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Police arrest opposition members during prayers

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Staff Reporter
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Apr 22, 2009 (DVB), Two opposition party members have been arrested whilst praying for the release of political prisoners in Burma, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

During a National League for Democracy weekly prayer meeting yesterday in Rangoon's Twante township, police arrested the township's vice chairman Chit Pe and chief organizer Maung Soe Wai.

The brother of Maung Soe Wai said the two were likely to be charged for defaming the Buddhist congregation.

"They prayed with respect in accordance with the Buddhist tradition at the pagoda," he said.

"They prayed for the welfare and release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners."

Around 50 people were present at the prayers.

A participant in the ceremony said that about six members of the intelligence branch of the police showed up and said they had some questions to ask the two members and took them away.

"They put him in detention without questioning him," said Maung Soe Win's brother, adding that family and friends have been prevented from visiting the two detainees.

Twante township police station refused to comment, saying that the issue was in the jurisdiction of higher authorities.

Reporting by Ahunt Phone Myat

Civilians in crossfire running out of food

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Staff Reporter
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67

Apr 22, 2009 (DVB), Civilians living in close proximity to the ongoing battle between Karen rebels and government troops are running low on food, says a senior official in the Karen group.

The latest flare-up between the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of opposition group Karen National Union, and government troops began on 17 April.

The Burmese army is being supported by pro-junta Karen splinter group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

The army is attempting to capture a strategically important KNLA base near to the Thai border.

Villagers living near to KNLA Battalion 201 base, who are now surrounded by Burmese army and DKBA troops, are being forced to work for the army and are running out of food, says Battalion 201 official Captain Kyi Aung.

"The Kanehlay village is near the camp," he said. "Therefore, the enemy [Burmese army] and DKBA have forced them to be porters.

"At the same time the villagers have no food supply. Some dare not stay [in the village], and so are running away."

Villagers in Kanehlay are also unable to go out to work due to the fighting.

The army began attacking KNLA Battalion 201 base, known as Waw Lay Khee, on 6 April, although the battalion has come under repeated fire since late last year.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army split from the KNU in 1994 and allied themselves with the government.

Reconciliation talks between the KNU and ruling State Peace and Development Council, whose conflict is thought to be the world's longest running, have been on the cards for some time.

Both sides have agreed in principle to hold discussions, although the KNU have repeatedly stated that they will not disarm.

Reporting by Thurein Soe

Karen leader says inexperience responsible for defection

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Staff Reporter
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23

Apr 21, 2009 (DVB), A senior member of Burma's principal armed opposition group has said that inferior military and political experience was responsible for the recent defection of the son of a former group leader to the government.

Nay Soe Mya, son of the late Karen National Union leader, Bo Mya, absconded from the KNU in March, along with 88 other KNU members.

Reacting to a television interview in which Nay Soe Mya explained his reasons for leaving, the KNU joint secretary (2), Pado Saw Hla Ngwe, said his inexperience was responsible.

"We have always regarded Nay Soe Mya as a child to us since his military and political experience and general knowledge stood around that level compared to ours," said Saw Hla Ngwe.

"[He] is only a black sheep who senselessly speaks of things because he doesn't understand them."

During an interview with the state-run MRTV, Nay Soe Mya said he was taking steps to realise his father's plan for national reconciliation by switching to the government's side.

Saw Hla Ngwe said however that it had always been the KNU's aim to have its own federal government in Karen state, and would not accept any alternatives.

The military government has stepped up its attacks on armed ethnic opposition groups in an effort to bring them under its 'legal fold' and deny them self-governance.

"Nay Soe Mya stayed close to his father before his death and I don't understand how he still could misinterpret what the old man told to him," said Saw Hla Ngwe.

Reporting by Thurein Soe

Expansion of military forces citizens off land

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Staff Reporter
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225

Apr 21, 2009 (DVB), Fertile farmland is being confiscated by the government and converted to army barracks, outposts and training sites as Burma's military increases in size, says a report released today on land confiscation in Burma.

Forced land confiscation without compensation has caused widespread problems throughout the country, says 'Holding our Ground', which focuses on Arakan State, Mon State and the Pa-O region of southern Shan State.

"The main reason for land confiscation is the need to feed and financially support increasing troop numbers", explains Aung Marm Oo, chief author of the report.

