendous difficulty in getting a handle on what is really
going on,'' said Chris Beyrer, an American researcher who
directs an AIDS program at the Johns Hopkins University School
of Hygiene and Public Health.
Beyrer presented a study suggesting 687,000
adults in Myanmar were living with AIDS in 1999 - or nearly 3.5
percent of the population, a rate worse than any other nation in
Asia except Cambodia, where about 4 percent are infected.
Beyrer - one of three panelists who discussed
the epidemic as part of the U.N. session on AIDS - said the
survey did not include an estimated 1.4 million drug users who
may have been infected through needle-sharing and would make
Myanmar's case the worst in Asia.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, reported 802 AIDS
deaths in 1999. But the United Nations (news
- web
sites) estimated the death toll was 48,000 - a number Beyrer
said was probably closer to the actual figure.
Worse, the panelists said, many who contract HIV
don't know what it is. And most go untreated in a health care
system destroyed by military leaders who spend more of their
budget on defense than any other country in the area.
``The response has been grossly inadequate,''
Beyrer said.
Than Htung, a former doctor in Myanmar who went
into exile when the junta took power in 1988 and now speaks for
the exiled government at the United Nations, said the country's
military leaders have been reluctant to acknowledge the AIDS
crisis.
Ignoring the extent of the epidemic ``is a
justification to hold onto power,'' he said. ``They are really
reluctant to say that situation is worsening.''
Panelists said the regime must tackle the
disease by resurrecting the health care system, educating
citizens and opening up the country to aid workers.
``These are the people who seized power. This
has happened on their watch, and it is their responsibility to
address it,'' Beyrer said of the junta. He said the ability of
foreign aid groups to work inside Myanmar ``is still very
limited.''
Therese Caouette, a panelist who has worked with
refugees and migrants fleeing violence and political repression
in Myanmar, said ethnic minorities in the diverse nation are cut
off from what little information and care there is to be found
for infected people.
In many cases, people suffering symptoms of AIDS
will be shunned by fearful neighbors who do not understand the
disease. Sometimes communities will isolate victims by building
huts on their fringes, she said.
Source: AP, June 25, 2001
TOP
Burmese
government cracks down rice smuggling
Dhaka, June 20, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
Since May this year, the authorities in Arakan
State of Burma have
increased their crack down on the rice smuggling across to
Bangladesh and as a result there is a halt in rice smuggling
which was otherwise a booming business for traders in this
western part of the country.
The Na Sa Ka (Burmese border security forces)
have given a stern warning to the traders in Burma side not to
smuggle rice to Bangladesh and an order has been reportedly
given to the security forces to shoot anyone found with the rice
smuggling in the Bay of Bengal.
Due to the crack down on rice smuggling, no
smuggling boat carrying rice from Burma reaches to Bangladesh
side, reports from Teknaf border town in Bangladesh suggest.
Not less than ten smuggling boats, which carry
about 1,500 rice bags each, used to reach Teknaf town everyday.
These boats carried rice from Irrawaddy and Arakan State of
Burma.
However, the traders continue to smuggle other
commodities such as onion, mangoes, spices, beetle nuts, wood,
cane, etc. to Bangladesh after bribing the police and
intelligence personnel in Burma side. "The bribe money is
between 50,000 to one lakh kyat for a boat", said an
Arakanese trader.
The government in Burma tightly controls rice
export. The government statistics show that it plans to increase
rice export up to 300,000 metric tons in this year. It shipped a
total of 110,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade last year,
mainly to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, in Arakan State, price of rice has
been increased double since May from 2,000 kyat to 4,000 kyat
for a bag of 25 percent broken rice grade.
Source: MN group, June 20, 2001
TOP
OIC
Condemns Criminal Acts Against Muslims in Burma VOA News
19 Jun 2001 22:23 UTC
The Organization of the Islamic Conference, or
OIC, has condemned what it calls criminal acts against Muslims
in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
In a press statement issued in the Saudi city of
Jeddah, OIC Secretary General Abdelouahed Belkeziz said
extremist Buddhists have killed women and children and burned
down mosques in Taungoo, Mandalay and Arakan.
Mr. Belkeziz called on the international
community and human rights organizations to urge the Burmese
government to stop the attacks on Muslims.
The OIC official also said Burmese Muslims
should be allowed to preserve their Islamic identity and
exercise their political, social and cultural rights.
Source: VOA, June 19, 2001
TOP
Burmese
government continues to detain
Burmese government continues to detain at least
one hundred
women political prisoners and their health condition continues
to
deteriorate in various jails, according to Thailand-based
Assistance
Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). The statement
"Female
Political Prisoners in Burma" released today on the 56th
Birthday of
Burma's democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi gave the names of 90
women political prisoners with the sentences they are
undergoing.
Despite the recent release of some political
prisoners, including two
prominent ethnic political leaders in Burma, more than one
thousand
political prisoners remain in jail.
"The health of female prisoners also
continues to deteriorate as a result of
relentless torture, inadequate food and inappropriate
accommodations in
prison", it said. "The lack of medicine and the
non-existent access to any
sort of decent medical attention also contributes to the rapid
decline of
their health".
It has called for immediate release of all women
political prisoners in
Burma.
