BurmaNet News, November 20, 2007

[Editor]

November 20, 2007 Issue # 3346

INSIDE BURMA
Asia News: Junta “eliminating” soldiers who fired on monks
DVB: Child soldier unable to leave Burmese army
DVB: 88 generation students urge ASEAN pressure

ON THE BORDER
Kaladan News: BDR seizes Viagra, fake medicines en-route to Burma

BUSINESS / TRADE
Kachin News Group: Te Za grabs Phakant jade mines behind junta's back

ASEAN
AP: Gambari to meet with Asian leaders despite canceled address before
Annual Summit
Irrawaddy: Regime critics dismiss talks with Suu Kyi as a “ploy”
Mizzima News: Activist group slams ASEAN over Burma and Charter
Irrawaddy: Asean Summit: Will new charter lead to more than words?
AFP: Myanmar citizens mount protest at ASEAN summit

REGIONAL
Japan Economic Newswire: Japan warns Myanmar of aid cut over slain reporter
The Australian (Australia): Arroyo demands Suu Kyi's release
AFP: India PM prods Myanmar over democracy: official
AFP: Chinese PM says sanctions, pressure will not work on Myanmar

INTERNATIONAL
New York Sun: Asian nations deal blow to U.N. efforts on Burma
AP: EU and US discuss Burma policy coordination

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: New generation of Tatmadaw officers needed to promote change -
Ye Htut
Boston Globe: The broken promises of military rule - Susan Banki and
Hassan Abbas
Jakarta Post: Myanmar spoils the party

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

November 17, Asia News
Junta “eliminating” soldiers who fired on monks

The generals are trying to get rid of evidence and witnesses to the late
September repression should they be called to account some time in the
future. Meanwhile arrests continue as do pro-government demonstrations
organised by the military regime. Some ethnic Burmese are dressed up in
ethnic minorities clothing to show minorities’ support for the government
against the West. ASEAN only expresses support for UN initiative, refuses
to implement sanctions against the junta.

Repression in Myanmar is now turning against the army that carried it out.
Reliable sources in the country told AsiaNews that rumours are circulating
Mandalay and Yangon according to which the junta is physically 
“eliminating” the soldiers that shot at monks and protesters in late
September in anti-regime demonstrations in order to get rid of evidence
and witnesses should they be called to account for ordering the violence.

In a brief announcement on state TV, the junta said that people involved
in the demonstrations caused by fuel price hikes are still being detained.
Out of 2,927 people arrested, 468 remain in prison. However, these numbers
refer only to people taken into custody on September 26 and 27 when
tension was at its peak. Since then the military has continued to arrest
opponents by using photos taken during the marches to identify people.
Unofficial estimates put the number of those in prison at over 6,000.

Along with arrests and torture, the military’s propaganda campaign
continues. By organising pro-regime rallies, the junta is trying to turn
the population against Western countries, which it holds responsible for
the crisis and the monk-led movement.

“The authorities are forcing every village to send 400 to 500 residents to
join these [pro-junta] rallies,” said some farmers from the area Sagayng
area, just north of Mandalay. “Anyone who tries to avoid taking part in
the march runs the risk of spending months in jail or paying stiff fines.
This happened yesterday to us, but we still won’t shout the slogans the
military imposed on us.”

Sometimes people are summoned in stadiums or public spaces at 5 am and
forced to wait until 8 am “when some officials arrive to read speeches
full of attacks against Europe and pro-democracy activists in order to
educate participants.”

During these rallies in the city of Monywa, some ethnic Burmese were
forced to wear clothes identifying them as members of local ethnic
minorities in order to show that these groups supported the government.

Many monks have found refuge in villages which are now surrounded by
soldiers days and night. “Some monks are wearing civilian clothes to avoid
visibility,” some residents in the Mandalay area said. “But they also wear
a yellow string as an arm band to show that they are not giving up their
role.”

The international community also continues to put pressure on the generals
to stop arrests, release prisoners and start talking to the opposition.
Japan, one of the junta's biggest aid donors, announced it was cutting off
US$ 4.7 million in funding. The European Union has also increased its
sanctions. And US President George W. Bush is threatening new measures
against the junta.

Thailand, where UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari began his new Asia tour, has
proposed a regional forum with China and India to push the Burmese
government to implement democratic reforms.

Yesterday in Malaysia Gambari only got “support” from the members of the
Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the UN Myanmar
mission.

Malaysia Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said there would be no threat
of sanctions or suspension from ASEAN.

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10578#

____________________________________

November 20, Democratic Voice of Burma
Child soldier unable to leave Burmese army

Burmese military officials have refused to let a 14 year old boy from
South Dagon township leave the army, despite his parents providing proof
that he is underage.

According to a local representative of the family, Maung Kyaw Min Thu went
missing on 14 September after spending five days visiting his uncle’s
house in Insein.

His parents, U Thaung Aye and Daw Aung Naing, filed a missing person
report with their local authorities and searched for him, but he was
nowhere to be found.

On 18 September, a man came to see Thaung Aye and Aung Naing and told them
that he had seen their son while visiting someone in the army, and the boy
had told him to tell his parents to come and get him from the barracks.

Thaung Aye went to the army barracks on 20 September but was told by
guards that he could not enter unless he came with a representative.

When Thaung Aye and Aung Naing returned to the barracks on 9 November,
following the public protests in the country, they were told that Maung
Kyaw Min Thu had already been sent to a training camp in Bassein,
Irrawaddy.

The following day, his parents went to military unit 3 of basic military
training camp 6 in Bassein, where they had learned their son was training,
hoping to take him home.

The family’s representative said that military officials said that Maung
Kyaw Min Thu had signed up to the army by choice.

“We were met by officials there who showed us all the documents on him
enlisting himself into the military of his own accord. They let us meet
with the kid and told us to ask him ourselves if he wanted to go home or
not. He looked all shaky and nervous when he said he was happy there and
that he wished to stay in the military," said the representative.

