BurmaNet News, November 22, 2007

[Editor]

November 22, 2007 Issue # 3348

INSIDE BURMA
DVB: NLD and CRPP members taken from homes
Irrawaddy: Apocalypse Naypyidaw!
Mizzima News: Detained 88 generation students granted rare meeting with
families
Irrawaddy: UWSA and KIO abstain from condemning Suu Kyi
Mizzima News: Singers to submit bio-data prior to show
DVB: Pinheiro story banned by censors
Mizzima News: Rush for new passports before office shifts to Naypyitaw

ASEAN
Inquirer: Burma wins showdown in ASEAN

REGIONAL
Irrawaddy: Burma’s Bangkok embassy seeks names of student protesters
Bangkok Post: Burma shuns Thailand-proposed talks
DVB: Ethnic groups welcome Indian PM’s comments

INTERNATIONAL
Irrawaddy: Gambari snub bore Than Shwe’s trademark
AP: Asian leaders meet EU to further ties, urge Burma reforms

OPINION / OTHER
Bangkok Post: Asean dances to junta's tune [Editorial]

ANNOUNCEMENT
Burma Campaign UK: 'Stick it up your Junta' – A comedy benefit

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

November 22, Democratic Voice of Burma
NLD and CRPP members taken from homes

One National League for Democracy member and two members of the Committee
Representing the People’s Parliament were taken from their homes on by
government officials on 20 November for questioning.

Dr Myint Naing, an elected NLD member of parliament in Sagaing division's
Kant Balu township, was picked up from his house in Shwe Bo township by
government officials on Tuesday, according to local NLD members, and
continues to be held.

Dr Myint Naing is a former political prisoner who spent 14 years in prison
from 1990 to 2004.

CRPP secretary Aye Tha Aung and member Soe Win were taken from their
houses at 8am on Tuesday to Aung Thabyay interrogation centre by the
special police for questioning.

They were sent back home around noon.

Aye Tha Aung said that he was not questioned when he got the interrogation
centre.

"The special police
said some senior officials wanted to have a talk with
me. But I didn't see any senior government officials at the interrogation
centre. They just made me sit there until they sent me back home,” he
said.

Aye Tha Aung said another CRPP member, U Pu Cin Siang Thang, was also
taken from his house on the same morning by the special police and has not
yet been sent back home.

____________________________________

November 22, Irrawaddy
Apocalypse Naypyidaw! - Yeni and Aung Zaw

After living for decades under a military-ruled Burma and witnessing the
junta’s bloody crackdown on monks and innocent people on the streets in
September, many Burmese have begun calling for—not diplomacy—air strikes
and international intervention.

No, it’s not a joke. And it’s not just the exiled Burmese who are saying
this—it’s those inside Burma as well.

Here are some of the excerpts from Burmese people who broached the subject
with The Irrawaddy during and after the September crackdown.

U Pinyazawta, a leading monk from the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist
Monks, told The Irrawaddy by phone from his hiding place in Burma: “We
need a foreign army to protect us,” he said, referring particularly to UN
troops.

Some Burmese were even more straightforward.

“We need air strikes,” said a prominent editor and CEO of a successful
privately-run publication in Burma.

He claimed many Burmese would welcome military intervention. “This is our
hope,” he said. “The regime is unyielding. We have to teach them a lesson
or two.”

However, it is commonly understood that most foreign observers and policy
makers who are involved in Burma would simply shake their heads at the
proposal.

The desire for a forceful regime change in Burma is nothing new. During
the invasion of Iraq, American diplomats and US embassy staff in Burma are
believed to have received a number of letters asking: “When are you coming
to Burma?”

In September 2003, in a lively talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of
Thailand in Bangkok, Ross Dunkley, editor of the semi-official newspaper,
Myanmar Times confirmed that all the Burmese people he had met—whether
they were taxi drivers or office workers—wanted to see an invasion. “They
all want George W Bush and the UN to come into Myanmar [Burma] with a
whole lot of guns and airplanes and jets and solve the problem. They
believe that’s possible,” said Dunkley.

Indeed, if diplomacy and sanctions are doomed to failure, the best
solution ordinary Burmese folk can think of is humanitarian intervention
and air strikes.

Instead of smart sanctions, they say, “smart missiles” are the readymade
solution to Burma’s ills—and as quickly as possible!

The image of Snr-Gen Than Shwe and his cadres being pounded by F-16
fighter jets in their ivory tower in Naypyidaw is perhaps a wishful
fantasy widely shared among ordinary Burmese who have lived under the
military government since 1962.

A Rangoon-based journalist said that he admired how the US taught Libya's
Muammar el-Qaddafi a lesson he would never forget when they launched air
raids on Tripoli in 1986, killing dozens of civilians, including Qaddafi's
adopted daughter.