Women in Burma have played and continue to play
an active role in the
struggle against the military oppression. After the military
took over power
in September 1988, several women pro-democracy activists have
been
arrested and subjected to long and arbitrary prison sentences by
the ruling
military government for their non-violent political activities.
Many of them
were denied legal representation and sentenced for life
imprisonment.
Nobel peace laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
herself
remains under house arrest since September last year even after
her formal
release from six-year house arrest in 1995.
Source: MN group, June 19, 2001
TOP
OIC
condemns violence in Burma
June 19, 2001
The Islamic Conference Organisation, the OIC,
has condemned what it calls the aggressive attacks against
Muslims in Burma.
In a press statement released in Jeddah, the
Secretary-General of the OIC, Dr Abdelouahed Belkeziz, said
extremist Buddhists had killed women and children and burnt down
several mosques in the Burmese regions of Toungoo and Arakan.
The OIC called on the international community to
demand that the Burmese government stop the attacks.
Last month, the authorities in Burma said there
had been clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in which at least
10 people are said to have died. The violence apparently began
when Buddhists saw television reports about the destruction of
Buddhists statues by the Muslim Taleban authorities in
Afghanistan.
Source: BBC World Service, June 19, 2001
TOP
DVB:
Veteran politician welcomes release of prisoners, urges
reconciliation
16 June
Democratic Voice of Burma [DVB] has contacted
and interviewed veteran politician Thakhin Thein Pe to give his
opinion on the release of some political prisoners including U
Saw Mra Aung, chairman of the Committee Representing Peoples'
Parliament [CRPP]. Our first question was the reaction among the
people and the political forces.
[Thakhin Thein Pe] Well, it was the release of
some arrested leaders of Daw Suu's party. The people are under
the impression that the situation has improved. Everyone hopes
that they will continue to strive for national unity and peace.
[Khin Hnin Htet] Yes. What about veteran
politicians like you?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] As for us, we too were very
happy to hear the news. We believe the situation will gradually
improve.
[Khin Hnin Htet] We heard that U Thein Lwin,
general secretary of Democracy Party, and the party
vice-chairman were also released. But Democracy Party Chairman U
Thu Wai and some prominent political prisoners are still being
detained. What about that?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] What is happening here is, we
do not get any news from the media [laughs]. Furthermore, it did
not say how many political detainees were released. We know only
by listening carefully to foreign newscasts. There is nothing
from the Burmese radio [laughs]. In reality, the release of
political prisoners is a very good gesture. For all the people
to be happy and to assess the situation, all this news should be
in the local newspapers. About the release, we ourselves have to
listen to foreign radio broadcasts. This is one of the things
the people have been expecting, and it is a very good gesture. I
cannot think of a reason why such news is not in the local
newspapers.
[Khin Hnin Htet] What you mean to say is that
the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] government did
not mention anything about the release in their own news media
but they did send the information to foreign news media. What is
your opinion about the non-disclosure in the local media?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] That is hard to fathom. For a
politician, this is a very good political move and they will
benefit by informing the people through the local media. This
will also make the people in the country happy. Since there is
no news we are finding it difficult to understand what is going
on. I think we still have to wait.
[Khin Hnin Htet] Well, at the moment there are
allegations that the SPDC government is deliberately inserting
anti-Thai articles in school texts and inciting the recent
religious riots. Some observers believe they are exploiting the
situation to divert the people's attention from the country's
woes. What is your opinion?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] Well, as we mentioned before,
there is only one way out. There is no other way except
reconciliation. If the reconciliatory dialogue succeeds then the
way out will be smooth.
Source: Burmanet, Democratic Voice of Burma,
Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 16 Jun 01
TOP
AP:
Myanmar military eases pressure, allows opposition office to
open
June 16, 2001
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ In the latest move easing
pressure on Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, the military
government has given the National League for Democracy
permission to reopen some of its offices in the capital after
releasing eight elected opposition legislators.
``Out of 40 NLD offices in Yangon Division, 18
branch offices will be allowed to reopen out of which nine will
put up their old party signboards,'' U Lwin, secretary and
central committee member of the National League for Democracy
told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The government on Thursday released eight
elected members of Parliament from the 1990 general election
whose results the military refused to honor, never allowing
Parliament to convene. The National League for Democracy won a
landslide victory in the polls.
The releases marked the third batch of political
prisoners freed since January. A group of 84 National League for
Democracy members were released from Insein Prison in January
and 16 more were released in March.
The releases followed the start of secret talks
between National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and the military government, whose existence was made public in
early January by U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail, a mediator in
the country's political deadlock.
One of those released Thursday, 83-year-old Dr.
Saw Mra Aung, was one of the country's oldest political
prisoners.
The others released on Thursday night from
so-called ``government guest houses'' inside military bases were
Maung Aye, Ba Swe, Han Zaw, Tun Kywe, Tun Myaing, Myint Thein
and Cin Shin Htan.
Saw Mra Aung belonged to the Arakan League for
Democracy and Cin Shin Htan to Zomi National League for
Democracy. The other six released detainees belonged to the NLD.
``With the release of eight elected
representatives on Thursday, 27 MPs now remain at so-called
guest houses. We are hopeful that more will be released soon,''
said the NLD's U Lwin.
The military started a campaign of repression
against the NLD soon after the election. Military authorities
detained hundreds of elected representatives, mostly from the
NLD, in 1998 following the opposition party's announcement that
it intended to unilaterally to convene a parliament. Junta
leaders had said they would be released when they renounced
their intention to convene an alternative parliament.
