BurmaNet News, September 23, 2008

[Editor]

September 23, 2008 Issue # 3562

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I will keep fighting until the emergence of democracy in this country.”
—Win Tin, prominent Burmese journalist, released September 23 after 19
years in prison

INSIDE BURMA
Guardian (UK): Leading Burmese activist released after 19 years in prison
Mizzima: Ashin Gambira unwell in court
Mizzima: Election should be welcomed: Writer Maung Suu San
Khonumthung: CNA clashes with Burmese troops
New Light of Myanmar: 9,002 prisoners granted amnesty
Irrawaddy: Web sites back online, but fears of further attacks remain
Xinhua: Burma takes measures for wildlife conservation

ON THE BORDER
DVB: Army commander’s brother accused of smuggling goods

BUSINESS / TRADE
Narinjara: China to help fund Burma-Bangladesh friendship road
DVB: Bago activists launch banknote campaign

REGIONAL
Kyodo News: Man arrested for extortion attempt over journalist killed in
Burma

INTERNATIONAL
Mizzima: American public favors dialogue with junta
Irrawaddy: Leaked document reveals Burma’s US policy

OPINION/OTHERS
Irrawaddy: An evil game: Token release of political prisoners – Kyaw Zwa Moe

PRESS RELEASE
AI: Myanmar: Freedom for U Win Tin but 2,100 political prisoners remain
behind bars

STATEMENT
Nobel Women’s Initiative: Laureates honor one-year anniversary of Saffron
Revolution


____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

September 23, Guardian (UK)
Leading Burmese activist released after 19 years in prison – Ian MacKinnon

One of Burma's most prominent political detainees, Win Tin, was released
from jail today after 19 years' imprisonment, and vowed to continue to
fight for democracy in the country.

The ailing journalist, one of Burma's longest-serving political detainees,
was one of the founders of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy (NLD).

The 79-year-old, suffering a host of medical problems after long years in
Rangoon's notorious Insein prison, was freed along with seven leading
political figures, as part of a wider amnesty for 9,002 prisoners — the
vast number of them drug dealers and petty criminals. State-controlled
media announced they were being released "so they could participate in the
fair elections to be held in 2010".

Although exiled dissidents welcomed the release of Win Tin and the others,
they dismissed it as a cynical ploy by the junta to defuse tensions as
world leaders gather for the UN summit in New York amid calls for even
tougher sanctions.

"We're happy for those who have been released," said Bo Kyi, of the
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma. "But they were
freed because the UN general assembly is starting and leaders want to put
more pressure on Burma. The regime thinks this is a way to relieve it."

Win Tin, who was given 20 years in jail in a succession of sentences for
distributing political propaganda, sheltering a woman who had an abortion
and writing to the UN to protest prison conditions, immediately vowed to
keep campaigning against the 46-year-old regime.

Still in his light-blue prison clothes as he talked at the house of a
friend, he said: "I will keep fighting until the emergence of democracy in
this country."

Despite fears over his deteriorating health, family members said after his
release that he was in "good health".

The other freed political prisoners included four MPs and an activist from
the NLD — Mae Win Myint, Aung Soe Myint, Khin Maung Soe, Dr Than Nyein and
Thein Naing — and an aide to the detained Suu Kyi, 63, Win Htein.

All had spent more than a decade in jail, long ago serving out the
sentences they were originally given, but detained on the regime's whim.

They were among Burma's 2,130 political prisoners — from a prison
population of between 80,000 and 100,000 — many of them detained around
the army crackdown on the pro-democracy uprising a year ago that left at
least 31 people dead.

The protests led by Buddhist monks brought more than 100,000 people on to
the streets of Rangoon before the army opened fire. Currently 136 monks
are still behind bars, the highest number jailed at any one time.

____________________________________

September 23, Mizzima News
Ashin Gambira unwell in court

Ashin Gambira, facing trial, felt unwell during his last appearance in
court, his defence counsel U Khin Maung Shein said.

Leader of last September's Saffron Revolution, Ashin Gambira was not
feeling well when he was produced in court on Monday morning.

"I think it is food poisoning because he vomited three times this morning.
'I feel sorry for you because of the stink coming out of my mouth'," his
defence lawyer quoted him as saying.

