BurmaNet News, June 12, 2009

[Editor]

June 12, 2009, Issue #3733


INSIDE BURMA
AP: Trial of Myanmar's Suu Kyi adjourned until June 26
Mizzima News: Appeal cases of Zargana and Zaw Thet Htwe admitted
Kachin News Group: Kachin students spray paint demand for Suu Kyi’s release
DVB: Education in Burma requires ‘urgent support’
Xinhua: Online visa on arrival system introduced in Myanmar

ON THE BORDER
DVB: Thai-Burma relations under ‘unprecedented strain’
Irrawaddy: Junta No 2 expected to ask China for border help

BUSINESS / TRADE
AP: Report: Singapore investors wait on Myanmar polls

HEALTH / AIDS
Khonumthung News: Malaria threatens villagers in border area

REGIONAL
Jakarta Post: RI asks India, China to put pressure on Myanmar's junta

INTERNATIONAL
Czech Happenings: Czech Former Minister to promote tough sanctions against
Burmese junta

OPINION / OTHER
New York Times: Free Aung San Suu Kyi – Bernard Kouchner
Irrawaddy: The neighborhood bully – Kyaw Zwa Moe




____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

June 12, Associated Press
Trial of Myanmar's Suu Kyi adjourned until June 26

The trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned Friday
for two weeks so defense lawyers can call an additional witness who will
testify that the case is politically motivated, a lawyer said.

The District Court trying Suu Kyi told lawyers of the postponement until
June 26 during a brief hearing Friday at Insein Prison, where the trial is
taking place, said Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi's attorneys.

Suu Kyi is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest when an
uninvited American man swam secretly to her closely guarded lakeside home
last month and stayed two days.

The hearing has drawn outrage from the international community and Suu
Kyi's local supporters, who say the military government is using the
bizarre incident as an excuse to keep the pro-democracy leader detained
through next year's elections.

If convicted, the 63-year-old Nobel Peace laureate faces up to five years
in prison. She has been detained under house arrest for more than 13 of
the last 19 years.

It is widely expected that Suu Kyi will be found guilty because courts in
Myanmar are known for handing out harsh sentences to political dissidents.

No new date was immediately set for closing arguments, which were
originally scheduled for June 1.

Friday's postponement was expected after Suu Kyi's lawyers won an appeal
earlier this week to reinstate one defense witness — Khin Moe Moe, a
lawyer and member of her National League for Democracy party.

"Daw Khin Moe Moe knows all the charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are
political and she would testify based on these facts," Nyan Win said.
"Daw" is a term of respect.

Suu Kyi's lawyers have filed a second appeal with the High Court to bring
back two other witnesses — both senior members of her opposition party.

The District Court trying Suu Kyi had initially rejected the three defense
witnesses — leaving Suu Kyi with a sole witness.

All three would argue that Suu Kyi is not a threat to the "peace and
tranquility of the state," said Nyan Win, citing the provision of the 1975
law authorities had used for her continued detention.

Suu Kyi told her lawyers she believes the case against her is "politically
motivated" but that it wouldn't stop her from continuing her fight for
democracy, Nyan Win said Thursday.

"She said she is engaged in politics due to her political belief and
commitment," Nyan Win said. "She would not be doing politics if she were
afraid of the consequences."

Suu Kyi's party won the country's last elections in 1990 but was not
allowed to take power by the military, which has run the country since
1962.

____________________________________

June 12, Mizzima News
Appeal cases of Zargana and Zaw Thet Htwe admitted – Phanida

The appeal cases of famous comedian and film director Zargan a.k.a. Thura
and Sports Journal editor Zaw Thet Htwe has been admitted by the High
Court.

Zargana and Zaw Thet Htwe are serving 35 and 11 years in prison
respectively. Their lawyers filed the appeal case for the second time and
the High Court admitted it on June 3.

“We can submit our argument for admitting our appeal case. The court has
accepted it for all the four co-accused. The lawyers filed the appeal and
we have hope. Our families will do everything,” Ma Khaing Cho, wife of Zaw
Thet Htwe, said.

The co-accused of Zargana and Zaw Thet Htwe are Thant Zin Aung and Gadone
a.k.a. Tin Maung Aye.

They were charged under eight cases including section 33(a) of the
Electronic Law, section 505(b) of the Penal Code (disaffection towards
State and Government) and section 295(a) of the Penal Code. Zaw Thet Htwe
was sentenced to 19 years and Zargana was sentenced to 59 years in prison
respectively.

