BurmaNet News, March 22, 2007

[Editor]

March 22, 2007 Issue # 3167

INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Junta hinders activist ‘White Sunday’ campaign
AP: Persistent protester detained for 4th time in month in Myanmar
Khonumthung: Government employees' salary may increase

ON THE BORDER
SHAN: Border on high alert
Bangkok Post: Burmese grenade kills ranger
Kaowao: Mons face difficulty obtaining refugee status in Malaysia

BUSINESS / TRADE
Asia Pulse: Myanmar refuses to export gas to India; opts for china

REGIONAL
Mizzima: Counsel for the prosecution of 34 ethnic Burmese rebels shield
witnesses: defence lawyer

INTERNATIONAL
Narinjara: Gambari likely to be Special Envoy
Narinjara: Shwe Gas Movement activists to protest globally on March 26

OPINION / OTHER
Cord Weekly, Canada: China, Russia block Burma’s rights progress - Yusuf
Faqiri

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

March 22, Irrawaddy
Junta hinders activist ‘White Sunday’ campaign - Khun Sam

Local authorities in Rangoon have reportedly been ordered to hinder a
prominent Burmese activist group’s latest campaign, which aims to help
political prisoners and their families in Burma, according to one leading
member of the group.

“Since we began visiting political prisoners’ families, local authorities
have hindered or blocked our routes and monitored the houses we visit,”
Pyone Cho, a member of the 88 Generation Students group told The Irrawaddy
on Thursday.

Some authorities have even attempted to physically prevent members from
making visits, Pyone Cho said of their latest campaign, “White Sunday,”
which began on March 11.

The campaign has alarmed authorities, said Pyone Cho, and about 15 to 20
people in civilian clothing tried to block about 60 activists from the 88
Generation Students as they approached the home of political prisoner Myo
Myint Zaw in Bahan Township on March 18.

Vendors and residents in the area later told the group that the group that
attempted to block them included officials from the Bahan Township Peace
and Development Council.

Two members of the activist group have faced intimidation by junta
officials—one was briefly held for questioning, while another was
threatened during a visit to a political prisoner’s house in North
Okkalapa Township.

“We feel sympathy towards the families of prisoners and a responsibility
to encourage them,” Pyone Cho said. “Their family members are jailed not
because they are guilty of a crime, but because of their political
beliefs.

Pyone Cho added that it is time for Burmese authorities to face the issue
of political prisoners in more human terms. “It is time to end this kind
of abuse, and authorities must view our work with more open and liberal
eyes.”

____________________________________

March 22, Associated Press
Persistent protester detained for 4th time in month in Myanmar

Myanmar police detained an activist who staged a solo protest calling for
freedom of religion in front of a busy market Thursday in Yangon, the
country's biggest city, witnesses said.

It was the fourth time in a month that Htin Kyaw, also known as Kyaw Htin,
had been detained by authorities in Myanmar which has been under military
rule since 1962 and where political protests are almost always suppressed.

Htin Kyaw, 44, wearing a track suit and holding a black begging bowl often
used by Buddhist monks stood in the middle of a busy street in front of a
market and shouted slogans calling for religious freedom, said Nyunt
Maung, a 35-year-old pedicab driver.

After shouting for about 15 minutes, Htin Kyaw who had the words "freedom
of religion" written on his white shirt was taken away by three policemen,
witnesses said.

Friends of Htin Kyaw said he was unhappy that he was not permitted to
serve as a monk at a monastery in the North Okkalapa suburb of Yangon
where he lives.

A friend of Htin Kyaw, who asked not to be named so as to avoid official
harassment, said they were told that senior monks from the state body
supervising Buddhist religion had told the abbot of the monastery not to
allow Htin Kyaw to join the monkhood there.

"Htin Kyaw was very upset by the prohibition," said the friend.

Htin Kyaw's arrest comes after he was detained on Feb. 22 along with eight
other people after taking part in a rare 30-minute demonstration in
downtown Yangon calling for improved health care and education, better
pension benefits and lower consumer prices.