He was weak, exhausted and half asleep with his eyes closed during the
court proceedings.

"He inhaled balm brought to him by his younger sisters. They applied balm
on his hands and legs and massaged him," the lawyer said.

"He could not say why he felt unwell. He said he thought it was food
poisoning," the lawyer added.

He was forcibly disrobed when he was arrested and brought to court in
handcuffs. He has been charged under section 13(1) of the Immigration Act,
section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, section 6 of the
Associations Act, section 505(b) of the Penal Code (inducing crime against
public tranquility) and 295, 145, 147 of the Penal Code (insult to the
religion, unlawful assembly), section 17/20 of the Printers and Publishers
Act and section 33(a)/38 of the Electronic Law.

Ashin Gambira, the leader of the Saffron Revolution, was awarded the 'U
Yewata Memorial Peace Prize' by 'All Burma Young Monks Association'
(ABYMU-India) and 'Freedom of Expression Prize 2008' by the London based
'Index on Censorship'.

On the same day, 21 members of the 88 Generation Students, including
student leader Ko Min Ko Naing, were produced in court. The lawyer said
that the health situation of the 21 student leaders was good and their
family members were allowed to be present inside the courtroom to witness
the court proceedings.

____________________________________

September 23, Mizzima News
Election should be welcomed: Writer Maung Suu San

In a stand which has come as a surprise, famous but controversial writer
Maung Suu San has said in a weekly news journal that the general elections
slated for 2010 should be welcomed for the sake of transition to democracy
in Burma. The rebel politician turned writer has not been known to see eye
to eye with the junta.

Maung Suu San (81) said in this week's issue of 'Weekly Eleven' that since
the popular uprising is intangible and foreign assisted democratic
struggle is no longer necessary, the ruling junta sponsored election held
within the framework of the newly approved constitution will be the best
option for transition to democracy.

In an article entitled 'Democracy Recession and Sponsor', the
rebel-turned-politician-turned-writer said that how the election will be
held is unimportant but a smooth change can be achieved through the
election.

"In layman's term, the election can bring about a 'status' change. Change
of 'status' from status-quo should be seen as an opportunity," he wrote.

"In politics, calculation of probabilities must be pragmatic, must reflect
the reality, must be free from subjectivism and not be idealistic," he
said.

Maung Suu San a.k.a. U Tin Shwe a.k.a. U Chan Aye writes articles on
politics, international issues and translated articles in domestic
journals which are quite popular among the people.

But the main opposition party the 'National League for Democracy' (NLD)
party has not yet announced its official position on the junta sponsored
elections, which will be held in 2010. Influential underground
organizations of monks and 88 Generation Students have rejected the
election outright.

The controversial writer presented three avenues to democracy. He said
that the popular uprising, one of the three ways, is impossible as the
people are weakened and exhausted after the uprising.

In a crackdown against peaceful demonstrators in the 1988 popular
uprising, the regime killed at least 3,000 people and the junta has ruled
the country since then.

Maung Suu San also rejected the second avenue of foreign assisted and
sponsored democratization as Burma is capable of establishing a State on
her own.

Thus accepting the election is the best solution for a smooth change over,
he said.

But the writer cautioned that he himself could not yet say with certainty
about the process of democratization.

"We must wait and see how effective and efficient the new machinery of
policy formulation and decision making process moulded by the new
constitution is, in the aftermath the elections," he wrote.

Maung Suu San is a former member of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB),
which went underground in 1949 to wage war against the government. He was
arrested by the intelligence agency while he was on clandestine duty to
engage in a dialogue with then ruling government as a representative of
the CPB. But he was released soon after.

He contested the 1990 general elections from Mawlamyine Constituency No. 2
as an NLD candidate and won the seat. But the regime refused to hand over
power to the NLD despite the landslide victory in the election. Then Maung
Suu San was imprisoned for his anti-government political activities and
released from prison in 1992 and had to resign from the party.

The junta approved the draft constitution which was opposed by the
Opposition through a referendum tainted by rigging of votes,
irregularities and not clearly recognized by the international community.
The junta announced that fresh elections will be held in 2010.

____________________________________

September 23, Khonumthung News
CNA clashes with Burmese troops

There was a firefight between the Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing
of the Chin National Front (CNF) and Burmese troops in Chin state, western
Burma on September 16. A soldier of the Burmese Army was reportedly killed
and another injured.