“Now Than Shwe’s compound in Naypyidaw is just a sitting target—if we hit
him, there will be little collateral damage," said the journalist, angered
after seeing Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan lecturing UN envoy
Ibrahim Gambari on early November.
It’s therefore ironic that, in 2005, Than Shwe relocated the capital to
Naypyidaw, near Pyinmana in central Burma. Analysts at that time said that
it was because of advice from a soothsayer coupled with his fears of
foreign invasion.

Nowadays, Than Shwe’s new house in new capital can be viewed clearly on
Google Earth.

In February 2006, a “Top Secret” document obtained by The Irrawaddy
revealed that Burma’s military leaders were fearful of a possible attack
or invasion by the US, and were closely monitoring Thailand, which is one
of the US’s most important allies in the region.

The document indicates that junta leader Than Shwe warned that the country
must be guarded against a plan of destruction drawn up by the US Central
Intelligence Agency. It did not say what that plan was.

The government document also revealed that if the US bombs Rangoon, or
second city Mandalay: “We have to make sure to kill all NLD members.” The
NLD, winners of the 1990 elections, would otherwise be used as US stooges,
the document suggests.

However, Aung Naing Oo, a political analyst in Thailand, said that
dialogue is the best solution; not an air strike.

“There are options,” the exiled Burmese analyst said. "Diplomacy and
dialogue are the best answer to our problems.”

The other options, Aung Naing Oo said, include a fully-fledged engagement
with the regime, dropping all sanctions and pressure.

And if these measures still didn’t yield any results?

“Humanitarian intervention and air strike,” he said.

Aung Naing Oo considers humanitarian intervention to be the last option on
the table. “It would only take a small budget to take down Than Shwe.”

Firing missiles in from the US fleet in the Indian Ocean toward the
dictator’s compound in Naypyidaw could break down many obstacles, he
concluded. “And might open the doors that are currently closed to the
reconciliation process in Burma.”

Several Burmese living inside Burma would unquestionably concur. And Burma
analysts often conclude that military intervention or air strikes would be
economical compared to the deep Western pockets that would be needed to
fund Burma’s democracy movement.

On October 3, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman wrote in the New York
Daily News: “The Bush administration should also actively investigate how
else our military and intelligence capabilities can be used to put
additional stress on the regime.”

He continued: “The junta has tried to cut off the ability of peaceful
demonstrators to communicate to the outside world through the Internet and
cell phone networks; we should be examining how the junta's ability to
command and control its forces throughout the country might itself be
disrupted.”

So far, the attack on Burma’s brutal regime takes place only on
Hollywood’s silver screen. Two years ago, Hollywood movie “Stealth” was
launched worldwide but banned in Burma. Why? The film included an air
strike on terrorists in Rangoon.

Diplomacy will continue, as will mind-numbing debate on sanctions and
constructive engagement. But the Burmese people, who have suffered long
enough under the regime, now want those “smart missiles.”

Additional reporting from stringers in Burma

____________________________________

November 22, Mizzima News
Detained 88 generation students granted rare meeting with families

After more than three months of being cut-off from the outside world,
Burmese student activists widely known as the '88 generation' group, who
are in detention, were allowed to meet with members of their families on
Wednesday.

For the first time since their arrests in mid-August, authorities allowed
family members to meet with the 88 generation student leaders, family
sources said.

"They are all in fine health. They have not grown fat or thin, they remain
almost the same as they used to be. But my brother said interrogations are
still continuing," Saw Yu Mon, sister of detained 88 generation student
Pandeik Tun, who went to meet with her brother, on Wednesday told Mizzima.

The 88 generation students are reportedly kept in separate cells from
other criminal detainees and are not required to put on prison uniforms,
she added.

A friend of Pyone Cho, who also went to meet him at the prison, said, "Ko
Pyone Cho is in good health. We can also give them medicines. He has not
been brought before the court and we don't know when he will be released."

Family members said while authorities allowed 20 minutes for meeting with
detained 88 generation students, the conversations are recorded.

Several family members, including the brother, sister and daughter of
Jimmy, sister of Pandeik Tun, family members of Htay Kywe, sister of Min
Ko Naing, mother of Mie Mie, and mother of Antbwe Kyaw, on Wednesday
visited the notorious Insein prison and met with the 88 generation
students.

Family members said 88 generation students have requested them to bring
medicines, books and journals in their next visit.

Thirteen of the 88 generation students, including Burma's second most
prominent opposition figure, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Jimmy, Pyone Cho,
Antbwe Kyaw and Pandeik Tun were taken from their residences on the night
of August 21, after conducting a peaceful mass rally on August 15.

Htay Kywe and Mie Mie, who later led mass protests in Rangoon in the
absence of their colleagues, were on the run when government troops began
to brutally crackdown on monk-led protests on September 26. They were
later arrested on October 13, as they came out of their hiding places.

The authority's permission to allow family members to meet with detained
88 generation students came following the recent conclusion of a visit by
UN rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, whose task was to probe into the
government's use of force to subdue the recent mass protests.