However, the Divisional Court commuted the sentences of Zaw Thet Htwe by
eight years and Zargana by 24 years. So they have to serve the remaining
prison terms of 11 and 35 years.

Zaw Thet Htwe is serving his sentence in Taungyi prison in Shan State. His
wife met him on June 7 in a prison interview and said that his health is
fine.

But the High Court dismissed a similar appeal case of blogger Nay Phone
Latt after allowing the lawyers to argue on June 22.

Nay Phone Latt was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison after being
charged under the Electronic Law. Then the Rangoon Divisional Court
commuted his sentence by eight and-a-half years in February. He is serving
his prison sentence in Pa-an prison in Karen State.

____________________________________

June 12, Kachin News Group
Kachin students spray paint demand for Suu Kyi’s release

Kachin university students have reiterated their demand that the Burmese
junta frees democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi unconditionally. In another
daring move they spray-painted their demand in Kachin State's capital
Myitkyina, said student leaders.

The sprayed message in red and in big letters were painted in two
places--- on the brick-walls in front of Myitkyina University and on the
State High School in Manhkring quarter, said a student leader Francis who
organized the movement.

The students sprayed their demand on the walls in Burmese. It read "Free
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately!" The letters were sprayed in red paint
so that it could be seen easily by people and would be hard to erase,
Francis told KNG this afternoon over telephone.

The movement is for the release of Mrs. Suu Kyi and it is being organized
by the All Kachin Students' Union (AKSU), an underground student
organization based in Kachin State, said Francis.

The AKSU held a special Christian traditional prayer service with 25
participants including students, pastors and local people in a room in
Myitkyina on Wednesday (June 10) between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Burma Standard
Time, said Ms. Seng Mai, a student organizer.

The prayer service took an hour. They prayed for the release of Mrs. Suu
Kyi from illegal detention, receiving a fair decision on her trial as well
as freedom and peace on her 64th birthday on June 19, she added.


>From Wednesday, special prayer services for the release of Ms. Suu Kyi

were also held in other major towns in Kachin State--- Sumprabum,
Waingmaw, Masi (Manje in Kachin) and Bhamo (Manmaw in Kachin), said Ms.
Seng Mai.

She told KNG, more prayer services will be organized in different towns in
Kachin Sate for the release of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ms. Seng Mai urged the junta to release Mrs. Suu Kyi because her detention
is illegal and an injustice.  She also urged all Kachin people to pray for
the release of Mrs. Suu Kyi.

The AKSU had earlier demanded her immediate release by pasting 50 posters
on A-4 size papers in the major quarters in Myitkyina on May 20.

Meanwhile, the Burmese junta is pressurizing the Kachin Independence
Organization (KIO) and the rest of the ethnic ceasefire groups in the
country to transform their armed-wing to "Border Guard Forces".

____________________________________

June 12, Democratic Voice of Burma
Education in Burma requires ‘urgent support’ – Ahunt Phone Myat

United Nations’ calls for urgent support for education in Burma have been
reinforced by reports that schools in Rangoon are now reliant on donations
from parents due to lack of government funding for education.

At a donor meeting in Rangoon on Wednesday the UN encouraged the
international community to increase its efforts to promote education in
Burma, with particular focus on the Irrawaddy delta region where around
4000 schools were destroyed last year by cyclone Nargis.

A statement released by the UN stressed that there was a shortage of
learning materials and qualified teachers.

Government spending on education in Burma is around 1.2 per cent of the
annual budget, while nearly 40 per cent goes to the military.

A parent in Rangoon said yesterday that small, ward-level schools are
reliant on donations from pupils’ families to cover expenses for school
maintenance and to buy equipment such as chairs and desks.

“They have to ask for donation money from parents to buy things such as
power generators, as government electricity is not available most of the
time,” she said.

“Also they needed money to renovate school buildings and to build new ones.”

Similarly, teachers are reportedly having to use their own money to keep
their schools running.

“The government never provide statistics on how much budget they use for
the education because they don’t want people to know how little they are
spending on it,” a teacher said under condition of anonymity.

Due to the meagre 30,000 kyat (US$30) monthly salary given to teachers,
many are looking elsewhere for careers.

“Now only people who are really committed and passionate to teaching
children choose to become school teachers,” he said.

“It very hard for them as the salary they are getting is nowhere near
enough to survive with the commodity prices these days.”

