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Myanmar
Junta Secretary Number One Visits Maungdaw
Maungdaw, 31st December 01: Secretary Number One
of State Peace and Development Council junta of Myanmar visited
Maungdaw, the western border town of Rakhine State on 29th December,
according to our correspondent from Maungdaw. Khin Nyunt, the junta
head came on a state visit to open the newly constructed annexe of
Basic Education Secondary School in the town and also to 'receive
donations from what the junta described as "philanthropists"
of the locality'.
A merchant of the town said that, the
local Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) members used force
and threat to all the businessmen in the locality to 'donate' money to
the TPDC coffer for the construction of the annexe building. The
money so collected amounted to nearly kyat five million with which the
junta bought organ, air coolers, TV sets, etc. Khin Nyunt
and his team also visited Aung Thabre, Wayladaung,Bandoola, Aung
Chantha, Taungbro Lakway, Taing-hmu, Waythali, Bhogawaddy,and some
other ethnic Mro and Thak villages. He distributed rice,
medicine,clothes and blankets, and school books among the
villagers as a part of what the junta calls is a Border Area
Development Programme. At Taing-hmu village (Western Commander's
Village), the group distributed a television set, video, and air
cooler.
A TPDC official on condition of
anonymity told our correspondent that,every household in the township
had to offer kyat 1,000 donation to the township authority for bearing
the cost involved in Khin Nyunt's reception. Besides, the
secretary did not bother to offer anything to the villages in the
township other than those established by them though there is a silent
starvation and lack of work prevailing in the entire township.
Source: Burma net, Narinjara News,31 December 2001
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Burma
Joins the Nuclear Club
, Russia Muscles in on China's Turf with a Reactor for Burma
By Bertil Lintner
,Far Eastern Economic Review,Issue cover-dated December 27, 2001 -
January 3, 2002
Burma is one of the world's poorest and least
developed countries, yet
it is apparently embarking on a nuclear-power project with the help of
Russian and, possibly, Pakistani scientists. And Beijing is none too
happy
at seeing Moscow muscling in on its turf, according to diplomats.
The project was initiated by Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry, which in
February announced plans to build a 10-megawatt research reactor in
central
Burma.
In July, Burma's Foreign Minister Win Aung,
accompanied by the
military-ruled
country's ministers of defence, energy, industry and
railways, travelled
to Moscow to finalize the deal. At the time, Russian
news agencies quoted
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov as saying that Russia
considers Burma a "promising
partner in Asia and the Pacific region."
He had reason to be pleased as Russia also managed to
sell 10 MiG-29
fighter
aircraft for $130 million to Burma. Rival China is Burma's main
military
supplier, while the West shuns the country.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the nuclear facility
is scheduled to
take
place at a secret location near the town of Magwe in January. The
equipment
and reactor will be delivered in 2003, while more than 300
Burmese nationals
have received nuclear technical training in Russia
over the past year,
according to Russian diplomats.
Tight secrecy surrounds the fledgling nuclear
programme and there is
little
noticeable activity around the recently established Department of
Atomic
Energy in Rangoon, residents say. The project is believed to be
the brainchild
of Burmese Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung,
who is reported
to believe that nuclear research is necessary for "a
modern nation."
But while Burma suffers from a chronic power shortage, it's not clear
why
it would need a research reactor, which is used mainly for medical
purposes.
The programme came under the spotlight recently after
two Pakistani
nuclear
scientists, with long experience at two of their country's most
secret
nuclear installations, showed up in Burma after the September 11
terrorist
attacks in the United States.
According to Asian and European intelligence sources,
Suleiman Asad and
Muhammed Ali Mukhtar left Pakistan for Burma when it became clear that
American officials were interested in interrogating them about their
links
with suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. The U.S.
believes
bin Laden wants to develop a nuclear weapon.
A Pakistani news agency reported that the duo went to
Burma to assist
local
scientists in "some kind of research work," leading many
observers
to believe
they had joined the nuclear project.
There is no clear evidence linking them to the
Russian-supported nuclear
programme. But one Asian diplomat speculates that if the Pakistanis
are
indeed assisting Burmese scientists it could be in the field of taking
care of nuclear waste.
This is a highly lucrative business, and Burma desperately needs
foreign
exchange to help to prop up its moribund economy.