"But when we were having lunch with him later, he told his parents that he
wanted to go home. He also mentioned that he would tell us everything on
his situation there if he would be allowed to leave the camp right away;
if not, he would not say anything because he was scared he would be
beaten."

Maung Kyaw Min Thu’s parents showed the army officers his birth
certificate and other documentation to prove he was below the legal age to
join the army, but the officers said that the documents could have been
forged, and they threatened to prosecute the boy for making false claims
about his age when he was recruited.

The military officers made Thaung Aye and Aung Naing sign a letter
confirming that their son was over 18 and had joined the army of his own
free will.

The family’s representative said that they signed the letter as they were
afraid to disobey the army officers.

Maung Kyaw Min Thu’s case has now been filed with the International Labour
Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A report released on 31 October by international rights group Human Rights
documented the recruitment and deployment of child soldiers by the
military regime in Burma.

Due to the constant pressure on military recruiters to find new recruits,
the report states that children as young as ten are being targeted and
threatened with arrest or beaten if they refuse to join.

Records of enlistment are regularly falsified to show that children are
over 18, and some are sent into combat situations soon after their 18-week
training ends.

The report also criticised the Burmese government’s denial of the problems
with child recruitment, and described its efforts to prevent the practice
as ineffective.

____________________________________

November 20, Democratic Voice of Burma
88 generation students urge ASEAN pressure

The 88 generation students have sent a letter to ASEAN leaders at the
start of the 13th ASEAN summit to encourage them to take action against
human rights abuses in Burma.

The letter was sent yesterday as the summit opened, and was signed by
three 88 generation student leaders, Tun Myint Aung, Nilar Thein and Soe
Htun.

The group said they welcomed the statement issued by ASEAN heads of state
on 27 September, which expressed revulsion at the brutal crackdown on
peaceful demonstrations protestors and demanded that the regime cease the
use of violence against protestors.

However, given the ongoing human rights abuses against those involved in
the demonstrations, the group asked that ASEAN leaders continued to put
pressure on the regime.

The group expressed scepticism about the government’s political will to
engage with the opposition and international community, and urged ASEAN to
take specific steps to help the situation in Burma.

“[W]e urge ASEAN, as a vital stakeholder and significant actor to clearly
reject the SPDC’s sponsored roadmap to democracy, and take on a stronger
role in pressuring the military regime to start a genuine dialogue process
towards national reconciliation,” the letter said.

“In addition, we ask ASEAN to stop its financial support and economic
cooperation with the SPDC, and instead work with the UN, US, EU and other
countries to resolve the crisis in Burma,” it continued.

“If the military regime continues to ignore the international community’s
efforts and fail to produce tangible outcomes, we would also like you to
consider the suspension of the SPDC from ASEAN.”

The letter also welcomed the support for human rights principles included
in the planned ASEAN charter, but questioned the credibility of the
agreement if action was not taken against those states who violated these
norms.

One of the 88 generation student leaders who signed the letter, Soe Htun,
told DVB that they had sent the letter to convince ASEAN to pressure the
Burmese regime to respect human rights and pursue national reconciliation.

"We sent this letter to the ASEAN so that the Southeast Asian body's
leaders can take action on the human right violations in Burma and
increase their pressure on the junta to start a dialogue necessary for the
national reconciliation," said Soe Htun.

"We would like to point out a fact to ASEAN; a country's domestic problems
can also affect the region's stability. If they keep doing business with
the Burmese junta which is violating human rights, that is against the
international community's will,” he said.

“We would like to see ASEAN cooperate constructively with the
international community."

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

November 20, Kaladan News
BDR seizes Viagra, fake medicines en-route to Burma

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized a large quantity of Viagra tablets, fake
medicines and other items worth about Taka 2 million on November 18, being
smuggled to Burma from Bangladesh , according to our correspondent.

On November 18, BDR raided various points on the Bangladesh-Burma border
and seized 105 strips of Viagra and four-carton of fake medicines of
several companies in Bangladesh .

The medicines were seized in Dum Dum Mea BDR check-post in Teknaf upazila
while being smuggled to Burma from Chittagong in a vehicle.

The 23 Bangladesh Rifles of Teknaf also seized 40 kilograms of poppy
seeds, 90 packets of pickles, and 1,280 square feet of timber, which came
from Burma and 17 rolls of cloths, some foreign made blankets and 250
strips of birth control tablets which will be smuggled to Burma ,
according to official sources.

They also arrested a person identified as Milon (45), son of late Shudansu
Chowdhury of Anuwara upazila of Chittagong , Bangladesh . The medicines
were seized by the commander of BDR Shafi Uddin, according to a BDR
source.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

November 20, Kachin News Group
Te Za grabs Phakant jade mines behind junta's back

Te Za, President and Managing Director of Htoo Trading Company has grabbed
control of almost all Phakant jade mining areas in Kachin State in
Northern Burma, according to jade miners.

Since early this year, several jade mining companies could not procure
jade mining blocks directly from Burma's Ministry of Mines and they had to
buy the blocks from Te Za's Htoo Trading Company, a local jade dealer told
KNG today. Te Za has the blessings of junta supremo Sr-Gen Than.

Each jade mining block is one acre (4,000 square meters) but the jade
mining companies had to buy it from Te Za's Htoo Trading Company, shelling
out premium prices of between Kyat 80 million (US $ 60,377) and Kyat 3,000
million (US$ 226,415) per block. The blocks are leased out on a three-year
basis, jade dealers said.

In previous years, the Ministry of Mines had sold all jade mining blocks
through tender and competitive bidding systems to mining companies but the
system was changed since early this year, the dealers added.

