Burma Related News - Apr 19-20, 2008.
- From: TIN KYI <mtinkyi@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:27:14 -0700 (PDT)
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BURMA RELATED NEWS - APRIL 19- 20, 2008
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HEADLINES
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AP - 2 bombs explode in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon
AP - Crocodile kills man in wildlife sanctuary in Myanmar
AFP - Myanmar declares itself bird flu free
AFP - Many voices silenced as Myanmar vote campaign gets under way
Reuters - Myanmar arrests keep pressure on "no" campaign
MCOT - 6 GMS nations produce Lancang-Mekong TV documentary
AsiaMedia - Justice for a fallen journalist
The Nation - Upcoming political uncertainties hover over Burma
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2 bombs explode in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon
AP - Monday, April 21
YANGON, Myanmar - Witnesses say two bombs have exploded in the biggest
city of military-ruled Myanmar.
No casualties were reported and the cause of the blasts Sunday was
unclear.
Witnesses, who insisted on anonymity for fear of official reprisal,
said the first explosion took place on the street in the downtown area
of Yangon at around 8 p.m.
The second blast occurred on a different street in the downtown area,
about an hour later.
No further details were immediately available, and there were no
immediate claims of responsibility. The government has not blamed any
group.
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Crocodile kills man in wildlife sanctuary in Myanmar
Sun Apr 20, 7:14 AM ET
YANGON, Myanmar - A crocodile attacked and killed a man who was under
arrest for alleged illegal logging in Myanmar, the country's state-run
newspaper reported Sunday.
Myint Zaw was being transported by forest rangers in a boat in the
Ayeywarwaddy river delta when the crocodile knocked him out of the
boat and killed him, the Myanmar-language Kyemon daily reported.
Myint Zaw and three other men were arrested last month for possession
of mangrove trees believed to have been illegally cut from Meinmahla
Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary, southwest of the country's biggest city,
Yangon, the paper said.
The men were being transferred to detention when the attack happened
March 10, the paper said. No other details were available.
The wildlife reserve was established in 1994 and is inhabited by
endangered saltwater crocodiles that live in the mangrove swamps.
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Myanmar declares itself bird flu free
Sun Apr 20, 6:25 AM ET
YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's military government on Sunday declared the
country bird-flu free after three months without an outbreak of the
deadly virus, state media reported.
The Myanmar-language Mirror newspaper said authorities had "sent the
announcement of a bird flu-free Myanmar" to the UN's Food and
Agriculture Organisation, and supplied evidence.
The last known outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus was in eastern Shan
State last November, the paper said, and was under control by January
this year.
Myanmar last declared itself free of avian influenza in September 2006
after outbreaks in the central city of Mandalay.
But in early 2007, thousands more chickens, birds and ducks had to be
killed after fresh outbreaks in and around the economic hub Yangon and
in the central region of Bago.
In December, Myanmar and the World Health Organisation announced that
a seven-year-old girl from Shan state had become the first confirmed
human case of bird flu in the country.
She was hospitalised in late November before being discharged in
December after showing signs of recovery.
Myanmar's military rulers normally operate behind a veil of secrecy,
but the regime has won praise from the United Nations for its openness
in tackling bird flu, despite its run-down health system.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 240 people worldwide, mostly in
Southeast Asia, since late 2003, World Health Organisation figures
show.
The strain is mainly an animal disease, but scientists fear it could
mutate to easily jump from human to human, sparking a deadly global
pandemic.
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Many voices silenced as Myanmar vote campaign gets under way
Saturday Apr 19, 9:41 AM ET
by Moe Moe Yu
YANGON (AFP) - In military-run Myanmar, the junta's campaign for the
proposed draft constitution is in full swing while opposing voices are
kept silent, but many people are not convinced by the generals'
promises.
Three weeks ahead of the May 10 referendum on the charter, front pages
of state press scream in bold headlines: "Let's vote Yes for national
interest."
Songs extolling the new proposed constitution, which was drafted by a
committee hand-picked by the generals, fill the prime-time airwaves of
government-owned television and radio stations.
The draft constitution book is now available in many bookstores in
Yangon, albeit at a price of nearly one dollar -- far beyond the means
of most people in this impoverished country.
Than Than, a 45-year-old housewife in the economic hub Yangon, has no
plans to splash out for the hefty 194-page basic law.
"We don't even need to read that book. Even a housewife like me has
enough experience under military rule. I think it was just prepared to
secure their power," she said.
The regime says the referendum will pave the way for multi-party
elections in 2010.
But activists say the constitution was drafted with no public input,
and simply enshrines the military's role in the country it has ruled
for nearly half a century.
While barely a day goes by without the appearance in local press of
poems, cartoons and editorials urging people to vote "Yes", efforts by
pro-democracy activists to campaign against the charter have been
quashed.
Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD) party is urging people to vote down the charter, but
said last week that their activities were being curtailed, sometimes
violently.
In the western town of Sittwe on Tuesday, at least 23 people wearing T-
shirts bearing just one word -- "No" -- were arrested, the party said.
Official NLD documents were confiscated by authorities, they said,
while local party organisers had been detained and interrogated.
Amid the tense atmosphere, people were weighing up their choice in the
first poll to be held in Myanmar in 18 years.
"People are so stubborn. They should be aware that if we vote 'Yes',
the military will step down in two years, if not it will take another
10 years," said a Myanmar engineer who works in Singapore.