Source: Burma net,Far Eastern Economic Review, December 27,2001
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"Without
inner freedom you can achieve nothing" An Interview
with Vaclav Havel,President of the Czech Republic
Irrawaddy Magazine:Vol 9. No. 9, December 2001
To mark the tenth anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi
receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, President Vaclav Havel of the
Czech Republic agreed to share his views on her accomplishments, as
well as on the current situation in Burma, with Irrawaddy readers. In
this exclusive interview,
conducted via e-mail with Irrawaddy correspondent Min Zin, President
Havel expresses his agreement with Aung San Suu Kyi’s belief that
the struggle for democracy needs to be "a movement very much of
the spirit",
and urges Burmese "to begin thinking not only about changes but
also
about what will come afterwards."
QUESTION: In 1991, you decided to give Aung San Suu
Kyi a chance to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Why did you make this
decision?
ANSWER: The world’s attention was, at that time,
still turned to the
fall of communism and the democratic changes in Central and
Eastern
Europe. I thought it necessary to draw attention to the fact that not
all nations in the world have freed themselves from dictatorship. The
main reason,though, was the fact that my friend Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi
really did deserve this prize. I hold her, and her non-violent
struggle for democracy, in high regard. It is people like her who
should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, as opposed to presidents
and other
statesmen whose job it is,after all, to uphold peace, freedom and
order.
We must attentively listen to the voices of democratic representatives
of all nations of Myanmar and, on that basis, from the viewpoint of
all people of Burma, analyze the situation.
Q: Some policymakers in the West are now saying that
it is time to
consider
the "constructive engagement" approach taken by Asian
countries towards Burma. What do you think of the idea of
"engaging" with the
Burmese military regime?
A: I think that the position of most Western
governments remains
unchanged.
The US Congress passed a resolution on the situation in Burma
recently;also the European Union confirmed all its measures, which the
Czech Republic joined as an associate member and candidate country. Of
course, this does not a priori rule out a discussion about specific
and controlled humanitarian aid, e.g. in the fight against AIDS, etc.
I am inclined toward the ongoing dialogue with the government,
mediated by
the special envoy Razali Ismail, and the Czech Republic also supports
the International Labor Organization missions.
Q: Political talks have been taking place between Aung
San Suu Kyi and
the military for more than a year now. Despite a lack of substantial
progress, some are suggesting that it is time to "reward"
the regime for participating in this dialogue. Do you think this is a
good time to begin a partial lifting of sanctions?
A: Naturally, it is too early to assess the results,
if any. What is
relevant
is how Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi herself, and other opposition
democratic forces,
assess the situation as to whether, from their point of view, there
has really been any substantial progress. We must attentively listen
to the
voices of democratic representatives of all nations of Myanmar and, on
that basis, from the viewpoint of all people
of Burma, analyze the situation.
Should there be some substantial progress and tangible results, and if
some partial moderation of the measures were to support this trend,
then
I am inclined to consider this step. I should also add that, within
the
existing measures, we maintain
standard and correct diplomatic relations with the Burmese government,
we inform them about our opinions openly,as do other democratic
countries.
What is unacceptable is when a military which
partially creates social
and ethnic problems by its actions argues that it is
the only entity capable
of solving them.
Q: The concept of power sharing between the oppressor
and the oppressed has been a very contentious issue in many countries
undergoing
transitions
to democracy. Do you feel that power sharing can lead
to genuine national reconciliation?
A: It is up to the people of Burma to choose what
should be the path
leading
them toward free and democratic elections. In
Czechoslovakia, after November 1989, we formed, on the basis of a consensus of the majority of political forces and as a result of the dialogue with the then ruling power-holders, a government of National Unity which led the country to free elections after a period of six months. However, I am not saying that this is some
universally valid, or the only possible
procedure.
Q: Some scholars argue that the military is the only
institution in
Burma capable of maintaining stability in the face of
serious ethnic and social conflicts. They therefore argue that Burma should
proceed slowly, rather than taking the radical step of completely dismantling
military rule. Can you comment on this?
A: Many democratic countries have armies that play an
important part in the systems of these countries, but here they are
always under the supervision of elected political representatives. In our country
the army is gradually regaining respect by participating in different peace missions, at present for example in the Balkans or in Afghanistan; the army is involved in public life, helps communities, deals with natural disasters, etc. The Czech army
fulfills its functions, serves society and the state, to the goals of which it is subjected on the basis of principles of democratic control. What is unacceptable is when a military which partially creates social and ethnic problems by its actions argues that it is the only entity capable of
solving them.