"We really hope for the best," said Saw Yu Mon.

____________________________________

November 22, Irrawaddy
UWSA and KIO abstain from condemning Suu Kyi - Saw Yan Naing

Two major ceasefire groups, the United Wa State Army and the Kachin
Independence Organization, have been showing obvious signals of defiance
against the Burmese junta—most recently by not condemning the statement,
released by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on behalf of detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, calling for dialogue and national reconciliation.

The military government had previously requested all ethnic ceasefire
groups, including UWSA and KIO, to release statements criticizing the
statement.

Several pro-junta groups, such as Union Pa-Oh National Organization, Pa-Oh
National Organization, New Democratic Army-Kachin and some of the junta’s
so-called “representatives of ethnicities” had obeyed the regime’s orders,
claiming that Suu Kyi’s statement did not represent the ethnic groups.

However, UWSA and KIO, the two main players of 17 ethnic groups that have
signed ceasefire agreements with the junta, paid no attention to the
regime’s demands.

Meanwhile, the New Mon State Party also refused the order and released a
statement on November 16 completely contradicting what junta had asked
for. In the NMSP statement, the organization said it supported the
“political dialogue” called for by Aung San Suu Kyi in her statement.

As for the UWSA and KIO, this was not the first time that the two groups
had disregarded the orders of Burma’s ruling generals since they signed
agreements with the government in 1989 and 1993 respectively.

In October, a joint statement representing four ethnic groups, including
the United Wa State Army, was issued, criticizing the Burmese military
government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters, but welcoming the United
Nations’ role as mediator in helping to find a solution to the conflict in
Burma.

The other groups involved were the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance,
the National Democratic Army-Kachin and the National Democracy Alliance
Army.

However, a source close to the KIO was quoted by the Kachin News Group as
saying that KIO leaders don’t complain to the junta because they have
luxurious houses and private businesses in the junta-controlled areas of
Kachin State and other major cities in Burma.

KIO leaders’ personal interests include the joint junta-KIO operations
underway in gold mines along Namsan River in Namsanyang village. These are
semi-owned by the KIO and lie on the Myitkyina-Bamaw road, according to
KNG.

Meanwhile, tensions between the UWSA and the Burmese regime have erupted
in recent months following a government order that the Wa relocate units
living near the Thai-Burmese border to the group’s headquarters in
Panghsang, near the China-Burma border.

A July 31 deadline was given for the relocation, but the UWSA ignored the
order and reinforced its armies along the Thai-Burmese border, building
new outposts, and collecting rations, weapons and ammunition since the end
of July, said sources close to the Wa army.

At the same time, sources say, several other ceasefire groups near the
China-Burma border, including the Kachin Independence Organization, the
Shan State Army-North and the Kokang Army, have been training new recruits
and its leaders have agreed to support each other in the event of an
attack by the Burmese army.

The UWSA has an estimated 20,000 soldiers deployed along Burma’s borders
with Thailand and China, according to a Burmese analyst on the China-Burma
border, Aung Kyaw Zaw. An estimated 60,000 to 120,000 Wa villagers inhabit
areas of lower Shan State, where lucrative businesses, development
projects and infrastructure have been established for the Wa community.

Khun Sai, an editor of the Thailand-based Shan Herald Agency for News told
The Irrawaddy o¬n Thursday, “UWSA thinks of itself as an isolated group.
So, they [UWSA] don’t interrupt others and they also don’t want to be
pressured from anyone else, including the junta.”

The UWSA once released a statement in 1994 demanding their rights in the
National Convention, says Khun Sai.

“As for the Wa, they are only interested in the issues related to
themselves. They are not interested in other affairs. They don’t care
which government runs the country. Therefore, they don’t care about
government pressure,” said Khun Sai.

____________________________________

November 22, Mizzima News
Singers to submit bio-data prior to show - Ko Dee

A decision by the Myanmar Music Association today will require singers and
vocalists to submit their bio-data before performing on stage in the
future. This is to prevent any unseemly scenes during the show.

The meeting of the Association today was held after a commotion broke out
during the November 17 concert at the Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel in Rangoon.

A ruckus between security guards and the audience broke out on November 17
night, when a new generation singer called G-tone was whisked away from
the stage by security men for taking off his shirt during a stage
performance and revealing a tattoo on his back that depicted a worshipper.

An official of the MMA told Mizzima, following the incident, that on
Thursday at an important meeting it decided to impose a new regulation
that might require singers and vocalists to submit their bio-data before
they were allowed to perform on stage.

"We have come to a decision today. We identified the requirements for any
stage shows in the future. I would like to reveal them only after getting
the approval by the higher authorities. We have decided in favour of the
artists," an official at the Myanmar Music Association told Mizzima.

A source close to the Association said the decision would require singers
and artists in the future to submit their original names, pseudonym,
national Identity card number, and full address to the Association before
they are allowed to perform on stage.