Under the system of Burmese ruling junta's profit sharing basis, Te Za who
is close to junta supremo Sr-Gen Than Shwe, occupied Phakant (Hpakan) jade
mining areas by cooperating with major jade mining companies in Phakant
including Myanmar Dagaung Co. Ltd and Morning Light instead of using his
company name-- Htoo Trading Company, said Kachin jade leaders.

Now, heavy machines such as bulldozers, digging machines and trucks are
seen everywhere in Phakant and Lonkin jade mining areas, eyewitnesses
said.

Currently, the junta's 16th Mid-Year Gems Emporium is underway in Rangoon,
former capital of Burma. It has showcased 5,140 jade lots with other gems
on the basis of tender and competitive bidding for 13 days until November
26, according to the junta-run newspaper "New Light of Myanmar".

In the 44th annual Myanmar gems emporium held in March this year and
attended by 3,421 merchants, including over 2,000 foreigners, 3,652 lots
of jade, gems and pearls were sold out raking in 185 million U.S. dollars,
according to earlier official statistics.

Again in July this year, a special gem, jade and pearl sale, which
attracted even more merchants, about 4,000 including 2,437 foreigners,
sold more, touching 4,665 lots but the proceeds were not disclosed.

There are six gem and jade mining areas in Burma, three of them are
Lonkin/Phakant (Lawng Hkang/Hpakan, Monyin and Namyar (Nam Ya) in Kachin
State.

Te Za owns Air Bagan and also controls other major business sectors in
partnership with the ruling junta's generals.  He has invaded the Phakant
jade mining areas since last year.

____________________________________
ASEAN

November 20, Associated Press
Gambari to meet with Asian leaders despite canceled address before Annual
Summit - Vijay Joshi

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's address on Burma to Asian leaders was canceled
abruptly, but his trip to Singapore was salvaged Tuesday by holding
private meetings to brief the leaders on his negotiations with the junta.

The envoy—whose planned address on Wednesday was shelved while he was en
route from New York—was mobbed by reporters eager for his comments on the
diplomatic muck-up when he arrived.

He declined comment before he started a slew of meetings with leaders and
foreign ministers of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
New Zealand. They are here to attend a summit of the 10-member Association
of Southeast Asian Nations and six Asia-Pacific countries on Wednesday.

Asean secretary-general ong Keng Yong said the bloc hadn't bowed to Burma
by canceling Gambari's briefing.

"We live to fight another day. We don't want to come across as being too
confrontational in a situation like this," ong told reporters. "What is
important is that we want to focus on our summit ... we don't want it to
be a big distraction," he said.

Burma has dominated deliberations at this week's meetings of Asean, which
is under tremendous pressure to take a harder line on Burma's junta and
force it to allow democracy.

Gambari began pushing Burma's junta to restart political reconciliation
with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody crackdown on
pro-democracy demonstrators in September that left at least 15 people
dead.

Gambari was scheduled to meet with Philippine President Arroyo Macapagal
Arroyo later Tuesday, and Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand on
Wednesday.

Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongram also was to meet with Gambari
later Tuesday, as well as Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"It's useful for us to know his efforts in bringing about the parties
together for a successful reconciliation and democracy in Myanmar
[Burma]," Syed Hamid told the AP.

Gambari was invited by host Singapore to address the summit but it became
clear by Monday afternoon that the invitation had turned into a diplomatic
faux pas.

Several leaders, including those of Malaysia and Indonesia, supported
Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein's view that Gambari's visit amounted to
interfering with Burma's internal affairs.

"That's a domestic issue, no need to raise in the EAS," Burmese Foreign
Minister Nyan Win said in brief comments before his guards pushed away a
phalanx of reporters.

Despite canceling Gambari's address, Asean countries urged Burma's junta
to open a "meaningful dialogue" with Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, release her
from house arrest, free political detainees and work toward a "peaceful
transition to democracy."

____________________________________

November 20, Irrawaddy
Regime critics dismiss talks with Suu Kyi as a “ploy” - Saw Yan Naing

A meeting on Monday between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the
junta’s minister of liaison, Aung Kyi—their third since the retired
general’s appointment—has been dismissed by regime critics as a government
ploy to deflect attention from the Asean summit in Singapore.

About 150 activists shout slogan during a protest outside the Singapore
Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday. [Photo AP]

Burma is coming under pressure at the summit, which is being attended by
Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein.

Burma expert Aung Naing Oo told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the meeting
had clearly been set up to give Asean the impression that the regime was
moving toward reconciliation with its opponents. The ploy didn’t fool the
people of Burma, however, said Aung Naing Oo—adding that the brutal
suppression of the September demonstrations had shown the true face of the
regime.

The one-hour meeting between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi took place at the
government guest house where she was taken for earlier talks with the
minister and with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

No details of the meeting were given in reports carried by the government
media.

Aung Kyi met Suu Kyi for the first time on October 25 and again on
November 9. She was also allowed to meet National League for Democracy
colleagues for the first time in more than three years.

____________________________________

November 20, Mizzima News
Activist group slams ASEAN over Burma and Charter

A regional advocacy group has lambasted ASEAN over its handling of Burma
and the ASEAN Charter, stating that recent events have proven the complete
"failure of the ASEAN Way".

In a statement released today, the Solidarity for Asia People's Advocacies
(SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN has accused the regional organization of
"washing off the bloody hands of Burma."

"ASEAN is shameful because it washes its hands off Burma, and passed on
the burden of dealing with Burma to the UN", Charm Tong of the Shan
Women's Action Network is quoted as saying in the press release.

The scathing indictment from SAPA comes following ASEAN's capitulation to
Burma's request not to permit United Nations Special Envoy to Burma,
Ibrahim Gambari, to address the representatives as a group. Burma, in
successfully blocking Gambari's presentation, relied on ASEAN's much
criticized but longstanding pillar of non-intervention in the internal
affairs of member states.

It also comes on the heels of the inking of ASEAN's much ballyhooed
Charter, which is hoped to pave the road for an ASEAN governed by the rule
of law and respective of human rights and democracy.

