BurmaNet News, July 10, 2008

[Editor]

July 10, 2008 Issue #3508


INSIDE BURMA
DVB: CRPP rejects junta’s election challenge
DVB: NMSP considers election participation
IMNA: MNDF will not contest 2010 election
Mizzima News: Round the clock security at USDA offices
Irrawaddy: Rise of factions roils relations within Burmese junta
Xinhua: Myanmar to turn cyclone-downed tree stem roots into sculpture
products for auction

BUSINESS / TRADE
Mizzima News: Reconstruction work of Maung Weik Co. falters
The Myanmar Times: At least 50,000 houses need rebuilding after cyclone

DRUGS
Irrawaddy: Maung Weik charged with trafficking drugs

INTERNATIONAL
VOA: Red Cross issues multi-million dollar appeal for Cyclone Nargis victims
Irrawaddy: UN to continue Bangkok briefings: Holmes
Irrawaddy: Top UN relief official plans to visit Burma

OPINION / OTHER
The Spectrum: Monks are heroes in Burma – Tad Trueblood
The Seoul Times: When a disastrous regime continues

PRESS RELEASE
WAN: World’s press calls for release of Burmese journalist
UNFPA: Myanmar recovery must ensure women's health and protection

INTERVIEW
DVB: Burma’s declining basic education



____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

July 10, Democratic Voice of Burma
CRPP rejects junta’s election challenge – Htet Aung Kyaw

U Aye Thar Aung of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament has
said CRPP members have no interest in participating in the 2010 election
announced by the junta.

Aye Thar Aung is secretary of both the CRPP and the Arakan League for
Democracy and an ethnic people’s representative.

He was speaking in response to a call in the state-run New Light of
Myanmar for the National League for Democracy to “join hands with the
people and then stand for the 2010 election in line with the laws instead
of longing for the result of the 1990 election”.

The article dismissed the NLD’s victory in the 1990 election as “illegal”
and said it was obsolete now that the military regime’s new constitution
has been enacted.

Aye Thar Aung said the regime had not directly approached CRPP members
about contesting the election.

"We still have not heard anything from the government about us
participating in the elections,” he said.

“Besides, we are not interested and we are not in a position to
participate in the elections."

The CRPP secretary said he did not believe the military regime was going
the right way about bringing democracy to Burma.

"We are not interested in the elections because we do not see either the
recent referendum or the upcoming elections as the necessary procedures
for Burma,” Aye Thar Aung said.

“The real necessary step is to develop national reconciliation to bring a
true democratic system to our country."

Aye Thar Aung called instead for trilateral talks to bring about national
reconciliation.

"The SPDC rulers should sit around a table with the National League for
Democracy and the ethnic parties and discuss how to lay out guidelines for
the future," he said.

____________________________________

July 10, Democratic Voice of Burma
NMSP considers election participation – Htet Aung Kyaw

A New Mon State Party spokesperson said the party’s central committee had
not yet decided whether to transform into a political group to contest the
2010 elections.

Nai Aung Ma Ngae of the NMSP said the party had not yet been approached by
the military regime about participating in the 2010 election.

"We still have not yet received any pressure from the government about
disarming and transforming our group into a political organisation to
participate in the upcoming elections in 2010," he said.

"We withdrew from the National Convention and we also spoke out against
the constitution and the referendum."

Nai Aung Ma Ngae said the NMSP had not yet made any plans to participate
in the election.

"We first need to know our central committee's decision before we
transform into a political group and participate in the elections, as it
is going to be a big change in our country's politics," he said.

"But so far we have not heard anything from the government and besides
there is no law approved by the government on forming political
organisations. So we have not made any plans yet."

____________________________________

July 10, Independent Mon News Agency
MNDF will not contest 2010 election

The Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) will not form a new party and
will not contest the 2010 general election because the party did not
accept the approved constitution, said MNDF Vice Chairman.

The MNDF had decided not to contest the elections which will be stage
managed by the Burmese military junta.

"We will not contest. Even Mon people should not because the constitution
was drafted for the army to retain power in the country and it will not
benefit people," Nai Ngwe Thein told IMNA.

"We believe if we continue to struggle, one day we will get real
democracy," he added.

MNDF was founded in 1988 and it won five seats in the 1990 election. But
the party was abolished by the Burmese military junta in 1992 with other
ethnic pro-democracy parties.

MNDF was illegally moved with other ethnic pro-democracy parties and the
National League for Democracy which fared well in the 1990 elections.

The military government runs the New Light of Myanmar recently reported
that the result was no longer valid and NLD should contest the 2010
election.

"The 1990 election result is legal because after the election no one
decided when parliament would expire," Nai Ngwe Thein said.

He also asked the Mon community to avoid getting involved in the election.
But the New Mon State Party splinter group led by former party's army
chief Maj.Gen Aung Naing stated that his group will contest the election
and asked people for support.

However the main armed political party has not decided whether they would
join the elections. Although the NMSP sent representatives to the national
convention which was drafting the constitution and later just sent
observers, the junta ignored its inputs along with 13 ethnic other
cease-fire groups.

____________________________________

July 10, Mizzima News
Round the clock security at USDA offices – Than Htike Oo

In the wake of the bomb blast in the Shwepyitha office of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), members have been deployed
in rotation round the clock for security.

