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Suu Kyi's lawyer to make direct appeal

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Staff Reporter
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Apr 27, 2009 (DVB), The lawyer of the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will file an appeal for her release directly to Burma's junta leader following the government's failure to respond to previous appeals.

Three appeals have been filed by lawyer U Kyi Win since last October but no response has been given.

Suu Kyi, the leader of opposition party National League for Democracy, has been under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years, since the NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections.

"The government is not acting on the appeals," said Kyi Win. "For that reason, we will be appealing to a higher authority or the chairman of the [State Peace and Development Council].

"We will state that the government has failed to act on our appeals and we will request him to take necessary action."

The lawyer decided to file the appeal to the highest authority after being given the power of attorney by Suu Kyi. The current order on her detention expires on 27 May this year.

"Of course, we could wait for that period to end without taking any action," he said. "But, what will the consequence of that action be?"

"The government has completely ignored the appeals of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which is a right granted under Section 19.

"If we do not appeal, that lawful right will come to nothing."

Suu Kyi's current spell under house arrest began in 2003 following the Depayin massacre, in which a government-backed mob opened fire on a convoy of people associated with the NLD, killing 70.

Reporting by Yee May Aung

Use of child soldiers could constitute a ‘war crime’

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Staff Reporter
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Apr 24, 2009 (DVB), The ongoing abuses by the Burmese government against civilians is reaching a point whereby the junta could qualify for war crimes charges, said a former senior legal adviser to the International Criminal Court.

Speaking at a conference in Oslo, Norway, entitled 'Crimes against humanity in Eastern Burma', Morten Bergsmo stated that the Burmese army's use of child soldiers could constitute a war crime.

"The recruitment and use of children under fifteen years may be a war crime, and by that an international crime if it happens as part of an ongoing armed conflict," he said.

"If that happens there may be the ground for investigating and prosecuting such abuses of children."

Speaking to DVB yesterday, David Mathieson from Human Rights Watch said that the ruling State Peace and Development Council is failing to adequately cooperate with the international community regarding use of child soldiers, and criticized a recent United Nation's report on the issue.

"[The report] puts a far more positive spin on the military government's cooperation that we think they deserve," he said.

"It's still a very serious issue inside Burma and the kind of report that just came out doesn't reflect the seriousness of the problem within the Burmese military and it's not very good of them to not investigate the biggest perpetrator by far."

Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik spoke at the conference on the need for the international community to cooperate on Burma.

"[Association of Southeast Asian Nations], China and India are more keen on maintaining a positive relation with the Burmese government to make business deals and buy gas from them, while Japan is providing help to the junta," he said, adding that the European Union and the United States were on their own tracks.

"Everyone should look for a conclusion everybody can agree with and cooperate together."

Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw and Francis Wade

Junta’s concern over foreign media grows

By
Staff Reporter
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Apr 24, 2009 (DVB), Strict media control enhances spiritual and intellectual nourishment, says an article in Burma's leading state-run newspaper that speaks of the dangers of foreign media being broadcast into the country via satellite.

An article published today in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper called for the banning of satellite dishes to "protect the people against dangers and harms associatedwith news".

"Satellite programmers are specially designed by major nations to wield influence over the international community in the sphere of the media," wrote Ko Gyi Ngwe Zin Yaw.

The ruling State Peace and Development Council is notoriously fearful of foreign media being circulated inside Burma.

A number of journalists and internet bloggers have been given lengthy prison sentences for publishing material critical of the regime, or communicating with foreign media.

"The military government is always shutting the ears and eyes of people living in Burma," said San Moe Way, secretary of the exiled Burma Media Association.

"That's why they don't want to see or hear foreign media, that's why they fear the foreign media. "They are afraid of people watching the television or reading or hearing news from the radio."

A wave of sentencing for journalists occurred following the September 2007 monk-led protests and last year's cyclone Nargis.

Around 15 journalists are currently imprisoned, some, such as blogger Nay Phone Latt, with sentences of twelve years.

Burma has some of the world's strictest laws regarding media censorship. The country was ranked 170 out of 173 in a press freedom index published by media watchdog Reporters without Borders in 2008.

Following cyclone Nargis, journalists were denied visas to access the country, although some managed to enter on tourist visas.

One month after the cyclone, the New Light of Myanmar led with a story on the "despicable" reporting of the cyclone by foreign media, under the title 'The enemy who is more destructive than Nargis'.

