BurmaNet News, September 1, 2007

[Editor]

September 1, 2007 Issue # 3282

INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar opposition calls for dialogue as charter talks near end
AP: 8 Myanmar dissidents dodge arrest
Irrawaddy: National Convention may conclude next week

BUSINESS / TRADE
Xinhua: Myanmar private sector to play part in bio-diesel production
Xinhua: Myanmar railroads increase by 59 pct in past 20 years

INTERNATIONAL
Mizzima News: India, China's silence over Burma protests not so mystifying
Nobel Women's Initiative: The Nobel Women's Initiative condemns Burma arrests
AP: US options limited on Myanmar, despite push for UN condemnation
Japan Today: Court revokes deportation order for Myanmar woman

OPINION / OTHER
Mizzima News: I want to say this to people in Burma.. - Suu Suu Nway

PRESS RELEASE
UN: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
in Myanmar urges the Myanmar authorities to immediately release peaceful
protesters

STATEMENT
Office of The First Lady, The White House: Mrs. Bush speaks to Ban
Ki-Moon: Statement by Press Secretary Sally McDonough
AI: Myanmar: Authorities must allow peaceful demonstrations
KNU: KNU Statement on current situation

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

September 1, Agence France Presse
Myanmar opposition calls for dialogue as charter talks near end

Myanmar's opposition party Saturday pressed the country's junta for talks
with its leader Aung San Suu Kyi as the regime was to wrap up talks on a
charter, which would effectively bar her from politics.

"We ask the government to have a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu
Kyi," said Thein Nyunt, a spokesman of the National League for Democracy
(NLD).

The comment came as Myanmar was finally to complete long-running talks on
drafting guidelines for a new constitution on Monday.

The discussions at the National Convention, a military-installed body
tasked with drafting charter guidelines, have dragged on fitfully for 14
years, but the talks have been derided internationally for failing to
include the NLD.

The pro-democracy party, headed by the detained leader and Nobel peace
laureate, won elections in a landslide victory in 1990, but the military
refused to recognise the results.

Under a new constitution, Myanmar will have an executive presidency, but
Aung San Suu Kyi would be effectively blocked from running due to a clause
barring candidates who had married foreigners.

Aung San Suu Kyi was married to Briton Michael Aris, who died in 1999.

The work at the National Convention concludes as Myanmar's military
regime, headed by Senior General Than Shwe, is contending with the most
sustained protests against its rule in almost as long.

Amnesty International said Friday more than 150 people had been detained
by the junta over a string of peaceful protests against soaring fuel costs
that began in Yangon on August 19 and spread to other parts of the
country.

Myanmar's military regime has ruled the country with an iron fist since
1962 and does not tolerate even the slightest show of public dissent.

Some 1,000 delegates hand-picked by the military have been meeting on and
off at the National Convention since 1993 to draw up the guidelines of a
new charter.

Myanmar has been without a constitution since 1988, and writing a charter
is the first stage of the junta's movement to democracy that, in theory,
would eventually lead to free elections in the country formerly known as
Burma.

But the military has laid out no timeline for elections, and analysts say
the new charter will serve only to formalise the junta's role in
government.

"The new constitution is just another means for the military to stay in
power. There is no freedom of discussions at the convention. This is not a
democratic process," said Aung Thu Nyein, a Thai-based Myanmar analyst.

____________________________________

September 1, Associated Press
8 Myanmar dissidents dodge arrest

Anti-government protesters scattered into hiding Friday to dodge arrest
after a wave of protests over higher prices, as the military government
wrapped up its work to draft guidelines for a new constitution.

The military government has detained scores of activists and is employing
menacing gangs of hired civilian toughs to keep watch in Myanmar's biggest
city, Yangon, to snuff out protests that began Aug. 19 over higher fuel
and consumer goods prices.

In 1988, public protests over rising rice prices were a prelude to a burst
of major demonstrations, violently subdued by the army, that sought an end
to military rule that began in 1962. The current junta suspended a 1974
charter when it took power.

The current protests are nowhere near the scale of the 1988 protests.

Only one small protest was reported Friday, in the town of Taunggok in
Rakhine State, west of Yangon. The Web site of the Democratic Voice of
Burma, a Norway-based opposition shortwave radio station, said two men, Ko
Sithu and Ko Than Lwin, held up protest signs at a marketplace.