The clash in which 30 Burmese soldiers and seven cadres of the CNA were
involved occurred near Ramri village in Paletwa Township, around 10 miles
from the Indo-Burma border.

The encounter began at 6 am and lasted five minutes.

"The clash took place unexpectedly when Burmese soldiers went out of the
village (Ramri) and CNA cadres were about to enter the village," Pu Htet
Ni, a spokesman of the Chin National Front said.

According to the CNF spokesman, there was no casualty on the CNA side.

The gun battle between Burmese troops and CNA cadres near Ramri village is
the first firefight after Burmese soldiers attacked a CNA hideout near
Zokhua village in Thangtlang Township in February this year killing a CNA
soldier.

The CNF was established in 1988 with the aim of wresting
self-determination rights for the Chin people and to establish a federal
Union of Burma based on democracy and freedom.

The first round of peace talks between the CNF and Burmese military junta
took place in Rih town in Chin state near the Indo-Burma border on March
2007. The second round of talks was initially agreed to be held on August
2007. But later, it was postponed.
____________________________________

September 23, New Light of Myanmar
9,002 prisoners granted amnesty

The State Peace and Development Council is making efforts for the
emergence of a peaceful modern discipline-flourishing democratic nation
upholding Our Three Main National Causes. The vast majority of the people
have already adopted the constitution, the fourth step of the seven-step
Road Map, to shape the future State.

In building a new nation, the government sentenced those who violated the
existing laws to prison terms in accord with the law to ensure stability
and prevalence of law and order. However, plans are being made for those
serving prison terms to turn them into citizens to be able to participate
in building a new nation.

The government terminated the prison terms of 9,002 prisoners with good
conduct and discipline for social consideration of their families and
released from the respective jails on 23 September 2008 to enable them to
serve the interests of the regions and their own and the fair election to
be held in 2010 together with the people after realizing the government's
loving kindness and goodwill.

____________________________________

September 23, Irrawaddy
Web sites back online, but fears of further attacks remain – Min Lwin

The online version of The Irrawaddy and other Web sites run by Burmese
exiles are back in operation after being hit last Tuesday by “distributed
denial-of-service,” or DDoS, attacks that jammed the sites with fake
traffic.

Attacks on the Irrawaddy Web site stopped on Friday evening, according to
office manager Win Thu, who supervised efforts to restore service. A
mirror site, www.irrawaddymedia.com, has been available since Saturday
evening, and the main site, www.irrawaddy.org, went back online on Monday.
He added that additional mirror sites would be created as a measure to
deal with any future attacks.

“I am not sure if another attack will hit our site or not,” he said. “If
the Burmese military government has well-trained computer technicians, the
exiled media may be targeted again, because it doesn’t cost very much to
carry out such attacks.”

At least two other exiled media Web sites were affected by last week’s
attacks. The Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma and Khit Pyaing (The New
Era Journal), based in Bangkok, have both been restored to full service.

This is the second time that The Irrawaddy’s Web site has been hit by a
cyber attack since it was established in 2000.

The first time occurred almost exactly one year ago, when a Trojan virus
infected the site at the height of monk-led protests against military rule
in Burma in September 2007. The Irrawaddy Web site reported extensively on
the demonstrations and posted numerous images and videos provided by
so-called “citizen journalists” inside the country.

Like last year’s attack, the latest attempt to shut down exiled media Web
sites was accompanied by a slowdown of Internet service inside Burma.

According to Internet café owners and users in Rangoon, Internet speeds
have slowed down considerably since last week, making it impossible to
upload large files such as photos or videos. There were also reports of
connections stopping and restarting every ten minutes or so on Friday and
Saturday.

Sources in Rangoon have also reported increased surveillance of Internet
cafes. The owner of one Internet café in downtown Rangoon said that local
authorities and police intelligence officers had issued orders to provide
Internet users’ ID information.

“The authorities ordered us to register user ID numbers, addresses and
phone numbers,” he said.

Internet cafes are also required to send each user’s Web history to the
state-run Internet service provider (ISP) Myanmar Info-tech every two
weeks. They are also instructed to automatically capture screenshots
showing users’ online activities every five minutes.