State-run media in Burma often publishes reports about government openings
of new schools, although the teacher said that these schools need a lot of
financial assistance to become fully functional.

The UN has said that about US$160 million is needed to provide assistance
to Burma’s education sector over the next three years.

____________________________________

June 12, Xinhua
Online visa on arrival system introduced in Myanmar

A private travel company has introduced an online visa on arrival service
system in Myanmar, designed to expedite arrival visa and other services
for the promotion of the country's tourism industry, the state newspaper
New Light of Myanmar reported Friday.

As part of Myanmar's plan to introduce a 100-percent visa-on-arrival
system for the promotion, the Diamond Palace and Travel and Tour Co. Ltd
will practise the system with the permission of the Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism, the report said.

The visa-on-arrival system will be applicable to international visitors
with those of some countries be covered in the pilot phase, other report
said.

At present, international travelers applying entry visas into Myanmar
through Myanmar embassies abroad have to take four days in Beijing, 24
hours in Jakarta, five days in Paris and Tokyo, three days in London and
two days in Bangkok and Singapore, according to the Myanmar Foreign
Ministry earlier.

Domestic travel and tour companies are set to apply for their customers
entry visas 15 days in advance with the presentation of their personal
data.

Myanmar's tourism business started to drop near the end of 2007and
continued in 2008 during which deadly cyclone Nargis was experienced and
the global financial crisis, which sparked in late2008, also delayed
Myanmar's tourism development.

The tourism authorities have stressed the need to promote the country's
international tourism market for the revival of its tourism industry.

According to official statistics, tourist arrivals in Myanmar in 2008
totaled over 260,000.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER.

June 12, Democratic Voice of Burma
Thai-Burma relations under ‘unprecedented strain’ – Rosalie Smith and
Francis Wade

Thailand’s condemnation of the Suu Kyi trial and the arrival of thousands
of Burmese refugees has put relations between the two countries under
“unprecedented strain”, according to a Burmese state-run newspaper.

Burma has come under mounting international criticism over the trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose next hearing has been adjourned
until 26 June.

Thailand, who holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) bloc, has recently expressed “grave concern” both at the
lack of democratic progress in the country and the potential for the trial
to tarnish the bloc’s image.

The normally amiable relationship is likely to have been further strained
by the continued influx of thousands of Karen refugees in northern
Thailand who have fled a Burmese army offensive against the Karen National
Union.

Last month Burma reacted angrily to Thailand’s condemnation of the Suu Kyi
trial, accusing it of interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

An article yesterday in the government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar
newspaper further fanned the flames by alleging that Thailand both
supports and aids insurgent groups in Burma.

“It is global knowledge that [Thailand] provide fertile soils to Myanmar
[Burma] absconders, insurgent groups and anti-government political
groups,” it said, adding that cessation of conflict in Burma “rests on the
cooperation of the neighbouring other country”.

Burmese political analyst Aung Naing Oo stressed that it is the new Thai
government’s emphasis on human rights in Burma that underlies the tension.

“[Regarding] the Burmese military, when you talk about principles you’re
talking about human rights and human dignity,” he said.

“All these issues
don’t go down well with the Burmese military.”

The article also said that the normally good relations between the two
countries were “under strain which has been unprecedented in
history”.

The Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in March, prior to the Suu
Kyi trial, that the Burmese regime “remains a hideous blight” on the Asian
map, and last month questioned the credibility of Burma’s self-styled
‘roadmap to democracy’.

Seldom has a Thai head of state used such strong language against the
Burmese government although, according to Aung Naing Oo, a war of words
between the two countries has always raged.

____________________________________

June 12, Irrawaddy
Junta No 2 expected to ask China for border help – Saw Yan Naing

The Burmese junta’s number 2, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, is to travel to
China soon on a visit analysts say will include talks focusing on the
regime’s uneasy relationship with ethnic ceasefire groups based along
Sino-Burmese border.

The visit was announced on Friday in the state-run newspaper The New Light
of Myanmar, which said Maung Aye and his wife would travel to China
“soon.”

Htay Aung, a military researcher with the Network for Democracy and
Development based in exile, said that talks between Maung Aye and Chinese
government representatives would concentrate on ethnic ceasefire groups
who have rejected a regime proposal to be reassigned as border guards.

Several ethnic ceasefire groups, including the powerful United Wa State
Army, the Kokang group known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance
Army and the Kachin Independence Organization, have rejected the proposal.