Source:
Burmanet, June 18, 2001
TOP
Reuters:
Bangladesh detains Myanmar communist rebels
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, June 14
Bangladeshi police said on Thursday they had
detained two Myanmar communist rebels in the southeastern
Bandarban hill region.
Police said six Arakan Army members had been
detained since April in Bandarban and Teknaf, both areas close
to west Myanmar's Muslim-majority Arakan state.
Communist, Buddhist and Muslim rebels from
Myanmar often cross into Bangladesh to escape arrest at home, or
to regroup after being pursued by Myanmar soldiers.
Bangladesh denies providing support to rebels
from neighbouring countries. Bangladesh has been hosting some
21,000 Arakani Muslims, known as Rohingyas, since 1992. They
fled to Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, bordering Arakan, to
escape alleged military persecution. Bangladeshi officials
believe the Rohingyas are mostly economic refugees.
Comment: The Burmese
Military government's brutality against the Rohingyas are a well
know fact. FIDH recent report and HRW report show how inhumanly
and barbarically the government exterminating the Rohingyas.
Source:
Burmanet, June 15, 2001
TOP
VOA:
Reports Say Burma's Forced Labor Centers On Ethnic Minorities
Bangkok - 13 Jun 2001 01:36 UTC
By Gary Thomas
Burma is coming under new criticism for the use
of forced labor. Two leading human rights groups have issued
almost simultaneous reports contending that the practice
continues, even though it has been officially outlawed.
In almost identical reports, both Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch accuse Burma of still
utilizing forced labor.
Burma officially outlawed the practice in
October. But both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
say the ban is apparently being ignored.
The reports say the country's ethnic minorities
have been singled out for use as porters on construction
projects. Based on interviews with migrants entering Thailand,
the two groups allege that laborers are forced to haul heavy
loads over long distances. Amnesty International
charges that hundreds of people have died from
exhaustion and beatings.
In an interview in April with VOA, Burmese
Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win said the government is
committed to ending the practice. "We are now taking the
necessary legislative, executive, and administrative measures to
see the end of forced labor in our country," he said.
"In fact, right now, due to the directives we have issued,
the instructions that we have issued, due to the legislative
measures we have issued, forced labor is illegal and is an
offense under our law."
But both human rights groups say more
international pressure is needed to get the government to
enforce its own ban. Amnesty International researcher Donna
Guest says the central government has to do a better job of
getting word of the ban down to lower levels.
"The generals have adopted a law and they
have made it illegal, both for the army and for civilian
administrators, to use forced labor," she said. "And
what we hope is that this trickles down to the local level, to
the local commanders, because I think that is really the
problem.
What has happened is that troops are not getting
paid properly, according to reports, so what they do is that
they use forced labor to work on infrastructure projects, and
even to farm. They even use civilians to work on farms because
they do not have any food."
Last November, the Geneva-based International
Labor Organization called for member countries and labor
organizations to review their ties with Burma because of the
issue.
Khin Maung Win said Burma "greatly
regrets" the ILO move, and accused unnamed internal forces
within the organization of trying to smear Burma over the issue.
"Unfortunately, some powerful forces in the ILO are trying
to paint a very black picture regarding the forced labor
issue,"
he said, "But you know, last year we have
tried to cooperate as much as possible with the ILO, and even
had two of their technical cooperation missions to our
country."
Last month, Burma's military government gave the
ILO permission to conduct an independent probe. On Monday, the
ILO announced it plans to send a team to Burma in September to
investigate the country's progress in ending forced labor
Source:
Burmanet, June 14, 2001
TOP
Bullet
smuggling rising on Bangladesh-Burma border
Mizzima News Group
Dhaka, June 12, 2001
The smuggling of bullets across the
Bangladesh-Burma border has been rampant in recent months and
the Na Sa Ka personnel based in Maung Daw township in Arakan
State of Burma are allegedly involved in the smuggling racket,
sources in the border areas say.
The sources added that some Na Sa Ka Burmese
border security personnel are allegedly selling out the bullets
to the petty smugglers in the border. A M-16/ AK-47/G-3 bullet
can be bought with kyat 200 from Na Sa Ka forces and the same
can be sold in Bangladesh side with taka 100-150 (about kyat
1200-1800). As the bullet smuggling is paying wealth, many local
people are now involved in this smuggling business.
On May 26, two Rakhine nationals residing in
Bangladesh were arrested along with 400 rounds of bullets at an
army gate of Bangladesh Defence Rifles in Cox's Bazar. The local
police said that the two had been doing this bullet smuggling
for several months and they reportedly admitted that they sold
the bullets to some Bangladeshi politicians in the area. Acting
on the revelation of the arrested duo, the police have been
searching for a Rakhine national living in Nilla village of
Bangladesh border, who is believed to be the link between the
Burmese Na Sa Ka and the smugglers.
Source:
Burmanet, June 13, 2001
TOP
A
Summery and statement of the 3rd DAB Conference
Date : 17 May, 2001
The 3rd DAB conference was held from 14-17- May
2001 in one of the liberated areas. The conference was attended
by 55 delegates and 9 observers, from 19 member and 6 observer
organizations.