Despite the tightening of restrictions on access to the Internet, the
Burmese regime has recently moved to expand Internet service in the
country.

Hanthawaddy National Gateway, Burma’s newest ISP, was launched in July and
is expected to become the largest in the country, according to a senior
member of the Myanmar Computer Professionals Association.

The new ISP will provide access to subscribers in every state and division
except Rangoon Division, but at present is only available to military
officials, he added.

Hanthawaddy National Gateway received technical assistance from Alcatel
Shanghai Bell Company, which is represented in Burma by Tay Za, one of the
country’s wealthiest businessmen and a close associate of senior leaders
of the ruling junta.

The source said that Hanthawaddy National Gateway is to be linked to the
Yadanabon teleport in Mandalay and also to a regional ISP in Hong Kong.

Burma currently has three ISPs—the state-run Myanmar Posts and
Telecommunications (MPT), which operates Myanmar Info-tech; the
semi-government-owned Myanmar Teleport (formerly Bagan Net); and
Hanthawaddy National Gateway.

___________________________________

September 23, Xinhua
Burma takes measures for wildlife conservation

Myanmar has taken measures for wildlife conservation by restricting the
catching of elephant in the country's Bago Yoma mountain range where most
of the animal take sanctuary, the local Weekly Eleven journal reported
Tuesday.

In order to prevent elephant from extinction in the country, the Myanmar
forestry authorities allowed catching of the wild elephants in the
mountain range's Hlegu area only once in three years, prescribing the
ratio of the elephants caught to be handed over to the authorities,
according to the report.

Meanwhile, the authorities also called on the country's people to
participate in the task for conservation of rare birds and wildlife to
stabilize the ecosystem which faces collapse as in the world, singling out
that there are only nine endangered species out of 144 in the world can be
found in Myanmar.

Golden deer, one of the nine species in existence in Myanmar, are being
protected in Chatthin Sanctuary in northwestern Sagaing division, the
authorities said, adding that "though three kinds of species of the golden
deer are found in South East Asia, there are now only Myanmar golden deer
left".

Noting that the population of tigers worldwide gradually declines with
tiger species being available in 13 countries only, the authorities said
Myanmar is cooperating with seven other Asian nations in an effort to
establish a tiger protection corridor which extends as 5,000 miles (8,000
kilometres) for endangered ones.

Disclosing that there are only 100 tigers left in Myanmar, the authorities
said, in cooperation with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), tiger
conservation is being undertaken in Hukaung Valley, the geographical
condition of which creates a suitable place for survival of the tigers.

The authorities stressed the need also to conserve the environment, saying
that too much extraction of wildlife, plants and fish, establishment of
plantation after clearing, the natural forests and pollution endanger the
existence of biodiversity in the long run.

The authorities also called for systematic control of indiscriminate
cutting down of trees, hunting and trading of wildlife products.

According to the authorities, only about 150 tigers remain alive in
Myanmar's tiger reserve.

The tiger data collection of the forestry ministry was jointly carried out
with the cooperation of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS) since 1998 with the use of camera trap as well as modern scientific
method.

The Hukuang Tiger Reserve in Myanmar's northernmost Kachin state, which
was established in 2004, covers an area of about 22, 000 square
kilometres, and is claimed the largest of its kind in the world.

In the wake of tiger extinction threat, Myanmar wildlife police and forest
rangers have planned to step up combating wildlife trade and crimes in the
tiger reserve and special training programmes have been introduced jointly
by the Myanmar forest ministry and the WCS.

The authorities have called for creating a balance between the needs of
local communities and the wildlife, which constitutes one of the major
challenges for them.

Tigers are also facing extinction all over the world due mainly to the
international trade in body parts destined for the Asian traditional
medicine market, wildlife biologists said.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar authorities have warned traditional medicine
practitioners in the country to avoid using tiger bones in producing their
medicinal products to help conserve endangered animal species.

As tiger has been prescribed as "completely protected" under the
Protection of Wildlife and Conservation of Natural Areas Law since 1994,
the ministry urged the practitioners to keep away from such practice,
otherwise such species would vanish in the country.

Myanmar was estimated to have over 3,000 Bengal and Indochina tigers by
1980, the second in Asia after India, according to experts.

