BurmaNet News, January 25, 2007

[Editor]

January 25, 2007 Issue # 3128


INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar accuses US of encouraging terrorist acts
DVB: Dagon Muslims forced to accept new restrictions
DVB: Farmers forced to grow summer paddy
Khonumthung: Expansion of Burma’s telecom network benefits Kannan
Mizzima: Three deny involvement in bomb conspiracy

ON THE BORDER
Xinhua: Bangladesh-Myanmar border sealed off

ASEAN
Mizzima: ASEAN should team-up with UNSC to pressure Burma

REGIONAL
Irrawaddy: Thai-Burmese historical film breaks box office records
Mizzima: Double tax campaigner's dispatch letter to Burmese embassy in
Singapore

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: The tyranny remains unchanged

PRESS RELEASE
Christian Solidarity Worldwide: Chin and Kachin delegation holds milestone
meeting with UK Foreign Office Minister

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

January 25, Agence France Presse
Myanmar accuses US of encouraging terrorist acts

Yangon: Military-run Myanmar Thursday accused the United States of
plotting to install a puppet government in the country, after US President
George W. Bush vowed to keep pressing it for reform.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a government mouthpiece, accused the
United States of pressing for a UN Security Council resolution against the
country as a way of installing a new government.

China and Russia vetoed the resolution, but Bush said in his State of the
Union address Tuesday that Washington "will continue to speak out for the
cause of freedom" in Myanmar.

"In pursuing the scheme, the US in 2006 put pressure on the United Nations
Security Council to intervene in Myanmar issues, while destabilizing
tranquillity and peace and stirring up mass protests and destructive acts
in synchronization in Myanmar," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

"The most powerful neocolonialist country, for self-interest, is now
organizing and encouraging its cohorts and lackey groups and resorting to
all possible means to install a puppet government in Myanmar that will
dance to its tune," the paper said.

The paper also warned against possible terror attacks in Myanmar, after a
letter bomb exploded last week at a Yangon post office, injuring a postal
worker.

A group of exiled anti-government students, known as the Vigorous Burmese
Student Warriors, claimed responsibility for the blast on its website.

"The people are therefore warned of possible dangers and urged to expose
and report to the authorities concerned if they notice any suspicious
acts," the paper said.

The group was behind an embassy hostage drama in Bangkok in 1999, when
they stormed the Myanmar embassy and held staff for one day before fleeing
to the border.

They also claimed responsibility for a hotel blast in Yangon in March
2005, and vowed further attacks unless prisoners of conscience were freed.

The United Nations estimates there are some 1,100 political prisoners in
Myanmar, including Nobel Peace Prize winner and democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for more than a decade.

____________________________________

January 25, Democratic Voice of Burma
Dagon Muslims forced to accept new restrictions

Authorities in the new South Dagon township in Rangoon have ordered Muslim
residents to sign statements agreeing not to hold public gatherings or
preach in homes, sources said today.

The statement, read to DVB by a resident, warns that discussions on Islam
could “harm the stability of the township.”

“Restricting of preaching, discussing or teaching any kind of subject in
households in any concern sectors has been ordered,” the statement,
released at the start of this month, reportedly said.

But Muslims in the area say they should be allowed to practice their
religion freely with one resident saying the Muslim community also had
trouble getting permission to build mosques and Islamic schools.

“If we are not allowed to do anything without permission, then we will
have difficulties doing our religious tasks. That will make our children
not know about religion,” the resident said on condition of anonymity.

Prominent Burmese lawyer and National League for Democracy member U Nyan
Win said the South Dagon township officials did not have the legal
authority to impose such regulations.

“According to the law, the chairman needs to have an authority to issue
such orders restricting Muslims from their activities. And as far as our
knowledge goes, we have never seen an act of law where this kind of
authority has been given,” U Nyan Win said.

____________________________________

January 25, Democratic Voice of Burma
Farmers forced to grow summer paddy

Farmers from several states in Burma have been ordered to either plant a
summer paddy crop or to pay money into an agricultural fund.

A farmer from Nanpoat village in Moe Hnyin township, Kachin State said
today that all paddy growers from the surrounding area were being forced
grow 15 acres of summer crops.

“It is not suitable to grow paddy in Kachin state in summer. If we grow
rice in summer, the soil will be unusable to grow the crop in the rainy
season. So we don’t really want to grow. But they said our farming
permission would be revoked if we didn’t grow it,” the farmer told DVB.