However, SAPA says that the Charter ultimately fails to meet the
aspirations of the region's people on several fronts.

Expressing supreme disappointment at the human rights component of the
Charter, Rafendi Djamin of the Indonesian Human Rights Working Group
(HRWG), in the press release, argues that the weak human rights language
in the text proves that "ASEAN remains non-committal to human rights being
an overarching principle of the Charter."

He draws further attention to the lack of any protective mechanism in the
Charter for those confronted with rights abuses, along with the omission
of any punitive measure that could be utilized against rights violators.

Echoing the words of United States government representatives, who have
argued that adequately dealing with the situation in Burma is a
prerequisite for ASEAN's legitimacy, Sinapan Samydorai of the Singapore
based Think-Centre, sums up SAPA's current analysis of the situation: "If
ASEAN governments act against the wishes of the people, refusing to listen
to the voices of the people, will ASEAN be legitimate in the eyes of the
people?"

____________________________________

November 20, Irrawaddy
Asean Summit: Will new charter lead to more than words? - Wai Moe

Asean became an official governmental body on Tuesday as it passed a
governing charter, while the Burma issue remained as perhaps the hottest
item on the Asean Summit agenda.

The world is watching and wondering what Asean will say—or not say— about
the violent crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. Also, if Asean can
somehow nudge Burma to take steps to reconciliation with the pro-democracy
movement?

The proposed charter is said to promote democracy, the rule of law, good
governance, protection of human rights and nonaggression and to reject
unconstitutional regime change.

The charter also mandates the creation of a human rights body in a region
that is rife with widespread violations. Also, the charter will attempt to
prohibit nuclear weapons in the region, ban all weapons of mass
destruction and interference by foreign powers.

At the same time, however, the charter “reaffirms Asean’s bedrock
principle of noninterference in its members’ domestic affairs.”

That one phrase seemingly undermines all the lofty phrases contained in
the charter.

Perhaps as a sign of coming deadlocks and inaction, before the summit
proper even began, the heads of Asean were scheduled to hear a briefing by
UN Special Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari. But the briefing was cancelled
because of the Burmese junta’s objection.

Win Min, a lecturer at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, says
Asean is not a democratic grouping.

“Burmese cannot hope on the Asean summit changing their lives or bringing
democracy into the country,” he said.

A Burmese scholar at a university in Bangkok, who asked not to be
identified, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that, in terms of the Burma
issue, at least Asean is now talking about the country.

A Burmese political scientist based in Singapore noted that Asean has
accepted and supported the UN’s role in Burma, and predicted the body
won’t talk much about Burma during the summit or in the future.

“Even among the five founding members, if there is disagreement, they just
talk in a bilateral way rather than openly at a summit," he said. "Asean
just wants smooth decisions for all member states rather than taking any
critical actions.”

Soe Tun, a leader of the 88 Generation Students group, said Asean tells
the world it supports democracy in Burma, but it does not act in reality.
The group will just produce uncontroversial words, he said.

“Asean’s charter states 'noninterference in members’ domestic affairs'.
But this kind of ideal does not fit with the contemporary world," he said.
"Burma's crisis does not stop within its borders, but spreads to other
areas in the region. Burma’s instability threatens others’ stability in
the region.”

The junta's liaison officer, ex Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, met Burma’s democracy
icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, at a government guesthouse for 55 minutes on
Monday, a day before the Asean Summit.

The state-media published a photograph and short note of the meeting.
Observers said the meeting was designed to tone down criticism during the
Asean summit.

____________________________________

November 20, Agence France Presse
Myanmar citizens mount protest at ASEAN summit

About 40 Myanmar residents of Singapore held a brief vigil Tuesday night
to protest what they said was an inadequate response to the crisis in
Myanmar by Southeast Asian leaders meeting here.

It was one of the largest public protests seen in recent memory in
Singapore, which has tight rules against demonstrations.

The group of mostly young men and women, all wearing red T-shirts, lined
up silently in rows of three on the main Orchard Road shopping and tourist
strip.

Many held small printed leaflets that read "ASEAN -- Act with Honour,
Action on Burma Now".

Three people in front of the group held a large banner that read, "Listen
to Burma's Desires, Don't Follow Junta's Order".

Others had written messages on pieces of paper. "Respect Human Rights
Now", said one. Another said, "We welcome professor Gambari on behalf of
Burmese people."

The United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, arrived in
Singapore Tuesday expecting to brief leaders of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who held their annual summit here
Tuesday.

But as Gambari flew to Singapore, the city-state's Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong, the summit chairman, announced the briefing was cancelled
after Myanmar complained the envoy should only report to the Security
Council.

Myo Myint Maung, 22, a spokesman for the demonstrators, said they were
disappointed by ASEAN's response to the junta.

"We want ASEAN leaders to be more effective and more active regarding
their action on Burma," he said. "We are standing here to hold a vigil to
protest their statement."

The grouping has come under mounting pressure to rein in its errant member
Myanmar after a September crackdown on mass protests, led by Buddhist
monks, that left at least 15 people dead and sparked worldwide outrage.

Myo Myint Maung said ASEAN has taken "a very passive stance" towards Myanmar.

It is illegal in Singapore to hold a public gathering of five or more
people without a police permit, meaning demonstrations are rare.

Myo Myint Maung said the group did not have a permit for the vigil which
occurred a few hundred metres (yards) from the ASEAN summit venue, and
just outside a special summit security zone in which even one protester is
not permitted.

About 15 minutes after the vigil began, about 20 police converged on the
group and asked if they had finished. They said they had, and peacefully
dispersed as police recorded some of their names.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

November 20, Japan Economic Newswire
Japan warns Myanmar of aid cut over slain reporter

Japan on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction over Myanmar's failure to
fully account for the fatal shooting of a Japanese journalist in
September, with Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura warning his counterpart
that Tokyo may further cut aid to Myanmar depending on its handling of the
matter.

In talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Singapore on the
sidelines of a regional summit, Komura also called for Myanmar's
democratization and urged it to accept the proposals from U.N. special
envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

"I told him that special envoy Gambari is Myanmar's friend and that it
should adopt and implement as much as possible what Mr. Gambari suggests,"
Komura told reporters after the meeting. "The Japanese government gives
its full support to Mr. Gambari as a member of the United Nations and also
for the sake of the Myanmar people."

On the shooting of Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai, Komura
reiterated Japan's demand for the return of the video camera and tape he
was believed to be using to film the protests when shot. Footage taken by
other individuals in the area suggests that security forces removed the
video camera from Nagai's body.

"The Myanmar foreign minister said the police will soon brief the Japanese
Embassy in Myanmar and that he will give the police strict instructions to
make a thorough search for the missing belongings," Komura said. "I don't
know if these words will be acted on, but I am holding out hope to a
certain extent."

Japan canceled 552 million yen worth of grants-in-aid to Myanmar in light
of the shooting but is continuing humanitarian assistance such as support
for polio vaccinations.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has abandoned earlier plans to
have Gambari, special envoy for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, brief
either the ASEAN leaders' summit or the broader East Asia Summit in
Singapore on the political situation in Myanmar amid strong resistance
from Myanmar's junta.

____________________________________

November 21, The Australian (Australia)
Arroyo demands Suu Kyi's release

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has threatened to derail a landmark
ASEAN charter promoting human rights and democracy throughout Southeast
Asia less than 24 hours after its signing, by demanding Burma releases
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ms Arroyo told leaders at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations
leaders' dinner on Monday evening her country's Congress would not ratify
the charter unless Burma freed Ms Suu Kyi and agreed to implement
democratic reforms. For the charter to be binding, it must be ratified by
all 10 ASEAN members.

''The expectation of The Philippines is that if Myanmar (Burma) signs the
charter, it is committed to returning to the path of democracy and
releasing Aung San Suu Kyi,'' Ms Arroyo said. ''Until the Philippines
Congress sees that happen, it would have extreme difficulty in ratifying
the ASEAN charter.''

Burma has emerged as a major thorn at the 13th ASEAN summit here and
forced host Singapore into an embarrassing retraction of an offer to have
UN Burma envoy Ibrahim Gambari brief the group's leaders and six East Asia
Summit dialogue partners, including Australia.

Leaders of all 10 member states, and other regional representatives
including Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, were to have
received a briefing by Mr Gambari but this was cancelled late on Monday
night after pressure from Prime Minister Thein Sein of Burma.

''The ASEAN leaders had a full and open discussion on the Myanmar issue at
our informal working dinner,'' said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong.

''Prime Minister Thein Sein of Myanmar made clear that the situation was a
domestic Myanmar affair and that Myanmar is fully capable of handling the
situation by itself.

''He (Sein) emphasised that Professor Gambari should report only to the UN
Security Council and not to ASEAN or the East Asia Summit.''

Mr Loong said ASEAN leaders agreed to respect the Burmese request but, as
ASEAN chair, Singapore would facilitate Mr Gambari's meeting with
''interested parties''.

But in a strongly worded statement issued after the dinner, ASEAN leaders
urged Burma's junta to open ''meaningful dialogue'' with Ms Suu Kyi,
release her from house arrest, free all political detainees and work
towards a ''peaceful transition to democracy''.

The charter -- which aims to transform ASEAN into a rules-based
organisation like the European Union -- was presented to the group's
foreign ministers onMonday.

One of the most significant pledges in the charter is to set up a regional
human rights body.

But, under pressure from Burma, negotiators agreed to drop previous
recommendations to consider sanctions, including possible expulsion, for
human rights violators.

The US has applied pressure on ASEAN to adopt a tougher line on serial
human rights abuser Burma, threatening to put on hold a free trade pact
because of the ''political situation in the region'' -- diplomatic code
for Burma. Visiting US Trade Representative Susan Schwab warned ASEAN
leaders the grouping's credibility was at stake over its future dealings
with Burma.

At least 15 people were killed, scores injured and more than 3000 arrested
in a crackdown by Burma's military rulers following peaceful pro-democracy
protests led by Buddhist monks almost two months ago.

In a rare show of defiance, 10 foreign students lit candles and staged a
peaceful protest outside the official ASEAN summit centre at the
Shangri-La Hotel on Monday. The students approached in groups of three as
any gathering of more than four people without a permit is regarded as an
unlawful assembly in Singapore.

____________________________________

November 20, Agence France Presse
India PM prods Myanmar over democracy: official

India's prime minister on Tuesday prodded Myanmar's junta to cede ground
to pro-democracy forces, a government official said.

In a meeting with Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein, Indian premier
Manmohan Singh said "the reform process should be broad-based, including
pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi and various ethnic nationalities."

He also said democratic reforms in Myanmar "should be carried forward
expeditiously," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

The comments came in talks ahead of an ASEAN meeting in Singapore, where
Southeast Asian leaders will debate Myanmar following the junta's bloody
suppression of protests in September.

Singh had earlier told reporters that he would press Myanmar on democracy
and human rights, but also underscored India's need to cooperate with the
regime in the battle against cross-border insurgents.

"Myanmar is our neighbour and what goes on there has an important bearing
on our own country. A number of insurgent groups take advantage of the
instability in Myanmar to indulge in unlawful activities in our
northeast," Singh said.

India has opposed actions such as economic sanctions that could derail
development of gas- and oil-fields or halt cooperation on a crackdown of
Indian separatist groups based in Myanmar.

On Monday, Indian officials and militant leaders in revolt-wracked
northeastern Indian states said Myanmar troops have launched a clampdown
against anti-Indian separatists.