I believe in your freedom, just as I believed in our
freedom, and very often it was necessary to encourage the last bit of
dissipating hope.
Q: Aung San Suu Kyi once said that in order for the
Burmese democracy movement to succeed, it needed to be "a movement very much
of the spirit". Do you agree that democracy can only be achieved if there is faith in the possibility of real freedom? Or do you feel that other circumstances, such as changes in the global order (e.g., economic trends), are capable of ending Burma’s cycle of repression and violence?
A: I am convinced that without inner freedom you can
achieve nothing. I agree with Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, and I admire her
unfailing efforts to
bring about a peaceful change in her country.
I have, many times in the past, attempted to reflect
on our historical
experience with the totalitarian regime and, again and
again, I would come to the conclusion that, in the long run, only that can
be
politically successful what is, first of all—before it assumes any
political shape—a good answer to elementary moral dilemmas of our time or an expression of respect for the imperatives of moral order. It is a
very strong realization that politics can be meaningful only if it is preceded by conscience.
I am not saying this as a moralist who wants to preach
to people and politicians or present himself as a shining example. Absolutely
not. I am saying this only and exclusively as an observer, as a man who came
to see that ethical
conduct brings about positive reaction in the future.
Of course, it often leads to suffering, and one can
hardly say that it always bears quick and visible positive results.
Certainly I do not have to explain that to you, those of you whose life of
suffering in your own country brought you to exile and for those who
suffered and died for freedom. Ethical conduct is effective not only to individuals
that might suffer but, on the other hand, also to those who are inwardly
free and are, therefore, happy; but it is especially effective for society in which a multitude of lives, which have experienced ethical conduct, merge into something
that you could call good moral environment, or standard, or repeatedly renewed moral tradition, or equipment, which sooner or later, must turn to common benefit.
Q: Some Asian governments argue that the Asian
emphasis on social duty rather than individual rights means that Western-style
democracy is inconsistent with "Asian values". What are your views on
this argument?
A: I simply believe that the desire for freedom,
democracy and a dignified life is inherent to all humankind, that the idea of
human
rights and freedoms must be an indelible part of each meaningful social organization, both regionally and globally. To earnestly respect ourselves and our neighbors—and thus respect also their rights—I would not say that this principle is in any way contrary to traditional Asian humility, politeness and selflessness.What
matters is a respect for each unique human being, and for their freedoms
and inseparable rights, as well as the rule of law and the equality of
all citizens before law, the principle that all power comes from the people, all of these are the ideological essence of a modern democracy, often
called, with inaccuracy, Western. I do think that some values
really are universal. A discussion about such values is necessary, and it is
the only way to overcome differences in understanding them. Last but
not least, it also
depends on who actually defines these
"traditional Asian values" or any other moral imperatives.
Q: The Burmese people have become rather passive in
their desire for democracy. As an advocate of "power for the powerless",
what do you feel the Burmese people can do to ensure that our country achieves
democracy?
A: I know that the present situation is hard for many
Burmese people and it is therefore difficult to advise. I believe in your
freedom, just as I believed in our freedom, and very often it was
necessary to encourage the last bit of dissipating hope (meaning that Czechs
are in no way a warrior nation willing to make sacrifices...) And, when Burma
is free, it will also need free—and here I mean inwardly free—
citizens who are capable of building new democratic structures. It is now the
time to begin thinking not only about changes but also about what will come
afterwards. Otherwise, the exhilaration that comes with changes will be
followed by frustration.
Source: Irrawaddy Magazine: Vol. 9. No. 9, December 2001
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Peace
talks will fail if we are excluded,
minorities warn
Dec:18, 2001
, Bangkok (William Barnes- Myanmar )
Myanmar's many ethnic minorities say secret
talks between opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the military regime will fail to
forge a fairer future unless minority groups are invited to
participate soon.
The same point
was made at the recent Nobel Peace Prize celebrations in Oslo
and reiterated
yesterday by ethnic representatives on the Thai-Myanmar border.