The report, which could not be independently confirmed, said a soldier
punched Ko Sithu and that both protesters were arrested.

Although the protests appear to be losing steam, activists remained defiant.

"I want to implore the people to join hands with us in our movement who
have sacrificed our lives and freedom for the good of the people and the
country," said Su Su Nway, who is active in labor issues.

The government has ordered neighborhood officials and hotels to be on the
lookout for key pro-democracy activists, providing photos and information
about them, said a local official who asked not to be named for fear of
retaliation.

The list of dissidents includes at least one member of the 88 Generation
Students group, the most active in carrying out nonviolent anti-government
protests. Most of its top members were arrested Aug. 21, two days after
the first of the current round of protests.

About a dozen of the group's leaders were reported by state media to be
held on charges relating to alleged disruption of the constitutional
convention, for which they could face up to 20 years in prison.

Su Su Nway is not on the wanted list, but said she has gone into hiding
for fear of being detained. Despite being a former political prisoner, she
has repeatedly taken part in anti-government protests.

President Bush has urged Myanmar's government to heed international calls
to release the activists and stop intimidating citizens who are promoting
democracy and human rights.

Laura Bush telephoned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday to urge
him to condemn the junta's treatment of dissidents and to press for the
Security Council to prevent more violence in Myanmar. A statement released
by her office said, "Mrs. Bush noted that by staying quiet, the United
Nations and all nations condone these abuses."

The State Department has said U.S. officials will work to raise the
subject of Myanmar at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September.

The new constitution is the first stage of a so-called road map supposed
to lead to elections sometime in the future. Critics say the proceedings
are a sham because the junta hand-picked most of the delegates and because
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and
cannot attend.

A delegate representing the country's intellectuals said the convention
would officially close Monday. He asked not to be named because he was not
authorized to release information about the meeting. Details of its work
have not been made public.

Some critics say the finished document is not likely to usher in promised
democratic reforms or protect the rights of minority groups. Other critics
say the whole process has been a stalling strategy to prolong the junta's
grip on power.

The next stage in the seven-step road map is supposed to be the drafting
of the actual constitution, but it is still not clear who will be
entrusted with the task. The document would then be submitted to a
national referendum.

____________________________________

September 1, Irrawaddy
National Convention may conclude next week - Htet Aung

Burma’s National Convention has finished its job of laying down the basic
principles for a new constitution and the convention will probably
conclude next week, according to an ethnic ceasefire group.

“Our delegate from the national convention told me all the decisions have
been made,” a New Mon State Party official told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

The national convention is the first step of the junta's "seven-step road
map" to democracy and has been widely denounced by the international
community and Burmese politicians in exile and inside Burma.

The second step of the seven-step road map is: “After the successful
holding of the National Convention, step-by-step implementation of the
process necessary for the emergence of a genuine and disciplined
democratic system.”

“According to the military regime’s decrees 11/92 and 13/92 [issued in
1992], the National Convention Convening Committee will report the result
of the convention to the State Peace and Development Council,” said Thein
Nyunt, a spokesperson of the National League for Democracy.

Thein Nyunt said, “We [the NLD] will wait and see whether the SPDC follows
their decree 1/90. The decree said the constitution will be drawn by the
elected representatives [in the 1990 election].”

However, some political leaders in Rangoon-based ethnic parties have
different views on step two in the road map.

“It is hard to understand step two, and I think it is a way for the regime
to take more time. This step is, in fact, not necessary,” said Aye Thar
Aung, the chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy and the secretary of
the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, on Friday. “The next
task is to draw up a constitution after the convention. But who will draw
up the new constitution?”

Asked if he would accept the military regime's offer to the elected
representatives of the 1990 election to participate in the drawing up of
the new constitution based on the principles developed in the National
Convention, Aye Thar Aung said, “In my own opinion, I can’t accept it,
because the principles are clearly not leading to either democracy or the
fundamental rights of ethnic minorities.”

He said there are already signs that various ethnic ceasefire groups have
no faith in a new constitution, and in his opinion disarmament would be
impossible.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

September 1, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar private sector to play part in bio-diesel production

The Myanmar private sector is participating in playing part in production
of bio-diesel fuel, planning to build a first and largest private-run
bio-diesel plant in the country at the beginning of next year, private
industries sources said Saturday.