Farmers from Irrawaddy and Bago division also said they were being forced
to plant summer crops that would decrease the quality of their next winter
harvests.

A man from Nyaung Lay Pin township, Bago divison said some farmers had
refused to accepts the government’s orders.

“About three days ago, an order from the [Township Peace and Development
Council] was issued to grow summer paddy. If the farmers grow the paddy
now it will be late in the rainy season by the time it is done. So they
refused the order. We don’t know what the authorities will do,” the man
said on condition of anonymity.

An official from the Moe Hnyin township agricultural office in Kachin
State admitted farmers had been forced to plant summer crops but said, “We
asked them to grow the crop they like. Anything that’ll suit their lands.”

____________________________________

January 25, Khonumthung News
Expansion of Burma’s telecom network benefits Kannan

Trade and economic activities between India and Burma has come as a boon
for some in the vicinity of Tamu town in Sagaing Division of Burma. Tamu
is one of the main gateways to Indo-Burma border trade and some people are
enjoying benefits accruing from the extended telecommunication network.

In the last week of 2006, military authorities in Burma extended its
telephone network in Kannan village in Tamu. They have provided telephone
connections at appropriate rates compared to the previous year.

The people of Kannan village with over 700 households have been given the
opportunity to apply for connections. The subscribers have to pay Kyat
600,000 as connection fees.

“We have already bought the telephone box. It only needs to be connected,”
said a villager from Kannan.

Unlike Kannan which the authorities propose to make a model village, other
villages in the surrounding areas are not enjoying this facility. They
were charged Kyat 100,000 as connection fee.

 In order to ensure smooth transportation, the Government of India has
assured to provide Rs. 100 million to Burma for the reconstruction of the
100-mile Tamu-Kalay-Kalaywah Road .

On November 3, 2006, the authorities from both countries held a meeting in
Tamu and reached an agreement on trade and border security.

____________________________________

January 25, Mizzima News
Three deny involvement in bomb conspiracy - Than Htike Oo and Ko Dee

Three people accused by the military junta of being involved in a
conspiracy to plant bombs in Burma denied the accusation calling it
"foolish" and meant to taint the image of pro-democracy organisations.

The former chairman and the current chairman of the All Burma Students'
Democratic Front, Dr Naing Aung, Than Khe and Tun Aung Kyaw rejected the
military junta's accusation in the state-owned media that they had formed
a committee for setting off bombs in Burma.

The New Light of Myanmar, reported today that Naing Aung, Than Khe and the
another former chairman of ABSDF Tun Aung Kyaw and San Naing (a) Ye Thiha,
the leader the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors have been planning to
cause explosions in Burma and to create instability in the country.

According to the NLM, they planned to send bombers to Burma after
imparting explosives training to refugees and migrants in Thailand. It
alleged that they had received the materials including remote control
explosives last week.

ABSDF, the armed students organisation based on the Thai-Burma border
branded as a terrorist orginisation by the junta, was now alleged to be in
league with the VBSW, which recently claimed responsibility for a letter
bomb explosion.

"To be open, I haven't seen Ko Tun Aun Kyaw for a long time. Moreover, it
was only at the time of our FDB (Forum for Democracy in Burma) meeting.
And I have never met members of the VBSW in my life. I don't have any idea
why they are making allegations based on falsehood. May be their
intelligence reports are too bad," Naing Aung, spokesperson for the Forum
for Democracy in Burma (FDB) told Mizzima.

"FDB's activities are being hosted on our website. No member has ever been
involved in any bombing," he added.

The recent re-elected chairman of ABSDF, Than Khe said that "This is a
plot to set us up. They are accusing everyone who wants democracy of being
terrorists. Those newspapers are useless. It is just a waste of time to
discuss these accusations. I feel like as if we are fighting with fools."

"I was not in those areas at that time. These are just foolish
accusations," he added.

Tun Aung Kyaw, the current president of the Civil Society for Burma
residing in the U.S. said that "These are not true. I was here (US) in
January. They are writing thoughtlessly."

"I wrote an article in a Magazine to take the path of both guerilla
warfare and non-violent civil disobdience for democratic reforms in Burma.
The accusation of being a terrorist has been on me ever since. I wrote it
as the strategy as I see it", said Tun Aung Kyaw.

