BurmaNet News, June 30, 2009

[Editor]

July 1, 2009, Issue #3745


INSIDE BURMA
DVB: Burmese wary of UN chief’s visit
IMNA: June leaves Mon State with unprecedented HIV-AIDS death rate
Network Media Group: Houses to be demolished for expansion of Myitkyina
airport
Irrawaddy: Than Shwe congratulates Iranian President Ahadinejad

ON THE BORDER
Narinjara: Junta bans travel between Indo-Burma border

BUSINESS / TRADE
Xinhua: China Hong Kong trade fair seeks exhibitors from Myanmar

REGIONAL
DVB: North Korean ship makes U-turn

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: Myanmar rally in Japan calls on UN chief to press junta
New York Times: Second chance: Burmese Monks

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Pitting Karen against Karen in a bloody war – Alex Ellgee
Reuters: Q+A - Will Ban's visit to Myanmar yield results?

PRESS RELEASE
HRW: Burma: Make Ban’s visit meaningful; UN leader should stand firm on
prisoners, election, political dialogue, minorities




____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

July 1, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burmese wary of UN chief’s visit – Naw Say Paw

Burmese politicians have expressed fear that Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma
will achieve little without concerted attempts to meet National League for
Democracy members, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

The UN Secretary General is due to arrive in Burma on Friday on a two-day
visit, the exact itinerary of which is unknown.

Senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as a
number of human rights groups, have said however that the trip will be
meaningless unless a meeting with NLD members, and even Suu Kyi, is
secured.

“If [Ban Ki-moon] can spare two days to meet with the junta, he should
also consider trying to find a way to meet with the other side,” said NLD
Central executive Committee member U Win Tin.

“If not, and he leaves Burma having only made friends with the junta, then
this trip would be meaningless.”

The trip follows a two-day visit last week by UN envoy to Burma Ibrahim
Gambari, which ended on Sunday and was widely believed to have paved the
way for Ban’s arrival.

The UN chief was initially wary of accepting the invitation to visit Burma
over concerns that the government might use the trip for propaganda
purposes.

Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners-Burma (AAPP), said that the trip may be too brief to achieve the
UN’s goals of ensuring the release of all of Burma’s 2,100 political
prisoners.

“Without seeing these people, he would not get an idea of how they are
feeling and it might become more difficult for him to solve the problems,”
he said.

Veteran Burmese journalist Ludu Sein Win said yesterday that the UN “is
like a toothless tiger with no executive power”.

“Burma is like North Korea. The junta doesn’t care about anything apart
from their holding of the power,” he said.

The trip comes at a sensitive time, with the trial of Suu Kyi now in its
seventh week and evidence of strengthening ties between Burma and North
Korea, who were last month subject to toughened UN sanctions.

It is unclear whether the latter issue will be raised during the UN
chief’s visit.

____________________________________

July 1, Independent Mon News Agency
June leaves Mon State with unprecedented HIV-AIDS death rate – Rai Maraoh
and Roi Mon

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported more than a
100 percent increase in HIV-AIDS deaths in Mon State in the last two
months.

Responsible for supplying over 200 HIV-AIDS patients with antiretroviral
(ARV) medicines, the organization told reporters that the number of new
and developing cases may still be on the rise.

“At the end of June we had a meeting to review our work
this month [June]
11 of our patients died, which has never happened before,” said one IOM
staff member who works in Mudon Township. In contrast, 5 patient deaths
were reported in May.

Since early 2007, when IOM began its medicine distribution in Mon State,
workers told IMNA that there has been a variance in whether or not there
will be recorded deaths in any given month, but that this number is
startlingly high.

In fact, this development occurred in light of the IOM’s doubling of the
number of HIV-positive patients issued the medicine in April and June—from
100 to 200.

“Most HIV and AIDS patients need ARVs, though many don’t get enough
[oftentimes none at all]. But some of them didn’t take the drugs
regularly, and that’s [part of the reason] why the patient deaths have
increased this month [June],” said another member of the IOM staff.