He was again taken into custody on March 6, then released the next day. He
was detained for a third time after he held a press conference on March 8,
urging the junta to solve the country's social and economic problems, but
released the same day.

____________________________________

March 22, Khonumthung News
Government employees' salary may increase

The Burmese military regime is likely to increase the salary of government
employees by about Kyat 20,000 as a bonus from April.

In this regard a teacher in Chin state said, "One cannot say for sure, but
it will be increased. The price of essential commodities will suddenly go
up following an increase in salary. I don't know how daily workers will
manage when we, government servants, are finding it hard to manage with
our salaries."

The authorities discontinued providing rice as ration to teachers three
years ago. They also initiated action against teachers into private
tuition. So teachers are facing a financial crunch.

Although teachers in middle school earn Kyat 30,000 to 50,000 in Chin
state it is not enough for their livelihood. At the same time daily
workers who earn Kyat 1,000 to 1,500 per a day are under severe financial
pressure.

"It is terrible for us. All market prices will increase if the government
servant's salaries go up. The price of rice is going up and we cannot even
dream of sending our children to school. We are struggling to stay alive,"
said a Chin worker.

In Burma daily labourers cannot think about their children's future. They
are busy with their work all day long because the prices of essential
commodities are going up by the day.

Although the authorities have not announced the pay hike, civilians have
begun to worry.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

March 22, Shan Herald Agency for News
Border on high alert

Following clashes on the northern border yesterday, both Thai and Burma
armies have placed their border units on full alert, according to Thai and
Shan sources.

"According to a transcribed radio  message which we have just received,
the Burma Army has also ordered its troops to keep an eye on the movements
of both the Thai Army and the armed resistance groups," said an officer
from the Shan State Army (SSA) South at 10:00 this morning.

Likewise, the Thai Army has beefed up its positions along the
Maehongson-Kayah border in the wake of a cross-border attack by 40-strong
Burmese troops, according to The Manager Online. Bangkok Post, Post Today
and Krungthep Thurakij however have blamed on an unidentified armed force,
quoting Thai Army sources.

Offhand, Thai army sources have pointed their fingers at Haiwo (Heho)
based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 117, commanded by Maj Ye Tun, one of
the 10 battalions under the command of Brig-Gen Aye Khaing, Commander of
the Kalaw-based Light Infantry Division (LID) 55.

Yesterday's unprovoked attack took place some 500 meters well inside Thai
territory in Khun Yuam district, resulting in the killing of Paramilitary
Ranger Cherdsak Tharananthawitthaya.

____________________________________

March 22, Bangkok Post
Burmese grenade kills ranger - Subin Kheunkaew

The army will send a protest letter to Burma over the killing on Wednesday
of a military ranger near the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Hong Son
province. Third Army commander Lt-Gen Jiradet Khotcharat said he had
reported the incident to the army and the government. The ranger was
killed by a grenade fired by a Burmese soldier, he said.

The victim and his colleagues were changing shifts at the 36th Rangers
base at Mae Surin village in Khun Yuam district near the Burmese border on
Wednesday. The incident sparked an hour-long gunfight between Thai and
Burmese soldiers.

Col Suthas Jarumanee, chief of the 7th special task force, said Burmese
troops and the rebel Karenni National Progressive Party were engaged in
heavy fighting along the border while the ranger and his colleagues were
heading to their base. Burmese soldiers might have mistaken the ranger for
an ethnic fighter and fired at him. Several spent M16 shells were found at
the scene.

The Thai-Burmese border situation has now returned to normal. The Burmese
government has not commented on the ranger's death.

Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has asked a military attache to send a
protest letter to Burma.

Gen Sonthi, also chairman of the Council for National Security, said he
had received a report on the gun battle. The shooting might have been
caused by misunderstanding on the part of the Burmese troops, he added.