"It looks like the particulars of the artists will be asked so that if
there are no problems on stage or below stage and it would be easier to
remove them," said the source.

Following the commotion at the Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel, the band 'Cyclone'
formed with vocalists G-tone, Thuta and Pyi Thar, have been banned from
performing live shows. A singer, Yatha, who was beaten up by security
police during the commotion, was also made to sign a pledge promising not
to create any more problems in the future.

"I think Yatha was badly hurt. He was first hit with a baton three times
and he fell down. And then he was then stomped by security men," a
listener who went to see the show on November 17 told Mizzima.

____________________________________

November 22, Democratic Voice of Burma
Pinheiro story banned by censors

A Burmese news journal was forced by the censor board to cover up its
front-page news story on the United Nations special rapporteur’s visit to
the country, according to the journal’s editor.

The 7 Days news journal had decided to run a front-page story about
special rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro after he gave a press conference
at Rangoon airport as his visit ended on 15 November.

Myo Tha Htet, editor of the journal, said they had to cover the story with
silver ink as they had already printed the issue while they were waiting
for approval of the draft from the censor board.

"Maybe they think the news is a bit sensitive to be featured on the front
page,” he said.

“We had to spend some extra money to re-print another story on top of the
column covered in silver ink."

Zin Lin, the deputy director of the Burma Media Association, said the ban
demonstrated the level of restrictions faced by the media in Burma.

"It is very obvious that Burma does not allow press freedom in the
country,” he said.

“Maybe the government is trying to prevent Mr. Pinheiro from becoming
familiar to the Burmese people. Also, I think they do not want people to
hear Mr. Pinheiro's opinions on Burma."

Pinheiro was sent to Burma with a mandate from the UN’s Human Rights
Council to investigate the popular protests and government crackdown in
the country in September and October.

His press conference on 15 November provided details of the people he had
met and places he had visited during his trip, but did not contain any
information on his findings.

____________________________________

November 22, Mizzima News
Rush for new passports before office shifts to Naypyitaw

With the Burmese junta planning to bring the passport office, under the
wings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its new jungle capital,
Naypyitaw early next year, the number of passport applicants in Rangoon
has risen sharply, sources in Rangoon said.

A Rangoon based passport dealer said, thousands of new applicants for
passports are seen queuing up at the office in downtown Rangoon's Pansodan
Street which is teeming with dealers and new applicants.

"I was in the passport office yesterday and I could hardly breathe once I
went in. I could not come out because of the crowds," said the dealer, who
requested not to be named.

The government's plan to move the passport office to Naypyitaw by the end
of this year may be one of the many reasons for people to rush and apply
for passports, she said.

The Burmese military junta has been shifting almost all government
ministries and departments to its new jungle capital since November 2005.
However, the passport office remained in Rangoon as the newly constructed
building for the department has not been completed.

"Now that the government has completed all the buildings, we hear that the
passport office will be shifted early January," the dealer added.

However, an official in the Foreign Ministry in Naypyitaw declined to
comment on the shifting of the office saying, "I am not authorized to
comment on this."

The sudden rush for new passports has given fresh opportunities to
dealers, who through unofficial means make passports for clients.

While the official charges for a new application for a passport is about
50,000 kyat (USD 38 approximately), dealers charge double the cost of up
to 100,000 Kyat, the passport dealer said.

However, the official procedure of applying for a passport takes more than
a month, while dealers or brokers take a maximum of a week or less, the
dealer added.

"If we go through the official procedure, we have to stand on the long
queue and wait for our turn, which some days never comes, due to the heavy
crowd. But if we do it through dealers, all we need to do is to stand for
a few hours and come and collect our documents the next day," said the
dealer adding that this new procedure has been lucrative for dealers, who
have a nexus with officials sitting in side the passport office.

____________________________________
ASEAN

November 22, Inquirer
Burma wins showdown in ASEAN - Amando Doronila

Burma’s brutal military dictatorship emerged the winner in its showdown
with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore last Monday
when it forced ASEAN to cancel a briefing for ASEAN leaders by the United
Nations special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari. The cancellation proved
to be a dramatic anti-climax that overshadowed the signing of ASEAN’s
first charter, hailed as a landmark document designed to transform ASEAN
into a rules-bound regional organization along the lines of the European
Union.

The abortion of Gambari’s planned briefing not only made shallow
Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo’s glowing accolade that the
charter “will take us an important step forward in the regional
integration to a higher level.” Rather, the results of the summit
highlighted the ASEAN’s split over Burma, a problem member since it was
admitted into the organization 10 years ago.

In a rare event that cracked ASEAN’s façade of solidarity achieved by
papering over members’ foreign policy differences with Asian-style
decision through consensus and their time-honored rule of non-interference
in one another’s internal affairs, the Philippines dared to be different
on the Burma issue. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sounded a discordant
note when she blasted Burma’s military leaders as “forces of
authoritarianism” for the continued detention of Burmese opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. In an undisguised rebuke of ASEAN’s soft approach toward
Burma, she showed up ASEAN’s hypocrisy and double talk on Burma. She also
warned that the charter faced rejection by the Philippine Congress when it
comes up for ratification by parliaments of the 10 member states of ASEAN.