This explanation is puzzling, and some feel that amidst the rainy season
and its high levels of fever, flu and diarrhea, many residents seek other
available medicines, some traditional Mon plant- and root-based, to deal
with immediate symptoms rather than the longer term HIV-AIDS.

The IOM operates in 6 Mon State townships—Moulmein, Thanbyuzayat, Mudon,
Kyaik-ma-yaw, Bee-lin, and Ye—and sometimes distributes food along with
the medicine, though they feel the inherent limitations in what they can
do for such a rampant problem.

A 2008 UNAIDS/World Health Organization report on the global AIDS epidemic
estimates that Burma had 240,000 people living with AIDS in 2007, noting
that this number could be as high as 370,000. According to an April story
by the Burmese media source Weekly Eleven Journal, only 14,000 people in
Burma with HIV are receiving antiretroviral medicines.

Though the latter figure is likely more of an approximation than hard
science, if it were accurate, this would indicate 226,000 Burmese
residents currently live with HIV and AIDS and receive no suitable
treatment.

Robust currents of sexual trafficking/sex workers and intravenous drug-use
strongly contribute to these figures, along with a lack of available
condoms and universal sexual education.

The International medical group Doctors Without Borders estimated that in
2007, 25,000 people died of AIDS inside Burma.

____________________________________

July 1, Network Media Group
Houses to be demolished for expansion of Myitkyina airport

A large number of houses near the Myitkyina airport have to be demolished
for its expansion. U Myo Myint, a secretary of the Kachin State Peace and
Development Council told this to heads of Aye Mya Tharyar ward yesterday
following measurements of the airport runway and the need for its
expansion on June 28, said locals.

Aye Mya Tharyar ward is located near the airport in Myitkyina. It has over
2,000 houses of which 1,000 homes may have to be removed, said a Myitkyina
local.

"Measurement is still continuing. It's learnt that homes in Jarmai Kaung
ward are included in this area. The expansion will be both on the runway
and the surrounding fields. The project started last year but the
measurement work is starting now. It's learnt that homes have to shift to
the Pamati area 18 miles from Myitkyina, leading to  disappointment among
the people of the airport area,"  said a local.

There is a rumour circulating that compensation will be paid for shifting,
to the tune of Kyat 15 lakh for a brick house and Kyat 10 lakh for a
wooden house. Authorities have not yet notified the time of shifting,
locals said.

Aye Mya Tharyar ward is located behind the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway
route. It was a new extension ward but it has gradually become populated
with more houses and has become a big ward, said the local.

"Now the authorities are testing the response of the people living in the
area. Measurement work was done at night after which the authorities told
the heads of ward about the removal of the houses though they did not give
the exact schedule," locals added.

Now the junta is officially beginning to calculate and measure the
airfield. The regime planned to convert Myitkyina airport to an
international airport last year. The government attempted to issue arrival
visas for Chinese tourists after an airport has been built in Htein Chon,
a Chinese town on the Sino-Burma border, to boost tourism in Burma.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

July 1, Narinjara
Junta bans travel between Indo-Burma border

The Burmese military junta has banned local villagers from travelling on
the Indo-Burma border, especially the southern part of Mizoram state of
India and south of Chin State in Burma, after seven villagers from two
Indian villages died of an unknown disease, said a local resident.

“The Burmese Army has banned travel from Mreit WA village in Paletwa
Township, located in southern Chin state, to India, after seven people
died of an unidentified disease in two Indian villages,” he said.

Seven people, six among whom are children, and one elderly person, died
recently in Maung Pu Taung and Scota Lan villages in India, opposite Mreit
Wa village in Paletwa Township, of an unknown disease. However, a rumour
is circulating that they might have died due to Swine Flu.

“All the deceased were Burmese, but they lived in Indian villages. Local
people believe that they died due to Swine Flu. Following the deaths, the
Burmese Army prohibited local people from travelling between the
Indo-Burma border,” he said.

A village elder from Mreit Wa village confirmed the incident, but the
cause of the deaths is still unknown.