Maung Aye is expected to urge China to use its influence on the ceasefire
groups based along the Sino-Burma border to get them to agree the regime’s
plan.

Analysts say the regime may have no option but to launch military action
against ceasefire groups which refuse to reassign their troops as border
guards.

Military analyst Htay Aung believes that the patience of Burmese military
commanders is wearing thin because of the stand by ceasefire groups.

China is a major supplier of arms to Burma and provides the regime with
much-needed political support at a time when it is coming under intense
international pressure over the Aung San Suu Kyi trial.

Chinese foreign ministry officials voiced rare criticism of the trial at a
recent meeting in Hanoi with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win.

China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and Maung Aye is
expected to plead for the continued use of the Chinese veto to block any
resolution unfavorable to the Naypyidaw regime.

Some Burma watchers believe that China may employ quiet diplomacy to
influence regime policy.

Maung Aye, who is Burma’s army commander in chief, is likely to convey the
regime’s concern about black market deliveries of Chinese arms to Burma’s
ethnic groups along the Sino-Burmese border.

Aung Kyaw Zaw, a former member of communist party of Burma based on the
China border, said Burma usually approaches its big neighbor China
whenever facing a crisis.

China’s main concern is to maintain stability and it would like to see the
Burmese regime and the ceasefire groups negotiate the sensitive issue
peacefully.

China relies on the cooperation of the ceasefire groups along the
Sino-Burmese border in order to operate trade. A proposed gas pipeline
will also pass through areas controlled by the Burmese ceasefire groups.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

June 12, Associated Press
Report: Singapore investors wait on Myanmar polls

Singapore investors will likely wait until after Myanmar's elections next
year before pouring any more money into the country, former Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong said Friday, according to television station Channel News
Asia.

Goh made the comments at the end of a four-day trip to meet with Myanmar's
military leaders, the television station said on its Web site.

The military has run the country since 1962, and the current ruling junta
has scheduled elections for next year.

"I don't believe any Singapore investors would come in a big way before
the picture is clear, before this move to democracy is seen to produce
results," said Goh, who is a senior adviser to Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong, according to the station.

Singapore is one of the biggest foreign investors in Myanmar, with annual
bilateral trade of more than $1 billion.

Goh, who met with top Myanmar leaders including Senior General Than Shwe,
urged the government to hold fair and transparent elections and allow all
political parties to participate, the station said.

The trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned Friday
for two weeks. Suu Kyi is charged with violating the terms of her house
arrest when an uninvited American man swam secretly to her closely guarded
lakeside home last month and stayed two days.

The hearing has drawn outrage from the international community and Suu
Kyi's local supporters, who say the military government is using the
bizarre incident as an excuse to keep the pro-democracy leader detained
through the elections.

Goh told Myanmar's leadership that Singapore was "dismayed by the arrest,"
the station said.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

June 12, Khonumthung News
Malaria threatens villagers in border area

Most Chin people are suffering from Malaria in the Indo-Myanmar border
area of Paletwa Township, Southern Chin State, western Burma.

"Blood tests of around 400 people from four villages have been carried out
and the result shows that 130 persons have malaria. Now over 70 persons
are suffering from malaria in Para, Ramri, Shao and Rakan villages of
Paletwa township," said a staff of Chin Backpack Medical Team (CBMT).

The estimated population of the four villages is 2000 but of these only
400 have had their blood tested. Around 130 persons have been infected and
70 persons are suffering from the disease. A four month old baby died on
May 2009 in Ramri village.

The people in these areas are threatened not only by malaria but also
leprosy, anemia, typhoid and stomach problems. Even then the government
authorities have never provided medical treatment or other health care and
education among other needs.

"Except in towns there is no health service. There are no medicines in our
village. We have to go to Paletwa town for medical check up if we are ill.
We cannot afford treatment. Sometimes we take some medicines from our
school teachers and Church pastors," a local said.

Although the Chin Backpack Medical Team (CBMT) and the youth health group
in Mizoram state take care of the remote villagers, there is no further
medical assistance from the government.

Similarly, other areas or villages of Chin State are suffering from
disease like malaria, anemia and stomach problems as there is no
sub-centre, medical shop and health awareness in remote areas.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

June 12, Jakarta Post
RI asks India, China to put pressure on Myanmar's junta – Lilian Budianto

Indonesia has asked India and China to push for reform in the
military-ruled Myanmar, whose trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has sparked international outrage.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said Friday the request was
raised in a recent UN forum, which convened envoys from India, China,
Myanmar and Japan, as well as representatives of the multilateral body.