At least half a dozen separatist groups from India's northeast have bases
in Myanmar.

____________________________________

November 20, Agence France Presse
Chinese PM says sanctions, pressure will not work on Myanmar

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao reiterated in regional talks here
Tuesday that sanctions and pressure would not help reconciliation efforts
in military-run Myanmar, an official said.

Wen discussed Myanmar in bilateral talks with New Zealand Prime Minister
Helen Clark and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the
sidelines of the Southeast Asian summit here, foreign ministry spokesman
Qin Gang said.

"Each leader discussed the issue of Myanmar (and) one common view was that
Myanmar should realise reconciliation, stability and development through
its own efforts," Qin said of the talks.

"The international community should offer constructive help on the basis
of respecting Myanmar's sovereignty. Sanctions and pressure are not
helpful."

On Sunday, Wen also urged reconciliation in bilateral talks with Myanmar
Prime Minister Thein Sein and in discussions with his Singaporean
counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.

But Qin said Wen would not be meeting with UN special envoy to Myanmar
Ibrahim Gambari who arrived in Singapore only to find that his Wednesday
speech to Southeast Asian leaders had been cancelled at the last minute.

Qin refused to comment on reports that China played a role in preventing
Gambari from addressing the meeting, saying the decision was made by the
hosts, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Gambari has visited Myanmar twice since the nation's military regime
sparked international outrage after violently suppressing pro-democracy
rallies in September.

Myanmar had objected to him briefing regional leaders, saying he should
only report to the United Nations on his findings.

China is the closest Myanmar has to an international ally, and is
considered one of the few nations with any influence over its ruling
generals.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

November 20, New York Sun
Asian nations deal blow to U.N. efforts on Burma - Benny Avni

United Nations —A regional group of southeastern Asian countries, which
includes Burma as a member, abruptly canceled a briefing by a U.N. envoy
yesterday, dealing the latest blow to U.N. efforts at mediation between
the junta and pro-democracy forces. The cancellation of the appearance of
Ibrahim Gambari at the gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations was announced in Singapore just as international pressure on the
military rulers of Burma gained steam. The European Union announced
yesterday it would impose new sanctions against the junta, and the role
ASEAN plays in the Burma crisis was criticized by the Bush administration.

The announcement at a meeting of leaders of ASEAN members who gathered in
Singapore yesterday was greeted with surprise at the United Nations, where
Mr. Gambari's modest success in bringing the sides together has been
highlighted recently. Last week, Mr. Gambari briefed the Security Council
about his recent visits to Burma, after which he was able to relay a
message from the jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Secretary-General Ban said yesterday that Mr. Gambari had been officially
invited to report to the ASEAN foreign ministers about his latest efforts,
which included several trips to Burma, Singapore, and other neighboring
countries. "I have not been officially informed by the Singaporean prime
minister" that the briefing had been cancelled, Mr. Ban told reporters.

He added that Mr. Gambari was in mid-flight last night, on his way to
Singapore to address the group, and that once he arrives, he would try to
sort things out. Mr. Ban said that just a day earlier, he had spoken on
the phone with the Singaporean prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. "He spoke
to me and invited Mr. Gambari, and I agreed to his invitation," Mr. Ban
said.

In Singapore, at the same time, Mr. Lee said the cancellation of the
scheduled briefing was made on behalf of Burma's prime minister, who
represented the junta at the ASEAN summit. The Singapore gathering
yesterday marked the first ASEAN meeting since the latest crisis began in
Burma — named Myanmar by the junta — in October.

"Prime Minister Thein Sein made clear that the situation in Myanmar was a
domestic affair and Myanmar was fully capable of handling the issue
itself," Mr. Lee said, according to Singapore's Channel News Asia. "He
explained that Gambari had visited the country four times and Myanmar had
implemented many of his proposals."

Mr. Gambari's "briefing is off," added a foreign minister of another ASEAN
member, Malaysia, Syed Hamid Albar. "Myanmar feels that they deal with the
U.N., and it is their own domestic matter. This evening, Myanmar objected,
and we base our decisions on consensus." He blamed the confusion on
Singapore, saying, "The host country invited Gambari — it was not
something that was done by ASEAN."

The 10-member ASEAN accepted Burma as a member in 1997, and the group's
role in influencing an ease of the tight grip the junta keeps over the
country has not been universally praised.

"Canceling Gambari's briefing due to the objection made by the Burmese
military junta is ASEAN's longstanding weakness and ineffectiveness in
handling the bad behavior of its own troublemaker," the founder of the
Washington-based U.S. Campaign for Burma, Aung Din, said. Past rhetoric by
ASEAN leaders about Burma was "never transformed to action," he added,
predicting that "we will see the same in this summit as well."

ASEAN's reputation "has been called into question because of the situation
in Burma," the Bush administration's trade representative, Susan Schwab,
said yesterday, after she arrived in Singapore for the summit. "There's no
way that I could come here without expressing our concern," she added. "It
just can't be business as usual."

Members of ASEAN, some of which conduct extensive commercial ties with
Burma, have been officially opposed to any sanctions against the junta.
America recently announced a round of unilateral sanctions, and yesterday,
the European Union announced it would impose sanctions against top Burmese
generals and would ban the import of timber, gems, and metals from Burma
until its leaders enter a "meaningful dialogue" aimed at ushering
democracy in the country.

____________________________________

November 20, Associated Press
EU and US discuss Burma policy coordination

The European Union's envoy to Burma discussed with US officials on Monday
how to coordinate pressure on the ruling junta for political reform.

Piero Fassino's meetings in Washington came as EU foreign ministers
approved implementation of new European sanctions against Burma.

Following a meeting with US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and
Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey, Fassino said the EU and
the United States agree on how to handle Burma, whose military-ruled
government used troops and police to crush peaceful pro-democracy
demonstrators in late September, killing at least 15 people.