There was a low intensity bomb explosion in the USDA Ward level office on
Sittang Street, No. 6 Ward, Shwepyitha Township, near the Township Peace
and Development Council Office on July 1. Security was beefed up at all
USDA offices in Rangoon Division the very next day.

"Security in all USDA offices have been tightened in Rangoon Division," a
weekly journal reporter told Mizzima on condition of anonymity.

There is heightened security in USDA offices in Seikan, Dagon and other
townships, he added.

"Security personnel were deployed at all crowded places, key buildings and
Ward level USDA offices on July 7 since 6 a.m. Over 10 USDA members are
assigned for security duty at each USDA Ward level office in South Dagon,
Hlaingtharyar, Dagon Satellite Town and Shwepyithar Townships," a local
resident from Rangoon said.

Rangoon Mayor and Rangoon Division USDA chief Brig. Gen. Aung Thein Lin
met Rangoon based journalists on July 2 and said that special security
measures were imposed to prevent bomb blasts and other attempts at
sabotage.

The day after the bomb blast, the Thai border based 'Vigorous Burmese
Student Warriors' (VBSW) claimed responsibility in a statement.

In the state-run newspaper, the regime said that the ground floor
entrance, window panes, tables, chairs, typewriter sand telephones in the
USDA office were damaged in the explosion but no one was injured.

The Shwepyitha bomb blast is the fifth in a series of bomb explosions this
year in three cities.

A bomb blast in January this year near the Naypyidaw Pyinmana railway
station killed a woman and another bomb exploded near Rangoon railway
station injuring at least one person. A bomb blast in a bus near Phyu
town, Pegu Division killed the bus conductor while another bomb exploded
in Kyauktada Township, Rangoon Division on  April 20 but no one was
injured.

Every time there is a bomb blast, the junta points finger at the
opposition. There have never been arrests.

____________________________________

July 10, Irrawaddy
Rise of factions roils relations within Burmese junta – Min Lwin

On the surface, the high-ranking generals in the Burmese military junta
appear to be united. But since a reshuffle in early June, speculation has
been rife that the regime is undergoing a major realignment, with
competing forces jostling for influence.

There are persistent rumors that several of the former Bureau of Special
Operations heads who were sacked in June are now under investigation on
corruption charges. Some are even believed to be under house arrest,
facing charges of high treason.

Although international news agencies reported that around 150 officers
were reshuffled, well-informed observers say the number who were
reassigned or removed outright was probably closer to 400.

It is believed that three powerful factions have now emerged, all of them
loyal to Snr-Gen Than Shwe, who remains the commander in chief of the
armed forces.

The three factions are led by Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Lt-Gen Myint Swe and
Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo.

Thura Shwe Mann, 60, is the third-ranking general in the military
hierarchy, holding the title of joint chief of staff. He has been groomed
to take over as commander in chief of the armed forces when Than Shwe sees
fit to step down.

Shwe Mann also has the lofty title of “Coordinator of the Special
Operations, Army, Navy and Air Force”—a position that allows him to
oversee all the main branches of the military, including the powerful
Bureaus of Special Operations.

Shwe Mann is seen as a protégé of Than Shwe. He is also close to several
businessmen and scholars who have recently been involved in getting
humanitarian assistance to cyclone-affected areas of the Irrawaddy delta.

Shwe Mann’s son, Aung Thet Mann, is involved in the fertilizer and rice
mill business in the delta. The Shwe Mann camp has recently been releasing
news that the general is business-minded and in favor of cooperating with
the United Nations and the international community. His close friend and
former classmate, Lt-Gen Soe Thein, was recently removed from his position
as navy chief and named minister for industry (2).

Another rising star is Lt-Gen Myint Swe, 59, who heads Bureau of Special
Operations 5 (BSO-5).

Myint Swe is an ethnic Mon who has played a key role in controlling
security in Rangoon since the early 2000’s. He is a distant relative of
Than Shwe’s wife, Kyaing Kyaing, and is known to be close to the senior
leader. He was involved in several important operations against top
leaders, including the arrest of former Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt, who
was ousted in October 2004.

Myint Swe has been seen in the state-run media more frequently since
Cyclone Nargis slammed into Burma in early May, prompting observers to
wonder if he is in line to assume a top commander position.

Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, the quartermaster-general who was named
secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council in 2007, is the
putative leader of a third faction.

Burmese observers believe that Tin Aung Myint Oo was one of the regime’s
main opponents of foreign assistance and UN involvement in the Cyclone
Nargis relief effort. He recently visited the Irrawaddy delta and was
named deputy head of the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee.

All three powerful generals have visited the affected area. Shwe Mann
accompanied Than Shwe, while Tin Aung Myint Oo went with Maung Aye, the
deputy commander in chief of the armed forces and army chief, along with
other powerful commanders, including air defense department and
intelligence chiefs. Myint Swe toured the affected area alone, giving
“necessary instructions” to officials.

Insiders have noted that all three are close to Than Shwe and his family,
removing any likelihood of a coup against the top commander.

Meanwhile, Maung Aye, the army chief, remains the second-most powerful
military leader in the armed forces. Maung Aye was locked in a bitter
fight with Gen Khin Nyunt, and Than Shwe benefited from the power struggle
between the two. Now Maung Aye, who has little political ambition, is not
a threat to Than Shwe.

But if speculation about the emergence of three powerful factions within
the top command turns out to be true, it is likely that further purges and
changes at the top are in store.