The conference discussions covered the topical,
political, and international situation of Burma, and resulted in
resolutions to find a peaceful solution to bring about peace and
democracy, within the vision of creating a federal union. The
conference also adopted the following program strategies for the
Alliance.
1. The Alliance will adhere to it's political
objectives to obtain national reconciliation, through the
achievement of tripartite dialogue.
2. The Alliance will escalate political and
military activities to achieve the process of tripartite
dialogue.
3. The Alliance will strive achieve a political
process beneficial to the people, through the process of
tripartite dialogue
The Alliance welcomed the secret talks between
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Junta, but noted that the talks
should be based on mutual respect and on equal status of the
parties, and that the talks should proceed from the current
stage to a stage of tripartite dialogue.
The Alliance condemned the involvement of the
Junta in the production of illicit drugs, and declared its
readiness to partake in the suppression of illicit drugs from
the lowest stage.
The Alliance denounced the Junta's violation of
Thailand's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and declared
that these type of activities are designed to only divert the
attention of the internal and international community, away from
the political situation in Burma.
The Alliance noted that the Junta's hostile
behavior, displayed by the current build-up of its troops along
the Thai-Burmese border, as not being the desire of the people
of Burma.
The Alliance is well aware of the plight of the
people of Burma, and seeks that all humanitarian aid and
assistance intended for the people of Burma either from
governments or non-governmental organizations, be directed to
the people and not given through the regime. In this regard, the
Alliance requests governments and non-governmental organizations
who are working together with the junta in providing
humanitarian assistance, to respect the decisions and the views
of the leaders and the organizations, which represent the people
of Burma.
The 3rd DAB conference democratically elected 18
Central Executive Committee members, comprising of the
leadership as follows:
1.Saw Bo Mya (KNU) Chairperson,
2.U Ye Htut (OBLF) Vice Chairperson,
3.U Aung Moe Zaw (DPNS) General Secretary,
4.Dr. Kyaw Nyunt (PPF) Joint General Secretary (1) and
5.U Myo Win (ABSDF) Joint General Secretary (2).
Source: Press & Publication Department,
ARNO, June 10, 2001
TOP
Press
Release: Statement of Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
(ARNO) on Recent Anti-Muslim Riots and destruction of
mosques in Burma
.
Dated: 7th June 2001
In Burma frequent
outburst of anti-Muslim riots in different parts of Arakan and
Burma resulting in the death of Muslims and plundering their
properties. The present ruling military junta State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) by and watched the looting of Muslim
properties.
Several anti-Muslim
riots took place in Sittwe (Akyab), from 4th to 8th February
2001, the provincial capital of Arakan, and other towns of
Kyaukpru, Pauktaw and Maybon. In this riots at least 40
Muslims were dead and over 30 injured including one Buddhist
monk. About 80 houses were burnt down including 30 shanty-houses
of Buddhist community and 10 shops, one boarding owned by
Muslims were razed to the ground.
This riots continued
for 5 days but military and the police did not stop the
riots, though their camps are near the riots places. The
military and police also encouraged and physically
participated at the side of the Buddhist rioters. The
youths of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) of
ruling junta disguising as young Buddhist monks and their
followers attacked the Muslim quarters.
It is the phenomena
of the successive Burmese governments that whenever they are
facing critical situation either of economical or political,
they use to divert the situation into a riot between Buddhist
and Muslims in which Muslims are always made as a
escape-goat. At present Arakan is like a big jail for the
Rohingya Muslims. After happening the riots, travelling of all
Rohingya Muslims from any parts of the Arakan to Akyab (Sittwe)
are totally banned by the authority. The ruling junta has been
creating anti-Muslim sentiment among the Buddhist of Arakan. It
is widely believe that whatever happenings in the form of
riots in Arakan are not accidental but an act of pre-planned
arrangement systematically being carried out throughout the
time.
Recently in Maungdaw
township 12 mosques attached with religious schools in
Ghodosara Village Tract, 10 Mosques with attached 5 religious
schools in Baggona Village Tract, 2 mosques in Chairapara (Pa-Yaungbangyi),
one Mosque in Kilaidaung (Cheradan), one mosque in Ludine (Dodan)
Para, in total 26 Mosques including religious schools were
destroyed by the Na.Sa.Ka authority from 13th to 20th May 2001.
Many religious leaders who opposed against such action of ruling
junta were beaten and detained while some were went into hiding.
The Na.Sa.Ka authorities have also listed to destroyed many
mosques and religious schools in near future particularly at
Maungdaw north, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships.
In this regard, a
team of religious leaders from Maungdaw township comprising of
Dr. Nurul Hoque, Chairman of Religious Council, Mr. Salim,
Chairman of Myanma Muslim Organisation and Hafiz Noor Mohammed,
an E.C Member of Jamaitul -Ullama met the Director General of
Na.Sa.Ka, Headquarters at Kowarbil (Gyiganbin) and the Director
told them that these were done by the order of the higher
authority. He told them that he will summit this matters to the
higher authorities not to occur in future.
Similar anti-Muslim
riots were broken out during the months of March and April in
1997. About 30 mosques were also demolished in the mainland
Burma, particularly, in the cities of Rangoon, Mandalay, Toung
Ngu, and Prome etc.. Earlier a number of mosques in Arakan
including the historic Sandi Khan mosque built in 1430 C.E were
razed to the ground. In 1997 alone atleast 42 mosques were
demolished throughout the country.