With a projected production of 80 tons of bio-diesel per day, the
6-hectare bio-diesel plant in Yangon's Thardhukan Industrial Zone will be
constructed by the Khaing Khaing Group Co. Ltd with an investment of 8
million U.S. dollars and Chinese technical know- how will be introduced,
the local 7-Day journal also said.

Using domestic raw materials, the plant will generate 20,000 tons to
30,000 tons of bio-diesel per year on completion, the journal said.

Myanmar has projected a sharp increase of biofuel output next year from
Jatropha physic nut plantations to substitute diesel. Up to 8 million
acres (3.24 million hectares) of the plants will be grown to realize the
projected increase of the biofuel up to 20 million tons a year, a
state-run enterprise dealing with industrial crops under the Myanmar
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation said.

Jatropha physic nuts were being planted on 1.6 million acres ( 648,000
hectares) mainly in three dry zones of Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway
divisions, it said.

Official statistics show that Myanmar yielded about 90 million gallons
(405 million liters) of diesel a year while importing more than 200
million gallons (900 million liters) annually to meet its domestic demand.

According to the enterprise, Myanmar has about 15.85 million acres (6.41
million hectares) of land suitable for growing Jetropha plants.

Myanmar has eyed physic nut oil as fuel since late 2005, advocating the
use of it as fuel in the country and urging the country's people to grow
such nut plantations extensively.

The authorities also stressed the need for the country to use such
biodiesel to avoid spending millions of foreign exchange on fuel, pointing
out that the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel for petrol, kerosene
and diesel would also enable rural people to avoid searching fuelwood and
help protect forests from depletion and conserve trees.

Cultivation of an acre (0.405 hectare) of land with 1,200 physic nut
plants can produce up to 100 gallons (454.6 liters) of biodiesel, Myanmar
experts said.

There are two physic nut species in Myanmar -- Castor and Jatropha.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar energy authorities raised again on Aug. 15 the
official prices of fuel including gasoline, diesel and compressed natural
gas (CNG) supplied to private vehicles to a new high of two to five times
respectively in less than two years since October 2005.

The government held that despite the fuel price hike, which is still
comparatively lower than the regional and the world market prices, the
government still remains subsidized with the fuel supply.

In a bid to cut the cost of oil imports as well as under an ambitious plan
to modify all vehicles in the country in terms of fuel operation, the
government has also introduced a program since August 2004 to substitute
fuel with gas for transportation purpose, targeting to convert all diesel
and petrol vehicles operating in the country to run on CNG.

____________________________________

September 1, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar railroads increase by 59 pct in past 20 years

The length of railroads and rail tracks in Myanmar has extended up to
5,031.29 km and 6,549.26 km now, increasing 59 percent and 46 percent
respectively in the past 20 years, according to Saturday's official
newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.

There were 3,162.16 km of railroads and 4,470.17 km rail tracks nationwide
before 1988 and the Myanma Railways (MR) has built 1, 868 km of new
railroads and 2,079 km of rail tracks in the whole country since 1988, the
perspectives carried on the paper said.

The passenger trains has increased to 379 from 229 and freight trains 18
from 17, it said, adding that there are 805 railway stations in the whole
country now, increased 318 from before 1988 when there were only 487.

According to official statistics, the number of passengers rail-
transported in the country in a day increased from 70,000 in the fiscal
year 2004-05 to 100,000 in 2005-06.

Meanwhile, Myanmar launched its first domestically-produced 1, 200-horse
power diesel-engine locomotive in April, putting it into run from the
former capital of Yangon to the second largest city of Mandalay in a bid
to reduce reliance on import of locomotives in the wake of rising oil
prices.

The state-owned MR manufactured the locomotive through own design after
study was made on a locomotive imported from Japan, earlier reports said.

The MR, which previously produced spare parts of machines only, started
the production two years ago and it targets to produce six more home-made
locomotives and 36 modern passenger coaches in the years ahead, according
to the reports.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

September 1, Mizzima News
India, China's silence over Burma protests not so mystifying - Mungpi

Ironically at a time when the international community, including the
United Nations Chief Ban Ki-moon and US president George Bush have
publicly condemned the Burmese military junta for its high handedness in
dealing with demonstrations and called for the immediate release of the
arrested, China and India, the two giant neighbours, have been conspicuous
by their silence.

Several key activists and prominent former student leaders, including Min
Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, have been arrested in a crack down by the junta to
quell the spreading demonstrations.