____________________________________

July 10, Xinhua
Myanmar to turn cyclone-downed tree stem roots into sculpture products for
auction

Myanmar is planning to turn stem roots and branches of cyclone-downed
trees in Yangon municipal area into sculpture products for auction, the
local weekly 7-Day News reported Thursday.

A total of 45 professional sculptors from two areas of the country are
being selected and invited for the move, the report said, adding that they
are from Dapain and Bago.

A cyclone storm, that swept Myanmar in early May, blew down over 13,000
old-aged trees and shade-providing ones. Some of these downed trees and
debris pressed and rested on houses, while some dragged down lamp-posts
and blocked roads in the city.

So far after the disaster, almost all of the downed trees and debris on
the roads had been cleared and accumulated on vacant plots in the city
from where stem roots and branches are being sorted out for making
sculpture products to be auctioned to domestic and foreign business
entrepreneurs.

These stem roots and branches of downed trees are of 30 to 100 years of age.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar authorities have been planting 30,000
shade-providing trees to replace collapsed ones and so far 6,000 downed
trees have been put upright in the Yangon municipal areas.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

July 10, Mizzima News
Reconstruction work of Maung Weik Co. falters

The arrest of young business tycoon Maung Weik has thrown a spanner in the
works in the reconstruction contract given to his company - Maung Weik and
Family Co. Ltd - in Cyclone Nargis-hit Kyaiklat town.

Though officials of Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd. at Lanmadaw Townhsip in
Rangoon city are refusing to answer queries, local residents said
reconstruction works in Kyaiklat has been affected by the arrest of the
businessman.

Burma's military rulers have assigned Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd a
contract to conduct reconstruction works in Kyaiklat, as it does with
other companies for different regions devastated by the cyclone.

But local residents in Kyaiklat and journalists said the company was
rarely seen conducting any reconstruction works.

The junta assigned over 30 companies, most of which are their business
cronies, to undertake reconstruction work in cyclone-hit regions in
Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions.

The junta also appointed several of its Ministers and Mayors to oversee
the work. Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd was assigned to Kyaiklat Township
along with Shwemarlar and Thawdarwin Companies.

Activities of Maung Weik Co Ltd. has been drastically reduced after their
boss Maung Weik, age 35, was arrested in connection of trafficking and
abusing ecstasy drug (popularly known as 'Gaungkharsay'), local residents
and journalists said.

His company officials, however, refused to provide any information on the
case.

Meanwhile, several companies assigned for the reconstruction jobs are
reportedly reluctant to undertake the venture as there has been no
indication of recovering their expense and no sign of any 'business
opportunity' from the government.

Maung Weik, the billionaire tycoon, donated rice to the cyclone victims of
Hleseik village in Kyaiklat Township on May 25, before his arrested on May
31.

Sources said in connection to his arrest, his close friends Aung Zaw Ye
Myint, son of Lt. Gen. Ye Myint, and Burmese popular actress Nawaratt were
interrogated.

However, after revealing all about the drug case to the investigators,
Aung Zaw Ye Myint, was reportedly sent to the Wettikan drug rehabilitation
centre in Upper Burma, while Nawaratt was released.

Sources said, several other Burmese celebrities including actors,
actresses, and singers were also interrogated in connection to the drug
trade and abuses.

Following the mess, Burma's Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Khin Yi, on June 26,
during a rare press conference in Burma's new jungle capital, Naypyidaw,
clarified reporters that no artistes and celebrities were currently under
detention in connection with the drug case.

But the Myanmar Times journal, a privately owned Weekly, which has both
English and Burmese version, on Thursday reported that a Malaysian
national is among the six co-defendants in the case along with Maung Weik.

The Weekly said a case has been registered against a Malaysian national,
Peter, Maung Weik, Aung Min, Nay Tun Lwin, Kyaw Phone Naing, Kyaw Hlaing,
and Ohn Thee (alias) Kyaw Win at Lanmadaw police station in Rangoon for
trafficking and abusing Ecstasy, Stimulants, Ketamine drugs.

____________________________________

July 10, The Myanmar Times
At least 50,000 houses need rebuilding after cyclone

LOCAL construction companies are setting to work to rebuild homes lost
because of Cyclone Nargis. They plan to complete the new houses before the
end of July.

The companies are receiving the wood required for the construction at
reduced cost from Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE). They will build 6044
low-cost houses in Labutta, Bogale, Pyapon, Dedaye, Ngaputaw and
Kungyangon townships, said U Ko Ko Htway, Secretary of the Myanmar
Construction Entrepreneurs Association's (MCEA) rehabilitation committee.

Each house will cost K6 million to build and will have a floor area of
somewhere between 256 and 400 square feet. The walls and flooring will be
of bamboo, and the roof of corrugated iron.

The companies involved are: Htoo Trading, Diamond Mercury, Dagon
International, Original, Max Ayeyarshwewar, Shwe Than Lwin, Aryone Oo,
FMI, Tet Lan, Taw Win, Eden and Asia World. All have been operating in the
cyclone-hit area since mid-May. Although some companies can produce
ready-made low-cost houses in their own factories, most lack the necessary
labour, said U Ko Ko Htway. The MTE contribution allowed the companies to
build the homes at reasonable cost, he said.

MTE is providing the wood at about one-tenth of the market price, that is,
for K35,000 to K40,000 per tonne instead of K350,000 to K500,000 per
tonne, said one developer who requested anonymity.

