BurmaNet News, June 8, 2007

[Editor]

June 8, 2007 Issue # 3222

INSIDE BURMA
DVB: Military threatens to cut off 88 students’ mobile phones
BBC Burmese Service: KIO hopeful for the last NC session
Irrawaddy: Released activist to resume prayer campaign in Burma
Irrawaddy: Junta clamps down on ethnic culture groups
Kaladan News: Arakan State under military control

ON THE BORDER
Irrawaddy: Karen refugees denied entry after fleeing offensive

HEALTH / AIDS
Associated Press: 11 HIV-positive activists released from enforced
hospital stay in Myanmar

INTERNATIONAL
Mizzima News: Canadian parliament calls for release of Suu Kyi

OPINION / OTHER
Central Chronicle, India: Wooing Myanmar - pit falls

ANNOUCEMENT
Prospect Burma: Book tickets now for Prospect Burma June event

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

June 8, Democratic Voice of Burma
Military threatens to cut off 88 students’ mobile phones

The Burmese authorities are pressuring mobile phone dealers to renege on
their deals with members of the 88 Generation Students group and to
confiscate their phones.

88 Generation Student leader Min Zayar said the military’s crackdown
started when a group of activists, including Su Su Nway, were arrested by
the authorities last month.

“We still haven’t been questioned by the government directly . . . When
they arrested Su Su Nway’s group, they seized all their mobiles and
cameras as well. They checked the call list on her phone and started
asking about the numbers that appeared,” Min Zayar said.

The military has also cracked down recently on the business interests of
members of the opposition movement.

A business owned by the brother of 88 Generation Students member Ko Mya
Aye was closed recently by the authorities and Ko Kyaw Zin Htun, an NLD
member from Rangoon’s Mingaladon township, was forced to leave his job
this week.

____________________________________

June 8, BBC Burmese Service
KIO hopeful for the last NC session

Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) said they were still hopeful of
amendments in the proposed constitutional principles.

"We have submitted our recommendations in previous sessions and it is up
to them (the SPDC) to make any amendments", said Dr Tu Ja, Vice-chairman
of the KIO in an interview with the BBC Burmese Service.

Lt Gen Thein Sein, who is in charge of the National Convention, said some
changes in the proposed constitutional principles may be required.

An independent politician, U Win Naing urged the National League for
Democracy and other political groups to make use of what he called a good
opportunity to exert influence in the constitution writing process.

However, the NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win said they did not want to be held
liable for what he called a historical mistake.

____________________________________

June 8, Irrawaddy
Released activist to resume prayer campaign in Burma - Htet Aung

A prominent Burmese rights activist released yesterday vowed o­n Friday to
continue her prayer campaign for the release of pro-democracy icon Aung
San Suu Kyi after she is discharged from the hospital, the activist said.

“I don’t want to be released alone and leave my colleagues behind bars,”
Su Su Nway told The Irrawaddy by phone from the Muslim Free Hospital in
Rangoon, where she is currently receiving medical treatment. “I call for
the release of the others who were arrested with me.”

The 34-year-old John Humphrey Freedom Award winner was arrested o­n May
15, together with about 30 democracy activists, while marching to a pagoda
in Insein Township to pray for Suu Kyi’s release. Her fellow protesters
remain in detention.

Three days after being detained at facilities in the Kyaikkasan stadium in
Rangoon, Su Su Nway was hospitalized for treatment of heart disease,
hypertension and arthritis, while remaining under close watch by female
police officers, the activist said.

“They [police officers] didn’t treat me well at the hospital,” said Su Su
Nway, who has received medical treatments for the last three weeks. “I was
under tight security and wasn’t even allowed to leave my room.”

Pro-democracy activists in Burma launched a “Free Aung San Suu Kyi”
campaign o­n May 1. According to NLD Spokesperson Myint Thein, the party
has urged activists to continue their protests up to June 19, the date of
Suu Kyi’s 62nd birthday.

Suu Kyi has lived under house arrest for 11 of the last 17 years. Her
current term began in 2003, following a brutal attack o­n her motorcade
and supporters in Depayin. Burma’s ruling junta late last month extended
her house arrest for another year.

____________________________________

June 8, Irrawaddy
Junta clamps down on ethnic culture groups - Shah Paung and Lawi Weng

Burma’s military government has begun to target ethnic culture
organizations by refusing to renew work registrations, according to group
members.