“Some people die of diarrhea, in the same area every year, but this time
it was different and they did not succumb to diarrhea. The Burmese
authorities suspect that they died as a result of Swine Flu. All the
villagers have been worried since the deaths occurred in the area,” the
villager said.

Villagers, who are living in the border area on both sides, have avoided
travelling from one side to another between the two countries, after the
ban on travelling was imposed by the Burmese military junta.

According to locals, border trade in the area has also come to a
standstill after the Burmese Army banned people from travelling in the
area.

____________________________________

July 1, Irrawaddy
Than Shwe congratulates Iranian President Ahadinejad – Lawi Weng

Burma’s state-run media reported on Wednesday that Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the
head of the Burmese junta, has congratulated the recently re-elected
president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Burmese military regime has censored news of the Iranian
demonstrations since protesters took to the streets to dispute the
election results during the past three weeks.

Analysts said Burma’s military leaders see a kindred spirit in Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad as a politician who dares to challenge the United States and
the West. The state-run media often quotes from his speeches criticizing
US “interference” in Iran.

Iranian demonstrators protested that the election results were rigged. The
Iranian government officially said 20 people were killed by security
forces in the demonstrations and many more were injured.

A Rangoon resident told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that state-run MRTV4,
which carries some international news stories, censors most stories, but
runs some stories about Iraq and Afghanistan, two countries where the US
military is engaged in combat operations against terrorists.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

July 1, Xinhua
China Hong Kong trade fair seeks exhibitors from Myanmar

Sponsor of China's Hong Kong Trade Fair is seeking exhibitors and buyers
from Myanmar, aiming at strengthening bilateral trade between Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region and Myanmar.

According to sources with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) Wednesday, The Hong Kong Trade Development
Council (HKTDC) is having talks in Yangon with the UMFCCI for the
participation of Myanmar entrepreneurs in the upcoming Hong Kong Trade
Fair scheduled for July 6 to 9 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Center.

Senior Exhibition Manager of the HKTDC Johnny Wong told Myanmar
entrepreneurs in an introductory meeting here about the Hong Kong trade
fair that the exhibits on display include gifts, decorations, garments,
textiles, electronics, badges from around the world and works of Beside
Couture in Lebanon and Indonesia-based Italian designer Espen Salberg.

Similar fair will also be introduced in 2010, he said.

According to Myanmar official statistics, Myanmar-Hong Kong bilateral
trade amounted to 766.88 million U.S. dollars in 2008, of which Myanmar's
import from Hong Kong took 34.8 million dollars, while its export to Hong
Kong represented 732.08 million dollars.

Hong Kong SAR stood the third in Myanmar's exporting country or region
line-up after Thailand and India, while the fourth went to Chinese
mainland with over 500 million dollars.

The HKSAR's investment in Myanmar was registered at 504.218 million
dollars in 31 projects standing the 6th largest foreign investor in the
country after Thailand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Chinese mainland
and Malaysia.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

July 1, Democratic Voice of Burma
North Korean ship makes U-turn – Francis Wade

A North Korean carrying ship being tracked by the US navy as it apparently
made its way towards Burma has reportedly turned around, US officials said
yesterday.

The two officials speaking to AP on condition of anonymity said that the
Kang Nam ship was yesterday some 250 miles south of Hong Kong, heading
north.

The ship was being tracked under suspicion that it was carrying weapons in
breach of UN Resolution 1874, which bans all exports of weaponry from
North Korea.

The Kang Nam had appeared to be heading in the direction of Burma, where
it had made a previous visit in May 2007, although Burma has denied
knowledge of the ship’s destination.

The US officials have said they do not know where the ship is now heading,
although Korean security analyst, Kim Tae-woo, told the Korea Herald that
it “would mean that Resolution 1874 is taking effect and causing the North
to retreat”.

The UN resolution allows UN member states to request inspections of North
Korean ships suspected of carrying banned consignments.

In a state-run newspaper today, North Korea also said that a search of its
ships by UN member states would result in military action.

The news follows the arrest yesterday of two Japanese and one Korean man
suspected of trying to illegally import into Burma equipment from North
Korea that could be used in the development of missiles.