While some critics view India's silence to be part of its 'Look East'
economic policy, other analysts said India is making a terrible mistake by
keeping quiet because wooing the Burmese generals will not serve India's
economic and national interest in the long run.

In 1988, when university student-led protests in Rangoon turned into a
nationwide pro-democracy movement, India was the first to voice its
concern and supported students and activists even to the extent of
allowing some student activists to flee to India to escape the rampant
crackdown by the junta.

However, in the early 1990s, with the launch of the "Look East policy'
India did a 'U' turn in its policy towards Burma and embarked on the
so-called 'constructive engagement' with the generals.

Dr. Sean Turnell, senior lecturer of the Economics Department of
Australia's Macquarie University said India's silence over the ongoing
protests in Burma is directly related to India's economic policy.

"I can only imagine it must be a part of the 'Look East' commercial
policy," said Dr Turnell

However, he added that India's silence does not mean that it has lost
hopes regarding Burma's democratic movement. "I think this is really about
commercial hopes, and probably a policy of the bureaucracy rather than the
politicians."

In contrast to Dr. Turnell's view, BBC's eastern India correspondent Subir
Bhaumik said India is making a 'serious mistake' by distancing itself from
the Burmese democratic movement.

"[Indo-Burmese relationship] is a one way traffic
 the Burmese military
junta has not obliged India with a single thing that it wants," Bhaumik
said.

India's demand that the Burmese generals flush out Indian insurgents from
Burmese soil has not been fulfilled and India's hopes to import gas from
off-shore Arakan gas fields has come unstuck with the Burmese generals
awarding China the right to buy gas, he added.

"India, for some very illustrious reason is living in its own make believe
world and is abandoning its democratic ideals," Bhaumik added.

Bhaumik, who has closely followed Indo-Burma relations, said for the
Burmese military junta to take India seriously, India needs to open up
options of supporting the Burmese democratic movement.

"Otherwise the Burmese junta will take India for granted," Bhaumik said.

He condemned the Indian embassy in Rangoon for failing to send even a
representative to the birthday celebration of Burmese pro-democracy leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on July 19, and said the Indian embassy in Rangoon
should do more to support the current spate of protests in Burma.

India, however, in supporting democratic changes in Burma needs to engage
the generals and maintain an influence over them, said Brahma Chellaney,
Professor of Strategic Studies at New Delhi based Centre for Policy
Research.

"India is playing a very active role in telling Burma that it needs to
have reconciliation with the democratic forces and therefore making a
public statement decreases the leverage," Chellaney told Mizzima in an
interview.

Chellaney said India's silence over the ongoing protests in Rangoon and
parts of Burma does not mean its support for democratic changes in Burma
has decreased.

"Sometimes, 'quiet diplomacy' is more effective then making statements for
the sake of doing so
 India believes it can play a better role by engaging
in quiet diplomacy rather then public condemnation," he added.

Chellaney reiterated that unlike China, India has always been a supporter
of democratic forces in Burma and seeks to play a constructive role.

Meanwhile, China, a veto wielding country which has influence on Burma,
has also remained silent on the current wave of protests in Rangoon and
other parts of Burma.

Analysts said China, which shielded the Burmese military junta along with
Russia at the United Nations Security Council earlier this year, is
undeterred with the ongoing protests in Burma and does not view it as a
threat.

The China based Burma Communist Party (BCP) spokesperson comrade Phoe Than
Gyaung said, "China's silence over the current protest is because China
does not see any threat."

"But, definitely it is monitoring the situation in Rangoon and Burma," he
added.

The current spate of protests that began in August 19 was sparked by a
sudden rise in fuel prices – a 100 percent rise in petrol and diesel
prices and 500 percent increase in compressed natural gas which is used by
buses - impacting the increase in bus fares and other essential
commodities.

The increase in bus fares and commodity prices has severely affected the
common people, who could no longer afford to travel by bus to their work
places.

The sporadic protests, which are the largest in a decade, was cheered by
hundreds of onlookers, but failed to attract them to join in to give it a
semblance of the 1988 uprising.

The authorities allowed the 88 generation student leaders to begin the
protest undisturbed on August 19, but later responded by arresting and
detaining several key leaders using its puppet civilian organizations –
Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Arrshin.

Analysts, however, said the current wave of protests, which is being
staged sporadically, has failed to resemble the 1988 uprising, where
thousands of students, monks and civilians took to the streets and
hundreds of protesters were mercilessly gunned down by the military.