There had not been a single sign that even if
the ruling generals were prepared to do a deal with an ethnic
Burmese opponent like Ms Aung San Suu Kyi that they would be
willing to accommodate any of the minorities' aspirations,they
said."The failure to find a workable distribution of power
between the Burmese and the other nationalities has been a
disaster. "Aung San Suu Kyi has been tussling with the
military since the 1990 election, we've been wrestling [with
Yangon] since independence in 1948," Hte Bupeh, of
the Karenni National Progressive Party, said. The
closed-door talks that started in October last year have so far
not
gone further than confidence-building exchanges, the release of
some political prisoners and reopening of a few
offices belonging to Ms Aung
San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
The United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail,
who is brokering the talks,has said he hopes to see progress in
the negotiations "very soon". He has warned the
minority groups that they should be ready to participate next
year. But many, perhaps most, ethnic leaders harbour a deep
traditional distrust of the ethnic Burmese, who account for up
to two-thirds of the population, let alone a prickly military
drenched in Burmese sentiment.
"The ethnic trust question needs to be
crossed very quickly. This can never be an afterthought. It's
the key to the whole thing," said Khun Kya Nu, a veteran
member of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi commands unique respect among the
minorities, yet some complain that her confrontation with the
military is drawn in David and Goliath terms, leaving the
minorities out in the cold.
The call for a
nation-wide ceasefire, freedom to meet and free passage for
negotiators made by a leader of the Shan Nationalities League
for Democracy, Khun Htoo Oo, to Mr Razali in Yangon was given
unanimous support by minority leaders
in Oslo.
"We couldn't make a step towards Rangoon [Yangon]
without risking getting shot. The regime acts as if it hates us
so how do you think we feel about our chances of participating
in the talks," a representative of the Karen National Union
said.
The regime underlined such doubts recently
when it complained that the leaders of "illegal"
minority parties had attended
an opposition
ceremony in Yangon.
Source: Burma net, South China Morning
Post,18 December 2001
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Military
confiscation of land leaves villagers in a pitiable state in
western Myanmar
Sittwe, 15th December 01: The residents of two villages
under Kyauktaw township in Rakhine State of Myanmar whose landed
property were confiscated by the Myanmar army last year have not
yet been given any compensation, according to our correspondent
from Sittwe, capital of the western state.
The Light Battalion 539, established at
Tharak-ouk village under Kyauktaw township in 1995, was
relocated to a new site 20 miles south-west of Kyauktaw, at
Pain-fe-chhaung village in 2000. During the relocation
process, the military fenced with barbed-wire all the landed
property owned by the residents of the two villages of Kan-jauk
and Pain-fe-chhaung, for establishing a new battalion
headquarters there. More than twenty fruit orchards of the
villagers were also confiscated in the process besides more than
two hundred acres of rice paddy where the villagers also used to
grow various vegetables and pulses during the dry season.
Besides this the military confiscated more than fifty acres of
fallow land used as pasture for the cattle in the village.
During the monsoons this year, the battalion
forces compelled the villagers to plough the confiscated lands
with the help of the cattle owned by the villagers, grow rice
and do agriculture by forced labour, the harvest of which was
reserved for the use by the family members of the battalion
soldiers. At present the SPDC forces are engaging the villagers
to harvest the paddy in those confiscated lands.
The villagers whose landed property was
confiscated were left with not a single acre of paddy field
where to grow rice for themselves. Since the owners of the
confiscated fruit orchards were not used to growing paddies,
they were rendered penniless and helpless as a result of the
wholesale confiscation of property.The cattle, too have now to
be herded to distant places for pasture.
Our correspondent added that, there are
fifty-four battalions of Myanmar forces all over Rakhine State
which were set up in lands confiscated from the Rakhine peoples
since the junta came to power in 1988 in the western part of
Myanmar that left residents of more than one hundred villages
landless. In all the instances, the SPDC junta never
bothered either to compensate for the property the civilians
lost or resettle them elsewhere by the help of the public fund.
As a result a good number of these villagers, especially the
younger generation, were forced to move to far-off places in
Burma proper or cross the border illegally to Thailand for
earning their livelihood. This year, there has been a
silent famine among the affected villagers who have been
rendered out of work and who lost their source of income due to
the confiscation of land, our correspondent concluded quoting
many of the villagers from Kyauktaw township
Source: Narijara News, 15 December 2001
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Official
border trade closed, illegal smuggling opened
Teknaf, 14th December 01: The Nasaka border security forces on
the Myanmar side at the border town of Maungdaw have kept the
official border trade with Bangladesh suspended since the US
attack on Afghanistan a month ago, according to a Myanmarese
trader available here, our correspondent from Teknaf confirmed.
Though the official border trade remain suspended, the illegal
smuggling vessels from Irrawaddy delta and Rakhine coastline
regularly visit the Bangladesh coastline. Every day
hundreds of smuggling vessels are seen to call at Teknaf and
Shahpur island in the south-eastern tip of Bangladesh.