The Mon Literature and Culture Committee attempted to renew their work
registration in early May but were informed by Ministry of Culture a few
weeks later that their application had been refused without explanation,
according to o­ne committee member.

The member said ethnic representatives from Mon, Karen and Shan states
held a meeting o­n June 2 in the Mon State capital of Moulmein to discuss
the situation.

A second cultural association, the Shan Literature and Culture Committee
in Rangoon, said they applied for registration in November 2006 but have
yet to receive a reply from authorities.

“We were required to apply for registration, but we don’t know whether
we’ll receive it or not,” a senior member of the committee told The
Irrawaddy o­n Friday.

Committee members are unsure what effect the refusals might have o­n other
cultural activities in Burma.

“For yearly events such as Shan dancing festivals, they [the government]
can not ban it because it is o­ne of our annual celebrations,” the Shan
committee member said.

“The Burmese authorities are trying to ban our ethnic cultural works,”
said a senior member of the Karen Literature and Culture Committee. “Now
we are trying to find out why.”

The Karen group sent a letter to the Ministry of Culture last month to
seek an explanation, but they have yet to receive any response, according
to the Karen committee member. He added that the group’s leader is
currently trying to negotiate with authorities in Rangoon.

Some group members believe Burmese authorities are concerned about
possible links between ethnic organizations and outside groups,
particularly political opposition groups.

“They want to destroy us. They seem as much afraid of literature and
culture groups as they are of armed organizations,” said a Karen committee
member. “That could be o­ne reason why they don’t want us to work freely.”

Ethnic cultural groups have operated in Burma since the 1960s and 1970s.

Recent refusals of culture group registrations follow the refusal in
mid-May by the Ministry of Home Affairs to renew registrations for more
than 20 social welfare organizations. The ministry later announced that
groups could submit letters of appeal, according to o­ne Rangoon-based
social group whose registration renewal was refused.

Social groups affected by the decision included the Free Funeral Services
Society and the Chinese Traders Association.

____________________________________

June 8, Kaladan News
Arakan State under military control

Akyab, Arakan:  The Burmese Army has taken full control of most towns in
Arakan State from June 6 and security has been beefed up. An alert has
also been sounded, said a local in Akyab.

Akyab, Myohaung (Mauk-U), Minbya, Kyauk Phyu, Ramree and Thandwe are under
a security blanket and is being monitored by troops under the Western
Command Headquarter, he added.

In all these towns, check posts have been set on the streets. Troops are
watching the people with suspicion and some times questioning the people
about who they are and where they are going or coming from, said a teacher
in Myohaung.

"It is difficult for people to go out of their homes at night between
21:00 hours and 5:00 hours and it looks like curfew has been imposed. The
army is questioning people who pass the check post or walk on the road or
are arrested," said a student in Ramree.

The army took control of the towns after some posters were put up on June
4 which demanded that Arakan gas and Arakanese forests be protected. The
posters were put up in public areas in towns in Arakan where people could
easily see them, a local in Min Gann Quarter said.

On June 6, 2007, at about 17:00 hours, a section of police force from No.
1 Myoma Police station, lead by Sub- Inspector Njeinn Gjann arrested three
youths from Akyab and charged them with putting up posters, according to
the police sources.

The arrested persons are an assistant accountant of Kambowza Company,
Thein Kyaw Aung (28) son of U San Sein, a second year student of Akyab
Collage, Khine Maung Myint (26) son of U Htun Yinn and Win Maung (28) son
of U Ba Hann. Thein Kyaw Aung and Khine Maung Myint hail from Min Gann
Quarter and Win Maung is from Bawlongwan Quarter in Akyab, Arakan State.

Police suspect that the three Rakhine youths are connected to the poster
distribution, as they have earlier organized the people and youths in
Akyab to do things against the military junta, according to a source close
to the police.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

June 8, Irrawaddy
Karen refugees denied entry after fleeing offensive - Saw Yan Naing

Thai officials have denied entry to 216 ethnic Karen refugees from Burma
who fled from a Burmese military offensive against an armed Karen rebel
group, according to an official of the Karen Refugee Committee.

The group, including women and sick children, traveled by boat along the
Salween River in order to seek secure shelter at the Thailand-based
refugee camp.