Government statistics indicate the need to rebuild about 150,000 houses,
especially in Labutta, Bogale and Hainggyi Island townships

____________________________________
DRUGS

July 10, Irrawaddy
Maung Weik charged with trafficking drugs – Min Lwin

One of the richest men in Burma and a powerful friend of the country’s
ruling military elite has been charged with drug abuse and involvement in
trafficking, according to a police sergeant from Lanmadaw Township police
station in central Rangoon.

The senior policeman told The Irrawaddy that Maung Weik, 35, was charged
at Lanmadaw Township police station along with Nay Tun Lwin, Aung Min,
Kyaw Phone Naing, Kyaw Hlaing, Kyaw Kyaw Win and Malaysian national Peter
Too Huat Haw.

The Myanmar Times weekly journal also reported that the seven named
suspects had been charged with engaging in drug trafficking from Malaysia
to Burma since 2003.

Maung Weik, a founder of the Maung Weik & Family business group, which is
involved in trading and real estate, is accused of importing ecstasy and
ketamine to Burma. It has been reported that he catered to wealthy Burmese
youths and sons of leading generals.

“They often held parties at their offices or homes and invited
celebrities,” a close friend of Maung Weik said. “They got people hooked
on drugs and then kept on selling the stuff to them.”

Sources said that ecstasy pills generally sold for as much as 60,000 kyat
each (US $50) in upper-class circles in Rangoon, a relative fortune in a
country where the average salary is little more than $30 per month.

“Maung Weik used drugs with family members of the ruling generals and
distributed drugs to movie stars,” said his former business partner.

According to sources, Maung Weik and his cronies forced young actresses
and models to have sex with them after giving them drugs.

“If some military officials or their family members want to have sex, they
come to Maung Weik and he arranges one of these celebrity girls,” one of
his friends said.

“He is very happy to serve up anything for Burmese officials and their
families,” she said. “Whatever they want—drugs, drink, sex—he is always
ready.”

“Drug trafficking crimes carry a ten-year to life sentence,” a Rangoon
businessman told The Irrawaddy. “I don’t know what the government will do
for Maung Weik, but he is close to the military generals and their
families.”

According to several journalists, Burma’s chief of police denied that any
celebrities had been arrested or detained and said they had not charged
any businessmen with drugs offences or trafficking on June 26.

Meanwhile, a source close to Than Shwe’s family said that Nay Shwe Thway
Aung, the favorite grandson of Burmese head of state Snr-Gen Than Shwe,
was also involved in the Maung Weik drug scandal.

“I heard Than Shwe was angry at Maung Weik because he got his grandson
addicted to ecstasy,” the source said. “So he ordered the crackdown on
Maung Weik and his drug gang.”


____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 10, Voice of America
Red Cross issues multi-million dollar appeal for Cyclone Nargis victims –
Lisa Schlein

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is
appealing for $72.5 million to support a three-year emergency and recovery
program for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.  The Red Cross says
hundreds of thousands of poor people who lived on the edge before the
cyclone struck are weaker and more vulnerable.  Lisa Schlein reports for
VOA from Red Cross headquarters in Geneva.

The cyclone, which struck Burma on May 2, was the worst to hit the country
in 40 years.  An estimated 130,000 people were killed or reported missing.
Nearly 2.5 million people, most in the Irawaddy Delta, are affected by the
storm and in need of assistance.

The International Red Cross says progress has been made in reaching people
in need with critical emergency assistance. But, many challenges remain.

Red Cross Spokesman, Zach Abraham tells VOA one of the challenges is to
refocus media attention on this catastrophic event.  He says the message
that hundreds of thousands of people remain in desperate need of help
appears to have been lost.

"If this story drops off the radar and people just forget about Myanmar,
then the situation can be dramatically worse," he said. "But, right now,
the outlook is good because the aid work is getting done, help is being
provided. But, again more work needs to be done."

The Burmese Red Cross has a network of thousands of volunteers who are
often able to go to areas that are inaccessible to other aid agencies.
Since Cyclone Nargis struck, the Red Cross has provided short-term
emergency relief to more than 500,000 people in severely affected areas.
It has delivered 2,500 tons of relief goods by air and by sea.

Abraham says it will take people a very long time to get their lives back
to normal considering the magnitude of the devastation caused by Cyclone
Nargis. He says the Red Cross multi-million dollar appeal will go a long
way toward meeting that goal.

"This money will be used to continue to provide the emergency response to
assist 100,000 households for the next 36 months," said Abraham. "We will
be looking at shelter, water, hygiene promotion, sanitation, psychological
support and long-term disaster risk reduction training."

Abraham says Red Cross volunteers are intensifying community education for
the prevention and control of disease. Another priority is strengthening
livelihoods. He says the Red Cross will provide strong support to
vulnerable communities to help them rebuild sustainable agriculture,
fishing and cottage industries.

____________________________________

July 10, Irrawaddy
UN to continue Bangkok briefings: Holmes – Lalit K Jha

A top United Nations official said on Wednesday that the world body would
continue to hold press briefings on the progress of relief efforts in
cyclone-hit areas of Burma in Bangkok when needed, despite the preference
of the Burmese military regime that they be held in Rangoon.

“Obviously, the government of Myanmar [Burma] would prefer that press
briefings be given in Yangon [Rangoon] when they can be,” said UN
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, speaking to
reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. “But that does not stop us
talking in Bangkok when we need to do that as well.”