"China does not see the ongoing protests as a threat, but it wants a
stable government to deal with
 it is concerned about the stability of the
regime and does not want conflicts along the Sino-Burmese border," Phoe
Than Gyaung added.

A Sino-Burmese border based analyst U Mya Maung, said China is driven by
economic considerations and wants a stable neighbour.

"We can see that China is stepping up measures to pressure the ceasefire
[ethnic armed] groups because it wants stability along its border and
wants to do business in Burma," said Mya Maung.

However, Dr Turnell said, "They [China] would be worried, for they fear
instability in Burma above all. They would also be uncomfortable with the
emergence of democracy in Burma, lest such an outcome give its own
citizens ideas."

"I see China's role as wholly negative, immoral and the biggest single
obstacle to the emergence of a good outcome generally in Burma," he added.

____________________________________

August 31, Nobel Women's Initiative
The Nobel Women's Initiative condemns Burma arrests

The Nobel Women's Initiative condemns the Burmese government for its
continued suppression of the democratic rights of its citizens and calls
for the immediate release of all protestors arrested for participating in
demonstrations against the regime's exorbitant increase in fuel prices. It
is unacceptable that the citizens of Burma be denied the right to free
speech and peaceful protest.

"The brave activists facing down the Burmese regime this week is an
example of the courage and determination shown everyday by the Burmese
people. Our sister Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and so many other women and
men have risked their safety to return to the streets day after day, year
after year, to demand the most basic rights and freedoms. For 17 years now
Suu Kyi has paid the price, imprisoned in her home, while the regime pads
its pockets and brutalizes its people. This recent crackdown on political
dissidents is just another illustration of the regime's complete and utter
disregard for democracy and human rights. Enough is enough. We have passed
the point for 'urging' the international community to act on this
situation. Failing to do so at this point is an atrocity," said Jody
Williams.

With almost 90 percent of Burma's citizens living at or below a dollar a
day, the recent cuts in government fuel subsidies have created a dire
situation for the country's poor. Fuel prices have catapulted 100 percent
and the cost of cooking gas has increased by a reported 500 percent.
Desperation has forced Burmese citizens to the streets and resulted in
more than 100 arrests of some of Burma's most prominent activists. The
government has violently suppressed protestors' efforts through overt
intimidation, attacks and arrests. The continued display of resistance by
Burmese activists is exceptional given the risk they knowingly face when
speaking out against the hard-line government.

The Nobel Women's Initiative acknowledges the remarkable boldness of all
Burmese protestors and in particular the work of our sister activists.
Women have played an important role in the recent demonstrations-
organizing a march on August 22 that grew to more than 300 protestors.
Despite peacefully exercising their political rights they have been
continually plagued by harassment and abuse.

"We are outraged at the use of gender-based violence and verbal abuse as
weapons against women leading the protests. Women in Burma have a long
history of active participation in the forefront of resistance movements
during times of crisis, and again women are now taking a leading role to
show their defiance against the regime's unlawful acts and injustice."
(Women's League of Burma)

The Nobel Women's Initiative again condemns China, Russia, and South
Africa for their failure to support the January Security Council
Resolution on Burma. We urge these governments to renounce their prior
positions and join other members of the Council in taking immediate steps
to resolve the current crisis and help bring about national reconciliation
and democracy in Burma.

NOTE: The Nobel Wonen's Initiative was established in 2006 by sister Nobel
Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta
Menchú Tum, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire. We six women --
representing North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa
-- have decided to bring together our extraordinary experiences in a
united effort for peace with justice and equality. Only 12 women in its
more than 100 year history have been recognized with the Nobel Peace
Prize. Of the seven living laureates, only Aung San Suu Kyi, still
imprisoned, is unable to formally join our efforts though we are confident
shares our vision.

____________________________________

September 1, Associated Press
US options limited on Myanmar, despite push for UN condemnation - Foster Klug

The Bush administration and U.S. lawmakers from both political parties are
pushing for the U.N. Security Council to condemn Myanmar's recent
crackdown on activists.

But with China and Russia likely to block a U.N. resolution against a
country with which they both have strong economic ties, and India
clamoring for access to Myanmar's vast energy resources, U.S. options to
force change in Myanmar, also called Burma, appear limited.

Priscilla Clapp, who was chief U.S. diplomat in Myanmar from 1999 to 2002,
said U.S. and European pressure is important. But, she said, "When you
hear the president and others talking about that, it's because they've got
nothing else they can do; it's just such a conundrum what you do about
Burma."