On the eve of the signing of the charter, Ms Arroyo warned ASEAN summit
leaders: “The belief of the Filipino people and the Philippine Congress,
as well as my own, is that those who will sign the charter agree to the
objective, spirit and intent of establishing a human rights body -- the
full protection of human rights within the ASEAN ... With this in mind,
the expectation of the Philippines is that if Myanmar signs the charter,
it is committed to returning to the path of democracy and release Aung San
Suu Kyi. Until the Philippine Congress sees that happen, it would find
extreme difficulty in ratifying the ASEAN charter.”

She later told reporters, “While we are pleased that we have incorporated
language in the charter that advances human rights and democracy, we
remain concerned that the forces of authoritarianism still move rather
slowly towards democracy in Myanmar.”

The charter commits ASEAN members, including Burma, “to strengthen
democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law and to promote
human rights and fundamental freedom.” Although the charter seeks to give
ASEAN a legal identity with a framework of rules and calls for the
establishment of a human rights body, it emasculates that body by not
providing details or punitive measures for members breaching its rules.

The charter shows that ASEAN intends to hold on to its principles of
non-interference and decision-making by the elements that have inhibited
ASEAN from putting effective pressure on the Burmese junta to move toward
democracy.

The tough Philippine position planted a land mine of stronger tensions
between Manila and its key ASEAN partners over Burma, essentially on the
principle of non-interference and decision by consensus. If Congress does
not ratify the charter, it would plunge ASEAN into a crisis of credibility
and unity. The charter must be ratified by all 10 ASEAN member countries
before it can take effect. Given the more liberal democratic political
culture of the Philippines and the independence of the Senate, and the
strong human rights inclinations of Philippine culture, we can see the
explosive potential of Philippine non-ratification to fracture ASEAN
solidarity.

The summit decided on Monday to cancel Gambari’s briefing after Burma’s
Prime Minister Thein Sein objected, saying that the crackdown in Burma was
a “domestic thing,” and that Burma was capable of handling the situation
by itself.” Sein said Gambari should report only to the UN Security
Council. Burma invoked the ASEAN principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of its members. This put Singapore on the spot as host
and chair of the summit. Most ASEAN members were upset that Singapore had
invited Gambari to brief the summit without consulting them.

The Philippines supported Singapore in the invitation. In the decision to
cancel the briefing, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said:
“Most leaders expressed the view that Myanmar could not go back or stay
put. The process of national reconciliation had to move forward and the UN
should take a vital role in this process.”

The Philippines and Singapore were overruled in the decision to cancel the
briefing. Philippine officials asked: “If the charter is signed, what
happens after that? Will they [Burma] continue to string us along as they
have done in the past 10 years?”

In an effort to save face, Lee indicated that the cancellation should not
be seen that ASEAN had caved in to Burmese pressure. He said the Burmese
crisis should not detract from the significance of the signing the charter
as a “strategic move” toward deepening regional integration.

The cancellation left a deep fissure in the ASEAN. President Arroyo
planted the time bomb after getting a private briefing from Gambari, who
told her “little progress” had been made in negotiating a political
reconciliation in Burma.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=102575

____________________________________
REGIONAL

November 22, Irrawaddy
Burma’s Bangkok embassy seeks names of student protesters - Shah Paung

Burma’s embassy in Bangkok is reportedly asking universities in the Thai
capital to provide lists of their Burmese students as part of a follow-up
to anti-regime demonstrations there in late September.

One student who took part in the demonstration outside the Burmese embassy
on September 30 has had his application for a passport renewal rejected,
and several others say they fear similar reprisals.

Student sources report that Bangkok’s Assumption University, also known as
ABAC, has been asked by the Burmese embassy to provide a list of Burmese
attending courses there. Students at the city’s Mahidol University say
teaching staff there had warned them about the Burmese request.

A third year student at St. John’s University, Ko Ko Lwin, said the
Burmese embassy had confirmed that he was among protesters at the
September 30 demonstration and had refused to renew his passport.

His passport had meanwhile expired, and he said he had applied for
political asylum to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ko Ko Lwin said some student friends had also applied to the Burmese
embassy for passport renewals but had been told the responsible staff were
not on duty. The students planned to apply again on Thursday, he said.

Meanwhile, more than 300 Burmese students in Singapore joined a
demonstration during the Asean summit meeting there, demanding greater
pressure on the Burmese junta. Myo Myint Aung, organizer of the
demonstration and spokesman of the Oversea Burmese Patriots said more than
700 Burmese took part.

Myo Myint Aung said permission for the demonstration had been granted by
the Singapore authorities, and no action was to be expected against the
Burmese students who took part.