Holmes was responding to a question about a news report in The Irrawaddy
that the military junta had asked the UN not to hold its regular press
briefings in Bangkok and instead address the media in Rangoon, where the
junta can easily impose restrictions on the presence of independent media.

Holmes said the UN and his office in particular had been holding regular
press briefings in Bangkok, at the UN headquarters in New York and in
Rangoon. “So I think we try to distribute our favors evenly,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the spokesperson of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
Michelle Montas, told reporters that she was not aware of any such request
from the Burmese government.

“I will get in touch with Bangkok to find out, but as far as I know, the
regular briefings were held on a daily basis at the height of the crisis,
and when humanitarian workers started going into Myanmar, the intensity of
briefings in Bangkok stopped. But they still have briefings in Bangkok,”
she said.

Amanda Pitt, a spokesperson for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, rejected The Irrawaddy’s report that the UN had
suspended press conferences in Bangkok as “erroneous and factually
incorrect.”

In an email to The Irrawaddy, Pitt said that the no press briefings have
been held in Bangkok since June 18 because “capacity for regular press
outreach direct from Yangon had increased and media queries regarding the
ongoing humanitarian operations could be better responded to by colleagues
on the ground in Myanmar.”

____________________________________

July 10, Irrawaddy
Top UN relief official plans to visit Burma – Lalit K Jha

John Holmes, the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief Coordinator, may soon visit Burma to review the
humanitarian relief operation in the Irrawaddy delta, devastated by
Cyclone Nargis in early May.

Holmes said: "It is possible I may go back [to Burma]
 before too long to
see how the operation is proceeding."

No date has been set, but Holms told reporters, "It would be in near future."

Holmes remarks follow the announcement that UN Special Envoy on Burma,
Ibrahim Gambari, will visit Burma this month. No date has been announced.

John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. (Photo: AP)
Holmes told reporters that substantial progress has been made in the
humanitarian relief work in the Irrawaddy Delta.

"The relief operation is proceeding,” he said. “The access for
international humanitarian relief workers has improved markedly over the
last six weeks, though we are still working on that. But, I think, we have
made distinct progress."

When a reporter said humanitarian relief workers are still not being given
access to the entire delta area, he said: "You are wrong, conditions have
changed a lot. They have granted access—not unlimited as we would like—but
it is improving all the time."

Holmes said between 250 and 300 people from the UN have had short-term and
long-term access and also NGOs are receiving greater access to the
cyclone-stricken area.

"The access is improving and is being made easier," he said. Referring to
the recent joint assessment report by the UN, Asean and the Burmese
regime, Holmes said it was clear that there are unmeet needs, and refugees
need further assistance.

"We have not had the second wave of deaths that people feared, a
catastrophe following the first, but there are many continuing needs there
for relief operations for the next few months," he said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations meeting at the G8
summit in Japan expressed concern over the political situation in Burma,
the White House said on Tuesday.

The G-8 leaders called on the Burmese authorities to release all political
detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader who is
under house arrest.

G-8 leaders also called upon the Burmese junta to foster a transition to a
legitimate, democratic, civilian government.

The White House said the G-8 leaders expressed their commitment to ensure
that aid reaches those affected by Cyclone Nargis. The leaders called on
the Burmese government to lift all remaining restrictions on access for
foreign aid workers, the White House said.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

July 10, The Spectrum
Monks are heroes in Burma – Tad Trueblood

They are more prominent in the villages right now, since the government
has cracked down on them in urban areas, but they're everywhere in Burma.
With shaved heads and flowing maroon colored robes (yellow "saffron" robes
are worn elsewhere), Burmese monks are at the forefront of flood relief
efforts and man the front lines of a not-so-quiet resistance movement.

Boys as young as 7 can enter monkhood, and young men often join for a
short time as a way to honor their families. Only about 15 percent of
Burma's monks decide to make it a lifelong calling.

There are about 500,000 monks in Burma, and they don't stay in isolated
shrines. They live among the people, are supported by them and serve in
many capacities. They also have a strong tradition of activism that has
frequently crossed into the political sphere. They supported
pro-independence groups during British colonial rule. In 1988, they
supported a pro-democracy movement that was able to change the junta's
leadership (after 3,000 people were killed) and wrested some reform
measures from the authoritarian government.

When an emboldened democratic opposition won elections in 1990 and the
junta refused to step down, the monks "excommunicated" the regime by
refusing all government donations. In Buddhist culture, the giving of alms
(through the monks) conveys blessings and legitimacy. The government
responded by tightly restricting activities of senior monks and making a
clumsy PR effort to highlight the building of temples.

In September of 2007, unrest surged again joined by thousands of monks.
The protests initially were about poor economic conditions but morphed
into demands for greater freedom. In successively larger marches,
thousands of red-robed monks walked peacefully through the streets. The
regime, however, eventually sent soldiers to violently disperse protesters
(monks among them) and imprisoned many. Only a few deaths among the monks
were reported, but numbers are disputed.

The 2007 "saffron revolution" drove the wedge between the people and
government even deeper, and for most everyday Burmese the bravery and
dedication of the monks was highlighted. During the mass marches, students
and regular citizens walked alongside the monks, forming human walls to
protect them from soldiers' batons and bullets.

The devastation of Cyclone Nargis in May (more than 80,000 dead and about
50,000 missing) and the despicable reaction of the government has
increased the stature of the monks still further. While the regime refused
to allow most foreign aid organizations in and turned away a U.S. military
humanitarian task force, the monks have been at work.