On 15th May 2001, a
group of Military Intelligence (MI) disguising of young Buddhist
monks and hundreds of their followers from USDA came to Muslim
quarters of Taung Ngu and suddenly attacked 14 mosques at a time
while Muslims were praying. As a result 5 mosques and 200 Muslim
houses were burnt down to ashes, destroyed many shops and
restaurants owned by the Muslims. Two monks also were killed
during the two days long riots. Among them 4 Muslim leaders died
when the rioters cut their throats and the owner of a restaurant
was beaten to death. Most of the Muslims of Taung Ngu were
compelled to flee to the neighbouring townships.
During this time,
Muslim villages of Kywe Kyaw, Auk Nyein and other villages were
also under the arson attacks. The Iman (who leads prayer in the
mosque) Moulvi Anwar of Taung Ngu Jam-e-Masjid was hacked
into 3 pieces and kept on Rangoon-Mandalay highway to make it
known to the Buddhist public, as an act of timely needed one.
The riots also spread
to Taunggyi, Thagaya, Swa and Pyu, Taungdwingyi, Yadashe and
Nyaunglebin on 20th to 23rd of May 2001, resulting at least 20
people dead, more than 100 houses were burnt down, and thousands
of Muslims became homeless.
The above religious
riots were instigated and pre-meditated by military intelligence
against in a bid to divert attention from the current economic
and political crisis of Burma. In the 2nd week of May, 2001, the
value of the Kyat has been dropped to its lowest ever and now
rests at about 885 Kyat to the one US$ on the black market. With
the drop of the Kyat, the price of other basic commodities has
skyrocketed. Additionally, the recent rationing of electricity
has driven up the price of petrol, which is used to power small
privately owned generators.
A Western diplomat in
Rangoon said that it was a pretty big rampage by the young
Buddhist monks and the Burmese ruling junta has ordered a curfew
after anti-Muslim riots was over. The military junta had not
immediately released official statement on the riots. But after
passing a long time, the SPDC has carefully admitted the
occurrence of anti-Muslim riots in Burma and the SPDC reasoned
that it was an internal problem between the Muslim and
Buddhist community. According to Buddhist monk Khin Ma-Thara,
President of the Young Monks Association of Burma, based on
Thai-Burma border, the riots may continue up to September 2001
because these riots were organised under the direction of
Regional Military commanders. The intelligence apparatus of
ruling junta has been publishing and distributing pamphlets on
which they stated that today in Burma the Muslim population is
more than 20% of the total population. The pamphlet also
indicates that Burma is turning into a Muslim country in a shot
time if Muslims were let free.
Therefore, the Arakan
Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO), Arakan, strongly
condemned the present ruling military junta SPDC of Burma
for creating such heinous anti-Muslim riots and destruction of
religious institutions.
I, on behalf of ARNO
and the Rohingyas of Arakan in particular and the Muslims of
Burma in general appeal to the International Community, the
Governments of World and World Bodies including UNO, OIC, NAM,
SAARC, ASEAN, NGOs, IGOs and other Humanitarian and Human Rights
Organisations to help stop further escalation of the anti-Muslim
riots in Burma and to investigate the real situation of Muslims
and to raise the issue at an appropriate forum of the World
Bodies.
We, also particularly
appeal to our neighbouring Bangladesh Government and the
People of Bangladesh to press the present Burmese ruling junta
to protect the mosques and the Islamic religious institutions in
Arakan and Burma and also to ensure the security of lives
and properties of the Muslims.
(Nurul Islam)
President
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
Arakan.
Source: Press & Publication Department,
ARNO, June 8, 2001
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DVB: Anyone caught with anti-junta books, items to receive
heavy jail
terms
DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has learned that
announcements have been put up at the ward Peace and Development Council [PDC]
offices in Rangoon that anyone caught with anti-SPDC [State Peace and
Development Council] government books and tapes will be arrested. DVB
correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed this report.
[Myint Maung Maung] These announcements signed by the
district chairmen have been posted at the ward PDC offices in Rangoon since 1
June. The announcement stated that anyone caught with anti-government
magazines, books, tapes, CDs, or videos in their possession will be
arrested and sentenced to 5 to 10 years imprisonment while anyone caught
renting, selling, or reproducing such items will be arrested and
sentenced to 10 to 20 years imprisonment. The announcement also stated that
anyone caught publishing, producing, selling or renting any
pamphlet, magazine, book, tape, CD, or video without the approval of the relevant
government ministry or the regional administrative authorities will be
regarded as an anti-government individual and will be punished
accordingly.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt
4 Jun 01
TOP
Hundreds
Believed Dead in Train Disaster
By Ko Thet
June 6, 2001—Early last week a passenger train
bound from Mandalay to the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina
derailed as it crossed a river in Kanbalu Township in Sagaing
Division, reportedly killing over 300 people on board. The train
crashed into the river when the Sindaw Bridge, located between
Nyanug Khin and Htantabin villages, collapsed around 4:00 PM on
June 1, according to local sources.
An eyewitness was quoted as saying, "While
the train was crossing over the bridge, the bridge just
collapsed and the train engine and fours cars went directly into
the river."
According to a local source, the bridge was in
state of extreme disrepair, and recent flooding had further
weakened its structure. The source added that inspectors
recently reported the condition of the bridge to railway
department officials, but no measures were taken to prevent its
collapse.