Each smuggling vessel has to pay US $50 cash to MI, and 30,000
kyat to the police at Sittwe town; and 50,000 kyat to the Navy,
and 20,000 to the Customs lying in wait in the waters at Sittwe,
as told to our correspondent by one of the smuggler-traders from
Myanmar available at Teknaf town on the Bangladesh side.
On 13th November, the Burmese Navy nabbed a smuggling boat which
did not pay the required sum of bribe, about 10 miles west of
the mouth of the river Naf at Maungdaw. The vessel
contained 13 heads of cattle, 40 gunny bags of unknown
commodities, and 10 crew members. Most of the contraband
items that come illegally to Bangladesh include, textiles,
umbrellas, shoes, Chinese electronic goods, rice, pulses,
alcoholic beverages, cattle, shrimp, crabs, etc.
Source: Narijara News,
14 December 2001
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Four
commanders named to Special operations Bureau
Based on notices in Official Gazette, posted by
BBC Monitoring service:
Dec
11, 2001
:RANGOON - Four members of Burma's ruling State Peace and
Development Council have been named to the Bureau of Special
Operations of the Armed Forces and
assigned new duties as commanders of the Bureau, according to a
notification that appeared in the country's official gazette on
November 23.
The notice in the Gazette named the four as Maj-Gen
Ye Myint, Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Maj-Gen Khin Maung and Maj-Gen
Maung Bo. It said that in addition to regular military
operational duties the four would also supervise political,
economic and social tasks in the regions under their command.
Ye Myint of Mandalay will now have an enlarged
region under his command that includes Magwe, Sagaing and
Mandalay divisions, as well Chin and Kachin states. Aung
Htwe moves from Sittwe in Ararkan state and takes over as
commander of the three zones in Shan state, as well as
Kayah (Karenni) state. Khin Maung Than, already the
commander in Rangoon, adds Irrawaddy
and east and west Bago divisions, as well as Arakan state, to
his military command duties. And Maung Bo moves from
Taung-gyi to take over command duties in Karen and Mon states,
as well as in Tenasserim division.
Since the regional commanders have previously
exercised close political, social and economic control over the
areas under their command, it's not clear what new
responsibilities will be added.But with much larger regions
under their command, it would appear that their deputies in the
various state, divisional and area capitals will assume greater
responsibilities.
According to exile sources, the former head of
the Bureau of Special
Operations, Lt-Gen Tin Oo, used the position to exercise
over-all control of
Army operations, including the regional military commands,
infantry divisions and the operational commands of separated
infantry and artillery/armoured battalions. It would
appear that these responsibilities
will now be grouped in larger regions and shared by the four
commanders.
Another notification in the same issue of the
official gazette said that
Maj-Gen Aye Kywe who has been commander of the Coastal Military
Command in Tenasserim division had been named as cabinet
minister with responsibilities for political, economic and
social task in the region under his charge. Also named as a
minister at the same time was the commander-in-chief of the
navy, Vice-Admiral Kyi Min. No mention was made of his
responsibilities
which he was supposed to take up immediately.
Contrary to some reports, it would appear that neither Kyi Min,
who was named navy c-in-c in Aug 2000 nor the new head of the
air force, Maj-Gen Myint Swe, has ever been admitted to
membership in the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
The same would appear to apply to Brig-Gen. Myint Swe and Maj-Gen
Aye Kywe who were named to their regional command posts earlier
this year.
Reports in the official press this week
indicated that the old regional structure continues to function
for the moment. Aung Htwe was cited as being in charge of
the Western Command region in ceremonies to welcome
Chinese president Jiang Zemin when he overnighted in Ngapali
beach during a
four day visit to Burma this week
Source: Burma courier no.300, 9 December 2001
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Bangladesh
tightens border security with Myanmar
CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh,Dec 8 (AFP) - Bangladesh
has tightened its security on its border with Myanmar to stop
"illegal" inflitration, a security official said
Saturday.
"Three of our battalions (some 400 troops)
are guarding the border with Myanmar to restrict any illegal
entry," a Bangladesh Rifles border guard officer told AFP,
requesting anonymity. He said the step was taken after local
newspapers carried "exaggerated" eports about illegal
cross-border traffic.
More than 280,000 Myamar Muslims, known as
Rohingyas, entered
Bangladesh in 1991, claiming they were victims of repression and
human rights violations, a charge denied by the Yangon military
junta.