"We have the same views on the isolation of the Burmese junta, right now,"
he said, speaking through an interpreter. "There is a common assessment
that the central objective of the strategy must be to favor the dialogue
among the various actors in Burma and of their reconciliation."

Fassino said he detailed the EU's sanction plans in his meetings. The new
measures include banning imports of timber, gemstones and precious metals
from Burma. The new sanctions come on top of an existing travel ban on
Burmese officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of Burmese assets in
Europe.

The EU also is considering more sanctions, including a ban on the use of
European-based banking services to members of the junta.

Fassino said he would ask members of Asean at their Singapore summit to
isolate Burma.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

November 20, Irrawaddy
New generation of Tatmadaw officers needed to promote change - Ye Htut

A new generation of officers in the Tatmadaw (armed forces) have a golden
opportunity to restore their status as true heroes of Burma and to rectify
the failures of previous military leaders.

Following the government’s brutal suppression of peaceful protests led by
monks, a return to the status quo is unacceptable to most Burmese.

Despite Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s preconditions for direct talks with the
opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, venues for a national reconciliation
process are being explored and preliminary stages are already underway,
partly due to mediation efforts by the special UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari
and the support of the international community, especially the governments
in the region.

Despite valid suspicions regarding Than Shwe’s commitment to
reconciliation, the current negotiations between Suu Kyi and the
government’s liaison minister, Aung Kyi, have the potential to lead to a
viable path towards genuine national reconciliation.

To this end, redoubled efforts by the international community alone are
not enough. An internal push from the newer generations of military
officers is also necessary.

The Tatmadaw has a critical role to play in the emergence of a national
constitution that would be acceptable to the majority of people.

What the UN special envoy has proposed to break the political deadlock is
that the military leaders and the opposition led by Suu Kyi make a
constitutional compromise.

Suu Kyi, who is the daughter of the founder of the Tatmadaw and cares
about its image, has publicly announced that she could cooperate with the
Tatmadaw and stressed the importance of national unity.

The armed forces, as the strongest institution of the Union, have a
historic calling to ensure that it is not an obstacle to a constitutional
compromise and reconciliation process. Instead, it must be a significant
part of the process and the solution.

A unique problem is the lack of a constitution that protects the people. 
The void has been filled by the current leadership, under Than Shwe, in
forging absolute dominance over civil society.

The new generations of officers must realize that the concept of the
Tatmadaw as the sole backbone of the Union was first devised by the late
Gen Ne Win as a means to achieve solidarity among the post-independence,
left-wing politicians and has proved to be ineffectual. It only led to the
formation of a series of military dictatorships without any advancement in
the political or socio-economic areas.

Than Shwe is now using this concept in an attempt to establish a
military-backed, monarchy-style rule following the breakdown of the
socialist constitution. Statues of three prominent kings from Burmese
history erected in the new capital Naypyidaw reflect how he sees his role.

Than Shwe is ruthless. He has annihilated all obstacles in the way of
achieving absolute state power. Such conduct is not acceptable by any
standard of sovereign countries.

There is a clear danger the Union may become a failed state if the army
continues to follow the current direction of militarization under Than
Shwe's leadership. On the other hand, it is recognized that there is a
high risk of the Union descending into anarchy if overzealous, abrupt
changes in the political system take place.

The people of the Union need the armed forces to serve and protect them
with respect to civil society and a democratic constitution. The new
generation of officers who are an integral part of the Union must grasp
this opportunity to facilitate constitutional compromises and the process
of reconciliation.

A professional military is a necessity that must be preserved for external
threats to the state. It can be legitimately called upon by the Union
under the constitution, if the police force alone is incapable of
restoring civil order.

But, with no constitution to protect the people, Than Shwe has ordered the
military to use arms against innocent civilians who engaged in a
democratic process by staging peaceful protests.

The Tatmadaw must realize that the current demonstrations are not aimed at
the military as an institution. Instead, they are directed at the
disproportional use of force with impunity by Than Shwe as the head of the
government.

Therefore, it should be the duty of every new generation of officers to
educate the soldiers under their command and convince their superiors that
the time has come to answer the historic call for constitutional
compromises and a process of national reconciliation.

They must realize that the proposed draft constitution is only going to
lead to the prolonging of the status quo. Without change, another uprising
by the people is inevitable.

In the absence of an infrastructure for a civilian authority, the risk of
the Union disintegrating into multiple military factions is real once the
current form of central military dictatorship one day comes to an end.

Therefore, the army should take a proactive position and form a committee
representing the people’s parliament headed by Suu Kyi, to be added to the
recently formed constitutional review committee. This would facilitate the
initiation of an all-inclusive, transparent dialogue.

In addition, the formation of a poverty alleviation committee as suggested
by Gambari could serve as a vehicle to channel much needed financial aid
to the Union while circumventing international sanctions directed towards
the SPDC.

The Tatmadaw must be prepared to change its direction and march hand-in-
hand with the Burmese people towards the emergence of a constitution
acceptable to the people of the Union.

Only then can the Tatmadaw restore its image as a protector of the union
and the people.

The writer comes from a family of Tatmadaw officers.

____________________________________

November 20, Jakarta Post
Myanmar spoils the party

Turning 40 is a milestone that deserves a more festive than usual
celebration. But it's seemingly not the case for the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the lead-up to its 40th birthday --
and it's all thanks to Myanmar.

Instead of toasting what the regional grouping has achieved since its
inception four decades ago, all but one ASEAN leader now gathering for a
summit in Singapore may wonder how the Myanmar issue has hijacked the
organization's agenda for the last 10 years.

By contrast, Myanmar will celebrate what has, for the past decade, enabled
it to hide behind ASEAN's shield vis- -vis the hostile international
community.

Hopes abounded back in 1997 when ASEAN leaders decided to accept Myanmar
membership in the region's main political and economic bloc that the
grouping would manage to persuade the Myanmar military junta to
compromise.

