***The 19 ONLINE PETITIONS/PLEDGES FOR BURMA HERE.***
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The AFP brief of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro's trip to Burma HERE. Pinheiro advocates for better medical treatment for political prisoners, prison access for the International Committee of the Red Cross, and stronger cooperation and coordination within the international arena to enact change in Burma. He will be presenting his findings to the UN Human Rights Council on December 11.
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BANGKOK (AFP) — A UN rights investigator said Friday that Myanmar's military government told him 14 people had been killed in Yangon during the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in September.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who ended a five-day mission to Myanmar on Thursday, said the government recognised that 14 people had been killed in Yangon and cremated at a cemetery that he visited during his mission.
But he said he was still reviewing the evidence he gathered in Myanmar and could not yet give his own estimate on the casualties or detentions resulting from the crackdown.
"I'm not in a position to say that this is an accurate number," he told reporters in Bangkok, the capital of neighbouring Thailand.
The Myanmar government claimed that no Buddhist monks were among the dead, he added.
Protests that began in August in anger at an overnight hike in fuel prices snowballed in September when Buddhist monks began leading marches that turned into the biggest anti-government demonstrations in nearly 20 years.
Until now, the government had put the number of dead at 10, although diplomats have estimated the toll could be much higher.
Pinheiro declined to give his own estimate of how many people had been detained over the protests, but urged better medical care for the inmates.
"They need better medical treatment," he said.
The United Nations also urged Myanmar to end its nearly two-year ban on prison visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"The special rapporteur reemphasised a strong call to the authorities to re-engage with the International Committee of the Red Cross," the UN said in a statement.
Pinheiro is due to present a report on his findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on December 11.
The United Nations said in its statement that Myanmar had given Pinheiro "a number of detailed records that respond partially to his requests" concerning the crackdown.
Pinherio also urged the international community to better coordinate their policies to prod the ruling junta toward reform.
"If you want to achieve some progress in Myanmar, we cannot have a cacophony of policies... We need to have coordination," he said.
After Pinheiro visited Yangon's notorious Insein prison on Thursday, Myanmar released 53 inmates -- but only six of them were political prisoners, all of whom had been arrested years before the protests.
Amnesty International has estimated that 700 people arrested over the protests were still in detention, although the government has said only 91 of the nearly 3,000 originally rounded up are still being held.
Pinheiro visited Insein prison twice during his visit to Myanmar this week, a trip aimed at investigating the deaths and detentions from the junta's crackdown.
On Thursday, Pinheiro said he was allowed to meet with some political prisoners, including prominent labour activist Su Su Nway.
But Pinheiro was not allowed to meet with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained Nobel peace prize winner who has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest in Yangon.
Showing posts with label International Response. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Response. Show all posts
Saturday, November 17, 2007
China Blocks UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Burma
***The 19 ONLINE PETITIONS/PLEDGES FOR BURMA HERE.***
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Last Thursday, US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad has publicly stated that China has blocked the issuance of a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma. The story HERE.
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The US on Thursday alleged that China blocked the issuing of a presidential statement on Burma at the UN Security Council.
Led by the US, a majority of the countries in the 15-member Security Council had favored issuing a presidential statement after closed door consultations on Tuesday and a briefing on the Burmese issue by Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Special Envoy on Burma.
A presidential statement—though not legally binding, unlike a resolution—can only be issued with a consensus, meaning that all members of the Security Council have to agree on it and its content. China opposed issuing a presidential statement on Burma, which would have been the second one in a little over a month.
“We were disappointed by their (China’s) unwillingness to support a PRST (presidential statement). They were only willing to support a statement. We worked hard to persuade them to go for a PRST, but they did not cooperate,” the US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad said.
At the same time, Khalilzad noted the cooperation of China in the past with regard to Burma in facilitating the work of Gambari.
This is for the first time that a top US official has come out openly to state that China was not cooperating with it and other like-minded members of the Security Council on the issue of Burma. This was very much evident on Tuesday during the debate on Burma at the Security Council. While China and Russia observed that sanctions against Burma were counterproductive and termed the mission of Gambari to Burma as successful, the delegates of the US, Britain and France observed that the steps taken by the Burmese junta following international pressure were timid and more needed to be done.
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Last Thursday, US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad has publicly stated that China has blocked the issuance of a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma. The story HERE.
__________________________
The US on Thursday alleged that China blocked the issuing of a presidential statement on Burma at the UN Security Council.
Led by the US, a majority of the countries in the 15-member Security Council had favored issuing a presidential statement after closed door consultations on Tuesday and a briefing on the Burmese issue by Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Special Envoy on Burma.
A presidential statement—though not legally binding, unlike a resolution—can only be issued with a consensus, meaning that all members of the Security Council have to agree on it and its content. China opposed issuing a presidential statement on Burma, which would have been the second one in a little over a month.
“We were disappointed by their (China’s) unwillingness to support a PRST (presidential statement). They were only willing to support a statement. We worked hard to persuade them to go for a PRST, but they did not cooperate,” the US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad said.
At the same time, Khalilzad noted the cooperation of China in the past with regard to Burma in facilitating the work of Gambari.
This is for the first time that a top US official has come out openly to state that China was not cooperating with it and other like-minded members of the Security Council on the issue of Burma. This was very much evident on Tuesday during the debate on Burma at the Security Council. While China and Russia observed that sanctions against Burma were counterproductive and termed the mission of Gambari to Burma as successful, the delegates of the US, Britain and France observed that the steps taken by the Burmese junta following international pressure were timid and more needed to be done.
AVAAZ's Boycott on Total Oil, Chevron, and Their Subsidiaries
***The 19 ONLINE PETITIONS/PLEDGES FOR BURMA HERE.***
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***The petitions and pledges are now up to 19.***
AVAAZ also is launching a global boycott of Total Oil and Chevron and all their subsidiaries that operate in Burma. You can sign AVAAZ's pledge HERE. By hitting them straight in their bottom line, AVAAZ hopes to press these corporations to either push Burma to democratic reform, or to leave the country entirely.
I will say though, while many Western Burma-related NGOs and advocacy networks believe that a complete pullout of Western companies doing business in Burma is the quickest, surefire way to weaken the junta and bring about political change in the troubled nation, the situation is not as clearcut. While companies operating in Burma can use their leverage to enact political change, company pullout can create a power vacuum, creating the conditions for even more abusive (Chinese or other energy-hungry Asian) companies to fill in the void. Chinese, Malaysian, Korean companies would readily, easily, and quickly answer the call for investment.
I have heard that Burmese on the ground are actually against a pullout of Western companies. The are afraid that if Western companies leave, Asian companies with poorer human rights records will move in. In the historic Doe vs. Unocal Case involving the construction of the Yadana pipeline, the verdict held that Unocal WAS liable for human rights abuses committed by SPDC troops hired by the oil company. Some think a more effective way to uphold human rights in Burma, especially in areas where multinationals invest, is to put pressure on Western companies to operate in a responsible manner. The Corporate Social Responsibility discourse is much more predominant and established in the West than in the East, where many countries are still subject to the "race to the bottom" for development. Hence, advocating for Western companies to observe CSR is a more suitable option on which Western activists can rely. Moreover, I personally doubt that enough companies will pull out in a short timeframe to create serious cash flow problems for the junta.
Journalist and author Ross Gelbspan has put forth the following theory in his book about climate change The Heat is On. If a totalitarian state (like Burma) suffers from severe economic instability (such as one that would occur from a massive investor pullout), the conditions would be ripe for GREATER, not lesser human rights abuses. It's the same old Asian Values argument that says economic considerations and the right to development come before civil and political rights. By supervising companies who invest in Burma and getting them to responsibly operate, the hope is that multinationals can counteract human rights abuses.
Another petition: Sign Earthrights International's petition urging Chevron to use its influence to help stop the crackdown, and to stop investing in Burma HERE.
__________________________
***The petitions and pledges are now up to 19.***
AVAAZ also is launching a global boycott of Total Oil and Chevron and all their subsidiaries that operate in Burma. You can sign AVAAZ's pledge HERE. By hitting them straight in their bottom line, AVAAZ hopes to press these corporations to either push Burma to democratic reform, or to leave the country entirely.
I will say though, while many Western Burma-related NGOs and advocacy networks believe that a complete pullout of Western companies doing business in Burma is the quickest, surefire way to weaken the junta and bring about political change in the troubled nation, the situation is not as clearcut. While companies operating in Burma can use their leverage to enact political change, company pullout can create a power vacuum, creating the conditions for even more abusive (Chinese or other energy-hungry Asian) companies to fill in the void. Chinese, Malaysian, Korean companies would readily, easily, and quickly answer the call for investment.
I have heard that Burmese on the ground are actually against a pullout of Western companies. The are afraid that if Western companies leave, Asian companies with poorer human rights records will move in. In the historic Doe vs. Unocal Case involving the construction of the Yadana pipeline, the verdict held that Unocal WAS liable for human rights abuses committed by SPDC troops hired by the oil company. Some think a more effective way to uphold human rights in Burma, especially in areas where multinationals invest, is to put pressure on Western companies to operate in a responsible manner. The Corporate Social Responsibility discourse is much more predominant and established in the West than in the East, where many countries are still subject to the "race to the bottom" for development. Hence, advocating for Western companies to observe CSR is a more suitable option on which Western activists can rely. Moreover, I personally doubt that enough companies will pull out in a short timeframe to create serious cash flow problems for the junta.
Journalist and author Ross Gelbspan has put forth the following theory in his book about climate change The Heat is On. If a totalitarian state (like Burma) suffers from severe economic instability (such as one that would occur from a massive investor pullout), the conditions would be ripe for GREATER, not lesser human rights abuses. It's the same old Asian Values argument that says economic considerations and the right to development come before civil and political rights. By supervising companies who invest in Burma and getting them to responsibly operate, the hope is that multinationals can counteract human rights abuses.
Another petition: Sign Earthrights International's petition urging Chevron to use its influence to help stop the crackdown, and to stop investing in Burma HERE.
Friday, November 16, 2007
US Citizens, Help get the Block Burmese JADE and the Burmese Democracy Promotion Acts Passed
***The 17 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
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US Citizens, please help get the Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts)Act and the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act passed. Put the pressure on your Representatives and Senators for the toughest US Sanctions against Burma yet. These Acts would stop allowing the junta to launder funds, gems, timber, and other products in third countries before they are sold.
from the US Campaign for Burma:
Call Your Representative and Senators!
Make Sure the US is not bankrolling the Burmese Regime's Brutal Actions
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Lantos has introduced the "Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act" and in the Senate, Senators Biden and McConnell have introduced the "Burmese Democracy Promotion Act". Both of these will tighten sanctions on Burma's military regime and really hit the generals where it hurts. Call in today to demand that your Representative and Senator co-sponsor. Find your Representative's info at www.house.gov and find your Senators' by going to www.senate.gov. Call today and call everyday until you get an answer! Find out more information on the resolutions and what you should do- Click Here to Take Action
The Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007 (Senate) and the Block Burmese JADE (Junti Anti Democratic Efforts) has the power to force the regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and Ethnic nationalities. We must show the people of Burma that the U.S. is taking action to support their calls for freedom, democracy and human rights. Call your Senator today asking him/her to support the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act! Organize your community to call in as well. Contact details for your Senators are given below.