The VBSW, the secret organisation could not be reached for comments.
Mizzima could not confirm also whether San Naing, who hijacked a Burmese
airliner from Burma to Thailand in 1989, is still working for the VBSW.

On January 15, a letter bomb addressed to the Chinese embassy in Burma
exploded in the postal office in Bahan Township where one was injured.
VBSW claimed responsibility for the blast saying it was done as punishment
to China for casting its veto along with Russia on a resolution regarding
Burma at the UN Security Council.

Since 1989, more than six dozen bomb explosions have occurred through out
Burma and the worst blasts were on May 7, 2005 at three shopping malls in
Rangoon simultaneously in which 23 were killed and more than 160 people
injured.

Often the military junta points a finger on dissidents in exile and armed
ethnic groups but the allegations have been denied by the groups except
for VBSW which some times claims responsibility for some of the
explosions.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

January 25, Xinhua General News Service
Bangladesh-Myanmar border sealed off

Dhaka: The Bangladesh-Myanmar border was sealed off to prevent possible
influx of about 1,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, Bangladeshi
newspaper The Daily Star reported Thursday.

The Rohingya refugees were staying in camps along the banks of the Naf
river, a river marking the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar, since
December last year to enter the Bangladesh territory, the news-paper said.

Members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a paramilitary force in
Bangladesh, were put on alert along the border of the two countries.

Mohammed Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bangladesh's
southeastern Cox's Bazar district, was quoted as saying by the daily that
the border was sealed off to prevent possible influx of Rohingyas from
across the border.

"BDR personnel were alerted along the border," Islam confirmed.

The DC said about 50,230 Rohingyas are now living in Cox's Bazar
illegally. They are yet to be enlisted officially as refugees.

According to Refuge Relief and Repatriation Commission Office, about
200,000 Rohingyas living in Cox's Bazar are yet to be enrolled as refugees
officially.

_____________________________________
ASEAN

January 25, Mizzima News
ASEAN should team-up with UNSC to pressure Burma - Mungpi

While the Malaysian Foreign Minister has said Burma is best handled by
ASEAN and not by the Security Council, activists argue that the regional
bloc needs to work with international communities to push for changes in
Burma.

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, the Malaysian FM, yesterday told reporters
that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is in a better
position to handle Burma instead of the United Nations Security Council.

However, the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, a group of Southeast Asia
activists, NGOs, academicians and politicians working for democracy and
human rights in Burma, refuting the Malaysian FM's statement said, the
regional bloc has not been able to push for any changes in Burma.

"Burma has been a member of ASEAN for nearly 10 years now and it has not
been able to deliver a concrete result," Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of
the Altsean, said.

With no signs of political reforms, ASEAN's "constructive engagement"
policy towards Burma, which became a member of the grouping in 1997, for
the past nearly ten years, have proved a failure and the grouping needs to
coordinate with the international community, added Stothard.

"ASEAN cannot do it by itself. They need to be working with the
international community together. And the Security Council provides a
valuable opportunity for ASEAN to exert its influence on the [Burmese]
junta," Stothard said.

Stothard said, with Indonesia at the Security Council, if ASEAN wants to
take the lead on Burma it should advocate for a Security Council
resolution on Burma.

Russia and China, two veto-wielding countries of the Security Council,
along with South Africa on January 12, cast a double veto against a draft
resolution sponsored by the United States.

Syed Hamid also said apart from ASEAN, the United Nations General Assembly
is another appropriate platform to discuss Burma's human rights issue.

However, Stothard argues that the lack of political improvement in Burma
despite the UN General Assembly's successive resolution for more than 10
years is a sign that the Burmese junta has no respect for the UNGA and
Human Rights Council processes.

"But it is very clear from their [the junta's] reaction that they are
afraid of the Security Council and they are not afraid of the UNGA and the
Human Rights Council process," said Stothard.

However, critics feel that the Burmese military junta will be harder to
handle now, as the UN Security Council has failed to pass a resolution on
Burma.

But, Stothard said, "Burma is still on the permanent agenda of the UNSC
and that there has to be more work to convince Russia, China including
South Africa."

____________________________________
REGIONAL

January 25, Irrawaddy
Thai-Burmese historical film breaks box office records - Khun Sam

The first episode in a trilogy on Siamese King Naresuan, who liberated his
country from Burmese rule in the 16th century, is breaking box office
records and winning high praise from Thai and Burmese moviegoers.