Most were repatriated by 1993 under two
agreements between the
neighbours and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
More than 20,000 remain in two camps in southeastern Cox's Bazar
district where little progress has been to secure their
repatriation.
Local people reportedly blame social problems,
including a rise in crime, on the refugees, many of whom have
mixed with the local
population due to a common dialect.
Source: Burma net, AFP, Chittagong, 9 December 2001
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Indian
and Burmese
forces bond afresh
By the BBC's Larry Jagan in Bangkok 7 December,
2001, 12:20 GMT
India's top military trainer is completing a
week-long visit to Burma on Saturday.The Director General of
armed forces training, Major General Ashok Vasudev, has been on
a study tour, which Indian government officials have described
as routine. This is the latest in a series of high-level
military exchanges between the two countries.
Analysts say these visits reflect increasing
co-operation between
Rangoon and Delhi. All three services in the military, the army,
navy and air force, are represented on the visit. The main
purpose of the delegation, an Indian official told the BBC, was
to look at the provision of military training in Burma
and identify areas in which the Indian armed forces could
provide assistance.
Steady collaboration
This visit does not represent a major change in
the Indian position, according to government officials, but was
only meant to strengthen existing cooperation in the area of
military training. Western military experts believe that
Burma's military leaders are looking to diversify their
training, especially for air force personnel.
Burma
recently acquired MiG fighters from Russia, which are also
extensively flown by the Indian air force. But Thai military
intelligence sources
say they believe the Burmese army
is keen to acquire helicopters and may also seek training from
India.
Indian officials privately say that military
cooperation between India
and Burma is steadily increasing and training
is an important part of
that relationship. Burma is also keen to get more military
hardware from Delhi; they already get tanks, guns, ammunition
and military uniforms from India. Military cooperation between
the two countries has increased over the past two years, partly
in response to common concerns over cross-border
insurgency and drug trafficking.
This has led to joint military operations against rebel groups
along
India's north-eastern border with Burma. The Indian and Burmese
Army chiefs have made several exchange visits in the past two
years.
Regional
strategy
India has been keen to improve its relations
with the Burmese generals
for some time now in the hope of countering what they see as
undue
Chinese influence. Economic ties between India and Burma
too have been developing strongly in the past few years. India
and Burma are building
a joint highway which will link Burma's
second major city Mandalay with
India. This should be completed soon, according to Indian
officials.
There are also joint plans, between India, Burma
and Thailand, to build a major highway from Mandalay to the Thai
border. The foreign ministers of the three countries have agreed
to meet early next year in Mandalay to sort out some of the
details of the project.
Source: Burma net, BBC, 9 December 2001
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Real
view on the entry point: ( Border trade or style of exit, re-entry
to ethnic cleansing of Rohingya)
Maungdaw, December 7, 2001:
By taking a 24 hour transit
pass to Maungdaw town of Myanmar across the Naf river from Teknaf under Cox's Bazaar
district, we saw a subhuman life lived by the people in the area.
Especially the Muslims of Maungdaw are subjected to barbaric ill-treatment by the
Nasaka border police. The Nasaka does not only ill-treat the Muslims but
also keep the Muslims under constant surveillance being distrustful of the Muslims' connection with
the Myanmar separatist group and other militant organizations.
For
this the paid agents of the Nasaka roam the streets and markets in mufti.For this reasons no one was willing to talk openly.
We had talks with some local Muslims in the
Hotel Golden Joy situated at the Maungdaw township immigration
harbour.They said, day or night the Nasaka would come anytime and conduct searches
in the houses. On dubious charges they hold people indefinitely
under detention for years without any trial.
There are examples of deaths of the detained Muslims who cannot pay the
demanded sum of money (to the Nasaka). Besides
the Nasaka come on sudden swoops to take the Muslim youths away without
any apparent reason. They engage these young people in shrimp
farms (owned by the military), embankments and roads, for days together without
paying.
Meanwhile the repeated devaluation of the Myanmarese
currency, kyat, has caused the abnormal increase of the price of
daily necessities, while the wage has remained the same as before.
As a result most of the people in the area are compelled to go
half-fed or starved. In these circumstances, a large number of Rohingyas are
intruding into the Cox's Bazaar and Bandarban districts close to
the border of Myanmar.The Nasaka border
police do not stop the Rohingyas from running away from their country.