The two incidents will fuel concerns about Burma’s military ambitions,
particularly following the revelation that North Korea has been assisting
Burma in the development of a network of tunnels under the country.

Leaked documents show plans to hold large rockets and satellite
communication command centers inside the tunnels.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 1, Agence France Presse
Myanmar rally in Japan calls on UN chief to press junta

About 100 Myanmar activists rallied in Japan on Wednesday, calling on
visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon to press the junta to free political
prisoners including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Protesters said Ban, who is slated to visit Myanmar on Friday and
Saturday, must press the military regime for a concrete outcome when he
meets the generals ruling the isolated country formerly known as Burma.

"Ban Ki-moon used to say he would not visit until the military regime
makes visible progress" toward democracy, said Myat Thu, 44, a Japan-based
activist.

"I want him to achieve the release of political prisoners, like Aung San
Suu Kyi," he said, referring to the Nobel Peace laureate who has been
under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported Wednesday that the junta had given
Ban permission to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, quoting an anonymous regime
source, but the report could not be independently verified.

Ban visits Myanmar as the regime prepares to resume the trial of Aung San
Suu Kyi, who is charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest after
an American man swam to her lakeside villa.

She faces up to five years in jail if convicted.

Ban has said he understood concern over the timing of his visit, but that
he would urge Myanmar to release all political prisoners and resume talks
with opposition leaders on holding elections.

The protesters rallying outside the foreign ministry held pictures of the
democracy leader and chanted for democracy in Myanmar.

Japan has historically maintained relatively friendly ties with Myanmar
and was previously its leading donor.

Tokyo drastically reduced development aid to Myanmar over human rights
concerns, particularly after the junta cracked down on pro-democracy
demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in 2007.

However, the Japanese government refused to join its Western allies in
imposing sanctions.
____________________________________

July 1, New York Times
Second chance: Burmese Monks

In September 2007, thousands of Buddhist monks led the “saffron
revolution,” a series of peaceful marches in response to military
oppression and a dire economic situation in Myanmar, formerly Burma.

Since then, three monks who escaped Myanmar and settled in Utica, N.Y.,
have continued campaigning across the United States for democracy and
human rights for their country with the All Burma Monks’ Alliance.

During the revolution, U Gawsita was beaten by military soldiers, along
with hundreds other protesters. “When our nonviolent protest began to
threaten power of authority, the government accused us as terrorists, and
started to crack down with guns and sticks,” he said.

But the monks remain dedicated to the cause. U Agga Nya Na, who wants to
study political science, said that he was confident that he could
contribute to the campaign for Burma’s democracy even while living in the
United States.

“We can make many young students inspired for democracy and human rights
for Burma,” he said.

The founder of the alliance and one of the leaders of the 2007 revolution,
U Pyinya Zawta, said he was tortured and incarcerated by the government in
Myanmar for 10 years. He says he believes that the cause demands attention
now.

“It is a very critical time in history of Burma,” he said. “Aung San Suu
Kyi is being tried now. If the world leaders can come together now to free
Aung San Suu Kyi, this will be great opportunity to promote democracy in
Burma.”

He also stresses that the saffron revolution has not ended. “My country
has not gained democracy yet,” he said. “I will continue to struggle for
democracy as long as Burma is not free.”

For a slideshow, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/secondchance/index.html#

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

July 1, Irrawaddy
Pitting Karen against Karen in a bloody war – Alex Ellgee

The tragedy of the Burmese army forces and Karen clashes over the past
month can be seen here in Mae Sot Hospital where many Karen soldiers lie
injured, many the victims of land mines or artillery fire.

Having fought against each other on their own land, they now rest next to
each other in hospital beds on foreign soil

Blood soaked bandages and faces grimacing in pain can be seen in the
hospital’s orthopedic ward.

The injured are soldiers in the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the
Karen breakaway ceasefire group, and the Karen National Liberation Army
(KNLA).