Again, they have refused donations from the regime (pointedly denying the
junta any popular legitimacy) and are coordinating with donor
organizations directly. Many donors are now only working with the monks to
deliver aid.

Fortunately, a second wave of deaths (from hunger and disease) has been
averted. But across Burma, the credit goes to monks who stood with the
people, died with them in the floods and mobilized to help them recover.
The regime is more reviled than ever. It is the monks who have legitimacy.

Tad Trueblood has more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and the
national security community. He blogs at www.thiscouldgetinteresting.com.

____________________________________

July 10, The Seoul Times
When a disastrous regime continues – Nava Thakuria

The devastating cyclone Nargis that struck southern Burma two months ago,
has revealed to the world that it was even less disastrous than its
military regime, which can ignore its own people in urgent needs and even
could prevent and restrict relief from international communities for the
hundred thousand victims of the disaster with the apprehension that it
might create an atmosphere for another people's uprising in the country.

Since August 2007, Burma continued to receive massive international media
headlines. After 1988, it was for the first time, when hundred thousands
Buddhist monks and common people of Burma came to the streets raising
voices against the military regime known as the State Peace and
Development Council. The movement was crushed by the military people and
its thugs. Nearly hundred died and thousands were sent to jails, many of
them are still behind the bar.

But this time, the junta has been challenged by the nature. A tropical
cyclone moved towards the Burmese land from the Bay of Bengal on the night
of May 2 and it devastated the entire Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions of
the country. The deadly cyclone Nargis also embraced three other divisions
and states (Bago, Mon and Kayin) to kill nearly ninety thousand people and
made another few thousands homeless. Nargis also left its trail of
devastation on social infrastructures and killing thousands of livestock
and also causing flood to paddy fields, which were made ready for Burma's
primary crops (rice cultivation).

According to the latest government information, the storm killed 84,537
people, leaving 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured. The United Nations
estimates that Nargis affected 2.4 million people and directly made
hundred thousands homeless. At the same time, over 300,000 water buffalo
and cows died in Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon localities. More over, nearly
1,000,000 acres of farmland in Irrawaddy and 300,000 acres in Rangoon
Division were destroyed. Over one million acres of fertile lands also were
flooded with the salty seawater during Nargis.

But the response to the disaster by its own rulers was very shocking.
First the rulers couldn't provide immediate relief to the victims and then
they tried to prevent (and restrict) the international aid for their very
own people, who were in desperate need of food, medicine and shelter.
Thirdly the junta went ahead with the referendum (in two phases) in the
country with a number of pro-military provisions for their new
constitution amidst all the chaos. Fourthly, the rulers extended the
detention of the pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for one more year
that prompted harsh criticism from the international communities.

"If a regime is challenged by the people, the rulers might have choices to
deploy its forces and the SPDC did during last year's popular uprising.
But this time, the junta has been challenged by none other than the nature
(read cyclone). So what did military rulers do? As they can never go
against the nature, they went against the innocent people! Have you heard
of a government, which not only denied timely and adequate relief to those
victims of circumstances, but also bent preventing the same from outside
sources?," commented a Rangoon based political activist Win Naing (name
changed).

Answering queries from Asia Sentinel, Naing, a supporter of the
pro-democracy movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, also added,
"The military regime at Nay Pyi Taw always remained blind to the political
power and they can go to all extends to maintain it. Hence they could
ignore all the troubles faced by the cyclone victims. The SPDC chief
Senior General Than Shwe got time to visit those victims only after
international criticism surfaced in a bigger way. Mind it, they can easily
sacrifice the people, but never tolerate international access (through the
aid workers) to its common people."

The callousness of the junta was also criticized by Suzanne DiMaggio,
Director of the Asia Society's Social Issues Program (and former Vice
President of Global Policy Programs at the United Nations Association of
the USA) saying that 'for nearly five decades, Burma's military rulers
have systematically undermined the interests of their own citizens'.

Referring to the cyclone Narigs, she stated that the junta-controlled news
media failed to announce warnings about the approaching cyclone.

"The entry of UN humanitarian personnel, has been delayed due to the
government's refusal to allow aid workers into the country without first
applying for visas. Moreover, the military leaders are dragging their feet
on easing restrictions on the import of humanitarian supplies and allowing
a UN assessment team into the country," she added.

Similar views were expressed by a Burmese exile living in Europe, who
claimed that nearly two million people, mostly farmers and their families,
were still living in horrible situations. Talking to Asia Sentinel from
London, Tyaza Thuria expressed his anger that the military regime was only
interested in retaining its power.

"Hence they have gone ahead with their plans for referendum (only to
forcefully approve the pro-military constitution) and finally to install a
puppet civilian regime after the 2010 polls," he asserted adding that the
junta had done nothing for the rehabilitation for the cyclone victims.
They did not also put any effort to warn the people about the deadly
storm. In reality the junta just doesn't care about the people.

The junta went with their own 'roadmap to democracy', where the Army would
enjoy the emergency power in need and could even topple an elected
government (for the National security). Moreover seats will be reserved
for the people with Armed forces background in the Parliament. The new
constitution will also prevent Suu Kyi from contesting the election as she
had married a non-Burmese (an Englishman).