Worse, they sometimes incite them to cross into Bangladesh. Whereas any
person going to Maungdaw from Bangladesh is subjected to rigorous questioning
by the Nasaka,permission is issued for the maximum of 24 hours
(to visitors from Bangladesh). If a resident of Maungdaw
stays in Bangladesh for a few days and tries to go back through the same point of
travel, the person is never allowed his re-entry.
Source: the Prothom Alo, a Bengali daily of Bangladesh,(Abridged) December, 8th
2001
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Forced
Labour for Naval Base in Rakhine State
Sittwe 1 December 2001:
Since the ILO observation team visited Rakhine State,the western state
of Myanmar from 23 to 28 September 2001,the SPDC junta of Myanmar have
started to use large scale forced labour in the State,according to our
correspondent from Sittwe.
The SPDC have started to build a 1400 ft deep naval
base at one and half mile east of Thaik-pouk-taung (Kyauk-pru naval
base) for harbouring Chinese-made submarines and other naval vessels
by using extensive forced labour. Seventy villagers from Wa-daung-rwa
of Kyaukpru have been forced to work there everyday since the ninth of
November 2001. For a road connection with Yunnan province of
China, the road passing through Minbu township and Ann Pass is being
constructed with full force. After completion of the road,
Rakhine State on the eastern flank of the Bay of Bengal will have
direct road link with China, our corresponded added
Source: Narijara News, 1 December 2001
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5
killed in Lun Htin Camp, innocent villager
persecuted
Krin Chaung December 01: Many Rohingya
villagers, who
include old men, women and children, have been arrested from the
nearby villages of Lun Htin Police camp at Longdun, following an
incident in the said
camp on the night of November 23, in which 4 policemen and a
woman were killed and 6 firearms taken away,
said the villagers. Longdun is a Rohingya village about 2.5
miles south of Kring Chaung town
(Bawlibazar) and about 22 miles from north of Maungdaw
town, Arakan, Burma.
From San Oo village (Hatipara), about 100 men
and 200
women were arrested, 11 dwelling houses destroyed and
2 houses burnt into ashes. The victims were herded onto an open
ground attached to the camp without
shelter, food and winter clothes. Of the arrested women, the
wives of Amir, Rohul Amin, Khairul Amin and
Bashar were sent to Area Headquarters No. 4 at Krin Chaung under
the pretext of interrogation. An old lady
and a pregnant woman died of unbearable living condition, fear
and grief in this fasting month of
Ramadan.
From Sabegon village (Kadirbil) 25 women and 5
men
were arrested. The names of the arrested men were
Maulvi Fayazul Islam (a religious leader), Bazarul Jamal,
Mohibullah, Kaseim and Maung Galay. The following day, the women
were released on payment of a
bribe of Kyat 5 million.
From Zediprang village 20 people were arrested.
The village council chairman and one Kaloo of the Dodan village
(Ludine) were also arrested. Noor Jahan and Sajeda, the wife and
daughter of Mohammed Kaseim
respectively of Naisagru (Naisapru) village were among those
arrested. They were carried to Area Headquarters
at Krin Chaung for interrogation.
A Buddhist Rakhine, namely Bo Bo, son
of Sein Tha Oo of the nearby village of Zediprang was later
arrested, a villager said.
Concerned sources said that the incident was a
mutiny
and was done by 2 of the 6 Lun Htin policemen of the Longdun
camp. The sources further said that a total of 6 assorted arms
with about 1000 ammunition were lost or taken away that include
2 nos. M16 Rifles with 11 magazines, 1 no. BA 52 SMG with 4
magazines, 1 no. 303
Rifle and 1 no. LMG.
Editor
Kaladan Press
Kaladan Press" is an independent news group
disseminating and reporting news and information covering
western Burma in particular.
Source: Kaladan Press Network ,
1 December 2001
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Police,
locals clash in Western Arakan town of Maungdaw six person injured
Maungdaw Nov. 27: Clash broke out between
a group of policemen from Thaye Konbaung (Charkumbaw) model village
outpost and villagers of nearby Muslim village of Zaw Matek 8 miles
south of Maungdaw township in western Arakan state on November
26. Six persons including a policemen were reportedly injured.
The incident occured after 3 drunken policemen --
sergeant Myint Lwin, constable Aung Than and constable Win Naing --
entered Zaw Matek market and started beating up a Muslim shopkeeper
Abdul Hamid 14, son of Abdul Mollah who raised hue and cry. Some
people standing nearby rushed at the policemen to protect the boy.