Muzzo, a 26-year-old KNLA soldier, lost both hands when a land mine
accidentally went off during a rainstorm. (Photo: Alex Ellgee/ The
Irrawaddy)
“I had to fight for peace and to look after my people” said Muzzo, a
26-year-old KNLA soldier. “We cannot live under the SPDC killing and
hurting our people; we never want to get to that situation, so we must
fight to stop them.”

As DKBA and Burmese regular army troops advanced on the KNLA Brigade 7
recently, Muzzo said he was laying down a landmine in a last line of
defense. The rain was so heavy that an accident occurred and the mine
exploded, causing him to lose both of his hands and the sight in his left
eye.

Despite his wounds, he said that he wasn’t sad and that any blood a KNLA
soldier gives “is with his heart for the peace and love of Karen people.”
His hatred of the Burmese army runs deep. He said his brother and sister
were starved to death by the Burmese army and despite his wounds he owes
it to them to continue to do whatever he can for the KNLA.

Lying in the bed next to Muzzo was a 23-year-old boy, his face clearly in
agony. Part of his foot had been destroyed by a landmine, and he had just
gone through his second round of surgery to repair the limb. As his left
foot was bound tightly in bandages, his right foot was exposed and his
father gently caressed the foot.

When asked how he felt to see his son in such a condition, he said he was
proud that his son was a loving man.

“He gave his foot for the people of Karen State so they could live in
peace,” he said.

Nearby were wounded DKBA soldiers, also casualties of landmines. Like the
KNLA soldiers, they had first gone to Mae Tao Clinic where they were
referred to Mae Sot Hospital for surgery on their limbs.

One DKBA soldier clutched his right knee to ease the pain from the recent
amputation of his leg. His wife helplessly looked on, her face in total
exhaustion.

Having fought with the KNLA for 25 years, the soldier said he was forced
to switch sides to the DKBA when his family’s village was overrun by DKBA
soldiers. He said he had no choice.

“If I didn’t go to the DKBA, my family would have starved,” he said quietly.

In another area of the ward, a DKBA soldier lay in a bed beside a KNLA
soldier. They chatted like old friends. The DKBA soldier, 43 years old,
had serious injuries to his thigh, having stepped on a landmine while
collecting bamboo to make a shelter.

“I didn’t want to join the DKBA” he said. “I was forced into the army. I
don’t want to shoot Karen people, but I am ordered to do it so there is
nothing I can do. All I really want to do is to farm and grow rice in
peace”

Many of the wounded KNLA soldiers empathized with the DKBA soldiers. The
KNLA soldier lying next to the DKBA soldier said he didn’t hate DKBA
soldiers.

“DKBA soldiers only change from KNLA because they are hungry and need
food,” he said. “I am not angry at them. They are KNLA in their hearts,
but their leaders tell them what to do. Their leaders just want money,
power and hero status. The soldiers just want food and peace, but because
the leaders give them food they have to listen to them.”

The tragedy of Karens fighting against Karens mirrors the futility of war
everywhere, and underscores the utterly desperate condition of many of the
Karen people who oftentimes will switch armed allegiances because of the
access to food.

It's uncertain what lies ahead for the DKBA and the KNLA troops. Many
analysts are predicting that the KNLA will lose the area it has
controlled. Some observers are also talking about dark plots against the
DKBA leadership by the Burmese army itself. Many people speculate that the
Saturday ambush of a senior DKBA commander, San Pyote, was carried out by
Burmese forces.

“It’s not above what the Burmese are capable of, and they may have done it
to create more misunderstanding between the KNLA and DKBA,” said David
Takapaw, vice president of the KNU. "There were no KNLA troops in the
area. But there were many Burmese."

A Karen soldier who was nearby when the ambush occurred said he only
remembers hearing bullets flying everywhere. He now lies on a hospital bed
with bullet wounds on his arms.

He is surrounded by fellow Karens, soldiers caught up in a complex
conflict that exploits their love for their people while pitting them one
against the other.

____________________________________

July 1, Reuters
Q+A - Will Ban's visit to Myanmar yield results?

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged to deliver the "strongest
possible" message to Myanmar's military regime to release all political
prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when he visits
the country this week.