The Burmese community in Malaysia also held a demonstration during the
Asean summit.

____________________________________

November 22, Bangkok Post
Burma shuns Thailand-proposed talks

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Thursday his proposal to hold
multi-party talks to restore democracy in Burma was turned down by Burma's
ruling junta.

Speaking to journalists here after attending the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore, Gen. Surayud said Burma Prime
Minister Thein Sein told the meeting that the junta wanted to work with
the world body on the matter.

"Since Burma has made a decision that they would work out the issue with
the United Nations, therefore Thailand and ASEAN stand ready to provide
any assistance if need arises," said the Thai premier.

Gen. Surayud floated the idea that the United Nations organise regional
talks with the involvement of China, India and the 10-member ASEAN to help
bring an end to the current crisis in Burma when he met UN special envoy
Ibrahim Gambari in Bangkok last month.

The Thai leader also said newly-appointed prime minister Thein Sein would
like to make his first visit to Thailand on November 29 as a customary
practice among new Asean leaders.

Lt-Gen. Thein Sein has officially been declared prime minister of the
isolated country following the former premier Soe Win's death October 12.

However, Gen. Surayud said the Burma leader's request could be rescheduled
after the new year as Thailand is now preparing for the auspicious
occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday
celebrations next month and gearing up for the December 23 general
election.

____________________________________

November 22, Democratic Voice of Burma
Ethnic groups welcome Indian PM’s comments

Representatives of the Chin National Front and the Arakan Liberation Party
have welcomed comments by the Indian prime minister calling for ethnic
parties to be involved in dialogue in Burma.

Manmohan Singh spoke to Thein Sein, the Burmese prime minister, in
Singapore, where he was attending the East Asia Summit.

A spokesperson for the Indian prime minister said in a press conference
that Manmohan Singh had stressed the importance of including ethnic
nationalities in the country’s efforts towards national reconciliation.

''The prime minister conveyed India's position that the reform process
should be broad based and include Aung San Suu Kyi and various ethnic
nationalities and that it should be carried forward expeditiously towards
a satisfactory solution,'' the spokesperson said.

Ph Htang Cin, the general secretary of the Chin National Front, agreed
with Manmohan Singh’s sentiments.

"We believe the political matters in Burma could be solved via a
tripartite dialogue. The recent urging of the Indian prime minister on the
Burma junta is very encouraging for us," he said.

The general secretary of the Arakan Liberation Party, Major Khine Myo Min,
also welcomed the comments.

"We have never heard this kind of thing from India before. We heartily
welcome the Indian prime minister's remark on Burma saying it is necessary
to include all the ethnic parties in solving Burma's problems," he said.

"The basis of Burma's problems is the argument for democracy and this is
directly related to the ethnic issues."

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

November 22, Irrawaddy
Gambari snub bore Than Shwe’s Trademark - Wai Moe

Burma’s ruling generals know how to play in a sophisticated way with a
weak organization like Asean. Leaders of the Southeast Asian movement were
all prepared to listen to a briefing by UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari
on his missions to Burma after Burmese Foreign Minster Nyan Win gave his
approval. But then the invitation to Gambari was cancelled at the last
moment.

There was really no need for Gambari to brief the Asean leaders at their
annual gathering in Singapore or the subsequent East Asia Summit. The 10
countries of Asean are all members of the UN, and Burmese Prime Minister
Thein Sein reminded them at a Singapore dinner that they could obtain
Gambari’s report from their ambassadors in New York.

Thein Sein wasn’t responsible for the cancellation of Gambari’s briefing,
however. The order to block the briefing clearly came from junta leader
Snr-Gen Than Shwe—for whom, a military source recently told The Irrawaddy,
prime ministers are just “postmen.”

Unlike Gen Khin Nyunt, the former premier and head of military
intelligence, Thein Sein is said to be a loyal Than Shwe soldier, although
he lacks the hard-line reputation of such military officials as Kyaw Hsan,
Khin Aung Myint, Aung Thaung and Maung Thaung. He is close to the junta’s
number 3, Gen Shwe Mann, according to Burma military analyst Win Min.

“Thein Sein cannot say anything without the approval of Snr-Gen Than
Shwe,” said Win Min. “The junta’s rejection of the [Gambari] briefing at
the last minute was a normal military act. The generals regard all of
their actions as war strategies. They shock the world at the last moment.
[In that way] their counterparts cannot prepare a response.”

 When the junta moved its capital to Naypyidaw, news of the momentous
event was delayed until a few days before the removal vans began rolling.
The move, which surprised the world, was reportedly decided on the advice
of Than Shwe’s astrologists.

The previous year, in 2004, agreement was reportedly struck between the
National League for Democracy and the junta for NLD participation in the
National Convention, if the generals released Aung San Suu Kyi. But Than
Shwe decided at the last moment not to free Suu Kyi, making the agreement
null and void.