The first of the three episodes of “The Legend of King Naresuan” grossed
120 million baht (US $3.3 million) in its first four days, breaking
previous box-office records, according to the English-language daily
Bangkok Post.

The film tells the story of Ayutthaya’s King Naresuan, who was sent as a
prince to the court of Burmese King Bayintnaung, Siam’s conqueror. He
emulates the warrior qualities of the Burmese ruler and finally wrests his
country back from Burmese rule. The film has been praised for avoiding the
conventional colored Thai picture of this phase of history and correcting
anti-Burmese prejudices.

“Compared to previous Thais films, this one would be very much appreciated
by Burmese,” said Naw Hkam, a Burmese activist living in Chiang Mai
“Previously, films about Thai-Burmese history aroused anti-Burmese
hostility among young Thai moviegoers. The script of this film has
something to teach every society.”

“The Legend of King Naresuan” is the work of the well-known Thai-Burmese
historical drama director Chatrichalerm Yukol and a follow-up to his 2003
film, “The Legend of Suriyothai,” which told the story of a Siamese ruler
who died resisting Burmese invaders in 1548.

Made at a cost of 700 million baht ($19 million), the Naresuan trilogy is
the most expensive film ever made in Thailand.  The second episode will be
released on February 15, and the final one on December 5 which is 80th
birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand.

____________________________________

January 25, Mizzima News
Double tax campaigner's dispatch letter to Burmese embassy in Singapore

To avoid double collection of income tax from Burmese workers, campaigners
have sent a registered letter to the Burmese embassy in Singapore today.

The leaders of Double Taxation Avoidance Initiative in Singapore or DTASG
went to the Burmese embassy on Thursday morning to hand over a letter to
the ambassador but an official refused to receive it and advised them to
send it through the post. The campaigners sent a registered letter
addressed to the Burmese embassy the same day.

"The Singapore and Burmese governments have an agreement to avoid double
taxation. According to it, a Burmese working in Singapore needs to pay tax
to the Singapore government and a Singaporean has to pay tax to the
Burmese government if he works in Burma. However, the Burmese embassy in
Singapore has been collecting income tax from Burmese citizens working in
Singapore. That's why we urge the ambassador to take action in accordance
with the agreement," said Naing Moe Aung from DTASG.

The letter written in Burmese shall reach the embassy in three days, he
added.

This rare campaign in a country which has a good relationship with the
Burmese military junta and is at the same time sensitive to the Burmese
opposition's pro-democracy movement on its soil, generated excitement
among Burmese workers, with more than 250 email subscribers registered
within two weeks of the campaign.

"We want to seriously point out that following the agreement between the
two countries shall benefit the country," the letter said.

The campaigners said they have evidence that Singapore and Burma singed
the agreement on April 2004, and Article 26, clearly states not to collect
double tax from a Burmese worker paying tax to the Singapore government
from his income.

At least one fifth of 50,000 Burmese workers in Singapore are paying ten
percent income tax to the Burmese embassy in Singapore and the estimated
amount is at least two million US $ a year.

"We gave the embassy our address and phone numbers. We can be summoned any
time if they want to explain to us. We are hoping for a reasonable
explanation from them. Moreover, we want leaders of our country know that
we have been contacting officials in Singapore on this case. We believe
very simply and honestly that we should do it," said Naing Moe Aung.

_____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

January 25, Irrawaddy
The tyranny remains unchanged

Burmese may have been happy to hear US President George W. Bush, in his
“State of the Union” speech on Wednesday, refer to continued American
support for "the cause of freedom" in Cuba, Burma and Belarus, countries
the administration has labeled "outposts of tyranny."

But hold your breath—America is not sending any special envoy and is not
increasing its pressure on the regime.

That’s it. Facing a cul-de-sac in Iraq, Bush and his senior administration
officials will have little time to look into the situation in Burma. Yet
the US president, who two years ago received Shan activist Charm Tong at
the White House, still takes the moral high ground on the Burma issue and,
whether you agree with him or not, he is certainly a winner.

Burma is not a threat to the US and is just a “mini outpost of tyranny” on
the American radar screen of the country.  The embattled American
president has few plans to devote his time to “regime change” in Burma.
The quagmire in Iraq, increasing American involvement in the Middle East
and the troubles with North Korea mean that the tyrants in Burma can
expect better days ahead.

The generals in Burma may not be pleased at Bush calling them names but
perhaps they have no need to worry.