Questions have been raised about what Ban believes he can achieve, and
about the timing of his visit, which will start on Friday as Suu Kyi's
widely condemned trial resumes in Yangon.

WHY IS SUU KYI ON TRIAL?

The Nobel laureate is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest
last month by allowing an American intruder to stay at her home, which
prosecutors say breached a security law designed to protect the state from
"subversive elements".

However, critics say the charges are trumped up and the trial is an
attempt to keep Suu Kyi out of multi-party elections next year, which are
expected to entrench nearly half a century of army rule.

IS THERE A CHANCE SUU KYI WILL BE FREED?

There is very little hope of her release at this stage. Her participation
in any political process would be a major threat to the junta's grip on
the country.

Analysts say a suspended sentence and a return to house arrest is the best
Suu Kyi can hope for. The generals might favour this outcome, hoping it
might be seen as lenient, while still keeping Suu Kyi out of the political
picture.

But diplomats in New York say it would not be enough to call Ban's visit a
success. Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the past 19 years in detention, mostly
under house arrest at her lakeside home in Yangon.

WHAT DOES BAN HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

Ban wants the junta to release all political prisoners, Suu Kyi included,
and make meaningful democratic reforms.

The junta is usually impervious to international pressure, although Ban
may believe he has some sway with the generals, having convinced them to
allow aid agencies to operate in Myanmar after the devastating Cyclone
Nargis last year.

Analysts say Ban may have been given some indication by the generals, or
by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari after his trip last week, that his visit can
bring some kind of positive result.

"There must be something worthwhile he can achieve but it won't be enough
to satisfy the international community," said Trevor Wilson, a former
Australian ambassador to Myanmar.

"He has to be seen to be tough and uncompromising when he meets the
generals and they will appear attentive. However, they're a hardline bunch
and I'm not optimistic they'll change."

WHY IS BAN VISITING MYANMAR NOW?

The timing of Ban's visit -- just as Suu Kyi's trial resumes -- has
baffled analysts who follow Myanmar.

Diplomats in New York have said that the generals offered him the dates of
July 3-4 and were probably not willing to negotiate. Ban would have
preferred to push his trip back so it did not coincide with the resumption
of Suu Kyi's trial but was unable to do so, the diplomats said.

Ban is midway through a five-year term as U.N. chief and the chances of
the junta making any concessions are slim. A fruitless visit at such a
critical time would do nothing to enhance the reputation of Ban, who has
been fighting off accusations of being too soft on the leaders of Sri
Lanka, Zimbabwe and Sudan.

"The visit could be auspicious if he sends an unequivocal signal that the
U.N. and the international community wants progress," said Amnesty
International researcher Benjamin Zawacki, a specialist on Myanmar.

"But if he doesn't do that and he lets the generals set the agenda, he'll
have achieved nothing."

Diplomats acknowledge the probability of failure is high. But members of
the U.N. Security Council are backing Ban's visit, some of them
reluctantly. Given China's reluctance to back U.N. sanctions, a visit of
secretary-general is the only card they have to play in Myanmar at the
moment.

WHY HAS THE JUNTA INVITED BAN?

U.N. diplomats have said Ban was apprehensive about accepting the
invitation because he feared such a visit would be used as propaganda to
legitimise the Myanmar regime and Suu Kyi's trial.

Analysts say the normally reclusive regime will portray the visit as a
seal of international approval for its much-criticised "road map" to
democracy.

"He's walking into a trap and anyone with any rational thinking can see
that," said one Southeast Asian academic, who asked not to be named.

"The generals will use the visit to show they are open, legitimate and
important enough for the U.N. secretary-general to give them a 'courtesy
call'."

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

July 1, Human Rights Watch
Burma: Make Ban’s visit meaningful; UN leader should stand firm on
prisoners, election, political dialogue, minorities

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his trip to Burma
should press the ruling generals to publicly commit to the release of all
political prisoners and to engage in a dialogue with the opposition that
leads to genuine political reforms, Human Rights Watch said today. Ban
should not accept the return of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to
house arrest or vague statements about political reform as signs of a
successful visit.