The ruling military junta in Myanmar has detained scores of activists and
used gangs of hired thugs to snuff out protests that began Aug. 19 over
higher fuel and consumer goods prices.

In response, President George W. Bush urged the government to "heed the
international calls to release these activists immediately and stop its
intimidation of those Burmese citizens who are promoting democracy and
human rights."

The State Department has said U.S. officials will work to raise the
subject at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September.

Michael Green, Bush's former senior adviser on Asia, said U.S. rhetoric
condemning the regime shows Myanmar's "democracy movement that major
powers like the United States stand with them. That has meaning.

"But in terms of affecting the behavior of the regime, I don't think that
will happen until the big parties around them start working together."

China and Russia, both of which have veto power on the U.N. Security
Council, are the major barriers to a resolution on Myanmar. They argue
that the council should deal with matters of international security, not
the internal security of a country.

Even a successful U.N. resolution, however, "doesn't solve the problem in
Burma; it just gives it a high level of international attention," Clapp
said.

The most important pressure on Myanmar probably would come from China,
which probably would welcome stronger economic policies in Myanmar as
better protection for its investments. Clapp said China covets Myanmar's
huge energy resources and in coming years will start making large
hydroelectric and gas investments.

The White House and State Department are watching events in Myanmar
closely; the country also is of special interest to Bush's wife.

Laura Bush telephoned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday to urge
him to condemn the junta's treatment of dissidents and to press for the
Security Council to prevent more violence in Myanmar.

A statement released by her office said, "Mrs. Bush noted that by staying
quiet, the United Nations and all nations condone these abuses."

Green noted what he called a growing recognition that Myanmar is becoming
a regional problem, with disease, drugs and refugees moving across its
borders.

But India, a powerful democracy that is nurturing closer ties with the
United States, is turning a blind eye to Myanmar's turmoil, Green said, in
an effort to compete with China for strategic and economic influence in
Myanmar.

____________________________________

September 1, Japan Today
Court revokes deportation order for Myanmar woman

The Tokyo District Court on Friday revoked a government deportation order
for a 63-year-old woman from Myanmar and confirmed her refugee status.

In handing down the ruling, Presiding Judge Makoto Jozuka said the woman
faces the risk of unfair punishment if she returns to Myanmar because the
possibility is "extremely high" that the Myanmar government has gained
information about her pro-democracy activities.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

August 31, Mizzima News
I want to say this to people in Burma.. - Suu Suu Nway

Our democratic icon and leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stands firmly with the
people and has made tremendous sacrifices. She has been under house arrest
for many years for the sake of the people and her country. She has fought
silently for restoration of democracy and human rights in beleaguered
Burma under a repressive and brutal military regime.

So did our 88 generation brothers and sisters who made sacrifices in their
young lives in notorious prisons. When they were released, they found our
beloved country was fast going downhill. Even though they made many
sacrifices for the people and the country, recently, they launched another
struggle peacefully for the people to overcome the crisis the people are
facing with the firm belief that 'we must do something now'.

But unfortunately, the military regime does not view the situation in the
same light. They arrested the student leaders and charged them with
various criminal offences and under various sections of various laws.
Moreover it is extremely painful to see the regime- backed and
regime-sponsored so-called 'people' going by the name of 'Swan Ah Shin'
and USDA members assaulting and arresting peaceful demonstrators in an
atmosphere of violence.

If the regime could view the current situation in the correct perspective
and sit across the table with the detained democratic icon Daw Suu, 88
generation students and politicians to resolve the political impasse
peacefully, Burma would emerge as a glorious country. Otherwise our
country's history will be tainted with a black brush in contemporary world
history. If they continue the arbitrary arrests and detention of political
prisoners, our country will lose face and our image will be tarnished. The
people will not be able to hold their heads high. The regime should
consider and spare the people if they really wish our country to prosper.

I want to tell our people that they must understand what is wrong and what
is right, what is the cause and what is the effect, what is good and what
is bad, what is meritorious and what is evil, what is just and what is
unjust, oppression and freedom at a time of massive hike in fuel and
essential commodity prices and the consequent hardship in daily life.

I would like to say to the people, that they should get ready to choose
what should be done and what should not be, to aspire for a situation
where our wishes and our lives are identical.