Army personnel now number 490,000, having more than doubled in size since 1989. Troops are expected to produce their own food and obtain basic living materials.

The report cites a Global Witness investigation in 2003 which found that army personnel steal food and other resources from areas close to their bases.

"Generally villagers receive no compensation for lost land," Aung Marm Oo said. "They can go and complain to the village headman, but they get no assistance from township authority."

Victims of land confiscation have faced drastic problems such as food and water shortages, and often are unable to educate their children or find work.

Further reasons for land confiscation include government development projects, says the report.

"For example, for the Sittwe to Yangoon highway a few years ago government confiscated large amounts of land," said Aung Marm Oo.

These projects often use forced labour and have disastrous environmental effects in many areas.

Land is increasingly being confiscated to grow biodiesel crops such as jatropha or castor oil plants to fight rising oil prices.

The government has stated their intention to plant eight million acres of the plant within three years, with each state or division, regardless of size or suitable land, required to plant 500,000 acres.

A report released earlier this month by the Lahu National Development Organisation cited China's insatiable hunger for rubber as another reason for the increase in land confiscation, as large tracts of land are being converted to rubber plantations.

Burma cultivated 302,000 hectares of rubber in 2006; the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation stated their aim to increase that by a further 100,000 acres last year.

Reporting by Rosalie Smith

China ramps up support for Burma

By
Staff Reporter
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40

Apr 21, 2009 (DVB), Asian business leaders and heads of state wrapped up talks on the economic crisis last week with China pledging further economic support for Burma, reported a state-run newspaper today.

Senior Burmese government officials, including Prime Minister Thein Sein, flew to China last Wednesday to meet with the Chinese premier before attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2009.

Around 1600 business leaders and heads of state attended the conference from 17 to 19 April in China's Hainan province.

The talks discussed how Asian countries would cooperate to offset the problems of the economic recession.

Prior to the conference, Thein Sein attended a private meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in which Wen Jiabao said that the conference would contribute towards strengthening ties between the two countries, reported the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

"The [People's Republic of China] stands by [Burma] in its drive for stability, economic development and national unity," it said, adding that the two touched upon the success of China's economic investments in Burma.

Thein Sein also met with leading Chinese industrialists prior to the conference, including chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation, Zhang Jialin.

Last month the two countries signed a deal to pump Burma's vast natural gas reserves to China's southern Yunnan province.

Critics of the deal have argued that the construction of the pipeline will lead to land confiscation and increased militarization along the 2000 kilometer stretch of the pipeline.

China is Burma’s principal trading partner, and one of only a handful of countries not to adhere to international sanctions against the Burmese regime.

Reporting by Francis Wade

Police refuse to arrest attackers of opposition members

By
Staff Reporter
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161

Apr 20, 2009 (DVB), Police have told opposition party members who were attacked by a mob led by a government official that their assailants will not be arrested because government authorities have not permissed them to do so.

Two members of the National League for Democracy's youth wing were attacked on 18 April whilst on their way to a religious new year ceremony in Rangoon's Twente township.

The youth coordinator of Twente NLD, Ye Htut Khaung, said that the two members, a male and a female, were set upon by about 30 local people led by a ward official named Pauk Pauk.

"The mob trapped them in front of a nearby monastery and started throwing punches at them," said Ye Htut Khaung.

Other NLD youth members who arrived at the scene shortly after were told by the ward official that the attack was done out of a hatred of the NLD.

Yet when the incident was reported to police, the victims were told that police had no authority to conduct an arrest.

"Deputy police chief Thein Zaw Oo at the station told them they could not arrest the attackers as they didn't get permission from [Twente Peace and Development Council] chairman, Aung Zan Thar, to do so," said Ye Htut Khaung.

This attack followed a separate incident on 12 April in Twente in which another NLD youth member was attacked by a group of seven men led by a local Union Solidarity and Development Association member.

The USDA is a government-affiliated social organisation.

No action was taken by the police after Win Kyaing reported the incident, but he was himself charged yesterday for obscenity and assault.

In another separate incident, NLD central executive committee member and 1990-elected people's parliament representative, Thein Nyunt, was hospitalised last week after being attacked by a man at his house in Thingangyun, Rangoon, said his son.

"The police gave full attention to our report and they sent a detective to the hospital," said Khine Min, who added that the motive behind the assault was unclear.

Reporting by Yee May Aung and Khin Hnin Htet

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