Ban arrives in Burma on July 3, 2009, the same day that Aung San Suu Kyi’s
trial on politically motivated charges is set to resume. Speaking from
Tokyo on July 1, Ban rightly noted that three of most important benchmarks
are the release of all political prisoners, the immediate resumption of
national reconciliation dialogue between Burma’s military government and
opposition leaders, and the creation of conditions for credible elections
“which needs to be taken next year in a most objective, transparent and
democratic manner.”

“Ban Ki-moon has offered Burma’s generals a roadmap to ending their
international isolation,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human
Rights Watch. “He should make it clear that the time for stalling and
playing games is over and that real change is needed now.”

Human Rights Watch said that human rights conditions in Burma are
deteriorating. Arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and mistreatment of
political activists have intensified. In the last two years, the number of
political prisoners has doubled to 2,100. Armed attacks on ethnic minority
populations continue to lead to large-scale displacement. Basic freedoms
of expression, association, and assembly remain almost nonexistent.

Ban has recognized Aung San Suu Kyi as an “essential partner” in political
reforms and called her recent detention and trial “completely
unacceptable.” She was transferred from house arrest to prison on
politically motivated charges in mid-May. She has spent more than 14 of
the past 20 years under house arrest.

Other human rights defenders in prison include labor activist Su Su Nway,
former student leader Min Ko Naing, and activist monk U Gambira. The
military government has also unfairly tried and imprisoned at least 21
community aid workers who sought to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis,
including Burma’s most famous comedian, Zargana, who received a 35-year
sentence, reduced from 59 years.

“Time and again, the UN has politely requested Aung San Suu Kyi’s release,
but her ‘release’ back to house arrest would be a huge failure,” said
Roth. “Secretary-General Ban’s last visit followed Cyclone Nargis, yet the
aid workers, including the comedian Zargana, who were jailed for
criticizing the government’s handling of the crisis, are still not free.”

Burma’s military government has announced elections for 2010 as the next
step in a sham political process that has dragged on for more than 15
years. Yet under current conditions credible elections are impossible, as
many opposition leaders are in prison, many offices of Aung San Suu Kyi’s
National League for Democracy have been forcibly closed, and freedoms of
expression, assembly, and association have been sharply curtailed.

Human Rights Watch said that Ban should press the military government to
lift immediately the restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and
association in order for there to be any possibility that the 2010
elections could be considered credible. He should insist on a genuine
process in which all political parties and ethnic groups can freely
participate.

Human Rights Watch also urged Ban to express deep concern about rising
ethnic tensions in border areas in the lead-up to the elections and to
remind the government firmly of its responsibility to respect
international human rights and humanitarian law. In recent weeks, Burmese
military offensives have driven more than 4,000 ethnic Karen civilians
into neighboring Thailand. Increasing tensions between the Burmese army
and armed ethnic groups are evidence of the overall failure of the
national reform process.

The Burmese government should make a public commitment to end the
continued persecution of Burma’s ethnic Rohingya Muslim minority, whose
members the government has long refused to recognize as Burmese citizens.

The UN’s recent efforts at mediation between the government and the
National League for Democracy have not produced any concrete results.
Ibrahim Gambari, the current special adviser on Burma for the UN
secretary-general, has visited Burma several times, and his most recent
trip was to organize Ban’s visit.

“There is a real danger that Burma’s generals will try to use Ban’s visit
to legitimize the 2010 elections,” said Roth. “If no commitments for
reform are made, Ban should clearly and publicly state that a process that
mocks the very idea of fundamental freedoms and democracy will have no
legitimacy. His voice could be a real call to action for the UN Security
Council and regional bodies that have thus far failed the Burmese people.”

For more information, please contact:
In London, Brad Adams (English): +44-20-7713-2767; or +44-790-872-8333
(mobile)
In Bangkok, Dave Mathieson (English): +66-87-176-2205 (mobile)
In New York, Steve Crawshaw (English, French, German): +1-212-216-1217
In New York, Elaine Pearson (English): +1-212-216-1825; +1-646-291-7169
(mobile)