____________________________________
PREESS RELEASE

August 31, United Nations
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar urges the Myanmar authorities to immediately release peaceful
protesters

Geneva, -The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar, Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, is closely following the
events in Myanmar. He believes that the future of the political transition
process in the country must be directed by the people and the Government
of Myanmar.

The Special Rapporteur deplores the arrests by the authorities of Myanmar,
since 21 August 2007, of over 100 peaceful protestors following a series
of demonstrations in the country against the drastic increase in the
prices of fuel. He calls upon the authorities to immediately release the
detainees and deplores that citizens expressing peacefully their views are
being severely treated.

The Special Rapporteur expresses his serious concern regarding the launch
yesterday of a hunger strike by a group of detainees, at the Kyaikkasan
Detention Center, following the denial of medical treatment by the
authorities for their fellow detainee who was severely beaten during the
protest. The Special Rapporteur has received allegations that the
detainees have been severely beaten and tortured.

The Special Rapporteur echoes the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights' press statement, of 26 August 2007, calling on the
authorities of Myanmar to immediately release de detainees and to engage
in consultations and dialogue with the demonstrators on their concerns. He
further urges the Governments of the Region to assist the Government of
Myanmar to overcome the crisis.

The Special Rapporteur will contact the President of the United Human
Rights Council to express his concerns and inform him about the situation.
He hopes that the Human Rights Council can play and important role in this
juncture.

____________________________________
STATEMENT

August 31, Office of The First Lady, The White House
Mrs. Bush speaks to Ban Ki-Moon: Statement by Press Secretary Sally McDonough

This morning, Mrs. Laura Bush called U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to
express her deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Burma.

Over the last few weeks, Burma's military junta has intensified its abuses
of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators. In response to recent public
protests, the generals have launched a major crackdown, arresting and
intimidating dissidents. Regime authorities have beaten protesters, and
then denied them basic medical treatment. In an August 30 statement,
President Bush denounced the junta's repression - expressing Americans'
dismay over these unacceptable violations of human rights and calling for
the release of all political prisoners.

Last September, Mrs. Bush convened a discussion on Burma at the 61st U.N.
General Assembly. Since then, she has met with the U.N.'s special envoy
for Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, as well as members of the United States
Congress to discuss the plight of Burmese dissidents. She has also met
with leaders of the country's ethnic minority groups, who have spoken of
the atrocities committed against them by the Burmese regime. Mrs. Bush
noted that by staying quiet, the United Nations - and all nations -
condone these abuses.

During her call with Secretary-General Ban, Mrs. Bush asked him to join
the United States in condemning the junta's brutal crackdown. She also
asked that the U.N. - through its Security Council - take action to
prevent further violence and repression in Burma in advance of the 62nd
General Assembly in New York.  She shared her hope that U.N. member states
will work together to support the Burmese people in their struggle for
freedom.

____________________________________

August 31, Amnesty International
Myanmar: Authorities must allow peaceful demonstrations

As of today, it is estimated that over 150 protestors have been arrested
by police and members of the state-sponsored Union Solidarity Development
Association (USDA). Since 19 August, small groups of peaceful protesters
have demonstrated almost daily in the capital Yangon and other parts of
the country, in reaction to a sudden state imposed rise in fuel prices.

Beatings and intimidation by members of the USDA and paramilitary group
“Swan Arr Shin” have been reported in many of the recent rallies and
arrests. Journalists have been prevented from reporting on events, and the
authorities have ordered National League for Democracy (NLD) youth members
in certain districts not to gather while demanding other protestors sign
documents pledging they would not join further rallies.

Amnesty International urges the Myanmar authorities to immediately and
unconditionally release all those detained, unless they are to be charged
with a criminal offence, and a court has decided on their continued
detention. The organization further calls on the Myanmar authorities to
allow peaceful demonstrators to exercise their rights to freedom of
expression and assembly without fear of arrest or violence.

Protestors are being detained at four locations. Over 50 protesters are
detained at the Kyaikkasan Detention Centre, some at Shwe Pyithar Police
Regiment. Most members of the 88 Generation Students Group are detained at
Insein Prison, with one at a detention centre in Mingaladon Township.
Family members of detainees have not been informed by authorities about
the arrests of their family members and their whereabouts. None of the
detainees are known to have been charged with any offence, nor have they
been allowed access to lawyers. The detainees have all been held in
detention long beyond the 24 hour period admissible under Myanmar law.
Court orders would have to be obtained for the continuation of detention
beyond a 24 hour period.