On June 2, the state-run Myanmar TV acknowledged
that a crash had occurred outside of Mandalay, but did not
report any casualties. Railway Transport Minister Pan Aung and
local authorities reportedly inspected the crash scene and
instructed rescue crews not to comment on the number of
casualties.
The official passenger list had only 280
confirmed passengers on board, but survivors of the crash said
that there were many other passengers traveling without tickets.
All of the derailed cars are to be salvaged when the high waters
subside over the next few weeks, said one source. Rainfall in
Upper Burma this year has been the heaviest in almost a decade.
Source: Irrawaddy June 6, 2001
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AFP:
Malaysian group condemns anti-Muslim attacks in Myanmar
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5
A Malaysian Islamic group Tuesday condemned
anti-Muslim attacks in Myanmar last month, and called for an
independent investigation into them. Myanmar's military
government last month declared a curfew in the central town of
Taungoo after clashes broke out between Muslims and Buddhists on
May 15. The cause was not known.
The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, which has
60,000 members, said there were unconfirmed reports that at
least 10 Muslims had been killed and several others injured in
last month's clashes.
"We strongly urge the Myanmar junta to
immediately intervene in the riot and further safeguard lives
and property of Muslims and mosques in Myanmar from the
anti-Muslim elements," it said in a statement. The group
also appealed to the United Nations and the Organisation of
Islamic Conference to press Myanmar to allow an independent
investigation.
It called on the junta to rebuild mosques
destroyed in the clashes. The riots were the second involving
Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar in three months. In February
the junta declared a curfew in the western city of Sittwe after
riots broke out between the two communities there.
The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia accused
Myanmar's military intelligence service of instigating the
February clashes in which it said many Muslims were killed.
Buddhists make up some 89 percent of the population in Myanmar,
with Muslims and Christians each representing four percent.
Source:
Burmanet, June 5, 2001
TOP
Rohingya
National Army: Battle news
Maungdaw (Arakan): May 28,2001
On 27 May (Sunday), at about 11.40 P.M (BST),
the freedom fighters of the Rohingya National Army (RNA) raided
a Burma Army Camp at Bodala, about 30 miles north of Maungdaw
town , near Burma-Bangladesh border in Arakan.
According to RNA report the Burma Army camp was
heavily damaged. About 20 enemy soldiers were killed and
injured. There is no casualty on the part of the Rohingya
National Army (RNA).
It may be here mentioned that on 5th April 2001
a joint operation of column of Rohingya National Army (RNA) and
Arakan Army (AA) had killed 5 enemy soldiers and injured 12
others.They also destroyed completely the main building of
Bandoola Camp, 40 miles north of Maungdaw town.
Rohingya National Army (RNA)
ARAKAN
Source:
Burmanet, June 4, 2001
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AP: U.N. envoy meets with Suu Kyi a second time
YANGON, Myanmar - June 3, 2001
U.N. envoy met with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for
a second time on Sunday in his latest attempt to push forward her
reconciliation talks with the country's military rulers.
Razali Ismail drove to Suu Kyi's lakeside villa where she has
been held under virtual house arrest since September even while she has
been talking to the junta's leaders.
The talks were initiated secretly by Razali in October.
Although the existence of the talks was revealed in January, both sides
have agreed not to divulge the agenda or their progress.
Razali, who arrived in Yangon on Friday on a four-day visit,
met with Suu Kyi Saturday also. He had earlier that day held talks
with Secretary One Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council. Details of the talks have not been revealed.
Razali's visit, his third to Myanmar since his appointment as
the United Nations special envoy in April 2000, comes amid reports that
the talks are not progressing well.
The junta has come under widespread criticism, mainly by the
West, for refusing to hand over power to Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy party, which won the 1990 general elections. Instead, NLD members have been subjected to harassment and
arrest. Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The
current group of generals took power in 1988, gunning down thousands of
pro-democracy protesters nationwide. The National League for Democracy was
formed two weeks later.
Last month the government denied that the talks were stalled
and Foreign Minister Win Aung said the negotiations were not merely a
``publicity stunt'' to appease the West. Until October, the junta had consistently refused to
negotiate with the opposition if Suu Kyi took part. The change of heart is
believed to have been brought about by Razali, a Malaysian, as well as
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.
2001-06-03 Sun 06:03
Source:
Burmanet, June 3, 2001
TOP
Burmanet:
Advisory to Burma media outlets re forged news releases
May 30, 2001
[This advisory is intended primarily for
BurmaNet subscribers who are members of the press and cover
Burma for their publications.]
The BurmaNet News is among a group of Burma
media outlets that has recently received forged news releases
purporting to be from Arakanese or Rohingya political
organizations. It appears that a group of Arakanese students
based in Bangkok who are opposed to an alliance between two
groups operating in the Arakan State are forging news items and
press releases in an effort to cause conflict.
The forged news items and press statements are
ostensibly from either the National Unity Party of Arakans (NUPA),
the Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) or the Arakan
Army. The organizations are all real but some of the material
circulating in their name is not. Some of the forgeries are
fairly good, even down to obtaining organizational letterhead
and distributing scanned copies. Media organizations receiving
press statements from these groups should be especially vigilant
to ensure that the statement is not a forgery.