Saw Tu Tu, an official of the northern Karen Refugee Committee, told The
Irrawaddy, “216 refugees came by two boats to enter the refugee camp o­n
Thai soil, but local Thai authorities didn’t allow them in.”

He said that Thai authorities said they didn't believe the attack was
still going o­n in the Karen refugee villages in Karen state.

“Thai authorities said they didn't hear any sounds of gunfire, and there
was no fighting there,” he said.

Mahn Sha, the general secretary of the Karen National Union, said, “They
[Karen refugees] can not survive in the jungle anymore. They are out of
food and medicine. Many children and old women were sick during their
travel. They climbed many mountains in the rain without shelter.”

The group was sent back to the Ei Tu Hta refugee camp in Karen state near
Mae Hong Son District in Thailand. Karen groups have recently fled from
nine villages in northern Karen State, a Karen Refugee Committee leader
said.

Saw Peter, an official of Ei Tu Hta camp, told The Irrawaddy, “It is
overcrowded in Ei Tu Hta camp. There are insufficient houses, toilets and
medicines there.”

 “Security is also o­ne of the main points we are worried about, because
the camp is located between Burmese military forces,” he added.

There are 586 houses in Ei Tu Hta refugee camp and more than 3,200 people.
The population is currently suffering from malaria and diarrhea, according
to Saw Peter. The camp was established in 2006.

More than 4,000 villagers are currently hiding in the jungle in the area,
according to the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People.

Burmese troops have increased military operations in Taungoo, Nyaunglebin
and Papun districts since the end of April.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

June 8, Associated Press
11 HIV-positive activists released from enforced hospital stay in Myanmar

Eleven HIV patients who were confined to a hospital after staging a
protest against the detention of a prominent AIDS activist were allowed to
go home Friday, a colleague said.

The 11 patients had participated in prayer vigils at different Buddhist
pagodas in Yangon since May 22 to pray for the release of Phyu Phyu Thin,
who was taken from her home by police on May 21 for questioning.

It was not known why she was detained. But Phyu Phyu Thinn is also a
member of the opposition National League for Democracy party of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar's military regime frowns on all displays of dissent, but is
especially harsh on members of the NLD.

Phyu Phyu Thinn, 35, has been caring for HIV and AIDS patients since 2002,
providing counseling and education, sending them to clinics and providing
accommodation to those from outlying areas.

"The arrest of Ma Phyu was a great blow to HIV patients. All the patients
are from various districts and many have been neglected by their families
and Ma Phyu was their savior," said Yazar, one of her colleagues, who goes
by a single name.

The 11 patients had been taken to Waybargi Infectious Diseases Hospital on
Tuesday. The patients, who are from various parts of Myanmar, had been
staying at a Buddhist monastery in a western suburb of Yangon before they
were taken to the hospital by a doctor from the government's National Aids
Program on Tuesday.

"The patients were given a series of tests and all of them were freed
Friday. Three of the patients were given ARV (anti-retroviral) treatment
and all of them were provided with cash to return to their homes in their
districts," said Yazar, also a member of Suu Kyi's party.

Myanmar's military government has said that more than 330,000 of the
country's 54 million people have HIV-AIDS, but health experts believe the
actual figure is higher. UNAIDS, the U.N. body coordinating the fight
against the disease, estimates that more than 600,000 people in Myanmar
between 15 to 49 years old are infected with HIV.

HIV-AIDS patients in Myanmar lack access to life-prolonging
anti-retroviral drugs because of a funding shortage, and Myanmar's health
department can provide the drugs to only about 500 of the 25,000 victims
infected with the AIDS virus who are in urgent need of them.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

June 8, Mizzima News
Canadian parliament calls for release of Suu Kyi - Mungpi

In a fresh effort, the Canadian Parliament has unanimously urged the
Burmese military junta to release Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, under detention for more than 11 of the past 17 years.

The House of Commons or the lower house of the Canadian Parliament on
Wednesday unanimously passed a motion urging for the immediate and
unconditional release of the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate.

The motion ais "That this House requests that the Government of Burma
release the Leader of the National League for Democracy and Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, from house arrest, since 1989."

The motion, sponsored by the Parliamentary Friends of Burma, is the second
Burma motion to be passed in the Parliament. The first Burma motion was
passed in 2005.