To read the legislation:
House : Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act
Senate: Burmese Democracy Promotion Act
Contact information:
Call your Senators/ Representative's offices and ask to speak with their foreign policy staffer. If s/he is not there leave a message and ask her/him to call you back. Call today and every day until you get an answer!
Find Your Representative: www.house.gov
Find Your Senator: www.senate.gov
Senate: To add their name as a cosponsor: Let them know that to co-sponsor (Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007 - S.2257)Democrats should contact Frank Jannuzi at the Committee on Foreign Relations at 202-224-4651
Republicans should contact Reb Brownell in Senator McConnell's office at 202-224-2541
House: To add their name as a co-sponsor: Let them know that to co-sponsor they should contact Eric Richardson at the Committee on Foreign Affairs office at eric.richardson@mail.house.gov or 225-5021.
Talking Points for Staffer:
- Tell the staffer you want your Senator to co-sponsor the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007
- Give her/him proof that this policy works. It cuts off hundreds of millions of dollars to the regime and will specifically target the top generals' finances.
- Mention that the military junta still deserves sanctions. On top of brutally crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators, including monks, the military regime has destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It has forcibly displaced more than half a million people inside Burma as well as causing a million refugees to flee across the border to neighboring countries and has made no efforts to move toward democracy.
- Let her/him know it is important to send a strong signal to the regime that the US government will continue to keep American money out the hands of the junta.
- This is not the only action being taken against Burma. On top of many diplomatic efforts, the EU has imposed new sanctions, as well as Australia, and even Japan has decreased aid to Burma.
- Finally ask the staffer to call you back when your Senator has co-sponsored the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act. Important: Leave your phone number!
Let him/her know that his/her constituents care about Burma!
Check up to see if they cosponsor:
It's easy to check and see if they follow through and agree to cosponsor. THOMAS, the Library of Congress' congressional records database updates a list of all information on legislation. Click HERE to find out who has signed as cosponsors in the House, and Click HERE to see who has signed as cosponsors in the Senate.
Please let me know when you have contacted your Senator and how it went - thelma@uscampaignforburma.org. These new sanctions will hit the regime where it hurts.
__________________________
US Citizens, please help get the Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts)Act and the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act passed. Put the pressure on your Representatives and Senators for the toughest US Sanctions against Burma yet. These Acts would stop allowing the junta to launder funds, gems, timber, and other products in third countries before they are sold.
from the US Campaign for Burma:
Call Your Representative and Senators!
Make Sure the US is not bankrolling the Burmese Regime's Brutal Actions
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Lantos has introduced the "Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act" and in the Senate, Senators Biden and McConnell have introduced the "Burmese Democracy Promotion Act". Both of these will tighten sanctions on Burma's military regime and really hit the generals where it hurts. Call in today to demand that your Representative and Senator co-sponsor. Find your Representative's info at www.house.gov and find your Senators' by going to www.senate.gov. Call today and call everyday until you get an answer! Find out more information on the resolutions and what you should do- Click Here to Take Action
The Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007 (Senate) and the Block Burmese JADE (Junti Anti Democratic Efforts) has the power to force the regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and Ethnic nationalities. We must show the people of Burma that the U.S. is taking action to support their calls for freedom, democracy and human rights. Call your Senator today asking him/her to support the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act! Organize your community to call in as well. Contact details for your Senators are given below.
What the Acts Do:
The regime makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year off the sale of gems and timber. More than 90 percent of the world's rubies and fine-quality jade comes from Burma. The new sanctions will crack down on the regime's practice of avoiding U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones and other products, especially timber, through third countries before they are sold.
This Act also freezes the assets of Burmese political and military leaders, prevents Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder the funds of those leaders or their immediate families, and prohibits Burmese officials involved in the violent suppression of protesters from receiving visas to the United States.
Burma also uses third countries to access the U.S. banking system. These overseas banks process accounts in and through the United States for Burma's rulers, providing the regime with much-needed hard currency. The regime uses these funds to purchase weapons and luxury goods, while the bulk of Burma's population lives in poverty.
Biden and McConnell's legislation tightens existing sanctions to prevent Burma's military rulers from profiting from sales to the United States, and blocks access to the U.S. financial system not just for Burmese human rights violators but also to those who provide the regime with banking services.
The bill also creates a new position of Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma. The Special Representative will work with Burma's neighbors and other interested countries, including the members of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to develop a comprehensive approach to the problem, including sanctions, dialogue, and support for non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian relief to the Burmese people.
These Acts, if passed, would be the strongest action yet that the U.S. takes to pressure Burma's military regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and ethnic nationalities.
To read the legislation:
House : Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act
Senate: Burmese Democracy Promotion Act
Contact information:
Call your Senators/ Representative's offices and ask to speak with their foreign policy staffer. If s/he is not there leave a message and ask her/him to call you back. Call today and every day until you get an answer!
Find Your Representative: www.house.gov
Find Your Senator: www.senate.gov
Senate: To add their name as a cosponsor: Let them know that to co-sponsor (Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007 - S.2257)Democrats should contact Frank Jannuzi at the Committee on Foreign Relations at 202-224-4651
Republicans should contact Reb Brownell in Senator McConnell's office at 202-224-2541
House: To add their name as a co-sponsor: Let them know that to co-sponsor they should contact Eric Richardson at the Committee on Foreign Affairs office at eric.richardson@mail.house.gov or 225-5021.
Talking Points for Staffer:
- Tell the staffer you want your Senator to co-sponsor the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act of 2007
- Give her/him proof that this policy works. It cuts off hundreds of millions of dollars to the regime and will specifically target the top generals' finances.
- Mention that the military junta still deserves sanctions. On top of brutally crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators, including monks, the military regime has destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It has forcibly displaced more than half a million people inside Burma as well as causing a million refugees to flee across the border to neighboring countries and has made no efforts to move toward democracy.
- Let her/him know it is important to send a strong signal to the regime that the US government will continue to keep American money out the hands of the junta.
- This is not the only action being taken against Burma. On top of many diplomatic efforts, the EU has imposed new sanctions, as well as Australia, and even Japan has decreased aid to Burma.
- Finally ask the staffer to call you back when your Senator has co-sponsored the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act. Important: Leave your phone number!
Let him/her know that his/her constituents care about Burma!
Check up to see if they cosponsor:
It's easy to check and see if they follow through and agree to cosponsor. THOMAS, the Library of Congress' congressional records database updates a list of all information on legislation. Click HERE to find out who has signed as cosponsors in the House, and Click HERE to see who has signed as cosponsors in the Senate.
Please let me know when you have contacted your Senator and how it went - thelma@uscampaignforburma.org. These new sanctions will hit the regime where it hurts.
Canada Announces Tougher Sanctions Against Burma
***The 17 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Canada has just joined the ranks of the US and the EU in imposing tougher sanctions against Burma, barring exports to and imports from the dictatorship, as well as banning investments. The article on Canada's Special Economic Measures Act HERE.
A day after China and Russia told the United Nations Security Council that sanctions against Burma would be counterproductive, Canada, one of the strongest supporters of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, on Wednesday announced a series of tough sanctions against the Burmese junta.
Following the new sanctions, the Canadian government has imposed a ban on: all goods exported from Canada to Burma, with the exception of humanitarian goods; all goods imported from Burma into Canada; and any new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and companies.
The sanctions imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act, prohibits: the provision of Canadian financial services to and from Burma; the export of any technical data to Burma; Canadian-registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Burma; and Burmese-registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Canada or passing through Canada.
The Canadian government also announced a freeze on assets in Canada of any designated Burmese nationals connected with the Burmese government.
Announcing the sanctions, the Canadian Foreign Minister, Maxime Bernier, said, “Tougher sanctions against Burma are the right thing to do. They are right on moral grounds. The regime in Burma is abhorrent to Canadian values.”
Only a day earlier, participating in a debate on the current situation in Burma at the UN, the Burmese ambassador had urged member nations not to impose sanctions while the Russian and Chinese ambassadors had said that the imposition of sanctions against the military regime could be counterproductive. However, countries such as Canada, Britain and the United States are taking a harder line with the Burmese regime. The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, had said at the UN on Tuesday that sanctions do play an important role in pressure building.
“The strongest message has to be sent. Sanctions are the means by which we, not just Canada, but the international community, can best exert pressure against the junta," Bernier said in a speech at the Economic Club of Toronto after announcing the sanctions.
Earlier in the day, Bernier met about 20 Burmese dissident leaders, including monks, at the Toronto Burmese Buddhist Temple. This was the first interaction of its kind between the Canadian foreign minister and senior Burmese dissidents.
“We are very delighted with today’s visit by Hon Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs,” said Zaw Wai Kyaw, president of Burma Buddhist Association of ontario. He also expressed appreciation of the government’s efforts and support to achieve national reconciliation, religious freedom, democracy and human rights for the people of Burma.
“We are pleased to arrange this meeting between the minister Bernier and Burmese representatives,” said Tin Maung Htoo, Executive Director of Canadian Friends of Burma. “This is indeed an historic moment, not only the minister meeting with them, but also making an important policy statement.”
__________________________
Canada has just joined the ranks of the US and the EU in imposing tougher sanctions against Burma, barring exports to and imports from the dictatorship, as well as banning investments. The article on Canada's Special Economic Measures Act HERE.
A day after China and Russia told the United Nations Security Council that sanctions against Burma would be counterproductive, Canada, one of the strongest supporters of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, on Wednesday announced a series of tough sanctions against the Burmese junta.
Following the new sanctions, the Canadian government has imposed a ban on: all goods exported from Canada to Burma, with the exception of humanitarian goods; all goods imported from Burma into Canada; and any new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and companies.
The sanctions imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act, prohibits: the provision of Canadian financial services to and from Burma; the export of any technical data to Burma; Canadian-registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Burma; and Burmese-registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Canada or passing through Canada.
The Canadian government also announced a freeze on assets in Canada of any designated Burmese nationals connected with the Burmese government.
Announcing the sanctions, the Canadian Foreign Minister, Maxime Bernier, said, “Tougher sanctions against Burma are the right thing to do. They are right on moral grounds. The regime in Burma is abhorrent to Canadian values.”
Only a day earlier, participating in a debate on the current situation in Burma at the UN, the Burmese ambassador had urged member nations not to impose sanctions while the Russian and Chinese ambassadors had said that the imposition of sanctions against the military regime could be counterproductive. However, countries such as Canada, Britain and the United States are taking a harder line with the Burmese regime. The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, had said at the UN on Tuesday that sanctions do play an important role in pressure building.
“The strongest message has to be sent. Sanctions are the means by which we, not just Canada, but the international community, can best exert pressure against the junta," Bernier said in a speech at the Economic Club of Toronto after announcing the sanctions.
Earlier in the day, Bernier met about 20 Burmese dissident leaders, including monks, at the Toronto Burmese Buddhist Temple. This was the first interaction of its kind between the Canadian foreign minister and senior Burmese dissidents.
“We are very delighted with today’s visit by Hon Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs,” said Zaw Wai Kyaw, president of Burma Buddhist Association of ontario. He also expressed appreciation of the government’s efforts and support to achieve national reconciliation, religious freedom, democracy and human rights for the people of Burma.