San Moe Way believes the situation will get worse in the run-up to the scheduled elections next year.

"The 2010 elections will see more restrictions," he said.

"They are tightening up on print media. The FM radio stations are being given licenses by government cronies to broadcast propaganda for the military and its own political parties during the elections."

Reporting by Francis Wade

Imprisoned student leader awarded human rights prize

By
Staff Reporter
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0

Apr 24, 2009 (DVB), The imprisoned leader of the student group that incited the 2007 monk-led protests in Burma has been awarded a prize by a South Korean foundation for promoting human rights and democracy.

Min Ko Naing, of 88 Generation Students, was sentenced to 65 years in prison in November 2008 for his role in organizing the 2007 demonstrations.

Shortly after, he was transferred to the remote Kengtung prison in Shan state.

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights honours individuals and groups in Korea and abroad that have contributed to promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace in their work.

It is awarded by the May 18 Memorial Foundation, a South Korean group set up to commemorate the popular uprising on 18 May, 1980 in Korea.

Yan Naing Htun, of Burmese opposition National League for Democracy-Liberated Area, South Korea branch, said the award is highly respected in Korea.

"Min Ko Naing was chosen as a winner this year for his ongoing struggle against dictatorship by the Burmese junta since his early life as a university student despite prison term handed to him throughout this time," he said.

"Even now, he's continuing his fight in prison without bowing down to pressure."

The prize was awarded to imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2004.

Min Ko Naing was sentenced last year along with 22 others who were involved in the 2007 uprising. The United States has strongly criticized the harsh punishments brought against activists arrested after the uprising.

Reporting by Aye Nai

Zarganar and imprisoned cyclone helpers in poor health

By
Staff Reporter
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20

Apr 24, 2009 (DVB), Renowned comedian Zarganar, who was sentenced last year to 35 years in prison for speaking to foreign media following cyclone Nargis, is in poor health, said a source close to his family.

The comedian, who was initially sentenced to 59 years after giving reports of the post-cyclone humanitarian situation in Irrawaddy delta, is suffering from a swollen liver and jaundice.

In December 2008 he was transferred to the remote Myitkyina prison in Kachin state, in the country’s far north. On 16 April it is believed he lost consciousness for three hours.

His family has requested the authorities the permission to allow him to receive proper medical treatments.

Meanwhile, the family of Weekly Eleven journal editor, Kyaw Kyaw Thant, who was sentenced last year to two years imprisonment with hard labour after collecting news and assisting victims of the cyclone, also report he is in poor health.

Despite reporting chest pains, the authorities are still refusing to give his family permission to take him to a specialist.

In separate news, three female members of opposition party National League for Democracy youth wing, sentenced after carrying out rescue efforts for cyclone victims, were transferred to remote prisons far from their families.

Yin Yin Waing (also known as Wai), Tin Tin Cho and Nemo Hlaing were transferred from Rangoon Insein jail on 22 April.

Yin Yin Waing was sent to Shwebo jail in Sagaing division, Tin Tin Cho to Lashio jail in northern Shan State and Nemo Hlaing to Thayet jail in Magwe division.

They were charged under the Unlawful Association Act and sentenced to three years each on 23 March.

A family member of Yin Yin Waing said they would continue to visit them despite difficulties regarding travel.

"Although we could see them any time at our convenience here [in Rangoon], it would be a bit difficult for us to go there,' he said.

"But we will have to go there by any means. They have transferred them but we have to go and see them for their morale and health."

Yin Yin Waing has been suffering from gastric diseases and headache. Her family has been sending medicine every week, the relative said.

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet and Thurein Soe

DVB television to reach millions via the internet

By
Staff Reporter
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3

Democratic Voice of Burma television is now being broadcast globally via the internet, aiming to reach 10 million Burmese across the world.

Viewers can access DVB TV by downloading the DVB application on the Livestation platform.

DVB has been broadcasting into Burma via satellite since 2005, and remains the only non-government-run television channel available in Burma.

Livestation, which streams live global news over broadband, has expanded its remit in order to help broadcast the voices of those living in areas where freedom of expression is suppressed or limited.

Watch DVB TV by clicking on the link to the right of the screen.

DVB would like to thank Livestation for helping us to reach a global audience.

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The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) publishes daily independent news and information across Myanmar and around the world by satellite TV and the internet. DVB was founded in 1992 and is registered as a non-profit association in Thailand.

© Democratic Voice of Burma 2024.

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