“Those countries play a key role to a settlement in Myanmar's issue... and
we would very much like to see them urge Myanmar to embrace the value of
human rights,” he said.

Both China and India have maintained their backing of Myanmar's notorious
junta due to their close economic ties in a time when western countries
and international organizations consider imposition of more economic
sanctions on Yangon.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

June 12, Czech Happenings
Czech Former Minister to promote tough sanctions against Burmese junta

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout today received a petition in support of
the release of political prisoners in Burma submitted to him by the People
in Need group and the Burma Centre Prague, and pledged to push for the EU
to impose further sanctions against the Burmese military junta.

Kohout said at the EU foreign ministers' meeting next Monday, which he
will chair on behalf of the Czech EU presidency, he will promote further
EU sanctions on the junta over its keeping political prisoners.

"It should be targeted sanctions that should mainly affect those who are
responsible for the whole situation," said Kohout.

He said restrictive measures against the Burmese regime are supported by
all 27 EU countries, but the ministers must yet agree on their exact
formulation.

"On behalf of the Czech presidency I can say we will seek to have the
sanctions clear, strong, tough and targeted," Kohout said.

More than 5,000 Czechs signed the petition, a part of the global appeal to
U.S. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to personally push for the release of
political prisoners in Burma.

Marie Perinova, from People in Need, said over 2,000 political prisoners
are detained in Burma now. Their number considerably increased after the
regime suppressed a wave of demonstration in autumn 2007, she told CTK.

"Many of them have been given extremely high sentences and many have been
transferred to prisons that are far from Yangon where their families
live," Perinova said.

The persecuted Burmese dissidents include Nobel Peace Prize holder Aung
San Suu Kyi, who is being tried for suspected breach of house arrest. Her
trial has provoked sharp protests from the international community.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

June 12, New York Times
Free Aung San Suu Kyi – Bernard Kouchner

“Freedom from fear.” These words, uttered by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990,
resound more than ever as a call for help at a time when the Burmese junta
has initiated proceedings against her that are as absurd as they are
unjustified. We are not fooled: This is a poor pretext to prevent her from
participating in the upcoming elections.

“Freedom from fear.” How can one not cry out for freedom for this great
lady, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1991? I met her in Yangon at the end of
2002, just a few months before her endless enforced isolation began. Since
her arrest on Thursday, May 14, the thoughts of all those who admire and
support her are with the “Lady of Yangon,” a woman full of dignity and
finesse, energy and calm, intelligence and compassion.

“Freedom from fear.” It was the living incarnation of these few words who
appeared before an audience both mesmerized and awed by this living
legend. Her every word was heard by a silent, respectful public, a public
that did not dare to sit while she spoke. Simple, yet firm words. Innocent
words. Calm and fearless words.

For over 20 years, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi has been struggling in silence and
with unshakeable courage, supported by the conviction that “it is not
power that corrupts, but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who
wield it, and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject
to it.” For over 20 years, her refusal of fear accompanies us, mobilizes
us, forces us to defend her against a despicable regime.

How can one accept that a woman, whom some call the Gandhi of Burma, could
be considered a criminal so dangerous that she must be kept away from all
contact with the rest of humanity? For six years, this incredibly
determined woman has been under house arrest. She lives in the sole
company of two companions in misfortune. Six years of an enforced
isolation, even crueler than prison. Six years with no outside contact
other than sporadic medical visits, before the arrest of her doctor; or,
even more rarely, a meeting with a diplomat.

Six years of isolation, but in reality 19 years of deprivation of freedom.
Since the 1990 elections, which saw the victory of the opposition and
which should have made her the leader of her country, the junta has
deprived the Burmese people of their rights. Freedom has fled this
country. For 19 years, the “Lady of Yangon” has known only brief moments
of freedom. Her husband died before she could see him again.

This inhumane isolation could have ended on May 27, with the official end
of her house arrest, if new proceedings had not been initiated against her
under false pretenses. Once again, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi is being
persecuted, even though her health is deteriorating and she risks being
sentenced to five years of imprisonment, which she may not survive.