___________________________________
ON THE BORDER

September 23, Democratic Voice of Burma
Army commander’s brother accused of smuggling goods

The brother of the new Northeast Command chief has antagonized local
drivers by reportedly freely smuggling black market goods along the
Muse-Mandalay road, a major trade route between Burma and China.

Former lieutenant-colonel Aung Lin Htut, a retired army officer and the
brother of Northeast commander brigadier-general Aung Than Htut, owns a
freight company named Seikkyite and has been transporting contraband
goods, local drivers said.

"Their air-conditioned cars have luggage compartments three and half feet
high and nine feet long in the middle, and they stuff them full of
contraband goods," a driver said.

Other freight companies such as Yadana Soe, Shweli Oo and Winner have
reportedly followed the example of Aung Lin Htut and are bribing the
authorities to allow their vehicles through.

But 50 privately-owned vehicles were banned from loading and unloading
along the route by the authorities earlier this month, leaving many
vehicle owners and hired drivers unemployed, drivers said.

Private vehicles are also subject to spot checks and fines, leading
increasing numbers of passengers to use the freight companies’ vehicles.

Representatives of Seikkyite and local authorities were unavailable for
comment.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

September 23, Narinjara News
China to help fund Burma-Bangladesh friendship road

China has agreed to help fund the construction costs of a large stretch of
the Burma-Bangladesh Friendship Road, the Bangladesh Communication
Ministry said on Sunday.

The announcement came during a visit of the Chief Adviser to the
Bangladesh caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, to China last week.

"There is positive response by China to construct almost 73 percent of the
151 kilometre Bangladesh-Burma Friendship Road," said an official from the
Communication Ministry.

The cost of 110 kilometeres of the road from Kyin Chaung to Kyauk Taw in
Burma, that China has agreed to bear, is estimated at US $128 million. The
road will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will include
construction of 43 kilometers from Cox's Bazaar to Kyin Chaung; Cox's
Bazaar lies 20 kilometers inside Bangladesh while Kyin Chaung is 23
kilometres inside Burma.

Bangladesh will bear the US $27 million price tag for the 43 kilometres to
be constructed in the first phase.

Bangladesh and Burma signed a deal in 2006 agreeing to construct a
trans-border highway. Bangladesh hopes its port city Chittagong will be
connected with China's growing business hub in Kunming through the
friendship road.

Bangladesh officials said the road will boost regional cooperation by
strengthening economic and trade relations with Burma and other Southeast
Asian countries.

Burma is also preparing for construction of the road and its authorized
official, Western Command Commander General Thaung Aye, visited the
western border town of Taungbro on Saturday to inspect the area where the
road will be constructed.

____________________________________

September 23, Democratic Voice of Burma
Bago activists launch banknote campaign - Naw Say Phaw

One-kyat banknotes printed with anti-government slogans were distributed
in Gyopinkauk township, Bago division, yesterday morning as part of a
campaign to protest the actions of the military regime.

The notes bore a picture of Burma’s national independence hero general
Aung San and the slogans ‘Down with the monk-killing military
dictatorship’ and ‘Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’, according to one of those
involved in the campaign.

“One-kyat banknotes with [slogans] and more than 150 pamphlets were
scattered at 4am around the four cardinal points of the market, at
Myomingaung clinic, the town hall, the municipal market and Leikpya Taung
in the east,” he said.

“It was at the time that monks were collecting their victuals and when
hawkers were selling groceries, so the monks and people scrambled for them
as they bore the picture of general Aung San and took them away."

When the authorities arrived on the scene, they confiscate the notes and
pamphlets and tightened security and surveillance in the areas.

The campaign member said the group was mounting the campaign in protest at
the repressive actions of the military government.

"Because they killed students, civilians and monks in 1988, and during
Cyclone Nargis they ignored the suffering of the people and loss of lives
and property and they forcibly conducted the referendum,” he said.

“And they cracked down on the Saffron revolution and killed the monks, and
they are going to hold the election without the support of the people in
2010.”

In nearby Zeegone township, a market trader said customers had been using
banknotes with slogans printed on them.

“Market traders didn't notice it at first, we only found them the next
morning when we were counting the money to pay it in,” the trader said.