“We are pleased to arrange this meeting between the minister Bernier and Burmese representatives,” said Tin Maung Htoo, Executive Director of Canadian Friends of Burma. “This is indeed an historic moment, not only the minister meeting with them, but also making an important policy statement.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights to Myanmar Visits Insein Prison
***The 17 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Yesterday, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited the notorious Insein Prison and Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery, one of the scenes of the fallout from September's protests. The human rights envoy's purpose was to ascertain the number of deaths from the crackdown, to gauge the level of human rights abuses in Burma, and to survey prison conditions and the health of detained political prisoners. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), the prison was prepped for Pinheiro's visit (Irrawaddy).
The Reuter's article HERE:
U.N. human rights envoy to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited Yangon’s notorious Insein prison and other detention centers on Monday where protesters were held after soldiers crushed anti-junta marches in September.
A statement by the U.N. office in Yangon gave no details of the visits, but a diplomat said earlier Pinheiro would try to meet Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, two leaders of August’s fuel price protests believed to be held at Insein.
“He is expecting to interview detainees before the end of his mission and receive further details on their records,” the statement said. He is due to leave on Thursday.
The Brazilian law professor, on his first trip to the former Burma in four years, also visited Yangon’s former Government Technical College and a police headquarters where some detainees from the biggest anti-junta protests in 20 years were held.
He also met senior abbots of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, the state governing body of the Buddhist clergy), and visited two monasteries “involved in the recent demonstrations.”
Hundreds of maroon-robed monks were among the 2,927 people official media say were rounded up in the crackdown.
State papers have denied any monks were among the 10 official dead, even though monks reported that at least five of their brethren were killed when soldiers and pro-government thugs raided monasteries thought to be leading the protests.
Several photos have emerged on the Internet of what appear to be mutilated bodies of dead monks, although it is impossible to known when or where they were taken.
Official media say all but 91 of those arrested were released after questioning — a figure that, like the junta’s death toll, Pinheiro is likely to probe in great detail. Western governments say the real toll is probably far higher.
Relatives of political detainees, many of whom played a part in another mass uprising against decades of military rule in 1988, said conditions in Insein had improved in the run-up to Pinheiro’s visit.
“We were allowed to send things to them. We got a chance to learn their health condition. It’s the first time since they were arrested in August,” one family member told Reuters.
In the past, Pinheiro has been allowed access to all political prisoners he wished to see, but stormed out of an interview with a detainee at Insein four years ago when he discovered a tape recorder stuck beneath the table.
Before September’s crackdown, Amnesty International estimated the junta was holding around 1,100 political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
Pinheiro’s visit, which will see him fly to the regime’s jungle capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday, followed the departure of Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N.’s point-man on Myanmar, last week.
Gambari’s second visit since the crackdown sparked hopes the military might be willing to talk about political reform with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nobel laureate’s political party, which won a 1990 election landslide only to be denied power by the army, quoted her as being “optimistic” during a meeting with party chiefs.
Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years, said the generals were “serious and really willing to work for national reconciliation,” party spokesman Nyan Win said.
__________________________
Yesterday, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited the notorious Insein Prison and Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery, one of the scenes of the fallout from September's protests. The human rights envoy's purpose was to ascertain the number of deaths from the crackdown, to gauge the level of human rights abuses in Burma, and to survey prison conditions and the health of detained political prisoners. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), the prison was prepped for Pinheiro's visit (Irrawaddy).
The Reuter's article HERE:
U.N. human rights envoy to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited Yangon’s notorious Insein prison and other detention centers on Monday where protesters were held after soldiers crushed anti-junta marches in September.
A statement by the U.N. office in Yangon gave no details of the visits, but a diplomat said earlier Pinheiro would try to meet Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, two leaders of August’s fuel price protests believed to be held at Insein.
“He is expecting to interview detainees before the end of his mission and receive further details on their records,” the statement said. He is due to leave on Thursday.
The Brazilian law professor, on his first trip to the former Burma in four years, also visited Yangon’s former Government Technical College and a police headquarters where some detainees from the biggest anti-junta protests in 20 years were held.
He also met senior abbots of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, the state governing body of the Buddhist clergy), and visited two monasteries “involved in the recent demonstrations.”
Hundreds of maroon-robed monks were among the 2,927 people official media say were rounded up in the crackdown.
State papers have denied any monks were among the 10 official dead, even though monks reported that at least five of their brethren were killed when soldiers and pro-government thugs raided monasteries thought to be leading the protests.
Several photos have emerged on the Internet of what appear to be mutilated bodies of dead monks, although it is impossible to known when or where they were taken.
Official media say all but 91 of those arrested were released after questioning — a figure that, like the junta’s death toll, Pinheiro is likely to probe in great detail. Western governments say the real toll is probably far higher.
Relatives of political detainees, many of whom played a part in another mass uprising against decades of military rule in 1988, said conditions in Insein had improved in the run-up to Pinheiro’s visit.
“We were allowed to send things to them. We got a chance to learn their health condition. It’s the first time since they were arrested in August,” one family member told Reuters.
In the past, Pinheiro has been allowed access to all political prisoners he wished to see, but stormed out of an interview with a detainee at Insein four years ago when he discovered a tape recorder stuck beneath the table.
Before September’s crackdown, Amnesty International estimated the junta was holding around 1,100 political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
Pinheiro’s visit, which will see him fly to the regime’s jungle capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday, followed the departure of Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N.’s point-man on Myanmar, last week.
Gambari’s second visit since the crackdown sparked hopes the military might be willing to talk about political reform with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nobel laureate’s political party, which won a 1990 election landslide only to be denied power by the army, quoted her as being “optimistic” during a meeting with party chiefs.
Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years, said the generals were “serious and really willing to work for national reconciliation,” party spokesman Nyan Win said.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Text of Aung San Suu Kyi's statement released by U.N. envoy
***The 17 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
While UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari was able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday, he was unable to secure an audience with Senior General Than Shwe. Here's a statement released by Aung San Suu Kyi via Gambari. The AP article HERE
SINGAPORE: Following is the text of the statement by Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, released Thursday by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
___
"I wish to thank all those who have stood by my side all this time, both inside and outside my country. I am also grateful to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his unwavering support for the cause of national reconciliation, democracy and human rights in my country.
"I welcome the appointment on 8 October of Minister Aung Kyi as Minister for Relations. Our first meeting on 25 October was constructive and I look forward to further regular discussions. I expect that this phase of preliminary consultations will conclude soon so that a meaningful and timebound dialogue with the SPDC leadership can start as early as possible.
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success and welcome the necessary good offices role of the United Nations to help facilitate our efforts in this regard.
"In full awareness of the essential role of political parties in democratic societies, in deep appreciation of the sacrifices of the members of my party and in my position as General Secretary, I will be guided by the policies and wishes of the National League for Democracy. However, in this time of vital need for democratic solidarity and national unity, it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as possible, in particular those of our ethnic nationality races.
"To that end, I am committed to pursue the path of dialogue constructively and invite the Government and all relevant parties to join me in this spirit.
"I believe that stability, prosperity and democracy for my country, living at peace with itself and with full respect for human rights, offers the best prospect for my country to fully contribute to the development and stability of the region in close partnership with its neighbors and fellow ASEAN members, and to play a positive role as a respected member of the international community."
__________________________
While UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari was able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday, he was unable to secure an audience with Senior General Than Shwe. Here's a statement released by Aung San Suu Kyi via Gambari. The AP article HERE
SINGAPORE: Following is the text of the statement by Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, released Thursday by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
___
"I wish to thank all those who have stood by my side all this time, both inside and outside my country. I am also grateful to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his unwavering support for the cause of national reconciliation, democracy and human rights in my country.
"I welcome the appointment on 8 October of Minister Aung Kyi as Minister for Relations. Our first meeting on 25 October was constructive and I look forward to further regular discussions. I expect that this phase of preliminary consultations will conclude soon so that a meaningful and timebound dialogue with the SPDC leadership can start as early as possible.
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success and welcome the necessary good offices role of the United Nations to help facilitate our efforts in this regard.
"In full awareness of the essential role of political parties in democratic societies, in deep appreciation of the sacrifices of the members of my party and in my position as General Secretary, I will be guided by the policies and wishes of the National League for Democracy. However, in this time of vital need for democratic solidarity and national unity, it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as possible, in particular those of our ethnic nationality races.
"To that end, I am committed to pursue the path of dialogue constructively and invite the Government and all relevant parties to join me in this spirit.
"I believe that stability, prosperity and democracy for my country, living at peace with itself and with full respect for human rights, offers the best prospect for my country to fully contribute to the development and stability of the region in close partnership with its neighbors and fellow ASEAN members, and to play a positive role as a respected member of the international community."
Friday, November 2, 2007
Junta expels U.N. diplomat
***The 17 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Internet has been cut again after the Oct. 31's protest. The generals are afraid that Pakokku will once again be the spark that ignites nation wide protests. Many monks have been warned not to take part in new demonstrations....
The junta continues to send mixed messages to the international community: As it prepares to receive UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, it has expelled UN resident coordinator Charles Petri. CNN's article HERE. MSN's HERE.
Myanmar's Foreign Ministry has ordered a top U.N. diplomat in the secretive Asian country to leave, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Myanmar told CNN on Friday.
According to Shari Villarosa, U.N. resident coordinator Charles Petri was told by the ruling military junta that "he was no longer welcome in the country."
There was no immediate response from the United Nations.
News of the order for Petri to leave came as Ibrahim Gambari, the special U.N. envoy to Myanmar, was due to return to the troubled nation on Saturday.
"They say that they are interested in cooperating with the U.N.," Villarosa said, "so this seems very unusual to say the least." It was uncertain whether Petri had been given a deadline for leaving the country.
It will be the second visit to Myanmar in recent weeks for Gambari, who has a five-day visa.
The United Nations does not know who Gambari will be meeting with, but it is thought that the envoy will facilitate talks between ruling generals and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, an opposition leader and human rights activist who has been under house arrest on and off for nearly 20 years.
In his October meeting, Gambari met with the military junta leadership as well as with Suu Kyi.
"What everybody has been seeking is the initiation of a genuine dialogue that leads toward broad national reconciliation," Villarosa said.
Don't Miss
The visit will come only a few days after dissident sources in Mae Sot told CNN that more than 70 Buddhist monks marched in central Myanmar on Wednesday.
The march, which the sources said took place in the town of Pakokku, is the first reported since a government crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in September, in which as many as 110 people are believed to have been killed -- including 40 Buddhist monks.
The protests were initially sparked by a huge fuel price increase imposed by the military government, but quickly escalated.
Myanmar's military junta admitted in mid-October to detaining more than 2,900 people during the crackdown, and many of them are still believed to be in custody.
advertisement
Video smuggled out of the secretive country has shown unarmed protesters being beaten by government security forces, and one man -- believed to be a Japanese journalist -- shot and killed at close range.
Myanmar's humanitarian crisis has sparked international outrage, concern and attention
__________________________
Internet has been cut again after the Oct. 31's protest. The generals are afraid that Pakokku will once again be the spark that ignites nation wide protests. Many monks have been warned not to take part in new demonstrations....
The junta continues to send mixed messages to the international community: As it prepares to receive UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, it has expelled UN resident coordinator Charles Petri. CNN's article HERE. MSN's HERE.