Talks between local military authorities from the two countries would be
held to discuss the incident, he said

____________________________________

March 22, Kaowao News
Mons face difficulty obtaining refugee status in Malaysia

Despite increasing numbers seeking asylum, only a handful of Mons have
been recognized as refugees in Malaysia.

Nai Roy Mon, a social worker at the Mon Refugee Organization (MRO) based
in Kuala Lumpur, said that over 2,000 Mons have registered with the MRO
and only about 250 (12.5 percent) have been able to get an interview with
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the past two
years.

Asylum seekers often look for help in applying for refugee status at the
UNHCR office through the MRO, but their chances are minimal.

"Compared to other ethnic groups, few Mons have been recognized (as
refugees).  Only eight people were resettled in third countries; five to
Denmark, two to Canada and one to Norway.  Our situation back home is no
better than that of other ethnic groups, but the Mons lack attention.  The
overseas or former Mon refugees need to talk with their respected
governments to consider this situation," said Nai Lawee Chan, MRO officer.

A Mon youth Apar Hong Mon, who fled Burma fearing arrest by local militia
in Mon State said, "It is unfortunate that our plight is forgotten. We
have no Mon interpreters and the UNHCR office favours other groups
(Muslims and Christians) who have good connections with the officers
here." Hong and his brothers fled from their village in Ye after local
authorities accused them of supporting the opposition group in Mon State.

The UNHCR recognizes many Rohingyas and Chins as refugees, granting them
temporary status.  Several thousands have been provided with documentation
that identifies them to Malaysian authorities.

Last month, the Malaysian authorities raided the MRO office in Penang and
Nai Mon Nyan, a community leader, was among 10 people who were arrested.

With the help of local NGOs, the MRO offices in Kula Lumpur and Penang
actively work to address the problem of Mon refugees.  While the MRO is
unable to secure refugee status, they are able to provide assistance in
looking for work and medical care to both men and women, as well as
provide shelter, food, and clothing.

Since human rights violations continue in southern Burma, many Mon have
fled to Malaysia as illegal immigrants and live under miserable
conditions.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

March 22, Asia Pulse
Myanmar refuses to export gas to India; opts for China

Myanmar has refused to export gas to India and instead prefers a pipeline
to China to export the gas found in its off-shore area. Myanmar last week
told an Indian delegation that it wants to sell gas from off-shore block
A-1 and potential discoveries in A-3 block to China, highly placed sources
said.

India's ONGC Videsh Limited and GAIL have 30 per cent stake in A-1 and A-3
blocks, while South Korea's Daewoo is the operator with 60 per cent stake.
South Korea's Kogas has the remaining 10 per cent interest.

China has told Myanmar that it will lay a 900 kilometre pipeline in
Myanmar to transport the gas from the off-shore area to Myanmar-China
border. The distance from the gas field to India-Myanmar border is just
290 kilometres, making it the most economical export option but Myanmar's
military leadership preferred to go with China.

Around 18 million standard cubic metres per day is likely to be produced
from block A-1, while volumes from A-3 block have not yet been finalised
pending an appraisal of the discovery.

Myanmar would use around about 6 million standard cubic metres of gas per
day of the volumes from A-1 and A-3 for its domestic consumption and
export the remaining 12 million standard cubic metres of gas from A-1 and
likely output from A-3 to China.

Independent certifiers have certified 4.8 trillion cubic feet gas reserves
in offshore block A-1 while in the adjacent block A-3 the reserves would
be established after the current appraisal drilling is completed in May.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

March 22, Mizzima News
Counsel for the prosecution of 34 ethnic Burmese rebels shield witnesses:
defence lawyer - Mungpi

A lawyer defending the 34 ethnic Burmese rebels being tried at the
Sessions Court in Kolkata today, said the counsel for the prosecution is
shielding the main witnesses by sending people who know nothing of the
case, to be examined.

During cross examination by the defence counsel today the prosecutor's
witnesses - two police constables from the Andaman and Nicobar - denied
knowledge of the case and the seizure of arms and ammunition.