Larry Bagnell, Chair of PFOB in a press release said, "This may be a small
step towards democracy in Burma. But it is a step, nonetheless, and Canada
will continue to do what it can to see that it happens."

Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's opposition party - the National League for
Democracy - has been under house arrest since 1989. Her latest review came
up on May 25 but her house arrest term was extended by one year by the
military junta, despite world-wide protests.

Tin Maung Htoo, Director of the Canadian Friends of Burma, a group
advocating human rights and democracy in Burma, told Mizzima, "It is
amazing to see the amount of support the motion gained in Parliament. This
is the first ever motion on Burma that has been passed unanimously."

"As it is from the Parliament, where there are various political parties,
it represents the sentiments of the people of Canada," Htoo added.

The Parliamentary Friends of Burma, launched in December 2006 in support
of democracy and human rights in Burma, currently consists of 28 members
including Senators from all parties of the Canadian Parliament.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

June 8, Central Chronicle, India
Watch Tower: Wooing Myanmar - pit falls

The second important concern of India is its insurgent groups in the
North-east using safe sanctuaries inside Myanmar, particularly after they
were flushed out of Bhutan- Rajneesh Recent reports of India supplying
maritime aircraft to Myanmar led to fresh concerns among the civilian
opposition groups fighting against suppression of democracy and
perpetuation of human rights by the `military junta' in that country. They
consider that such military co-operation, along with India's help in
building and upgrading roads, modernizing ports and other infrastructure
development in Myanmar, is only helping the military to further entrench
itself in power while brutalizing the society. With opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi's house arrest extended for one more year from May 27, and
many world leaders demanding her release, many have been watching Indian
policy.

Since early 1990s, India's foreign policy toward Myanmar is one of wooing
the military junta, while convincing itself that the `democracy movement'
there is an internal matter to be decided by the Myanmarese themselves.
During a recent visit to Myanmar on January 19, 2007, External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India had to deal with governments "as
they exist ... We are not interested in exporting our own ideology. We are
a democracy and we would like democracy to flourish everywhere. But this
is for every country to decide for itself."

Indian policy considerations in deciding to work closely with the military
regime in Myanmar are quite obvious. China has been strongly pushing
itself into Myanmar with liberal, un-conditional, financial and military
aid. India's insurgent groups finding `safe heavens' in Myanmar and its
gas reserves are other compelling factors for New Delhi to court the
military regime.

China has built a maritime reconnaissance and electronic intelligence
station on Great Coco Island in the Bay of Bengal, some 300 kms south of
the Myanmarese mainland. According to the Federation of American
Scientists (FAS), construction of the Great Coco Island station began in
late 1992 with the emplacement of a 45-50m antenna tower, radar sites and
other electronic facilities forming a comprehensive SIGINT collection
facility. In mid-1993, some of the 70 Chinese naval personnel began
operating the new radar equipment and by 1994, the PLA radar and SIGINT
facilities were complete and ready for use.

The FAS further said that the Chinese Army is also building a base on
Small Coco Island in the Alexandra Channel between the Indian Ocean and
the Andaman Sea north of India's Andaman Islands. These two islands, which
have been leased to China since 1994, are located at a crucial point in
traffic routes between the Bay of Bengal and the Strait of Malacca.

The Coco Islands are thus an ideal location for monitoring Indian naval
and missile launch facilities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other
east coast bases. In addition, China will also be modernizing Myanmar's
deep sea port Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal for laying a pipeline for its
oil and gas supplies from the Middle East, Africa and Myanmar which opens
access to waters close to India to Chinese naval vessels.

The second important concern of India is its insurgent groups in the
North-east using safe sanctuaries inside Myanmar, particularly after they
were flushed out of Bhutan. During every visit, either Indian leaders to
Myanmar or the latter's to India the Myanmarese leaders reiterated that
they will not allow Indian militant groups to operate from their
territory.

General Thura Shwe Mann, third in the official hierarchy of the State
Peace and Development Council, visited India as did the Myanmar Home
Minister, Maung Oo recently. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited Yangon
in March 2006 and Senior General Than Shwe, head of Myanmar's military-run
Government, to India in October 2004. On all these visits the Myanmar
leadership assured New Delhi that elements hostile to India would not be
allowed to use their country's territory. This clearly shows the Indian
priority in talks with Myanmar.