Than Shwe sprang his latest surprise because he was angry at continuing
international pressure and sanctions, according to Htay Aung, a researcher
in military affairs with the Thailand-based Network for Democracy and
Development.

Than Shwe’s Minister of Information and right-hand man, Brig-Gen Kyaw
Hsan, openly criticized Gambari because sanctions had been stepped up
against Burma following the UN envoy’s visit to Burma.

Than Shwe gave Gambari the cold shoulder on his second visit to Burma
since the September demonstrations, although the junta leader received a
Chinese special envoy, Wang Yi, Beijing’s vice-minister of foreign
affairs, on November 16 in Naypyidaw.

It’s also possible that Than Shwe was annoyed by Singaporean officials’
criticism of the brutal crackdowns in September. The Asean summit provided
him with an ideal opportunity to show his displeasure.

“All the military junta’s tricks originate with Than Shwe,” said Htay Aung.

____________________________________

November 22, Associated Press
Asian leaders meet EU to further ties, urge Burma reforms - Gillian Wong

Southeast Asian and EU leaders endorsed a five-year plan Thursday to
enhance security and trade ties, and urged Burma's military junta to speed
up democratic reforms and release Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi.

After three days of debate over Burma among Asian leaders, who were in
Singapore for annual political and trade summits, members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations turned to negotiations with the EU
to conclude a five-year action plan and continue talks on a free trade
agreement.

But the actions of Burma—accepted into Asean in 1997—still occupied much
of the agenda.

A joint declaration by both sides called for the release of political
detainees and the "early lifting" of restrictions on political parties in
Burma.

It also welcomed the Burmese junta's decision "to step up its engagement
with the UN and to enter into a dialogue" with opposition leader Suu Kyi.
The two sides hoped the recent intervention by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari in
the Burma crisis would "bring about an inclusive and comprehensive process
of genuine national reconciliation and peaceful transition to democracy."

During their closed-door summit, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win came
under fire from EU delegates, who urged the junta to release Suu Kyi, said
a diplomat who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak
to the media. The diplomat told The Associated Press that Nyan Win said
the military government was cooperating with the United Nations, but
stressed it was a domestic affair and that others should not intervene.

"I assure you that we will work toward the path of democracy," the
diplomat quoted Nyan Win as saying.

Other Asian diplomats said EU officials reiterated their call to tighten
existing sanctions against the isolated Southeast Asian nation.

During discussions between trade ministers of the two blocs, both sides
confirmed Burma would not be excluded from negotiations for a free-trade
agreement between the 10-member Asean and 27 EU countries.

"All 10 will negotiate; not one will be left out of the table," said Ramon
Kabigting, Philippines assistant trade secretary.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong insisted that the region must
move beyond the debate over Burma.

"While Myanmar [Burma] is a significant issue, relations between Asean and
EU should not be held hostage by it," he said.

Questions had been raised about whether the EU would try to block Burma
from inclusion in the free-trade talks after its junta crushed
pro-democracy protests in September, killing at least 15 people.

EU foreign ministers on Monday approved several additional sanctions
against Burma, including a ban on the imports of timber, gemstones and
precious metal. The new sanctions come on top of an existing travel ban on
Burma officials, an arms embargo and a freeze on Burma assets in Europe.

Lee told a news conference that it opposed sanctions against its neighbor,
saying they only serve to hurt the impoverished people of Burma.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates of Portugal, which chairs the European Union
this year, said the bottom line was that that all sides want the same
thing: "We have a common approach; that Myanmar must become democratic and
respect human rights."

Preliminary negotiations with the EU over a free trade pact started in May
and are set to conclude in late 2009. The two sides hope the situation in
Burma would have improved by then, said a Southeast Asian official who
declined to be named due to diplomatic protocol.

"It is better to have Myanmar on board now because things may change in
two years," he said.

The five-year action plan Asean and the EU covers political and security
cooperation, trade and investment, sustainable development of mineral
resources, as well as the advancement of science and technology. The pact
resolves to address climate change by introducing measures to fight air
pollution.

Lee said it would take "a lot of creative work" to conclude the Asean-EU
free trade agreement by 2009.

Asean already has free trade agreements with China and is concluding pacts
with the Japan and India. It also intends to start negotiations with the
United States, Australia and New Zealand. Trade between Asean and EU has
grown by an average 4 percent annually for the past five years.

The EU is Asean's second largest trading partner after the United States,
accounting for nearly 12 percent of Asean's total external trade. EC
countries purchase 13 percent of Asean's exports and provide 10 percent of
its imports, including machinery, transport equipment, chemicals and
manufactured goods.

In 2006, trade between the two regions amounted to US $186 billion, most
of it is with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Asean's members are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

November 22, Bangkok Post
Asean dances to junta's tune [Editorial]

In its typical Asean way and for no good reason, leaders of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations have decided it is much safer to
save the ugly face of the ruling Burmese generals than to offend them in
public. Thus, the myopic last-minute decision to cancel the scheduled
briefings on Burma by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

In defending the about-face, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
said Burma had emphasised that Mr Gambari, who has visited Burma four
times, "should only report to the UN Security Council and not to Asean or
the East Asia summit".