By way of background, NUPA, an ethnic Arakanese
(Rakhaing) organization has entered into an alliance with ARNO,
an ethnic Rohingya organization to oppose the military regime in
Burma. The Arakanese are, in general, Buddhist and the Rohingya
Muslim. The Rohingya are the object of considerable
discrimination by the military regime but also by some Arakanese
and Burmans who are opposed to the regime. The forged postings
appear to be the work of a small group of Arakanese who are
opposed to the regime but are also xenophobically anti-Rohingya.
Source:
Burmanet, May 30, 2001
TOP
Comment: First of all
we would like to thank Burmanet for its wonderful service. We
would further like to thank Burmanet for the above advisory
note. We at ARNO believe only through unity between the
communities of Arakan and through cooperation we can bring peace
and prosperity in the region.
Asia
Times: Hush-hush Myanmar talks anger exiles
May 30, 2001
By Boonthan Sakanond
CHIANG MAI, Thailand - Nearly nine months after
talks began to end confrontation between Myanmar's military
junta and pro-democracy political groups, there is little sign
of progress in their arriving at a consensus on the country's
future.
Despite initial reports that the negotiations
would prompt the release of hundreds of political prisoners and
the resumption of political activity by the opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD), nothing of the sort has happened.
The talks seem to be bogged down due to differences of opinion
within the ruling military government.
While a section led by the powerful chief of
military intelligence Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt favors
sharing power with opposition groups, other hardliners within
the military are not prepared to consider any proposals which
they believe will "lead to uncontrollable processes".
In the meanwhile, frustration is growing among
Myanmese activists in exile over what they feel is a lack of
transparency in the highly secretive negotiations between NLD
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the State Peace and Development
Council or SPDC, as the military rulers call themselves.
"The government is supposed to be
discussing the future of the Myanmar and the Myanmese people, so
why can't they let everybody know at least the agenda for their
talks?" says Bo Gyi of the Association for Assistance to
Political Prisoners, a Myanmese dissident organisation based in
Thailand.
The SPDC is reported to have entered into
negotiations with the NLD only on condition of strict secrecy
over proposals. Even many senior leaders of the organixation who
are not part of the talks have little idea about what is being
discussed.
In the absence of hard information, various
rumors are doing the rounds in the Myanmese capital, Yangon.
According to some, the SPDC has mooted a proposal for it to hand
over power to a transitional government led by the NLD provided
the military is allowed to retain control over defense and home
affairs and given substantive representation in any new
Parliament. Although the NLD won the 1990 general elections by a
majority of more than 90 percent of the votes cast, the military
regime has refused to hand over power.
"It is difficult to figure out where the
talks are leading to, assuming of course they are taking place
in a proper way at all," says Zaw Min, a former student
activist and currently in charge of foreign affairs for the
Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), a Myanmese opposition
group.
Reports coming from diplomatic sources in Yangon
indicate that in recent weeks, the talks have been stalled due
to the death in mid-February of Lieutentant-General Tin Oo, a
hardliner opposed to sharing power and a powerful member of the
SPDC hierarchy. Tin Oo died with several other military officers
in a mysterious helicopter crash, attributed to sabotage by
rivals within the SPDC, while on an inspection tour along the
Thai-Myanmar border. His death is believed to have sparked off a
severe power struggle inside the SPDC and made the dialogue with
the NLD an issue of serious contention among the generals.
Many observers point out that even if the talks
do go ahead as planned and produce some kind of framework for a
transition of power from the military to civilian institutions,
there is bound to be serious opposition from Myanmar's numerous
ethnic minority groups, many of whom have been battling Yangon
for decades to seek autonomy or even independence.
The ethnic groups have been left completely out
of the talks and have demanded inclusion if the discussions are
going to have any real political meaning for all populations
living in Myanmar.
"The current negotiations between the
military and the NLD are welcome but very inadequate without the
participation of all ethnic groups," says Saw Ba Thein,
president of the Karen National Union, which has been fighting
for autonomy on behalf of the Karen minorities for more than
half a century. According to him, what most ethnic groups want
is a genuinely federal Myanmar where ethnic groups will have the
freedom to socially and economically develop their societies
without domination by the majority Myanmarns.
In fact, the question of how to bring in the
various ethnic minorities into the transition process may prove
to be the most contentious and divisive issue during the talks
between the NLD and the military. While the SPDC has
successfully signed ceasefire agreements with many of the
erstwhile rebel groups, many senior military leaders still think
of the ethnic minorities as being discontented populations to be
suppressed and controlled without any consideration for their
aspirations.
"All the ethnic minority groups are willing
to be part of a Myanmar that is democratic and under a
leadership that can be trusted to abide by the principles of
federalism, but there is no way they will accept the current
military regime," says Ba Thein.
One unfortunate fallout of the secrecy
surrounding the negotiations in Yangon has been a growing
distrust between Myanmese dissident groups in exile and the
ethnic rebel groups. Some ethnic minority leaders see the talks
between the pro- democracy opposition groups and the military as
a entirely "Myanmarn affair" and a snub to smaller
ethnic populations inside the country.
"Whether or not the talks produce any
transition to democracy, the SPDC is sure to emerge the winner
in this episode because it has managed to cast aspersions on the
motives of the NLD and divide the Myanmar opposition activists
from the ethnic minority rebel groups," says an Asian
diplomat here.