The Burmese regime cannot continue to turn a deaf ear to the appeals from
all over Europe, America and Asia calling for her release and that of
other political prisoners. It cannot ignore indefinitely the demand made
with a single voice by the Asia-Europe Ministerial Meeting on May 26 in
Hanoi, or the call for dialogue in Myanmar launched a few days earlier, in
an unprecedented gesture, by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations —
an organization of which Myanmar is a member.

I reiterate forcefully that the release of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi is a
matter of urgency, as Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas
Sarkozy strongly reminded us at their joint press conference on Thursday.
Only dialogue with the opposition will bestow legitimacy on the upcoming
2010 elections.

Twenty years after the elections that saw the victory of the National
League for Democracy, these elections are vital for the future of this
martyred country. Myanmar can no longer remain isolated from the rest of
the world. On the contrary, it must rejoin the rest of the world, and the
international community is ready to help.

As a start, the military junta should admit that no solution can be found
without including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi in the electoral process. Senior
General Than Shwe must understand that she is his best asset to guarantee
the unity, the stability and finally the prosperity of the country, and
that she is not a threat to his power. If the generals were to listen to
the Burmese people, they would in turn free themselves from the fear that
their people instill in them.

Bernard Kouchner is the minister of foreign and European affairs of France.

____________________________________

June 12, Irrawaddy
The neighborhood bully – Kyaw Zwa Moe

One of the favorite tactics of the Burmese junta is its “bully” policy.
The latest attacks against the army of the Karen National Union (KNU) on
the Thailand-Burma border are proof.

The troops of the military regime and its ceasefire group, the Democratic
Karen Buddhist Army, have launched sustained clashes since early June. In
two weeks, the conflict has forced at least 4,000 Karen refugees to flee
their villages and many are arriving in refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese
border.

The current rainy season is an unusual time for the regime to launch its
military campaign, with about 9,000 soldiers in the area.

This military campaign is linked by three factors: Aung San Suu Kyi,
Thailand and the KNU rebels.

A few days after Suu Kyi was charged with breaching the terms of her house
arrest, Thailand, as the current chair of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean), took an unusual step by denouncing the junta’s
trial of Suu Kyi and calling for her immediate release.

The generals were furious and responded by attacking the Thai government
in state-run newspapers, which said the announcement by Thailand
interfered in the internal affairs of an Asean member country and
disregarded the principle of non-interference in the Asean charter.

Since then, the two governments have exchanged verbal volleys, and the
junta continues to publish critical articles on Thailand’s stance.

One of the consequences of Burma’s offensive against the KNU is that many
Karen villagers strike out for one of the Karen refugee camps on the
border, where hundreds of thousand of Karen refugees now live in nine
camps.

Thailand now faces a fresh flow of Karen refugees. On Monday, the Thai
army commander, Lt-Gen Thanongsak Aphirakyothin, whose unit operates along
Thailand’s western border, said that a total of 1,741 Karen have entered
Thailand from eastern Burma since the fighting started. Many are believed
still to be in hiding in the jungle in Burma.

“They fled because of the danger and fear of capture and forced labor by
the Myanmar [Burma] army, the commander told reporters in Mae Sot. “Most
of the refugees are women and children.”

David Takarpaw, vice chairman of the KNU, said on Friday, “The attack is
continuous,” meaning Thailand can expect more refugees in the coming
months.

Thailand, which has caused political problems for the regime, now has a
problem of its own caused by Burma.

Isn’t it an act of bullying?

However, an article published on Thursday in the junta’s newspaper, New
Light of Myanmar, sees it differently.

“Thailand is self-conscious about the issues on internally displaced
persons (IDP) and refugees which have rooted [sic] in the Thai-Myanmar
border for ages,” the newspaper said. “The root cause of issues on IDP and
refugees in the Thai-Myanmar border is that they (Thailand) accept and let
the problems keep on taking place.”

The article continued: “The remnant KNU troops have showed no sign of
making peace with the government. Apparently, that is due to the fact that
the remnant KNU members are aided and abetted, and KNU stations under the
name of refugee camps are accepted.”

The article accused Thailand of offering its soil to insurgent groups and
anti-government political groups.

The generals in Naypyidaw have faced mounting international, regional and
internal problems since they took power in 1988. But after Suu Kyi’s trial
last month, the problems intensified even more.

Whenever the generals face problems, they use their ‘bully’ policy, among
others. They are now bullying Suu Kyi, Thailand and the KNU.

The more pressure the generals face in the future, the more you’ll see
their bully policy at work.