The Indian defence establishment has claimed that "Operation Leech", where
34 Burmese ethnic Arakan and Karen rebels were arrested, conducted in
February 1998 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was a joint military
exercise comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and local
police.

The two constables, who were posted at the Aberdeen Police station of Port
Blair in Andaman and Nicobar in 1998, however, told the court that they
were ordered to be alert by the defence authorities and were taken in a
coast-guard vessel.

"But they [the two policemen] said they don't know for what they were
taken and they were kept inside the ship, and they went back to their
station when the ship returned to Port Blair," one of the defence lawyers,
Akshay Kumar Sharma told Mizzima.

Sharma said, "The prosecution is not bringing the important witnesses, who
know about the case. They are shielding their main witnesses."

Sharma said the counsel for the prosecution told the court that it would
produce more important witnesses on the next hearing which the court today
fixed for April 18, 19, 20, 21 and 23.

However, the counsel for the prosecution Partha Tapaswee during a brief
interview after court proceedings told Mizzima these witnesses were
produced in the court in order to establish the involvement of civil
security during the operation.

The court, on the request of the Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI) and
the defence counsel, has ordered the commander in-charge of the Indian
Navy fortress headquarters in Andaman and Nicobar to bring whatever was
recovered from the accused persons along with the two speed boats and two
trawlers, Sharma said.

According to the Indian Defence Ministry, during "Operation Leech" a huge
cache of arms, ammunitions, explosives and two speed boats and two
trawlers were seized from the rebels, whom they allegedly accused as
gunrunners.

The rebels, who were arrested at Landfall Island in February 11, 1998,
claim that they were "Freedom Fighters" fighting against the Burmese
military junta and were betrayed by their long time allies - the Indian
military Intelligence - after killing six of their leaders in cold blood.

While the hearing of the prosecutor's witnesses was scheduled to be
extended to March 23 on a witness per day basis, since two witnesses were
produced today, the court will adjourn until the next hearing, which
begins on April 18.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

March 22, Narinjara
Gambari likely to be Special Envoy

Former special envoy for Burma Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who was appointed by
former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, is likely to retain his position
as the special envoy for Burma in the future, according to a report of the
VOA Burmese section.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in an exclusive interview with VOA's
Peter Heinlein that he would like to use Gambari's experience to help
Burmese people in the future.

"My predecessor, former Secretary General Kofi Annan has appointed a
special envoy for Myanmar's human rights, Mr. Gambari, and I am also going
to use his experience in the future to help the Myanmar people to
democratize their systems," Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said.

Since Ban Ki-Moon assumed the position of UN Secretary General earlier
this year there has been no one acting as the special envoy for Burma.

Burmese democratic groups, including the National League for Democracy,
recently requested the UN Secretary General to appoint a new special envoy
for Burma to help solve the current deadlock in Burma's politics and to
facilitate the national reconciliation process.

Gambari went to Burma twice last year as the UN special envoy, meeting
both Senior General Than Shwe and democratic leader Daw Aung Suu Kyi. He
also visited the Burmese military sponsored national convention and the
new capital Naypyidaw.

Despite this, there has been no progress during his tenure as the UN
special envoy. Many Burmese opposition groups are unsatisfied with
Gambari's efforts for democratic reform in Burma during his last tenure as
special envoy for Burma.

____________________________________

March 22, Narinjara News
Shwe Gas Movement activists to protest globally on March 26

Shwe Gas Movement activists from across the world will stage protest
demonstrations against Korean company Daewoo and the Indian government in
20 countries on March 26, with the slogan "No more guns for Gas", said a
report of the Shwe Gas Movement.

This is the fourth time the group has arranged worldwide protests against
India and Daewoo, with the three previous agitations having been completed
successfully, said Shwe Gas activists.