Indeed, Myanmar announced a seven-step "roadmap to democracy" for the
country in 2003, but there has been no indication the promise would
materialize anytime soon.

Departing from ASEAN non-interference credo, leaders of the region have
since then put pressure on Myanmar's military junta to expedite the moves
it has pledged to take for restoring democracy.

Some have lost their patience and talks around Myanmar's suspension as
ASEAN member country have resurfaced following last September's crackdown
on Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists who rallied peacefully for
democracy.

There was nothing much ASEAN, or the international community, could do in
response to the heavy handling of the protesters, other than condemn the
military regime -- a regime which crushed pro-democracy uprising to seize
power in 1988 and refused to hand over power to an election-winning Aung
San Suu-kyi's National League for Democracy in 1990.

Myanmar will continue to be an embarrassment for ASEAN if the organization
fails to force the military junta to take immediate and clear actions to
prove its commitment to democracy. Ten years is too long to be still
waiting to hear of significant change in Myanmar, where millions of people
may have suffered international sanctions.

It was quite a disappointment that Indonesia, as an influential co-founder
of ASEAN, would maintain its lenient approach in facing stubborn Myanmar
rulers.

Speaking before governors and provincial leaders last week, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia would continue to trust the
Myanmar generals and their promise to restore democracy in the country,
albeit gradually.

That Yudhoyono looks afraid any drastic change in Myanmar will put the
country's security, and eventually the prospect of democracy, at risk,
will only continue to justify the junta and its buying of time tactics.

Indonesia and ASEAN will be responsible for finding a solution to the
Myanmar issue during their summit in Singapore -- or else Myanmar will
continue to drag the organization down.

A summit which does see a remedy found, will overshadow the landmark
signing of the much-awaited ASEAN Charter.

ASEAN cannot let Myanmar spoil the party again.

____________________________________

November 17, Boston Globe
The broken promises of military rule - Susan Banki and Hassan Abbas

When two of Asia's most prominent female politicians are under house
arrest at the same time, it's easy to draw parallels. The scary part:
comparing the off and on detention of Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto with the
longstanding house arrest of Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma makes
Pakistan look good. But in both cases, this is no time for complacency on
the part of the international community.

The women have similar paths. Both were democratically elected after their
fathers were killed while serving as the leaders of their respective
nations. Twice, Bhutto was elected prime minister and took office, and
both times, her government was dismissed early. But at least she served
for nearly five years. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won a landslide
victory over Burma's ruling junta in 1990, has never been permitted to
take office, and has spent 12 of the past 17 years under house arrest.

The two nations have tread similar paths as well. Pakistan's formation in
1947 and Burma's independence in 1948 both triggered predictable
post-colonial power struggles, in which the military establishments used
internal instability as a pretext for abolishing civilian rule.

In Pakistan, a record of irregular elections and the creation of the
military-led National Security Council indicate a blurring of the lines
between civilian and military rule. In Burma, which hasn't had a civilian
ruler since 1962, the ruling junta has built up the military at the
expense of human development, producing the largest army in all of
Southeast Asia, and the worst record in health and education. Pakistan is
not far behind in these terms.

In both countries, the dominant group's hold on political and economic
power led to strong public reaction. In Pakistan, annulled elections and a
military crackdown against the eastern wing led to Bengali calls for
greater autonomy. With the assistance of the Indian Army, the Bengalis got
their independent state in 1971.

Burma's marginalized populations have not been as successful. Several
ethnic minority groups have been struggling for independence for decades,
but without a powerful neighbor to support them, Burma's ethnic minorities
have lost ground to the Burmese military almost every year. Hundreds of
thousands of Burmese have fled to neighboring countries as refugees, where
they have lived in limbo for decades.

Waves of protests in recent months have brought pressure to bear in both
countries, but in the face of repression, these efforts may not go very
far. President Pervez Musharraf's dismissal of Pakistan's chief justice
generated so much outrage that hundreds of thousands of ordinary people
inspired by lawyers' brave protests came out in streets and the justice
was reinstated four months later by the Supreme Court. He was recently
dismissed again in an arbitrary fashion. Now domestic demands and US
pressure have influenced Musharraf to agree to national elections in
January, but it is doubtful whether the elections will be free and fair.

In Burma, a violent crackdown against peaceful protests brought censure
from the international community, to which the Burmese junta responded
with bellows that it would not be bullied by the superpowers. Slightly
conciliatory gestures allowing the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
to enter the country and permitting Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with members
of her outlawed opposition party should be met with skepticism. They are
likely a ploy to silence members of Asean, the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations, from adopting tough measures against Burma, when it holds
its 13th summit this weekend.

However, in the case of Pakistan, at least there is a date to which
Musharraf can be held accountable. Burma hasn't even offered the pretense
of elections anytime soon. Discussions about "national reconciliation" -
code words for designing a system whereby the military junta keeps all of
its control but pacifies the international community - have been ongoing
for more than a decade. Incidentally, Musharraf also used the
"reconciliation" drama to withdraw corruption cases against Bhutto and
some of his allies recently.

Both countries' military governments have a history of reneging on their
promises. If international attention dies down, that is precisely what
they are expected to do. The pressure to hold free and fair elections in
Pakistan in January must be applied consistently until then, along with
demands to restore removed judges. On Burma, the United States should
encourage Asean to consider suspending Burma at its upcoming summit and
link its continuing economic sanctions to specific timelines for
democratic change.

The international community has done well to condemn the autocratic
actions of Pakistan's and Burma's rulers. But to effect any positive
change, it needs to keep up the heat and stop looking at military
institutions there as potential harbingers of change.

Susan Banki is a research fellow at the Institute for Governance, Ethics,
and Law at Griffith University in Australia. Hassan Abbas is a research
fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and author of
"Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army and America's War on
Terror.