The tone this time was a far cry from the tough talk at the United Nations
General Assembly by the Singaporean representative and by Prime Minister
Surayud Chulanont against the junta's brutal crackdown on monk-led
demonstrations in Rangoon in September.
Without doubt, Asean has shamelessly vacillated and kowtowed to the junta
- as it has done before whenever confronted by the junta's defiance or
intransigence. Mr Gambari, who had travelled from New York in order to
brief Asean leaders, has every right to feel disappointed.

More importantly, Asean leaders unwittingly lost a good opportunity, which
the briefings would have given, to engage Burma in a constructive manner.
Sadly in this case, Asean did not even bother to follow its professed
mantra of constructive engagement. Instead, it plunged all-out to embrace
the other catch-phrase, which is not to interfere in the internal affairs
of member countries.

Asean had a brief moment of triumph when the 10 leaders, including Burmese
Prime Minister Thein Sein, signed the Asean Charter, billed as a milestone
for the regional grouping in its 40 years of existence since its inception
in 1967. The rules-based document gives Asean a legal entity, sets a goal
on democracy, pledges the setting up of a regional human rights body and
aims to turn Asean into an economic community similar to the European
Union, minus a single currency, by 2015. The endorsement of the Asean
Charter represents a major step forward, although much needs doing to
realise the charter's goals. The practice of non-interference, for
instance, has to be removed if Asean is to be able to push Burma into
restoring democracy. The regional human rights body which has yet to be
set up would be a sham if it is not given teeth to sanction member
countries that violate human rights.

Pitifully however, the moment of triumph and jubilation was spoiled by the
very people who enthusiastically endorsed the Asean Charter. The
last-minute dumping of Mr Gambari represents a retreat for the grouping.
It also constitutes a victory for the Burmese junta: the generals got
everything they wanted, including a watered-down charter.

Asean, whose effectiveness and credibility was already in doubt vis-a-vis
the Burma issue, now definitely looks worse in the eyes of the
international community and civil society. Once again, Asean has missed an
opportunity to redeem itself. And, once again, Asean has shown the world
that it lacks the dignity and moral obligation to do the right thing.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in Singapore on Tuesday that the
current situation in Burma makes a free-trade deal between Asean and the
US impossible in the near term. She also said Asean has a special
responsibility for the situation in Burma. Whether her statement was meant
as a warning for Asean to change its attitude on Burma is debatable. But
the message is clear: the United States is not happy with Asean's handling
of the Burmese issue.

Asean made a mistake in 1997 by admitting Burma into the group, hoping it
would be able to effect a change in the attitude of the Burmese generals.
Ten years later, the generals remain as stubborn as ever. Sadly, Asean has
not only not learned its lesson but continues to make the same mistake
with regard to Burma.

____________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENT

November 22, Burma Campaign UK
'Stick it up your Junta' – A comedy benefit

A quick reminder of our amazing comedy nights on Thursday 29th and Friday
30th November to raise funds and awareness for the Burma Campaign. This
will be the best comedy that the Burma Campaign has held to date, with a
great line up of acts. We need to raise money urgently so tell your
friends to tell their friends and book a ticket for a fantastic cause but,
equally importantly, the nights will be brilliant fun. Here's just a
taster of what you will see...

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/videos.php\

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glzkWmJgCgY

So please come and support us - BURMA NEEDS YOU!!

Book your tickets on: 0870 899 3335 or follow this link: 
http://www.seetickets.com/see/event.asp?e%7Cartist=BURMA+LIVE%21+STICK+IT+UP+YOUR+JUNTA&re%7Ceventtype=116&RE%7Ceventtype%7C2=114&RE%7Ceventtype%7C3=117&RE%7Ceventtype%7C4=115&RE%7Ceventtype%7C5=113&resultsperpage=20&filler1=se
  or go to <http://www.seetickets.com>  and search for Stick it up your Junta

Dates: 29th & 30th November 2007
Doors Open 7pm Performance Starts 8.00pm
The Venue Theatre, Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BP: Tube: Leicester Square
Tickets £20 or concessions £15

Featuring: David Armand, James Bachman, Tom Basden, Katy Brand, Colin &
Fergus, Kevin Eldon, Simon Farnaby, Richard Glover, John Hopkins, Shelley
Longworth, Alice Rowe, Tom Meeten, Nick Mohammed, Steve Oram, Katherine
Parkinson, Barunka O Shaughnessy, Skinner & Verrall, Nick Tanner & Gareth
Tunley

Please come and give us your support - and invite some friends!

The Burma Campaign UK
Registered Company No. 3804730
Registered office address
28 Charles Square
London N1 6HT