Two years ago, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named six countries
as "outposts of tyranny"—Cuba, Burma, Belarus, North Korea, Iran and
Zimbabwe. Bush called Iran, North Korea and Iraq an "axis of evil" in his
2002 “State of the Union” address. Today, the tyrants in Burma find no
shortage of friends.

On Tuesday, Snr-Gen Than Shwe met Li Tieying, the vice-chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s
Republic of China. China is not alone in cuddling up to the regime.

In the first week of January, the UN Security Council failed to pass a
non-punitive resolution on Burma when China and Russia vetoed the
US-drafted measure. They were joined inexplicably by non-permanent member
South Africa.

The US had even softened the language of the original draft, which called
for the freeing of political prisoners and speedy steps toward democratic
reform. Even this could not persuade Beijing and Moscow. The double vetoes
from China and Russia meant a victory for the regime in Burma.

The truth is that if India were one of the five permanent members of the
UN Security Council, the regime might even get more support, as New Delhi
has increasingly forged  special ties with the regime.

Last week, India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited
Burma and met with senior leaders, including Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye. It
was disclosed that Burma made specific requests for military hardware,
including parts for its MiG fighter jets.

On Wednesday, Malaysia slammed the failure of the UN Security Council
resolution on Burma, saying it had hardened the resolve of the authorities
in the military-ruled state.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said, after meeting Danish
Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller: "We are back to square one."

The Malaysian Foreign Minister said: "Myanmar [Burma] has to be brought
[back] on track again for discussion. Now they do not even discuss the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi."

The Burmese opposition leader and Nobel laureate, now in her third term of
house arrest since 2003, is not likely to be released in the near future.
She was allowed to meet visiting UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari twice.
The regime was given credit for allowing the UN envoy to meet Suu Kyi, but
the generals were also seen to be clever at playing soft diplomatic games
with the UN in order to deflect pressure and deceive the critics and
thereby to create false hopes.

Nevertheless, according to Syed Hamid, the show of support from China and
Russia could embolden the repressive junta. "It just simply means to
Myanmar [Burma] that they are very strong,” he said. “I believe Myanmar
[Burma] will be hardened towards external influences."

Sadly, Burma remains an outpost of tyranny, with an unchanged regime.

_____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

January 24, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Chin and Kachin delegation holds milestone meeting with UK Foreign Office
Minister

Representatives from the Chin and Kachin ethnic groups in Burma met today
with the UK Minister of Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian
McCartney MP. This was the first time that Chin and Kachin representatives
have met with a UK Foreign Office minister, and the meeting lasted for
approximately an hour.

The delegation raised concerns about religious freedom violations in
Burma, and called on the UK government to urge the UN Special Rapporteur
on Freedom of Religion and Belief to conduct a thorough investigation into
the situation in Burma.

The delegation encouraged the UK government to call on the European Union
to send a strong signal to the regime in Burma that the current human
rights violations in the country are not acceptable, and that China and
Russia’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution on Burma does not give
the regime a green light to commit these violations. They also called for
the EU to strengthen its common position on Burma, including meaningful
targeted economic sanctions, when this is reviewed in April.

The delegation also called on the UK government to put pressure on China,
India and ASEAN to use their influence on the regime to progress towards a
peaceful solution for the country. Sexual violence in Chin State, Forced
Labour and the situation in Kachin State were also discussed.

Victor Biak Lian, from the National Reconciliation Programme of the Union
of Burma, says: “The overwhelming message from our delegation was the need
for meaningful tripartite dialogue between the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), the National League for Democracy and the
ethnic nationalities, but we need the international community to put
pressure on the SPDC if we are to achieve this. We are therefore
privileged to be given this time with the Minister and we thank him for
his efforts in helping to bring Burma to the UN Security Council’s agenda.
We hope the UK Government takes forward our proposals to help secure a
peaceful future for Burma.”

Benedict Rogers, CSW’s Advocacy Officer for South Asia and author of the
recent report Carrying the Cross: The military regime’s campaign of
restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma,
says: “Today’s meeting was very positive and we found the Minister
engaging and sympathetic. The UK supported the proposed UN Security
Council resolution on Burma. We therefore call on the UK to use its
diplomatic influence to continue to build international efforts for change
in Burma.”

For more information please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media
Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8329 0045, email
pennyhollings at csw.org.uk  or visit www.csw.org.uk.

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom,
works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and
promotes religious liberty for all.