Among the first to be detained in this latest crackdown on peaceful
political dissent were 14 prominent activists of the 88 Generation
Students Group, who, according to the state-run newspaper New Light of
Myanmar on 24 August, were undergoing interrogation.

Amnesty International urges the Myanmar authorities to immediately provide
adequate medical care to Ye Thein Naing, whose leg was allegedly broken by
USDA during a rally on 28 August. Fellow detainees continue a hunger
strike in Kyaikkasan Detention Centre in Yangon, demanding medical
treatment for Ye Thein Naing.

Amnesty International is concerned that detainees are at risk of torture
and other ill-treatment, which is commonly reported during interrogation
and pre-trial detention in Myanmar. Amnesty International urges that
pending their release, detainees be held in only official places of
detention, and are granted immediate access to lawyers, family, courts and
any necessary medical treatment. The authorities should also ensure that
none are tortured or ill-treated in detention, and provide medical care
for those injured during the violent break-up of demonstrations.

Amnesty International calls on the Myanmar authorities to fulfil their
duty to investigate all reports of violence, ill-treatment and
intimidation of protestors and journalists, and to bring those
perpetrators to justice in trials consistent with international standards
of fairness.

Background
Amnesty International has long-standing concerns at the deprivation of
basic rights in detention in Myanmar. Laws criminalise peaceful expression
of political dissent. People are frequently arrested without warrant and
held incommunicado. Torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment are common during interrogation and pre-trial
detention. Proceedings against political detainees have failed to meet
international standards of fairness. Defendants are often denied the right
to legal counsel or to legal counsel of their own choice. Prosecutors have
relied on confessions extracted through torture.

On 14 August, the Myanmar authorities raised petrol prices by two-thirds,
doubled diesel prices and raised the cost of compressed natural gas
five-fold. The sudden price increases left many unable to afford bus fares
to get to work and to purchase essential commodities such as rice. A
string of peaceful protest rallies against the price increases ensued in
different parts of the country. Some of the protesters have also called
for the release of detained political activists and an end to the
protracted political deadlock in the country.

Myanmar authorities have accused the 88 Generation Students Group of
committing “terrorist and subversive acts” and of violating Law 5/96.
Amnesty International is concerned that the vague and sweeping provisions
of Law 5/96 criminalize the peaceful expression of political beliefs, and
has previously called for its repeal.

Detained leaders of the 88 Generation Students Group include former
prisoners of conscience Paw U Tun, also known as Min Ko Naing, and Ko Ko
Gyi, who both spent up to 15 years in prison for their part in the major
1988 demonstrations. They were released in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
They had been among the few remaining leaders of the political opposition
still at liberty in Myanmar, where the majority of senior opposition
politicians are imprisoned or under house arrest on account of their
peaceful activities.

____________________________________

September 1, Karen National Union
KNU statement on current situation

Since August 19, 2007, public demonstrations led by the 88-movement
students and the NLD women, for reduction of fuel and commodity prices,
have been spreading gradually. Regarding this matter, we, the KNU, state
our position as follows.

We, the KNU, fully support the people, who get out into the streets and
honestly state their true situation and will, as they could no longer bear
the pain of drastic increase in fuel prices, in addition to high commodity
prices.

As the brutal suppression of the demonstrators, using organized thugs
called “Swan-ar-shin”, detaining more than a hundred demonstrators and
continuing the search and arrest of the 88-movement student leaders and
other mass leaders by the military clique are totally against legal norms,
we explicitly oppose and condemn them.

Since the movement for reduction of fuel prices, commodity prices and the
release of the detainees is legitimate, the people are bound to carry on
the struggle. For that reason, we would like to urge the workers,
peasants, students, Sanghas, civil servants, armed forces personnel,
intellectuals and the ethnic nationalities to join the movement, in force,
until the end is achieved.

Hiring of people by the SPDC military clique to beat up the fellow
oppressed is an extremely horrific act. We earnestly urge these hired
hands to oppose the SPDC’s unjust bidding and participate in the movement.

In conclusion, we would like to affirm that the SPDC military clique
totally lacks either the mandate or the ability to rule the country. For
that reason, we solemnly demand the SPDC to stop its indiscriminate
violence against the people and immediately begin dialogue for the
resolution of political and economic problems, justly.