According to a Shwe Gas Movement report, its activists from around the
world will stage the protests in at least 20 countries, including Japan,
India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, USA, Britian, the Netherlands,
France, Germany, Norway, Philippines, South Korea, and Australia.

On March 26, activists will march to their nearest South Korean or Indian
embassy or consulate, toy guns in hand, demanding a stop to the India and
South Korean supported Shwe gas project being implemented with the Burmese
military junta.

In their report, the Shwe Gas Movement said that oil and gas corporations
from India and South Korea are in Burma developing one of the largest
natural gas deposits from which the Burmese military regime stands to
benefit USD 17 billion. If it proceeds, the project will directly result
in widespread human rights abuses and environmental degradation.

The government of India and the Korean Daewoo company supply arms to the
military regime in Burma that are used against the people of the country.
Daewoo executives have been charged by the Korean government for illegal
trading in military hardware for a weapons factory in Burma. India too
supplies field guns, mortars, surveillance aircrafts, helicopters, and
tanks among other armaments.

The Korean company Daewoo International holds a 60 percent stake in the
Shwe Gas Consortium, for developing the A-1 and A-3 blocks in Arakan's
offshore area, while 10 percent is held by Korea Oil and Gas, 20 percent
is held by the Indian company ONGC, with the remaining 10 percent being
held by the Indian company GAIL.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

March 21, Cord Weekly, Canada
China, Russia block Burma’s rights progress - Yusuf Faqiri

When one thinks of pariah states, Burma often comes to the top of that
list. The story of Burma is a situation of great sadness and tragedy. Also
known as Myanmar, Burma is a product of colonialism, along with its
Southeast Asian neighbours, and has had so much potential to be a success
story. It had all the ingredients for it. Unfortunately, certain things in
life don’t always work the way they should.

But Burma is also different from its neighbours on many levels: it is rich
in natural resources and officially became a democracy in 1990 when it
elected Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the
daughter of Burma’s hero Aung San, to the presidency. Sadly, democracy was
never able to grow roots in the country. The military junta who ruled
Myanmar at the time of the election did not accept the results and also
put Miss Suu Kyi under house arrest, to which she is still subject today.

Burma’s record of gross human rights abuses is on par with North Korea’s,
including the government detaining pro-democracy political activists, and
the army using land mines against civilians. Crippling sanctions imposed
by the West to encourage respect for human rights, when combined with poor
investment in Burma’s collapsed banking system and inadequate
infrastructure for manufacturing and service sectors, have left the
Burmese people among the poorest in the world. Its most productive sectors
are also the most environmentally damaging and are ultimately
unsustainable. Other UN reports state that trade such as “narcotics and
human trafficking grow 
 communicable diseases remain untreated.”

Although the illegal government does not have too many allies, it has one
of the world’s strongest nations on its side: along with Russia, China has
repeatedly opposed moves to place Burma on the formal agenda. According to
Human Rights Watch, both countries have close commercial ties to the
Burmese government, including arms sales.

According to the United Nations, the Burmese military regime “arbitrary
arrests, tortures, rapes and executes its own people and wages war on
minorities within its own borders.”

Mark Farmaner, from Burma Campaign UK, a human rights group, also says
that “poverty and humanitarian problems were worsening, especially in
ethnic minority regions targeted by the junta.” Beginning in the early
1990s, the regime waged a war on its indigenous Karen people who wanted
more autonomy. Well over 20,000 people have been displaced from their
homes since the military regime began an offensive in the Karen areas, and
they are not yet able to return to their homes.

One would like to say that there is hope for the Burmese people, but with
China and Russia on Burma’s side, while fully knowing the atrocities this
pariah state has committed, progress looks unlikely. It is sickening what
the Burmese government is doing to its people, but why would any
international actors want to help, attaching their name to such an
unpromising situation?

Some good things can come out of the failed UN resolution. One is the fact
that the criminal Burmese government has now gotten the world’s attention,
albeit for a short time. The optimist can see hope for change in Burma,
while the pessimist could convincingly argue that the country is doomed.