Among the other rewards that Myanmar's military
rulers have reaped by taking part in the dialogue with the NLD
is a softening of the international stand against their regime,
whose human rights record has been called one of the worst in
the world. While some foreign governments like the Japanese have
taken the talks as an excuse to break sanctions and restart
financial aid to Myanmar, others have decided to tone down their
opposition to the SPDC to "give them a last chance".
With the Myanmese economy in dire straits and on
the verge of collapse, some see the entire talks as a charade
carried out by the military rulers to buy time. The SPDC's
foreign minister Win Aung, asked by visiting foreign reporters
about a timeframe for the talks to conclude, replied:
"There is no set time for the dialogue or peace process in
Northern Ireland, or in Sri Lanka or the Middle East. This is
also not a process where you can start a countdown. This is
timeless."
For the people of Myanmar, already laboring
under four decades of military rule, waiting for the military to
make up its mind about giving up political power may not be a
very appealing idea.
(Inter Press Service)
Source:
Burmanet, May 30, 2001
TOP
DVB:
Inter-religious clashes spreading
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 22
May
DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has already
reported on Saturday [19 May] about the religious riots which
broke out between Muslims and Buddhists in Toungoo [Pegu
Division, in central Burma]. A few people died and several were
wounded. A curfew was imposed and many were detained by the SPDC
[State Peace and Development Council] Military Intelligence [MI]
personnel.
Today, an SPDC spokesman issued a statement and
admitted that the news was true. The SPDC statement noted that a
night curfew is still in force today in order to control the
situation. They have also studied the circumstances and
investigations are under way. According to latest reports
received by DVB, although the situation is calm in Toungoo, the
riots have spread to Swa [north of Toungoo], Pyu [south of
Toungoo] and other rural towns.
The riots in Toungoo started near the Yantha
Mosque when a group of Muslim youths that harassed a young
Buddhist nun going on her alms collecting rounds clashed with a
group of Buddhist youths. Altogether 24 monks died and about 50
were injured but the number of those detained at the Southern
Military Command is not yet known.
A Toungoo resident remarked that it is strange
for the authorities especially Toungoo-based Southern Military
Command to let the riots continue instead of controlling the
situation. Meanwhile, exiled opposition groups attributed the
riots to the SPDC MI's carefully planned ploy to divert the
people's attention away from the current political impasse,
economic hardship and border tensions. In the past too, the SPDC
have used similar tactics to divert attention from political and
other problems.
DVB contacted a leader of an exiled Muslim
liberation organization at the Thai-Burma border and an exiled
Buddhist monk and asked them about their views. [U Kyaw Hla]
According to the news we received about Toungoo, on 6 May Capt
Khin Maung Yin from MI Unit No. 3 met with some MI officers and
planned this plot. They used the Kyant Phut [derogatory term for
Union Solidarity and Development Association] members disguised
as bogus Buddhist monks and they protested to destroy (Yantha)
mosque in Toungoo. We felt sad about the whole thing because the
nationalities regardless of the religious belief, are our own
brethren. If only the government intervened in this matter it
would have been solved earlier.
Because of the government's neglect the problems
are occurring. There was a similar riot in Arakan State some
time ago and now here in Toungoo. This goes to show that no
effective action has been taken by the government.
[Ashin Uttara] The most important thing is not
to become a religious extremist. Both the Muslim side and the
Buddhist side, avoiding the extremes, should find the root cause
of the problem, discussed it with a cool head and you will
definitely find the right answer. But if a person did it and you
labelled it as a group or a religious organization or a social
organization then it is a problem. There could be no problems in
Burma if we solve them in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner.
But unfortunately in Burma all the problems are not solved in
that manner so it is a very sad situation. [end of recording]
Those were the views of U Kyaw Hla, chairman of
the Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma, based at the
Thai-Burma border and Ashin Uttara, abbot of Waterloo Monastery
in London, urging all to solve the problems in Toungoo by
peaceful means and not to be easily influenced by the MI's
flattery.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in
Burmese 1430 gmt 22 May 01
TOP
Comment: I wonder why
the reporter did not mention the casualties of the Muslims?
According to AP source a 60 year old woman alone with 4 others were
killed, 14 Mosque were set fire of which 8 turned to ashes and
from other sources 200 house were set fire and destroyed and 20 Muslim resident
were killed.
PRESS
RELEASE: Rohingya National Army (RNA) successfully raided a
Burma Army Camp 30 miles from north Maungdaw
Maungdaw (Arakan): May 28,2001
On 27 May (Sunday), at about 11.40 P.M (BST),
the freedom fighters of the Rohingya National Army (RNA) raided
a Burma Army Camp at Bodala, about 30 miles north of Maungdaw
town , near Burma-Bangladesh border in Arakan.
According to RNA report the Burma Army camp was
heavily damaged. About 20 enemy soldiers were killed and
injured. There is no casualty on the part of the Rohingya
National Army (RNA).
It may be here mentioned that on 5th April 2001
a joint operation of column of Rohingya National Army (RNA) and
Arakan Army (AA) had killed 5 enemy soldiers and injured 12
others.They also destroyed completely the main building of
Bandoola Camp, 40 miles north of Maungdaw town.
Rohingya National Army (RNA),ARAKAN
Source: Press & Publication Department, ARNO,28 April 2001
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