More to add it, the junta had extended the period of house arrest for Suu
Kyi for one more year. The Nobel laureate had already spent five full
years under detention since May, 2003. Hence the decision of the junta on
Suu Kyi's detention invited prompt and harsh criticism from the world
communities. From the United Nations to European Union and the United
States to other pro-democratic regimes, all came out with stronger words
of condemnation against the military regime.

Mentionable that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon visited Burma and
met the SPDC chief Than Shwe on May 23, days ahead of junta's decision (on
Suu Kyi) and he had no other option than expressing regret on the
development. He however commented that 'the sooner the restrictions on Suu
Kyi and other political figures are lifted, the sooner Burma will be able
to move towards inclusive national reconciliation, the restoration of
democracy and full respect for human rights'.

Even the UN chief also invited criticism from various advocacy groups that
he was silent about Suu Kyi's prolonged detention while discussing with
Than Shwe in Burma. Of course, he made it clear, while talking to media
persons in New York, that 'his trip was a purely humanitarian one intended
to save lives, not to press a pro-democracy agenda,'

The Secretary-General also added, "I went there with a message of
solidarity and hope, telling the survivors (of cyclone Nargis) that the
world is with you and that the world is ready to help you."

Nargis hit the country in a critical period of the year. The month of May
in English calendar year brings the season for preparing rice seedlings,
to be planted later. Like many South and Southeast Asian countries, rice
is the primary crop (also the staple food) of Burma. The traditional rice
plantation needs to be completed within the rainy season, more preferably
by the July end. The harvesting time starts from October.

Hence the May 2-3 disaster can put a heavy toll on rice production in
Burma. The cyclone in one hand flooded the arable lands with the salty sea
water, destroyed the already grown saplings and on the other hand it
killed the water buffalos (also cows), which remained essential for the
poor Burmese cultivators for ploughing. If immediate actions are not taken
to support the farmers with tiller and fresh rice saplings, it can be
guessed that Burma might face food crisis at the end of the year; Because
the Irrawaddy (river) delta region produces most (almost 60 %) of the
country's rice.

Besides rice, the region also contributes in fish productions. The cyclone
damaged most of the fishing ponds, hatcheries and shrimp farms of the area
and it could add more people under poverty tag in the coming days.

Meanwhile the UN Undersecretary-General Noeleen Heyzer issued a clarion
call for supplying fuel (to run the power tillers) for the Burmese
farmers. Heyzer had reportedly stated that this initiative was crucial for
the affected Burmese farmers 'to meet their planting season' to rebuild
their livelihood.

Earlier the Burmese Agriculture minister Htay Oo informed that they
urgently needed diesel (it might be a volume of five million litre) to run
around 5,000 power tillers. It may be mentioned that, understanding the
real and immediate difficulties of the rice growers, many countries
including China and Thailand donated the power tillers to the farmers.

Burma, which was once known as the rice bowl of Asia, has slowly lost the
volume of rice production. Four decades of non-governance under the
military rule and disastrous economic policies of the junta has left Burma
in such a pathetic condition that the farmers now lost their interest and
motivation for surplus productions.

Amidst all the troubles and uncertainties looming over Burma, Win Naing,
who keeps a closer look at the political developments in the entire
country, hopes for a major uprising in the country. And he has arguments
what he and many of his friends are expecting.

"The cyclone has taught the Burmese people that there is nothing like
governance in Burma and they have to face all the problems with their own
with outside supports. In fact, they come to realize the presence of outer
agencies in a bigger way after the disaster. It will definitely enrich
their optimism for a change," Naing argued.

He also added, "During the saffron revolution (September, 2007), the
Burmese people (over 80% of them are Buddhist) witnessed how their
government could torture the monks, the most respected community in the
country, to remain in power. This time, they have seen the cruelty of the
government towards them. I apprehend try the junta will slip into a bigger
trouble very soon as the regime has started losing its influence on the
monks and the common people. We expect if it would happen little earlier!"

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

July 10, World Association of Newspapers
World’s press calls for release of Burmese journalist

The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have asked the
government of Burma to release the country’s longest serving political
prisoner, journalist U Win Tin, on the anniversary of his imprisonment 19
years ago.

U Win Tin, 78, is suffering from lung problems and severe asthma. He has
suffered two heart attacks and has high blood pressure, diabetes and a
prostate gland disorder.

“The continued imprisonment of U Win Tin constitutes a deep blemish on the
international standing of Myanmar (Burma) which can only be erased by his
release,” WAN and WEF said in a letter to General Than Shwe, leader of the
ruling junta.

U Win Tin, former editor-in-chief of the Hanthawaddy newspaper, co-founder
of the National League of Democracy and winner of WAN’s 2001 Golden Pen of
Freedom, was imprisoned on 4 July 1989. He was tried in a closed military
court and originally sentenced to 14 years of prison for allegedly being a
member of the banned Communist Party. The sentence has since been
increased to 21 years. He is currently serving a seven-year sentence for
sending testimony to the United Nations about the human rights violations
of political prisoners.

The letter from WAN and WEF said:

“We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the
World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries,
to call on you once again to release journalist U Win Tin, who will have
spent 19 years in jail on 4 July and is suffering from serious ill health.

“U Win Tin, former editor-in-chief of Hanthawaddy newspaper and winner of
WAN’s 2001 Golden Pen of Freedom, was originally imprisoned on 4 July
1989. He is now 78 years old and suffers from lung problems and severe
asthmatic attacks which prevent him from sleeping and eating properly. He
has also had two heart attacks and a hernia operation, and also suffers
from high blood pressure, diabetes and a prostate gland disorder.