“When I asked people around me such as raw goods sellers, they said they
had also found this on 20 and 50 kyat notes,” he said.

“I obtained one 100 kyat note with the prayer, 'May Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
be free as soon as possible' from someone who must want her to be freed. I
also want her to be free so I kept it."

____________________________________
REGIONAL

September 23, Kyodo News
Man arrested for extortion attempt over journalist killed in Burma

A man was arrested Monday for allegedly extorting cash from a reporter
after the reporter refused a deal to hand over a video allegedly taken by
video journalist Kenji Nagai, who was gunned down by Myanmar security
troops last September, the Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday.

The man, identified as Maung Win Min Htun, a Myanmarese national who lives
in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward, denies the allegation, according to police.

According to the investigation, the suspect contacted the 33- year-old
reporter with Tokyo-based APF News Inc. in December, for which Nagai was
working, saying he could obtain video footage Nagai had taken but he would
need money to do so.

After the reporter refused the deal, the suspect is alleged to have
attempted to extort money from the reporter at a Tokyo restaurant Jan. 14.
He is quoted as saying he would resort to taking some action unless he was
paid around 500,000 yen.

The man said he was sounded out by the reporter and he did not try to
extort anything from him.

Nagai was killed while videotaping anti-government demonstrations in
Myanmar. The Myanmar government has not returned his video camera and
tapes, despite repeated requests by his relatives.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

September 23, Mizzima News
American public favors dialogue with junta

A new survey on the foreign policy priorities of prospective American
voters ahead of November's Presidential election reveals majority support
for engaging in dialogue with leaders of foreign countries whose
administrations are familiarly characterized as hostile to American
interests.

Released yesterday, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey, which
only dealt with issues related to foreign policy, found 63 percent of the
study group backed government to government talks between Washington and
Naypyitaw, with 30 percent strongly opposed to the idea.

The finding was consistent with a trend throughout the survey, which found
majority support for dialogue outpacing a strict oppositionist line with
respect to United States foreign policy vis-à-vis Cuba, North Korea, Iran,
Zimbabwe, Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.

It is a result which would seem to favor the purported policies of
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama at the expense of his
political rival, Republican nominee John McCain.

The American electorate reserved their lowest support, among the 14 issues
included in the poll, for "helping to bring a democratic form of
government to other nations."

Only 17 percent of those canvassed viewed assisting in the installation of
democratic governance in foreign countries as "very important," while 23
percent understood such an objective as "not important" – the highest
percentage of direct opposition to any of the listed foreign policy
objectives.

Stated opposition to the pursuit of democratic norms abroad, according to
The Chicago Council, is likely directly linked with lingering questions
related to the Iraq War, which, as a seminal component of the Bush
Doctrine, undertook the imposition of democratic governance as a primary
policy objective.

Meanwhile, "promoting and defending human rights in other countries" came
in third lowest on the list of prospective American voter priorities,
deemed to be "very important" by just 31 percent of respondents. However,
only 12 percent listed the pursuit of a global human rights discourse as
"not important."

"While the changes appear more pragmatic than ideological," analyzed The
Chicago Council in the release of their data, "they add up to a strong
shift in direction, with an emphasis on using talks and multilateral
institutions to tackle problems, even while keeping the military strong."

Previously, The Chicago Council found that Americans viewed China as the
most influential country in today's world, with a majority of United
States citizens preferring Washington refrain from opposing China's rise
and instead focus on establishing improved bilateral and working relations
with the East Asian power.

Additionally, an earlier poll conducted by Knowledge Networks, who also
handled the Chicago Council survey, discovered two-thirds of Americans
believe the economy is the most important issue in the upcoming election,
a result far outpacing foreign policy considerations.

And according to Gallup, another polling company, economic prioritization
among the electorate has only been growing in recent weeks with renewed
fears over the state of the United States economy in the wake of the
current investment banking crisis gripping the country.

"Improving America's standing in the world" topped The Chicago Council
survey in support for the desired foreign policy objectives of the next
White House administration, with 83 percent of respondents listing the
vague heading as "very important."

____________________________________

September 23, Irrawaddy
Burma still at bottom of list of world’s dirtiest countries – Wai Moe

Military-ruled Burma is still one of the most corrupt countries in the
world, ranking just ahead of Somalia and tied with Iraq for the
second-lowest spot, according to the Global Corruption Report 2008,
released by Transparency International (TI) today.