Myanmar's Foreign Ministry has ordered a top U.N. diplomat in the secretive Asian country to leave, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Myanmar told CNN on Friday.
According to Shari Villarosa, U.N. resident coordinator Charles Petri was told by the ruling military junta that "he was no longer welcome in the country."
There was no immediate response from the United Nations.
News of the order for Petri to leave came as Ibrahim Gambari, the special U.N. envoy to Myanmar, was due to return to the troubled nation on Saturday.
"They say that they are interested in cooperating with the U.N.," Villarosa said, "so this seems very unusual to say the least." It was uncertain whether Petri had been given a deadline for leaving the country.
It will be the second visit to Myanmar in recent weeks for Gambari, who has a five-day visa.
The United Nations does not know who Gambari will be meeting with, but it is thought that the envoy will facilitate talks between ruling generals and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, an opposition leader and human rights activist who has been under house arrest on and off for nearly 20 years.
In his October meeting, Gambari met with the military junta leadership as well as with Suu Kyi.
"What everybody has been seeking is the initiation of a genuine dialogue that leads toward broad national reconciliation," Villarosa said.
Don't Miss
The visit will come only a few days after dissident sources in Mae Sot told CNN that more than 70 Buddhist monks marched in central Myanmar on Wednesday.
The march, which the sources said took place in the town of Pakokku, is the first reported since a government crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in September, in which as many as 110 people are believed to have been killed -- including 40 Buddhist monks.
The protests were initially sparked by a huge fuel price increase imposed by the military government, but quickly escalated.
Myanmar's military junta admitted in mid-October to detaining more than 2,900 people during the crackdown, and many of them are still believed to be in custody.
advertisement
Video smuggled out of the secretive country has shown unarmed protesters being beaten by government security forces, and one man -- believed to be a Japanese journalist -- shot and killed at close range.
Myanmar's humanitarian crisis has sparked international outrage, concern and attention
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Human Rights Watch asks for intervention of international community
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
New York-based Human Rights Watch has just released the following plea (linked through The Hindu HERE) for international intervention in Burma. It reports on army abuses and the new wave of IDPs/refugees. (Again, their estimates of 500,000 IDPs are conservative. According to Partners Relief and Development, an organization that assists in IDP relief missions, put this number at 2 million. I have heard of estimates as high as 4 million. More of HRW's reporting on human rights abuses in Burma HERE.
_____________
New York (PTI): Asking not to ignore human rights violations by the army in rural Myanmar, a US-based rights group has sought the intervention of international community into the dire humanitarian situation there.
"The international community must not ignore the dire humanitarian situation fuelled by army abuses in rural Myanmar," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said in a just released report.
"Besides, attacking monks and democracy protestors in Rangoon, Burma's military junta is forcing ethnic minority villagers to flee their homes in the country's border areas," Adams said.
Hundreds flee to India
Hundreds of Chin people from western Myanmar have fled to India in the aftermath of the government's recent crackdown on protesters and threats and pressure by local officials in Chin State to attend mass rallies in support of military rule.
The army, the report said, continues to destroy civilian villages in its counter-insurgency operations.
The report, which follows the release of a survey carried out by the non-governmental organizations, including Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and its local partner, said "as of mid-2007 there were 503,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in surveyed sites in eastern Myanmar."
About 99,000 IDPs were believed to be in hiding from the army patrols, 109,000 were in military- controlled relocation sites, and 295,000 people were in areas controlled by armed groups with some ceasefire arrangements with the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the HRW report said.
The TBBC surveyed IDPs in Tennasserim Division, Mon State, Karen State and Pegu Division, Karenni State and southeastern Shan State.
Rest of the article HERE.
The BBC's article on the ethnic Chin's flee to India HERE. Because they refuse to participate in pro-government rallies, they are heavily fined. To avoid these fines and getting arrested, they escape to India.
__________________________
New York-based Human Rights Watch has just released the following plea (linked through The Hindu HERE) for international intervention in Burma. It reports on army abuses and the new wave of IDPs/refugees. (Again, their estimates of 500,000 IDPs are conservative. According to Partners Relief and Development, an organization that assists in IDP relief missions, put this number at 2 million. I have heard of estimates as high as 4 million. More of HRW's reporting on human rights abuses in Burma HERE.
_____________
New York (PTI): Asking not to ignore human rights violations by the army in rural Myanmar, a US-based rights group has sought the intervention of international community into the dire humanitarian situation there.
"The international community must not ignore the dire humanitarian situation fuelled by army abuses in rural Myanmar," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said in a just released report.
"Besides, attacking monks and democracy protestors in Rangoon, Burma's military junta is forcing ethnic minority villagers to flee their homes in the country's border areas," Adams said.
Hundreds flee to India
Hundreds of Chin people from western Myanmar have fled to India in the aftermath of the government's recent crackdown on protesters and threats and pressure by local officials in Chin State to attend mass rallies in support of military rule.
The army, the report said, continues to destroy civilian villages in its counter-insurgency operations.
The report, which follows the release of a survey carried out by the non-governmental organizations, including Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and its local partner, said "as of mid-2007 there were 503,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in surveyed sites in eastern Myanmar."
About 99,000 IDPs were believed to be in hiding from the army patrols, 109,000 were in military- controlled relocation sites, and 295,000 people were in areas controlled by armed groups with some ceasefire arrangements with the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the HRW report said.
The TBBC surveyed IDPs in Tennasserim Division, Mon State, Karen State and Pegu Division, Karenni State and southeastern Shan State.
Rest of the article HERE.
The BBC's article on the ethnic Chin's flee to India HERE. Because they refuse to participate in pro-government rallies, they are heavily fined. To avoid these fines and getting arrested, they escape to India.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Time for Thailand to Revisit its Policy on Burma
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
From The Nation 10/28/07
"The Burmese crisis coupled with increased international pressure and UN efforts have shaken Thailand’s policy towards Burma to the core. Successive Thai governments have for years failed to correctly gauge the internal situation in Burma and face up to the reality."
The full article HERE.
__________________________
From The Nation 10/28/07
"The Burmese crisis coupled with increased international pressure and UN efforts have shaken Thailand’s policy towards Burma to the core. Successive Thai governments have for years failed to correctly gauge the internal situation in Burma and face up to the reality."
The full article HERE.
Singapore: A Web of Cash, Power, and Cronies
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
The Age's September 29th brief explaining Singapore's support of the junta. Besides providing a crucial money laundering haven for Burma's generals, Singapore has supplied the junta with arms; military training; computers, communications, reconnaissance equipment; and medical facilities (Senior General Than Shwe has received treatment for intestinal cancer there, and late Prime Minister Soe Win was a leukemia patient). The trade and investment gains are too tempting for Singaporean companies to forgo, explains an Oct. 3 article by the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.
More Burma-related Yale Center articles:
Burma' Growing Dilemma 9/25/2007
Is Southeast Asia Becoming China’s Playpen? 1/11/2007
The Never-Ending Myanmar Nightmare 9/30/2006
Democracy in Burma: Does Anybody Really Care? 9/1/2005
Burma: Feel-Good US Sanctions Wrongheaded 5/19/2004
Crisis Puts Burma Back in the Spotlight 6/11/2003
According to the Burma Campaign UK, 10 Singaporean companies are on its "Dirty List" of for doing business with the junta, including the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), the United Overseas Bank (UOB), the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), and conglomerate Keppel Corp.
Incidentally, last week some of Burma's assets have been frozen in Singapore, but it may have been related to US sanctions barring certain money transfers from Burma(Irrawaddy's article HERE).
_____________________________
SINGAPORE isn't just skilled at mandatory executions of drug traffickers, running an excellent airport and selling cameras on Orchard Road. It also does a useful trade keeping Burma's military rulers and their cronies afloat.
Much attention is placed on China and its coming hosting of the Olympic Games as a diplomatic pressure point on the rampant Burmese junta. But there is a group of government businessmen-technocrats in Singapore who will also be closely monitoring the brutality in Rangoon. And, were they so inclined, their influence could go a long way to limiting the misery being inflicted on Burma's 54 million people.
Collectively known as "Singapore Inc", they gather around the $A150 billion [$USD 130 billion] state-owned investment house Temasek Holdings, controlled by a member of the ruling Lee family.
With an estimated $A3 billion [$USD 2.8 billion] staked in the country (and a more than $20 billion [$USD 18.4 billion]stake in Australia), Singapore Inc companies have been some of the biggest investors in and supporters of Burma's military junta — this while its Government, on the rare times it is asked, suggests a softly-softly diplomatic approach towards the junta.
When it comes to Burma, Singapore pockets the high morals it likes to wave at the West elsewhere. Singapore's one-time head of foreign trade once said as his country was building links with Burma in the mid-1990s: "While the other countries are ignoring it, it's a good time for us to go in … you get better deals, and you're more appreciated … Singapore's position is not to judge them and take a judgemental moral high ground."
But by providing Burma's pariah junta with the crucial equipment mostly denied by Western sanctions, Singapore has helped keep the junta and its cronies afloat for 20 years, since the last time the generals killed the citizens they are supposed to protect.
Withdraw that financial support and Burma's junta would be substantially weakened, perhaps even fail. But after two decades of profitable business with the trigger-happy generals and their cronies, that's about the last thing Singapore is likely to do. There's too much money to be made.
Hotels, airlines, military materiel and training, crowd control equipment and sophisticated telecoms-monitoring devices for its secret police — Singapore is manager and supplier to the junta, and the "cronified" economy it controls.
It's impossible to spend any time in Burma and not make the junta richer, thanks to Singapore suppliers' contracts with the tourism industry. Singapore's hospitals also keep Burma's leaders alive — 74-year-old junta leader Than Shwe has been getting his intestinal cancer treated in a Singapore government hospital, protected by Singapore security. Singapore's boutiques keep junta wives and families cloaked in Armani, and its banks help launder their money and that of Burma's crony drug lords.
Much of Singapore's activity in Burma has been documented by an analyst working in Prime Minister John Howard's direct chain of command, in the Office of National Assessments. Andrew Selth is recognised as an authority on the Burmese military. Now a research fellow at Queensland's Griffith University, Mr Selth has written extensively on how close Singapore is to the junta.
Often writing as "William Ashton" in the authoritative Jane's Intelligence Review, Mr Selth has described in various articles how Singapore has sent the junta guns, rockets, armoured personnel carriers and grenade launchers, some of it trans-shipped from stocks seized by Israel from Palestinians in southern Lebanon.
Singaporean companies have provided computers and networking equipment for Burma's defence ministry and army, while upgrading the bunkered junta's ability to network with regional commanders — so crucial as protesting monks take to the streets of 20 Burmese cities, causing major logistical headaches for the Tatmadaw, the Burmese military.
"Singapore cares little about human rights, in particular the plight of the ethnic and religious minorities in Burma," Mr Selth writes.
"Having developed one of the region's most advanced armed forces and defence industrial support bases, Singapore is in a good position to offer Burma a number of inducements which other ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries would find hard to match."
Singapore's Foreign Minister, George Yeo, is the current chairman of ASEAN.
Mr Selth says Singapore also provided the equipment for a "cyber war centre" to monitor dissident activity while training Burma's secret police, whose sole job seems to be ensuring pro-democracy groups are crushed.