The third is the energy sector. Driven by increased demands of oil and gas
for its growth engine, India put its sights on its eastern neighbour.
Myanmar is believed to have Southeast Asia's largest natural gas reserves.
New Delhi has long been planning a gas pipeline through Bangladesh from
Sittwe, Myanmar's deep sea port on the Bay of Bengal. India also had plans
to purchase gas from two Myanmar off-shore gas blocks, A-1 and A-3 in the
M series, in which India has a 30 per cent stake. India has also decided
to extend a $20 million line of credit to help Myanmar upgrade its Than
Lyn refinery.

It is very interesting to see the gains of India's `constructive
engagement' of the ruling military junta in Myanmar. In April this year,
the military regime decided in favour of China to sell the gas, ignoring
Indian overtures. The Chinese government approved construction of a
pipeline from Sittwe to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, which
borders Myanmar. India also had planned to build its pipeline from Sittwe
and its award to China came as a `rude shock'.

Expectations of cooperation on dealing with terrorism and arms/drug
trafficking have also come to a naught. Various indications hint that the
military junta continued to allow `safe passage' to Indian insurgent
groups for hide outs and supply routes for arms.

Shunned by the Western countries, Myanmar found China's unconditional
liberal military and other aid quite attractive in the same way as that of
other oppressive regimes in Africa and West Asia. In this scenario, India
has very few options left.

Explaining the importance of Myanmar to India, Mr. Mukherjee said the two
countries shared a border that was 1600 km long. "Myanmar is our only
neighbour which is also a member of ASEAN. So our relationship is very
much in keeping with India's `Look East' policy." New Delhi has fast been
expanding its relations with ASEAN countries. Any attempt by India to
express support to democratic movement in Myanmar may be construed by the
ASEAN members as interference in its internal affairs, which could destroy
the assiduously built relationship with East Asian countries. Joining
hands with the West on democracy and human rights issues could also be
equally mis-construed.

While individual states of the ASEAN have serious concerns over the
military suppression of democratic movement and its perpetuation of human
right abuses, collectively they do not like to do anything that would
affect the unity of the group. The resolution of the Cebu summit of the
ASEAN in January this year made a mention of Myanmar but it was more of a
lukewarm reminder to the country for early implementation of the road map
to democracy and release of political prisoners.

In contrast, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has been
calling on the military government in Burma to bring about changes and
democratic reforms in the country. The grouping of ASEAN legislators from
Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia have
called for the unconditional release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung
San Suu Kyi, as well as the freedom of over a thousand other political
prisoners in Myanmar.

On May 14, 2007, 50 former heads of state from Europe, North and South
Americas, Africa and Asia, including India, jointly called on the military
regime to immediately release detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Among others, the letter was signed by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi, Filippino Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, South Korean
President Kim Dae-jung, Thailand Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Indian
Prime Ministers V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar, and Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohammed.

New Delhi may, therefore, work through the Southeast Asian countries to
put pressure on the Myanmar government for political reforms, while
continuing to engage the military junta to impress upon it the genuine
security and economic concerns of India.

____________________________________
ANNOUCEMENT

June, Prospect Burma
Book tickets now for Prospect Burma June event

On Tuesday 19th June 2007, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be 62 and will have
spent almost 12 of the last 17 years under house arrest.  We are marking
the day with a fundraising evening reception at Asia House, 63 New
Cavendish Street, London W1J 7LP from 6 to 8.30 pm.

There will be a saxophone quartet playing, an opportunity to bid in a
silent auction for some extraordinary paintings including a portrait of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by Htein Lin and an oil painting brought back from
Burma by J S Furnivall in the 1920s, to meet and hear from Prospect Burma
students, and we will also have an amazing prize draw available only to
guests buying tickets on the night.  The remarkable artist, Htein Lin, was
imprisoned in Burma for six and a half years but continued to paint over
200 pictures whilst in jail.

We really need your support and are asking for a minimum donation of £35 a
ticket to include wine and Asian fusion canapes. Space is limited so
please book your tickets as soon as possible making cheques payable to
Prospect Burma.

Prospect Burma, Porter's Lodge, Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens,
London SW6 3SF
Tel 020 7371 0887
Email: information at prospectburma.org
http://www.prospectburma.org/