A map showing levels of corruption around the world (Source: Transparency
International)
Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden shared the highest ranking as the world’s
cleanest countries, getting the top score of 9.3 on TI’s Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks countries on a scale from 1 to 10.
They were followed by Singapore, which scored 9.2.

At the opposite end of the scale was Somalia, which has dropped from a CPI
score of 1.4 last year to 1.0 this year. Somalia’s slide meant that it was
now regarded as more corrupt that Burma, which it tied for last place in
2007.

Although Burma now shares second-worst status with Iraq, it has also
become more corrupt since last year, according to the report. Burma’s
score has fallen from 1.4 to 1.3, placing it just behind Haiti at 1.4 and
Afghanistan at 1.5.

In a press release, TI highlights the fatal link between poverty, failed
institutions and graft.

“In the poorest countries, corruption levels can mean the difference
between life and death, when money for hospitals or clean water is in
play,” Huguette Labelle, the chair of TI’s board of directors, was quoted
as saying in the press release.

“The continuing high levels of corruption and poverty plaguing many of the
world’s societies amount to an ongoing humanitarian disaster and cannot be
tolerated,” Labelle added.

In a press release dated November 1, 2007, TI singled out Burma for its
severe violations of human rights, as well as its widespread corruption.

“The United Nations Security Council as well as Burma’s neighbors must
increase pressure on the Burmese government to end massive human rights
abuses and crack down on endemic corruption,” the release said.

____________________________________
OPINION/OTHER

September 23, Irrawaddy
An evil game: Token release of political prisoners – Kyaw Zwa Moe

The release of Win Tin, a renowned 79-year-old journalist, and other
political prisoners is very good news. But wait. Their amnesty is further
proof that the junta is playing its usual evil games.

Win Tin was released on Tuesday after serving more than 19 years in the
notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon. Other well-known politicians and
political activists were also released, but the exact number can’t be
confirmed.

The military regime announced an amnesty for 9,002 prisoners for good
behavior, saying the amnesty was granted to help build a new nation ahead
of the 2010 general election.

Observers believe that only a small number of an estimated 2,000 political
prisoners were among those freed.

Of course, political activists are happy that Win Tin, the former editor
of the respected newspaper, Hanthawaddy, and a key adviser to
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is free. He was the longest serving
political prisoner in Burma and perhaps all of Southeast Asia. He is
famous for his unwavering political spirit.

Apart from Win Tin, at least seven other senior members of the main
opposition National League for Democracy were released from Insein and
other prisons.

Their release should not be viewed as a policy change by the regime. The
junta, as always, carefully calibrated its move based on external events.

The amnesty follows the opening of the 63rd United Nations General
Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, where the United States will
again raise the Burma issue. US President George W Bush and Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice will make it a point to seek more cooperation from
the international community to help restore democracy in Burma and protect
human rights.

US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalizad said, “We’ll continue efforts to
increase pressure on Burma, to make progress on the political track. There
has been no progress on that.” Two other permanent members of the Security
Council, Britain and France, are expected to join the US in taking a
strong stand on Burma.

So, it was time for the regime to do something to counter criticism in the
UN assembly. The international community will welcome the release of
political prisoners, and the junta can say it has complied with part of
the UN’s demands.

Actually, it’s an old game—political prisoners have always been pawns for
the junta. In other words, they are hostages to be released whenever the
regime wants to ease mounting international pressure.

Since the regime took power in 1988, the number of political prisoners has
always remained above 1,000. The junta, according to Amnesty
International, now has 2,000 political prisoners. If the junta really
wanted to change its policy, it would release all political prisoners,
including Suu Kyi, prominent student leader Min Ko Naing and ethnic
leaders such as Hkun Htun Oo.

This latest release will undoubtedly draw praise from some members of the
international community. But we shouldn’t be fooled. The release of all
2,000 political prisoners would be the first step of genuine political
reform.

Anything less means political prisoners are just pawns in an evil game.