Monitoring dissidents is an area where Singapore has particular expertise. After almost five decades in power, the Lee family-controlled People's Action Party ranks behind only the communists of China, Cuba and North Korea in leadership longevity, skilled in neutralising opposition.
"This centre is reported to be closely involved in the monitoring and recording of foreign and domestic telecommunications, including the satellite telephone conversations of Burmese opposition groups," Mr Selth writes.
Singapore Government companies, such as leading arms supplier Singapore Technologies, dominate the communications and military sector in Singapore. "It is highly unlikely," Mr Selth writes, "that any of these arms shipments to Burma could have been made without the knowledge and support of the Singapore Government."
He notes that Singapore's ambassadors to Burma have included a former senior Singapore armed forces officer, and a past director of Singapore's defence-oriented Joint Intelligence Directorate, people with a military background rather than professional diplomats.
He writes that after the 1988 crackdown, when the junta killed 3000 protesters, "the first country to come to the regime's rescue was in fact Singapore".
When I interviewed Singapore Technologies chief executive Peter Seah at his office in Singapore, I asked about the scale model of an armoured personnel carrier made by his company on his office table. He said ST sold the vehicles "only to allies".
Does that include Burma, I asked, given that Singapore controversially helped sponsor the military regime into ASEAN?
Mr Seah was non-specific: "We only sell to allies and we make sure they are responsible." He didn't say how. ST and Temasek don't respond to questions about their activities in Burma.
Singapore is so close to Burma that one of its diplomats there wrote a handbook for its business people there. Matthew Sim's Myanmar on my Mind is full of useful tips for Singaporean business people in Burma. "A little money goes a long way in greasing the wheels of productivity," he writes.
A chapter headed "Committing Manslaughter when Driving" describes the appropriate action if a Singaporean businessman accidentally kills a Burmese pedestrian. "Firstly, the international businessman could give the family of the deceased some money as compensation and dissuade them from pressing charges. Secondly, he could pay a Myanmar citizen to take the blame by declaring that he was the driver in the fatal accident. An international businessman should not make the mistake of trying to argue his case in a court of law when it comes to a fatal accident, even if he is in the right."
Mr Sim says many successful Myanmar businessmen have opened shell companies in Singapore "with little or no staff, used to keep funds overseas". The companies are used to keep business deals outside the control of Burma's central bank, enabling Singaporeans and others to transact with Burma in Singapore.
He may be referring to junta cronies such as Tay Za and the drug lord Lo Hsing Han. Lo is an ethnic Chinese, from Burma's traditionally Chinese-populated and opium-rich Kokang region in the country's east, bordering China. He controls a massive heroin empire, and one of Burma's biggest companies, Asia World, which the US Drug Enforcement Agency describes as a front for his drug-trafficking. Asia World controls toll roads, industrial parks and trading companies. Singapore is the Lo family's crucial window to the world, as it controls a number of companies there. His son Steven, who has been denied a visa to the US because of his links to the drug trade, married a Singaporean, Cecilia Ng, and the two reportedly control Singapore-based trading house Kokang Singapore.
A former assistant secretary of state for the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Robert Gelbard, has said that half Singapore's investment in Burma has "been tied to the family of narco-trafficker Lo Hsing Han".
Tay Za, who is romantically linked to a daughter of junta leader Than Shwe, is also well known in Singapore. He was prominent in the Singapore media last year, toasting the launch of his airline Air Bagan with the head of Singapore's aviation authority. Dissident groups say the trade-off for Tay Za's government business contracts in Burma is to fund junta leaders' medical trips to Singapore.
__________________________
The Age's September 29th brief explaining Singapore's support of the junta. Besides providing a crucial money laundering haven for Burma's generals, Singapore has supplied the junta with arms; military training; computers, communications, reconnaissance equipment; and medical facilities (Senior General Than Shwe has received treatment for intestinal cancer there, and late Prime Minister Soe Win was a leukemia patient). The trade and investment gains are too tempting for Singaporean companies to forgo, explains an Oct. 3 article by the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.
More Burma-related Yale Center articles:
Burma' Growing Dilemma 9/25/2007
Is Southeast Asia Becoming China’s Playpen? 1/11/2007
The Never-Ending Myanmar Nightmare 9/30/2006
Democracy in Burma: Does Anybody Really Care? 9/1/2005
Burma: Feel-Good US Sanctions Wrongheaded 5/19/2004
Crisis Puts Burma Back in the Spotlight 6/11/2003
According to the Burma Campaign UK, 10 Singaporean companies are on its "Dirty List" of for doing business with the junta, including the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), the United Overseas Bank (UOB), the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), and conglomerate Keppel Corp.
Incidentally, last week some of Burma's assets have been frozen in Singapore, but it may have been related to US sanctions barring certain money transfers from Burma(Irrawaddy's article HERE).
_____________________________
SINGAPORE isn't just skilled at mandatory executions of drug traffickers, running an excellent airport and selling cameras on Orchard Road. It also does a useful trade keeping Burma's military rulers and their cronies afloat.
Much attention is placed on China and its coming hosting of the Olympic Games as a diplomatic pressure point on the rampant Burmese junta. But there is a group of government businessmen-technocrats in Singapore who will also be closely monitoring the brutality in Rangoon. And, were they so inclined, their influence could go a long way to limiting the misery being inflicted on Burma's 54 million people.
Collectively known as "Singapore Inc", they gather around the $A150 billion [$USD 130 billion] state-owned investment house Temasek Holdings, controlled by a member of the ruling Lee family.
With an estimated $A3 billion [$USD 2.8 billion] staked in the country (and a more than $20 billion [$USD 18.4 billion]stake in Australia), Singapore Inc companies have been some of the biggest investors in and supporters of Burma's military junta — this while its Government, on the rare times it is asked, suggests a softly-softly diplomatic approach towards the junta.
When it comes to Burma, Singapore pockets the high morals it likes to wave at the West elsewhere. Singapore's one-time head of foreign trade once said as his country was building links with Burma in the mid-1990s: "While the other countries are ignoring it, it's a good time for us to go in … you get better deals, and you're more appreciated … Singapore's position is not to judge them and take a judgemental moral high ground."
But by providing Burma's pariah junta with the crucial equipment mostly denied by Western sanctions, Singapore has helped keep the junta and its cronies afloat for 20 years, since the last time the generals killed the citizens they are supposed to protect.
Withdraw that financial support and Burma's junta would be substantially weakened, perhaps even fail. But after two decades of profitable business with the trigger-happy generals and their cronies, that's about the last thing Singapore is likely to do. There's too much money to be made.
Hotels, airlines, military materiel and training, crowd control equipment and sophisticated telecoms-monitoring devices for its secret police — Singapore is manager and supplier to the junta, and the "cronified" economy it controls.
It's impossible to spend any time in Burma and not make the junta richer, thanks to Singapore suppliers' contracts with the tourism industry. Singapore's hospitals also keep Burma's leaders alive — 74-year-old junta leader Than Shwe has been getting his intestinal cancer treated in a Singapore government hospital, protected by Singapore security. Singapore's boutiques keep junta wives and families cloaked in Armani, and its banks help launder their money and that of Burma's crony drug lords.
Much of Singapore's activity in Burma has been documented by an analyst working in Prime Minister John Howard's direct chain of command, in the Office of National Assessments. Andrew Selth is recognised as an authority on the Burmese military. Now a research fellow at Queensland's Griffith University, Mr Selth has written extensively on how close Singapore is to the junta.
Often writing as "William Ashton" in the authoritative Jane's Intelligence Review, Mr Selth has described in various articles how Singapore has sent the junta guns, rockets, armoured personnel carriers and grenade launchers, some of it trans-shipped from stocks seized by Israel from Palestinians in southern Lebanon.
Singaporean companies have provided computers and networking equipment for Burma's defence ministry and army, while upgrading the bunkered junta's ability to network with regional commanders — so crucial as protesting monks take to the streets of 20 Burmese cities, causing major logistical headaches for the Tatmadaw, the Burmese military.
"Singapore cares little about human rights, in particular the plight of the ethnic and religious minorities in Burma," Mr Selth writes.
"Having developed one of the region's most advanced armed forces and defence industrial support bases, Singapore is in a good position to offer Burma a number of inducements which other ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries would find hard to match."
Singapore's Foreign Minister, George Yeo, is the current chairman of ASEAN.
Mr Selth says Singapore also provided the equipment for a "cyber war centre" to monitor dissident activity while training Burma's secret police, whose sole job seems to be ensuring pro-democracy groups are crushed.
Monitoring dissidents is an area where Singapore has particular expertise. After almost five decades in power, the Lee family-controlled People's Action Party ranks behind only the communists of China, Cuba and North Korea in leadership longevity, skilled in neutralising opposition.
"This centre is reported to be closely involved in the monitoring and recording of foreign and domestic telecommunications, including the satellite telephone conversations of Burmese opposition groups," Mr Selth writes.
Singapore Government companies, such as leading arms supplier Singapore Technologies, dominate the communications and military sector in Singapore. "It is highly unlikely," Mr Selth writes, "that any of these arms shipments to Burma could have been made without the knowledge and support of the Singapore Government."
He notes that Singapore's ambassadors to Burma have included a former senior Singapore armed forces officer, and a past director of Singapore's defence-oriented Joint Intelligence Directorate, people with a military background rather than professional diplomats.
He writes that after the 1988 crackdown, when the junta killed 3000 protesters, "the first country to come to the regime's rescue was in fact Singapore".
When I interviewed Singapore Technologies chief executive Peter Seah at his office in Singapore, I asked about the scale model of an armoured personnel carrier made by his company on his office table. He said ST sold the vehicles "only to allies".
Does that include Burma, I asked, given that Singapore controversially helped sponsor the military regime into ASEAN?
Mr Seah was non-specific: "We only sell to allies and we make sure they are responsible." He didn't say how. ST and Temasek don't respond to questions about their activities in Burma.
Singapore is so close to Burma that one of its diplomats there wrote a handbook for its business people there. Matthew Sim's Myanmar on my Mind is full of useful tips for Singaporean business people in Burma. "A little money goes a long way in greasing the wheels of productivity," he writes.
A chapter headed "Committing Manslaughter when Driving" describes the appropriate action if a Singaporean businessman accidentally kills a Burmese pedestrian. "Firstly, the international businessman could give the family of the deceased some money as compensation and dissuade them from pressing charges. Secondly, he could pay a Myanmar citizen to take the blame by declaring that he was the driver in the fatal accident. An international businessman should not make the mistake of trying to argue his case in a court of law when it comes to a fatal accident, even if he is in the right."
Mr Sim says many successful Myanmar businessmen have opened shell companies in Singapore "with little or no staff, used to keep funds overseas". The companies are used to keep business deals outside the control of Burma's central bank, enabling Singaporeans and others to transact with Burma in Singapore.
He may be referring to junta cronies such as Tay Za and the drug lord Lo Hsing Han. Lo is an ethnic Chinese, from Burma's traditionally Chinese-populated and opium-rich Kokang region in the country's east, bordering China. He controls a massive heroin empire, and one of Burma's biggest companies, Asia World, which the US Drug Enforcement Agency describes as a front for his drug-trafficking. Asia World controls toll roads, industrial parks and trading companies. Singapore is the Lo family's crucial window to the world, as it controls a number of companies there. His son Steven, who has been denied a visa to the US because of his links to the drug trade, married a Singaporean, Cecilia Ng, and the two reportedly control Singapore-based trading house Kokang Singapore.