“U Win Tin, who is the country’s longest serving political prisoner, was
tried in a closed military court and sentenced to 14 years of prison for
allegedly being a member of the banned Communist Party of Myanmar. This
sentence has since been increased to 21 years in jail. He is currently
serving a seven-year sentence for sending testimony to the UN about the
human rights violations of political prisoners.

“The continued imprisonment of U Win Tin constitutes a deep blemish on the
international standing of Myanmar which can only be erased by his release.
Furthermore, his detention constitutes a clear breach of his right to
freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international
conventions and we remind you that the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights considers that “detention, as punishment for the peaceful
expression of an opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin
silence and, as a consequence, a grave violation of human rights.”

“We respectfully but urgently call on your government to demonstrate
strength and compassion by releasing U Win Tin immediately. We look
forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.”

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry,
defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business
interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18,000 newspapers, its
membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper
companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news
agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue
Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33
1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman at wan.asso.fr.

____________________________________

July 10, United Nations Population Fund
Myanmar recovery must ensure women's health and protection

Life-saving care for women remains a critical need as Myanmar recovers
from Cyclone Nargis, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, stressed
today as agencies jointly asked for donor support.

UNFPA is seeking $7 million to help mothers deliver safely and meet other
needs in reproductive health and women’s protection. Its proposed
assistance is part of a revised United Nations funding appeal to help the
2.4 million people affected by the cyclone rebuild their lives and
communities.

Tens of thousands of pregnant women have been put at risk by the storm’s
disruption of health services. UNFPA estimates that each month, 4,400
women will give birth; some 440 of those will experience complications,
and 220 will require Caesarean sections.

UNFPA is providing basic maternity supplies to health facilities in the
affected townships and thousands of clean delivery kits designed to make
home births safer. It is recruiting doctors for mobile clinics offering
prenatal care in remote villages, and opening waiting homes so expectant
mothers will be able to reach hospitals quickly.

The Fund is also training medical staff from various relief organizations
in activities to prevent maternal deaths, HIV transmission and sexual
violence.

Plans include collaborating with health partners to restore delivery rooms
at damaged medical facilities and increasing reproductive health service
delivery points.

Along with other agencies, UNFPA also intends to offer counselling to
women experiencing distress as a result of the cyclone and is working to
establish measures to prevent abuse and exploitation of women and girls
made vulnerable by the catastrophe.

____________________________________
INTERVIEW

July 10, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burma’s declining basic education – Moe Aye

Former Rangoon University lecturer Daw Nyein Khet Khet has criticised the
two-tier education system in Burma for denying children from poor families
an adequate basic education.

Among the schools in Rangoon under the administration of the military
regime’s Ministry of Education, many that are attended by the children of
government officials or those from rich families demand sizeable fees and
contributions from parents.

The schools in which the children of the elite study and those attended by
the majority of ordinary students differ significantly in terms of
teaching, collecting money, quality of teaching, exam results and the
percentage of students who obtain distinctions in their exams.

DVB interviewed Daw Nyein Khet Khet, a former lecturer from Rangoon
University’s Burmese Department, to find out about the declining state of
Burma’s basic education.

DVB: Why are there differences between schools in terms of exam pass rates
and so on?

NKK: Teachers in Dagon (1) and Latha (2) schools pay close attention to
the students they are teaching. They also teach those students outside
classrooms in return for high tuition fees. As a result, the percentage of
children from those schools who pass their exams has grown.

Because of the high exam pass rate, those schools became popular and
later, the number of students who wanted to study in those schools
increased. Competition for school admission also came about. Paying more
money and making donations became standard in order for children to attend
those schools.

In Burma, particularly in schools at ward level in Rangoon, people have to
at least make a donation to be able to send their children to schools. I
would say such practice is a bad practice.

As you know our country faces economic hardship, there are parents who
cannot even afford a small amount of money for their children’s education.
As a consequence, children cannot attend schools and many have to drop
out.

I don’t think investing a lot of money to be able to select ‘good’ schools
for primary education is a good indication to basic education. If teachers
in those schools have better teaching skills, it is only because of the
mismanagement of the government.

Every school must have qualified teachers who have the same teaching
skills. And the government has the responsibility to train them to be
qualified.

DVB: What do you think is the root cause of these differences?

NKK: I think the main reason lies in the very low rate of pay for
teachers. Because of that teachers have to take on teaching outside the
classrooms – private tuition – to make ends meet.

To earn high tuition fees, teachers try to pay close attention to their
students. And so rich parents who want better attention for their children
send their kids to schools where those teachers are available by spending
more money.

As for teachers who want to make more money, they prefer teaching in those
schools and they seem to take effective care of the children’s education
only when they are in those schools. These issues are all interrelated.

On 7 July 1962, university students called for national education.
Basically, they called for teaching on democracy, asking the government to
develop an international-standard curriculum that includes political
knowledge students should be aware of. I would say they called for freedom
of education.

If we had freedom of education in our country, we wouldn’t need to worry
about the crisis we are currently facing in Burma’s basic education
system. Teachers’ salaries and school expenses for our children would also
no longer be a concern.

Despite changes in the basic education curriculum to bring it up to
international standards, the military regime still doesn’t consider the
rights of those who work in education and those of the students. It shows
that there is no freedom of education in our country.