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

September 23, Amnesty International
Myanmar: Freedom for U Win Tin but 2,100 political prisoners remain behind
bars

Amnesty International welcomes the release of at least seven prisoners of
conscience in Myanmar, including U Win Tin who had been imprisoned for 19
years and was one of the longest-serving prisoners of conscience in the
country. The fate of the other estimated 2,100 political prisoners who are
still behind bars in Myanmar remains, however, a cause for concern, said
Amnesty International today.

“While the release of U Win Tin and his fellow prisoners is certainly the
best news to come out of Myanmar for a long time, unfortunately they don’t
even represent one percent of the political prisoners there,” said
Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Myanmar researcher. “These seven
people should never have been imprisoned in the first place, and there are
many, many more who should also be released.”

Amnesty International notes unconfirmed reports that the government of
Myanmar may grant “amnesty” to as many as 9,000 prisoners in the run-up to
planned elections in 2010. However, it remains unclear whether this figure
includes political prisoners.

U Win Tin refused to accept an amnesty by the government, as to do so
would have implied that the reason for his imprisonment was legitimate.
Reports indicate that there were no conditions on his release.

“Prisoners of conscience, like those released today, are exactly what the
term says: people sent to prison simply because of what they believe, and
the peaceful actions they take because of those beliefs,” added Benjamin
Zawacki. “They have done nothing wrong and we call for their immediate and
unconditional release.”

U Win Tin is a 78 year old journalist, prominent dissident and senior
official in the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party,
led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The other six prisoners of conscience released are also NLD members and
four are MPs-elect from the 1990 elections in which the NLD was
victorious.

* Dr. Daw May Win Myint (female), 58, an MP-elect, and Dr. Than Nyein
(male), also an MP-elect, 71, were imprisoned in 1997 for organizing an
NLD meeting.  Their original sentences had been repeatedly extended since
2004 and they suffer from poor health.
* Win Htein (male), 66, a senior assistant to NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, was imprisoned in 1996 for, among other offences, organizing farmers
and NLD members to collect agricultural statistics.  He had been held in
solitary confinement and suffers from numerous health problems, including
hypertension and heart disease.

* Aung Soe Myint Oo (male), an NLD MP-elect, was sentenced in August 2003
to seven years, for ‘having a motorcycle without a license’ but was widely
believed to have been targeted for his political activities.

* U Khin Maung Swe, (male) 66, an NLD MP-elect, was sentenced in August
1994 to seven years in prison.

* U Than Naing (male), a member of the NLD.

“The release of these seven political prisoners is most welcome.  But this
is not -- and cannot be seen as -- an end in itself, only the beginning,”
said Benjamin Zawacki.

Background
Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action to its supporters about U
Win Tin in July this year. He had been in Yangon’s Insein Prison, often in
solitary confinement, for much of the past 19 years and had not received
the medical treatment he needed.

U Win Tin was arrested on 4 July 1989, during a crackdown on opposition
political party members. He was sentenced three times to a total of 21
years' imprisonment. U Win Tin was most recently sentenced in March 1996
to an additional seven years' imprisonment for writing to the United
Nations about prison conditions and for writing and circulating
anti-government pamphlets/leaflets in prison. The authorities
characterized this as "secretly publishing propaganda to incite riots in
jail."

U Win Tin had written a document for the UN which he called The
testimonials of prisoners of conscience from Insein Prison who have been
unjustly imprisoned; demands and requests regarding human hights
violations in Burmain which he described torture and lack of medical
treatment in prison. While the authorities were investigating the writing
of this letter, U Win Tin was held in a cell designed for military dogs,
without bedding. He was deprived of food and water, and family visits, for
long periods.

____________________________________
STATEMENT

September 23, Nobel Women’s Initiative
Laureates honor one-year anniversary of Saffron Revolution

On the one-year anniversary of nationwide nonviolent protests dubbed the
Saffron Revolution in Burma, the women Laureates of the Nobel Women's
Initiative honor the courage and determination of the men and women of
Burma. We call for the immediate release of all Burma's political
prisoners, including sister laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and Nilar
Thein—a woman rights defender and leading pro-democracy activist arrested
just last week. Indeed half of Burma's 2000 political prisoners were
arrested in the wake of this uprising.

We urge that the call of the people of Burma - for democracy- finally be
heeded by the junta.

In honor of the one-year anniversary of the remarkable Saffron Revolution,
we are releasing a video in support of the people of Burma.