A former assistant secretary of state for the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Robert Gelbard, has said that half Singapore's investment in Burma has "been tied to the family of narco-trafficker Lo Hsing Han".
Tay Za, who is romantically linked to a daughter of junta leader Than Shwe, is also well known in Singapore. He was prominent in the Singapore media last year, toasting the launch of his airline Air Bagan with the head of Singapore's aviation authority. Dissident groups say the trade-off for Tay Za's government business contracts in Burma is to fund junta leaders' medical trips to Singapore.
Myanmar regime officials in Moscow for military cooperation talks
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
From Deutsche Presse-Agentur. After China, Russia is one of the junta's biggest military supporters. Russia, along with China, vetoed the UN Security Resolution against Burma last January and also has lobbied against sanctions. Now, the Russian Federation is considering continuing its military training of the brutal dictatorial killing machine of Burma. The details HERE.
Moscow - Representative of Myanmar’s military junta, which four weeks ago brutally cracked down on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks, are in Moscow for talks on cooperation with Russian security services, reports said Sunday.The week-long talks will be specifically focussed on a proposed programme to have Myanmar officers trained in Russian military facilities, news agency Interfax cited Russian Ground Forces spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.
Russia as a veto power in the UN Security Council has rejected tightening of sanctions on the junta over its suppression of democracy, and has in the past supplied the regime with military equipment including combat jets and helicopters.
Myanmar’s military and police had on Friday staged a march in the country’s capital Yangon, assembling particularly around the area where last month’s monk-led protests took place.
The street demonstrations led by the monks in September and the subsequent crackdown by the ruling military junta led to 10 deaths, the government said.
Independent observers claimed the number of victims was much higher.
__________________________
From Deutsche Presse-Agentur. After China, Russia is one of the junta's biggest military supporters. Russia, along with China, vetoed the UN Security Resolution against Burma last January and also has lobbied against sanctions. Now, the Russian Federation is considering continuing its military training of the brutal dictatorial killing machine of Burma. The details HERE.
Moscow - Representative of Myanmar’s military junta, which four weeks ago brutally cracked down on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks, are in Moscow for talks on cooperation with Russian security services, reports said Sunday.The week-long talks will be specifically focussed on a proposed programme to have Myanmar officers trained in Russian military facilities, news agency Interfax cited Russian Ground Forces spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.
Russia as a veto power in the UN Security Council has rejected tightening of sanctions on the junta over its suppression of democracy, and has in the past supplied the regime with military equipment including combat jets and helicopters.
Myanmar’s military and police had on Friday staged a march in the country’s capital Yangon, assembling particularly around the area where last month’s monk-led protests took place.
The street demonstrations led by the monks in September and the subsequent crackdown by the ruling military junta led to 10 deaths, the government said.
Independent observers claimed the number of victims was much higher.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Three trends that will keep Burma on the world's radar
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
_______________
The Nation's (Bangkok)Oct. 22 article HERE:
After the violent crackdown last month and Rangoon's dismissal of the UN's call for dialogue, three broad trends have emerged that will ensure that the perpetual Burmese crisis never again falls off the world's radar screen.
Ironically, these trends were brought about by the junta's brutal crackdown against Buddhist monks last month. The Rangoon junta has been able to get away scot-free with their less publicised oppressive acts against the Burmese people and opposition forces since 1988. Rangoon has been adept at playing realpolitik and trade-off games with major powers interested in its rich energy resources. The suffering of the Burmese has, for the first time in nearly two decades, unmistakably registered. So far, the international community's response has been swift and sustained.
Since the early 1990s, Western countries led by the US and the European Union have maintained various forms of sanctions against the Burmese regime, ranging from trade and investment, to financial visa matters. Last week, US President George W Bush announced additional sanctions targeting three dozen senior officials. Both the US and the EU are working together on banking sanctions that would freeze offshore accounts belonging to the junta leaders, their families and associates. An arms embargo is on the drawing board. These sanctions are smarter and more specific.
The regime's brutality, witnessed through countless video clips and photos, has bridged the perception gap that existed among key countries engaging Burma. Previously, only the US and the EU saw eye to eye on the need for sanctions. Japan and Australia preferred a middle-of-the-road approach with humanitarian aid and limited programmes. However, the latter two have hardened their positions following the crackdowns and continued arrests of dissidents.
For Japan, it was a wake-up call. The cold-blooded killing of Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai abruptly shifted the mood of Japanese policy-makers who had previously shown tolerance over the Burmese situation. The Japanese stance has been that a softer approach coupled with human-resource development programmes would gradually change Burma and make it more democratic. So far that has proven to be wishful thinking.
Under heavy public pressure, the new Japanese government under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has downsized foreign assistance a little bit. Tokyo does not want to lose all the contracts that also directly benefit the Burmese. As the largest donor to Burma, any drastic reduction or halt from Japan would certainly hurt the Burmese, especially if the cuts pertained to various human-resource training areas.
To mitigate the repercussions on the Burmese people from increased sanctions, the EU has announced more humanitarian assistance that would benefit citizens there directly, notably those in non-economic matters. Burma urgently needs proper public services in education, healthcare and disease control - three priority areas that have been neglected for decades. The regime has ignored these fundamental imperatives, as most of the country's resources and finances were spent on military affairs and the relocation to the new capital of Naypyitaw.
As far as the region is concerned, the focus has been on the role that China could play in ending the regional crisis. Beijing has been very discreet in pressuring Burma. This represents a unique opportunity for China to lay down a foundation as a responsible international player. China was brought into action in the Darfur crisis by the threat of an Olympic boycott. In the case of Burma, China has shown a willingness to take up international concerns and debates at the UN Security Council (UNSC).
China realises that its close ties with Burma and passivity is hurting its "face", meaning prestige, and "international stature" before the Olympic Games. For selfish reasons, China must help Burma to find a way out in order to maintain stability. Beijing no longer has a business-as-usual attitude towards Rangoon. Both India and Thailand, which have extensive energy deals with Burma, have yet to break ranks with the regime. Likewise, after expressing revulsion regarding the atrocities in Burma, Asean must show it can move beyond rhetoric.
Finally, in the globalised village wired by the Internet, non-governmental organisations such as MoveOn.org, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and various concerned groups have kept the world informed about the situation in Burma. They have also gone a step further by mobilising them into action. MoveOn.org gathered over a million signatures for its petition on Burma over the Internet and that will be soon passed on the UNSC and Chinese President Hu Jintao. This kind of massive grassroots pressure across a borderless world exclusively on Burma is something new.
Taken together, these trends aim at keeping the Burmese crisis alive in the public debate at all levels. They show that in order to deprive the regime of legitimacy, the international community must not yield and must work as a team.
The opportunity has come and must not be lost to make sure that the regime will not come back and fight another day.
_______________
The Nation's (Bangkok)Oct. 22 article HERE:
After the violent crackdown last month and Rangoon's dismissal of the UN's call for dialogue, three broad trends have emerged that will ensure that the perpetual Burmese crisis never again falls off the world's radar screen.
First, there is a stronger coalition of countries calling for additional and tougher sanctions, as well as increased humanitarian assistance and contact with the junta. The other is the acknowledgement of the pivotal role played by China and other neighbouring countries, including India and Thailand, in a peaceful transition in the months and years to come, as nobody is advocating an abrupt regime change in Burma. Finally, a strong coalition of human-rights and civil-society organisations around the world have raised awareness and educated the global community about the Burmese atrocities.
Ironically, these trends were brought about by the junta's brutal crackdown against Buddhist monks last month. The Rangoon junta has been able to get away scot-free with their less publicised oppressive acts against the Burmese people and opposition forces since 1988. Rangoon has been adept at playing realpolitik and trade-off games with major powers interested in its rich energy resources. The suffering of the Burmese has, for the first time in nearly two decades, unmistakably registered. So far, the international community's response has been swift and sustained.
Since the early 1990s, Western countries led by the US and the European Union have maintained various forms of sanctions against the Burmese regime, ranging from trade and investment, to financial visa matters. Last week, US President George W Bush announced additional sanctions targeting three dozen senior officials. Both the US and the EU are working together on banking sanctions that would freeze offshore accounts belonging to the junta leaders, their families and associates. An arms embargo is on the drawing board. These sanctions are smarter and more specific.
The regime's brutality, witnessed through countless video clips and photos, has bridged the perception gap that existed among key countries engaging Burma. Previously, only the US and the EU saw eye to eye on the need for sanctions. Japan and Australia preferred a middle-of-the-road approach with humanitarian aid and limited programmes. However, the latter two have hardened their positions following the crackdowns and continued arrests of dissidents.
For Japan, it was a wake-up call. The cold-blooded killing of Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai abruptly shifted the mood of Japanese policy-makers who had previously shown tolerance over the Burmese situation. The Japanese stance has been that a softer approach coupled with human-resource development programmes would gradually change Burma and make it more democratic. So far that has proven to be wishful thinking.
Under heavy public pressure, the new Japanese government under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has downsized foreign assistance a little bit. Tokyo does not want to lose all the contracts that also directly benefit the Burmese. As the largest donor to Burma, any drastic reduction or halt from Japan would certainly hurt the Burmese, especially if the cuts pertained to various human-resource training areas.
To mitigate the repercussions on the Burmese people from increased sanctions, the EU has announced more humanitarian assistance that would benefit citizens there directly, notably those in non-economic matters. Burma urgently needs proper public services in education, healthcare and disease control - three priority areas that have been neglected for decades. The regime has ignored these fundamental imperatives, as most of the country's resources and finances were spent on military affairs and the relocation to the new capital of Naypyitaw.
As far as the region is concerned, the focus has been on the role that China could play in ending the regional crisis. Beijing has been very discreet in pressuring Burma. This represents a unique opportunity for China to lay down a foundation as a responsible international player. China was brought into action in the Darfur crisis by the threat of an Olympic boycott. In the case of Burma, China has shown a willingness to take up international concerns and debates at the UN Security Council (UNSC).
China realises that its close ties with Burma and passivity is hurting its "face", meaning prestige, and "international stature" before the Olympic Games. For selfish reasons, China must help Burma to find a way out in order to maintain stability. Beijing no longer has a business-as-usual attitude towards Rangoon. Both India and Thailand, which have extensive energy deals with Burma, have yet to break ranks with the regime. Likewise, after expressing revulsion regarding the atrocities in Burma, Asean must show it can move beyond rhetoric.
Finally, in the globalised village wired by the Internet, non-governmental organisations such as MoveOn.org, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and various concerned groups have kept the world informed about the situation in Burma. They have also gone a step further by mobilising them into action. MoveOn.org gathered over a million signatures for its petition on Burma over the Internet and that will be soon passed on the UNSC and Chinese President Hu Jintao. This kind of massive grassroots pressure across a borderless world exclusively on Burma is something new.
Taken together, these trends aim at keeping the Burmese crisis alive in the public debate at all levels. They show that in order to deprive the regime of legitimacy, the international community must not yield and must work as a team.
The opportunity has come and must not be lost to make sure that the regime will not come back and fight another day.
Thailand to launch operation against Burmese dissidents
***The 14 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
_______________
Thailand loves Burmese oil, gas, and hydropower. Business interests are clearly at work here.