Being afraid to confront with the people the three policemen fled to
their camp. After about half an hour the three culprits accompanied by
more policemen came to the Zaw Matek market carrying M -16 rifles.
They started beating up several persons in the market. About 70
Muslims gathered and resisted the policemen. The police have
reportedly fired shots at the people causing injury to five of them.
One policemen was also injured, according to a reliable source.
The situation was brought under control when Village elders
fromRakhine model village and village Chairman and Secretary of the
Zaw Matek Muslim village intervened and pursuaded both the groups to
return to their respective places. Three people have been
arrested later in this connection.
Meanwhile several persons have been arrested, beaten
and tortured in connection with the killing of 4 policemen and
stealing of firearms from the Long Dun outpost under Kyin Chaung
townsip north of Maundaw township in the night of November 23. People
are forced to dive into all ponds around the area to search for the
missing firearms. All entry and exit points in the area around Long
Dun outpost have been completely sealed up and each and every house
has been thoroughly searched. The Muslims in the area have been
passing their days in utmost misery as a result of indiscriminate
torture and violations of their human rights.
Executive Editor
Arakan News Agency
Source: Arakan News Agency ,
1 December 2001
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Narinjara
News: Dhaka, Yangon for strong sub-regional cooperation
Bangladesh and Myanmar Tuesday underscored the
need for strengthening sub-regional economic cooperation with a
view to harnessing the economic benefit for the peoples of the
two countries. This was stated when Myanmar Ambassador to
Bangladesh U Ohn Thwin made a courtesy call on Foreign
Minister M Morshed Khan at his office here, official sources
said. During the meeting, the entire gamut of bilateral
relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar was discussed. They
observed the two neighbouring countries share common bonds
of history and culture dating back to ancient times and there
also exists tremendous potentials to increase the economic
cooperation and volume of trade between the two
countries. Khan particularly laid emphasis on joint cooperation
in the
area of agro-based and dry-fruit processing industries and
technical centre for humans resources development of both the
countries with the possible assistance of the EU and Japan.
They also agreed on
exploring the possibility of extending airline between Beijing-Kuming-Yangon-Chittagong
and construction of Asian Highway, which will further contribute
to economic, commercial and
infrastructure development between the two countries. Regarding
Rohingya
refugee problem, the foreign minister hoped that it could be
solved through mutual understanding and cooperation. The
minister conveyed his felicitations and regards to the Senior
General Than Shwe, Chairman,State Peace and Development
Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar and reciprocated
the sentiments of his Myanmar counterpart. Director-General
of South East
Asia Golam Muhammed was also present.
Source: Burma net, BSS, Dhaka , 29 November 2001
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NaSaKa
demanded 6000 wooden posts from Rohingya villagers
Maungdaw November 21: On October 18, 2001,
Major Khin Lay Maung, the Area Commander of the NaSaKa Area No.
5, in Maungdaw township, North Arakan, had demanded 6000 pieces
of wood, in a size of 8 feet long and 10 inches round, from 12
Rohingya village tracts of the area, said a member of the local
village council.
In a verbal order, Major Khin Lay Maung, had
asked each Rohingya village to supply 500 pieces of wooden post
for fencing his headquarters and warned the villagers of serious
action if they failed to comply with the order in time.
Fearing repulsive action of the NaSaKa, the 12
Rohingya villagers had supplied a total of 6000 wooden posts by
the end of October without any payment. In addition, the
villagers had to provide forced labour to complete the fencing
round the NaSaKa headquarters without wages.
It may be mentioned that a high level ILO team
had visited the area in the third week of September 2001, to
investigate the forced labour situation.
Source: Kaladan Press Network , 23 November 2001
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More
landmine exploded on the border
Naikongchari
(Bandarban) On November 23: a landmine, planted by the
NaSaKa border security forces, was exploded on Burma-Bangladesh
border, in between pillar Nos. 48 and 49, at about 5:10 p.m., a
group of woodcutters said. Again on November 14, another
landmine was exploded at about 12:33 p.m. near pillar No. 45, a
villager of the area said. No human casualty is reported in the
incidents.
Earlier
on October 29, five landmines were exploded on the same border
in between pillar Nos. 42 and 43 killing some wild animals. The
villagers on the both sides of the border are in a state of
panic.
Source: Kaladan Press Network ,
23 November 2001
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