______________
From Mizzima, off Burmanet, HERE
Offices of pro-democracy Burmese opposition groups in Thailand will be searched by security personnel in the kingdom as part of an “operation”, informed sources told Mizzima.
The nation-wide operation will be launched in two weeks. Sources say the measure follows the Burma military junta’s claims that Thai-based organizations instigated or were helping recent anti-regime protesters in the neighbouring country.
The regime has linked the monks leading the demonstrations in August and September with Maesot based organizations.
The Burmese Religion Minister Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung, in the state-run newspaper today said, “Bogus [fake] Monks” who are in contact with opposition groups based in Thailand had instigated the recent protests in Burma.
Myint Maung, citing the names of monks who organized the protests, said, “All 15 monks have visited Maesot in Thailand and some of them have attended explosive training courses and community organizer (CO) courses there.”
_______________
Thailand loves Burmese oil, gas, and hydropower. Business interests are clearly at work here.
______________
From Mizzima, off Burmanet, HERE
Offices of pro-democracy Burmese opposition groups in Thailand will be searched by security personnel in the kingdom as part of an “operation”, informed sources told Mizzima.
The nation-wide operation will be launched in two weeks. Sources say the measure follows the Burma military junta’s claims that Thai-based organizations instigated or were helping recent anti-regime protesters in the neighbouring country.
The regime has linked the monks leading the demonstrations in August and September with Maesot based organizations.
The Burmese Religion Minister Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung, in the state-run newspaper today said, “Bogus [fake] Monks” who are in contact with opposition groups based in Thailand had instigated the recent protests in Burma.
Myint Maung, citing the names of monks who organized the protests, said, “All 15 monks have visited Maesot in Thailand and some of them have attended explosive training courses and community organizer (CO) courses there.”
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Update on Pinheiro's Visit to Burma, NLD talks with junta
***The 13 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Some quick updates on the UN talks and UN special rapporteur on human rights for Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro's trip to Burma.
Suu Kyi Meets Junta's Official
By The Associated Press
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi—under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years—met for about one hour with a Burmese military government official Thursday afternoon, a diplomat said.
Pinheiro Hopes for More Cooperation This Time
By Yeni
Amid mounting international pressure, Burma's military rulers have now agreed to a return visit by the UN's human rights rapporteur for Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who was appointed to the position seven years go.
Pinheiro Says He’ll End Visit If Junta Doesn’t Cooperate
By Lalit K Jha/United Nations
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says that unless the Burmese junta cooperates fully with him when he visits Burma in November he will immediately leave the country.
__________________________
Some quick updates on the UN talks and UN special rapporteur on human rights for Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro's trip to Burma.
Suu Kyi Meets Junta's Official
By The Associated Press
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi—under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years—met for about one hour with a Burmese military government official Thursday afternoon, a diplomat said.
Pinheiro Hopes for More Cooperation This Time
By Yeni
Amid mounting international pressure, Burma's military rulers have now agreed to a return visit by the UN's human rights rapporteur for Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who was appointed to the position seven years go.
Pinheiro Says He’ll End Visit If Junta Doesn’t Cooperate
By Lalit K Jha/United Nations
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says that unless the Burmese junta cooperates fully with him when he visits Burma in November he will immediately leave the country.
ASEAN should stop passing the buck on Burma
***The 13 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma released a briefer today.
The full report can be downloaded HERE.
The briefer asserts that ASEAN countries must exercise their substantial influence on Burma’s military leaders to secure the delivery of genuine political and economic reforms, instead of using China as an excuse for inaction. The briefer reveals that:
* Burma relies on petrol and diesel supplies from Malaysia and Singapore to keep business running and military vehicles on the road. The military is the biggest consumer of fuel.
* Burma relies on trade with ASEAN for 51.3% of foreign exchange revenue, with gas sales to Thailand alone accounting for 48.4% in 2005/06.
* Burma relies on Thailand and Singapore as their biggest sources of new Foreign Direct Investment, constituting a total of 98.61% of FDI in the past 2 years.
* Burma relies on Singapore’s financial services to store and move the wealth that they drain away from Burma.
The briefer recommends an ASEAN freeze or even a slowdown on economic, material, and diplomatic support in order to shepherd the regime to political dialogue and the achievement of genuine reforms. Action should include a temporary freeze on large Burmese-held bank accounts and other financial assets in Singapore as part of a money-laundering review.
__________________________
The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma released a briefer today.
The full report can be downloaded HERE.
The briefer asserts that ASEAN countries must exercise their substantial influence on Burma’s military leaders to secure the delivery of genuine political and economic reforms, instead of using China as an excuse for inaction. The briefer reveals that:
* Burma relies on petrol and diesel supplies from Malaysia and Singapore to keep business running and military vehicles on the road. The military is the biggest consumer of fuel.
* Burma relies on trade with ASEAN for 51.3% of foreign exchange revenue, with gas sales to Thailand alone accounting for 48.4% in 2005/06.
* Burma relies on Thailand and Singapore as their biggest sources of new Foreign Direct Investment, constituting a total of 98.61% of FDI in the past 2 years.
* Burma relies on Singapore’s financial services to store and move the wealth that they drain away from Burma.
The briefer recommends an ASEAN freeze or even a slowdown on economic, material, and diplomatic support in order to shepherd the regime to political dialogue and the achievement of genuine reforms. Action should include a temporary freeze on large Burmese-held bank accounts and other financial assets in Singapore as part of a money-laundering review.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Stop the Bloodshed in Burma - Sign the Petition
A new petition addressed to ASEAN, from US-based Human Rights First. Please sign before the ASEAN meeting on November 17th HERE. (http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/burma_neighbors.
***The other 11 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Stop the Bloodshed in Burma - Sign the Petition
Monks and innocent citizens were recently slaughtered in Burma for peacefully protesting the oppressive military junta. How much longer can we allow these serious human rights abuses to be perpetrated?
We must bring peace and stability to the region as quickly as possible. China and the countries neighboring Burma can play a very important role at an upcoming meeting, but we need you to help make it happen. The direct influence of these countries on the military junta in Burma cannot be overstated.
Take a minute today to ask these countries to take action on Burma.
Subject:
Take Action on Burma at ASEAN Meeting
Your Excellencies,
It is time for Burma's neighbors to take serious action to stop the bloodshed and bring peace and stability to the region. Therefore, we call upon you to ensure that the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Singapore on November 17, 2007 includes a robust discussion about how ASEAN members States and their partners, including China, can urge the State Peace and Development Council to stop killing peaceful protestors, release political prisoners, and begin a democratization process.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations argued for Burma's admission to the group in 1997, claiming that this would encourage respect for human rights and a democratization process in that country. Ten years later, Burma's military continues to use arms against its own citizens - including Buddhist monks, women, and children - who are guilty of nothing more than a desire for peace, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
The Government of China has repeatedly claimed that the current crisis in Burma is an "internal affair," but the members of ASEAN know better. As ASEAN legislators from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand stated recently, "Burma is indeed a regional security and stability threat." Burma's neighbors-ASEAN member States and China alike-have a special responsibility to encourage the SPDC to respond to its own citizens' legitimate demands without violence or repression.
We believe the following demands should be made of the SPDC at the upcoming ASEAN summit:
* Stop using violence to quell peaceful dissent in the event of future protests;
* Account for all those persons killed, incarcerated, or illegally detained during the recent protests;
* Release all political prisoners;
* Lift restrictions on the monks who participated in recent protests;
* Lift conditions for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.
As a Security Council member, it is in China's interest to ensure that all Security Resolutions relating to Burma are implemented. As neighbors of Burma, it is in the interest of China and all ASEAN members to press the SPDC to start the democratization process. Absent peace and human rights in Burma, sustainable regional security is impossible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Stop the Bloodshed in Burma - Sign the Petition
Monks and innocent citizens were recently slaughtered in Burma for peacefully protesting the oppressive military junta. How much longer can we allow these serious human rights abuses to be perpetrated?
We must bring peace and stability to the region as quickly as possible. China and the countries neighboring Burma can play a very important role at an upcoming meeting, but we need you to help make it happen. The direct influence of these countries on the military junta in Burma cannot be overstated.
Take a minute today to ask these countries to take action on Burma.
Subject:
Take Action on Burma at ASEAN Meeting
Your Excellencies,
It is time for Burma's neighbors to take serious action to stop the bloodshed and bring peace and stability to the region. Therefore, we call upon you to ensure that the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Singapore on November 17, 2007 includes a robust discussion about how ASEAN members States and their partners, including China, can urge the State Peace and Development Council to stop killing peaceful protestors, release political prisoners, and begin a democratization process.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations argued for Burma's admission to the group in 1997, claiming that this would encourage respect for human rights and a democratization process in that country. Ten years later, Burma's military continues to use arms against its own citizens - including Buddhist monks, women, and children - who are guilty of nothing more than a desire for peace, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
The Government of China has repeatedly claimed that the current crisis in Burma is an "internal affair," but the members of ASEAN know better. As ASEAN legislators from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand stated recently, "Burma is indeed a regional security and stability threat." Burma's neighbors-ASEAN member States and China alike-have a special responsibility to encourage the SPDC to respond to its own citizens' legitimate demands without violence or repression.
We believe the following demands should be made of the SPDC at the upcoming ASEAN summit:
* Stop using violence to quell peaceful dissent in the event of future protests;
* Account for all those persons killed, incarcerated, or illegally detained during the recent protests;
* Release all political prisoners;
* Lift restrictions on the monks who participated in recent protests;
* Lift conditions for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.
As a Security Council member, it is in China's interest to ensure that all Security Resolutions relating to Burma are implemented. As neighbors of Burma, it is in the interest of China and all ASEAN members to press the SPDC to start the democratization process. Absent peace and human rights in Burma, sustainable regional security is impossible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
***The other 11 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
Stop the Bloodshed in Burma - Sign the Petition
Monks and innocent citizens were recently slaughtered in Burma for peacefully protesting the oppressive military junta. How much longer can we allow these serious human rights abuses to be perpetrated?
We must bring peace and stability to the region as quickly as possible. China and the countries neighboring Burma can play a very important role at an upcoming meeting, but we need you to help make it happen. The direct influence of these countries on the military junta in Burma cannot be overstated.
Take a minute today to ask these countries to take action on Burma.
Subject:
Take Action on Burma at ASEAN Meeting
Your Excellencies,
It is time for Burma's neighbors to take serious action to stop the bloodshed and bring peace and stability to the region. Therefore, we call upon you to ensure that the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Singapore on November 17, 2007 includes a robust discussion about how ASEAN members States and their partners, including China, can urge the State Peace and Development Council to stop killing peaceful protestors, release political prisoners, and begin a democratization process.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations argued for Burma's admission to the group in 1997, claiming that this would encourage respect for human rights and a democratization process in that country. Ten years later, Burma's military continues to use arms against its own citizens - including Buddhist monks, women, and children - who are guilty of nothing more than a desire for peace, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
The Government of China has repeatedly claimed that the current crisis in Burma is an "internal affair," but the members of ASEAN know better. As ASEAN legislators from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand stated recently, "Burma is indeed a regional security and stability threat." Burma's neighbors-ASEAN member States and China alike-have a special responsibility to encourage the SPDC to respond to its own citizens' legitimate demands without violence or repression.
We believe the following demands should be made of the SPDC at the upcoming ASEAN summit:
* Stop using violence to quell peaceful dissent in the event of future protests;
* Account for all those persons killed, incarcerated, or illegally detained during the recent protests;
* Release all political prisoners;
* Lift restrictions on the monks who participated in recent protests;
* Lift conditions for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.
As a Security Council member, it is in China's interest to ensure that all Security Resolutions relating to Burma are implemented. As neighbors of Burma, it is in the interest of China and all ASEAN members to press the SPDC to start the democratization process. Absent peace and human rights in Burma, sustainable regional security is impossible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Stop the Bloodshed in Burma - Sign the Petition
Monks and innocent citizens were recently slaughtered in Burma for peacefully protesting the oppressive military junta. How much longer can we allow these serious human rights abuses to be perpetrated?
We must bring peace and stability to the region as quickly as possible. China and the countries neighboring Burma can play a very important role at an upcoming meeting, but we need you to help make it happen. The direct influence of these countries on the military junta in Burma cannot be overstated.
Take a minute today to ask these countries to take action on Burma.
Subject:
Take Action on Burma at ASEAN Meeting
Your Excellencies,
It is time for Burma's neighbors to take serious action to stop the bloodshed and bring peace and stability to the region. Therefore, we call upon you to ensure that the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Singapore on November 17, 2007 includes a robust discussion about how ASEAN members States and their partners, including China, can urge the State Peace and Development Council to stop killing peaceful protestors, release political prisoners, and begin a democratization process.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations argued for Burma's admission to the group in 1997, claiming that this would encourage respect for human rights and a democratization process in that country. Ten years later, Burma's military continues to use arms against its own citizens - including Buddhist monks, women, and children - who are guilty of nothing more than a desire for peace, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
The Government of China has repeatedly claimed that the current crisis in Burma is an "internal affair," but the members of ASEAN know better. As ASEAN legislators from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand stated recently, "Burma is indeed a regional security and stability threat." Burma's neighbors-ASEAN member States and China alike-have a special responsibility to encourage the SPDC to respond to its own citizens' legitimate demands without violence or repression.
We believe the following demands should be made of the SPDC at the upcoming ASEAN summit:
* Stop using violence to quell peaceful dissent in the event of future protests;
* Account for all those persons killed, incarcerated, or illegally detained during the recent protests;
* Release all political prisoners;
* Lift restrictions on the monks who participated in recent protests;
* Lift conditions for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.
As a Security Council member, it is in China's interest to ensure that all Security Resolutions relating to Burma are implemented. As neighbors of Burma, it is in the interest of China and all ASEAN members to press the SPDC to start the democratization process. Absent peace and human rights in Burma, sustainable regional security is impossible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Oct. 24th UN Day / Aung San Suu Kyi Day
***The 11 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
from US Campaign for Burma:
This Wednesday, October 24th, is an important day for Burma. It is: 1) United Nations Day, 2) The day when Aung San Suu Kyi will have been under house arrest for a total of 12 years, and 3) One month since the uprisings in Burma were at their peak.
We will be marking this day with a host of actions around the world.
- Several organizations are working together to organize in 12 cities around the world. At 12 noon, demonstrators dressed in white (as political prisoners are forced to wear inside Burma) will gather in front of Chinese embassies. Please let us know if you want to participate in the demonstration in Washington, DC.
- A group of Burmese monks and exiles have been marching from Albany, NY to the United Nations in a peace walk. On Wednesday, please join with them as they continue their march from the Burmese regime's Mission in New York to the United Nations from 10-11 am. The Mission is located on 10E and 77th St. For more info, the cell phone for the peace walk is (518) 605-8506.
- For those of you who cannot participate in these actions we are asking you to ensure that the American public does not forget Burma. We are asking you on this day to reinvigorate public attention by writing an op-ed article for your local newspaper, write a post on your blog or facebook profile, host a teach in for your friends and neighbors, or for more suggestions visit our action page
The Burmese regime may be the jailer of Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of other prisoners, but China holds the key to her release. The United Nations Security Council (of which China is a member) must act urgently as more and more people are being hunted down, arrested and tortured. China must not block Security Council action. We will show that we will not allow Burma's regime to hide its abuses from the world.. The United Nations Security Council needs to pass a global arms embargo now!
__________________________
from US Campaign for Burma:
This Wednesday, October 24th, is an important day for Burma. It is: 1) United Nations Day, 2) The day when Aung San Suu Kyi will have been under house arrest for a total of 12 years, and 3) One month since the uprisings in Burma were at their peak.
We will be marking this day with a host of actions around the world.
- Several organizations are working together to organize in 12 cities around the world. At 12 noon, demonstrators dressed in white (as political prisoners are forced to wear inside Burma) will gather in front of Chinese embassies. Please let us know if you want to participate in the demonstration in Washington, DC.
- A group of Burmese monks and exiles have been marching from Albany, NY to the United Nations in a peace walk. On Wednesday, please join with them as they continue their march from the Burmese regime's Mission in New York to the United Nations from 10-11 am. The Mission is located on 10E and 77th St. For more info, the cell phone for the peace walk is (518) 605-8506.
- For those of you who cannot participate in these actions we are asking you to ensure that the American public does not forget Burma. We are asking you on this day to reinvigorate public attention by writing an op-ed article for your local newspaper, write a post on your blog or facebook profile, host a teach in for your friends and neighbors, or for more suggestions visit our action page
The Burmese regime may be the jailer of Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of other prisoners, but China holds the key to her release. The United Nations Security Council (of which China is a member) must act urgently as more and more people are being hunted down, arrested and tortured. China must not block Security Council action. We will show that we will not allow Burma's regime to hide its abuses from the world.. The United Nations Security Council needs to pass a global arms embargo now!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
International Aid Groups Ask Junta to Eliminate Barriers
***The 11 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
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US President George Bush has called on the junta to make good on its promises and allow humanitarian groups to enter Burma. Humanitarian aid is greatly needed in a country where social services are barely visible. One example of the great suffering in the country can be seen through government expenditure. While more than 50% of the national budget is spent on the military, less than 2% is spent on healthcare. The educational system is a shambles, and 40% of children are malnourished. This is happening in a country that boasted one of the highest literacy rates in Asia and was the world's #1 rice exporter 50 years ago.
Before the crackdown, the International Committee of the Red Cross pulled out of the country, as the government impeded its work. Now, the junta is refusing the Red Cross access to detainees to survey prison conditions and to administer medical assistance.
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Irrawaddy article HERE.
Thirteen humanitarian organizations working in Burma have called on the military government to allow international aid groups to help the poorest members of society who lack adequate health, education and food.
Inger Sandberg, an adviser to Norwegian People’s Aid, said, “The situation is getting worse, particularly for the poorest people after the oil and commodities price increases in Burma.”
The aid groups said the military regime's policies have weakened the ability of local communities to aid members of society who have fallen below subsistence levels.
The statement called for a more open working environment for local and international humanitarian organizations and a significant build up of humanitarian assistance to directly address the needs of the poor.
Presently, international and local humanitarian groups cannot respond to people's needs because of constraints put in place by the military government, sources said.
Organizations that signed the statement include the Action Contre la Faim, Aide Medicale Internationale, Asian Harm Reduction Network, Cooperazione e Sviluppo onlus, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe/German Agro Action, Enfants du Monde Droits de l'Hommes, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Malteser International, Medecins du Monde, Norwegian People's Aid, Population Services International, Save the Children and Terre des Hommes Italia.
The statement also urged the international community to increase efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.
The recent increase in fuel prices and commodities have exacerbated the already fragile living conditions faced by many Burmese citizens, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued a plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma.
About 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
The UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each year.
__________________________
US President George Bush has called on the junta to make good on its promises and allow humanitarian groups to enter Burma. Humanitarian aid is greatly needed in a country where social services are barely visible. One example of the great suffering in the country can be seen through government expenditure. While more than 50% of the national budget is spent on the military, less than 2% is spent on healthcare. The educational system is a shambles, and 40% of children are malnourished. This is happening in a country that boasted one of the highest literacy rates in Asia and was the world's #1 rice exporter 50 years ago.
Before the crackdown, the International Committee of the Red Cross pulled out of the country, as the government impeded its work. Now, the junta is refusing the Red Cross access to detainees to survey prison conditions and to administer medical assistance.
_____________________
Irrawaddy article HERE.
Thirteen humanitarian organizations working in Burma have called on the military government to allow international aid groups to help the poorest members of society who lack adequate health, education and food.
Inger Sandberg, an adviser to Norwegian People’s Aid, said, “The situation is getting worse, particularly for the poorest people after the oil and commodities price increases in Burma.”
The aid groups said the military regime's policies have weakened the ability of local communities to aid members of society who have fallen below subsistence levels.
The statement called for a more open working environment for local and international humanitarian organizations and a significant build up of humanitarian assistance to directly address the needs of the poor.
Presently, international and local humanitarian groups cannot respond to people's needs because of constraints put in place by the military government, sources said.
Organizations that signed the statement include the Action Contre la Faim, Aide Medicale Internationale, Asian Harm Reduction Network, Cooperazione e Sviluppo onlus, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe/German Agro Action, Enfants du Monde Droits de l'Hommes, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Malteser International, Medecins du Monde, Norwegian People's Aid, Population Services International, Save the Children and Terre des Hommes Italia.
The statement also urged the international community to increase efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.
The recent increase in fuel prices and commodities have exacerbated the already fragile living conditions faced by many Burmese citizens, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued a plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma.
About 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
The UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each year.
US imposes tighter Sanctions on Junta, Crackdown Continues
***The 11 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***
__________________________
As the crackdown continues, President Bush has added 11 more junta officials and 12 business cronies to the US Treasury's sanctions list. Any of their assets in US jurisdiction will be frozen, and a visa ban will be imposed as well. This is a welcome addition to the roll of 14 top junta leaders and 260 Burmese officials and their families already on the sanction list.
On Thursday, US Representative Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Block Burmese JADE Act in the House of Representatives. If passed, it would prevent Burmese gemstones bound for US markets to be laundered through third countries.
Despite sanctions by the EU, US, Australia, and Japan, the junta has continued its pursuit of suspected dissidents. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), five people connected with the 88 Generation were arrested early yesterday morning in a house raid.
The full article, "Continues Crackdown as US Applies Sanctions" HERE.
"Bush Applies More Sanctions on Junta Leaders, Cronies" HERE.
__________________________
As the crackdown continues, President Bush has added 11 more junta officials and 12 business cronies to the US Treasury's sanctions list. Any of their assets in US jurisdiction will be frozen, and a visa ban will be imposed as well. This is a welcome addition to the roll of 14 top junta leaders and 260 Burmese officials and their families already on the sanction list.
On Thursday, US Representative Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Block Burmese JADE Act in the House of Representatives. If passed, it would prevent Burmese gemstones bound for US markets to be laundered through third countries.
Despite sanctions by the EU, US, Australia, and Japan, the junta has continued its pursuit of suspected dissidents. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), five people connected with the 88 Generation were arrested early yesterday morning in a house raid.
The full article, "Continues Crackdown as US Applies Sanctions" HERE.
"Bush Applies More Sanctions on Junta Leaders, Cronies" HERE.
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