The proposed constitution reserves one quarter of seats in both
chambers of Parliament for military members, while some key ministries
including home affairs will also be controlled exclusively by the
army.
Aung San Suu Kyi would be barred from running for president under the
new constitution because she was married to a foreigner.
Win, a 73-year-old former socialist party member, said it reminded him
of the period after the military first grabbed power in 1962, headed
by Ne Win.
"Many army officials including General Ne Win changed uniforms and
took up positions in country's administration," he said.
Many people in Myanmar were unwilling to discuss how they plan to vote
out of fear of repercussions from the regime, and some are afraid that
their votes too will be monitored by the junta.
"It would be dangerous for us if we vote 'No' because somebody might
watch what we vote for at polling places", said 59-year-old Ye Ye.
Analysts have warned that the generals will do anything to prevent a
"No" vote, and have cautioned that the poll will likely not be free
and fair.
The last time the junta called open elections in 1990, the NLD won by
a landslide in a result the regime refused to recognise.
Instead, the generals kept Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, where
she has remained for 12 of the last 18 years.
"I don't think they will clear out even if the result is 'No', but I
just want to show clearly that I don't want them anymore," said a 38-
year-old woman.
"So although there is not much hope for voting 'No', I will just vote
'No' anyway."
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Myanmar arrests keep pressure on "no" campaign
Reuters - Monday, April 21
YANGON - Myanmar's junta is intensifying its campaign of intimidation
against dissidents, and conducting a propaganda drive, to ensure its
new constitution gets passed in a referendum next month, opposition
leaders said on Sunday.
At least 60 people have been arrested in Sittwe, capital of northwest
Rakhine state, since last week's traditional New Year celebrations for
wearing T-shirts urging people to vote "No" in the May 10 plebiscite.
"More than 30 have been released but at least 20 are still in
detention, and the arrests are still going on," Ko Thein Hlaing, a
senior member of the opposition National League for Democracy in
Rakhine, told Reuters.
The NLD, whose leader Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains under
house arrest, is leading the campaign to reject the constitution,
which has been drafted over the last 14 years by an army-picked
committee.
The NLD boycotted the process because of Suu Kyi's detention, and
refuses to accept some of the main clauses of the charter, in
particular those guaranteeing the army 25 percent of seats in
parliament and the right to suspend the constitution at will.
Other underground opposition groups are also pushing for the former
Burma's 53 million people to reject the charter, most notably the "88
Generation Students" who led a brutally crushed 1988 uprising against
decades of military rule.
In addition to the Sittwe arrests, NLD spokesman Nyan Win said one
party official had been arrested in Yangon for putting up a "No"
poster, and several other party members had been beaten or assaulted
for campaigning.
Perhaps mindful of 1990, when they allowed an election only to suffer
a humiliating defeat -- which they then ignored -- to Suu Kyi's NLD,
the generals are also pulling out all the propaganda stops to ensure
the charter passes.
State-run MRTV has been broadcasting programmes and songs calling for
a "Yes", while government workers and soldiers have also received
orders on how to vote.
Regime-controlled newspapers have also been carrying slogans,
articles, commentaries and poems urging people to vote in favour.
"To approve the State Constitution is a national duty of the entire
people today," the New Light of Myanmar, the junta's official
mouthpiece, blared in a front-page headline.
Inside, the paper carried a sinister commentary accusing dissidents of
being "the axe-handles and mouthpiece of the colonialists".
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MCOT
6 GMS nations produce Lancang-Mekong TV documentary
Last Update : 10:31:16 20 April 2008
The documentary, entitled ‘Nourished by the Same River’, was the first
collaboration of its kind among national broadcasters of the six
nations along the Lancang-Mekong river— namely TVK of Cambodia, CCTV
of China, LNTV of Laos, MRTV of Myanmar, VTN of Vietnam and Thailand’s
MCOT.
Featuring the GMS’ geographical and cultural treasures, the
documentary aimed to weave together and depict all walks of lives
along the Lancang-Mekong river, which originates in Tibet and flows
through China before breaking into many rivers including the Mekong.
With 20 episodes of 45 minutes each, the documentary is a reflection
of the region’s determination to promote peace, harmony, cooperation
and common development, both socially and economically.
Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama presided over the event and
represented Thailand at the official release of the documentary.
“ This jointly produced TV documentary is testimonial proving that
countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region now have come to realise
the importance of media in promoting and realising what I would like
to call the three Cs in our Sub-region. These three Cs are
connectivity, competitiveness and community. ”, said Noppadon.
Taking three years to finish, ‘Nourished by the Same River’ was filmed
by 11 camera teams and produced in China by CCTV International.
“ One of the challenges in our production was that at times the
subject matter we were dealing with was very fleeting and needed great
capturing immediacy as most of them were phenomena or festivals of
seasonal change. Another interesting thing about this documentary film
is that each story is filmed by each nation’s sub-director and told in
their very own perspective. ”, said Wu Cheng Wei.
To be broadcast every Monday night from 10 to 10.50 pm on Modernine TV—
this very channel-the first episode airs on April 28, with the series
running through to September.
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Justice for a fallen journalist
Six months after APF video journalist Kenji Nagai was killed in
Myanmar, APF News President Toru Yamaji talks with AsiaMedia about
continuing his legacy
By Josephine Lee, AsiaMedia Staff Writer
Friday, April 18, 2008
On Sept. 27, 2007, APF News video journalist Kenji Nagai was shot by a
member of Myanmar's security forces while covering the junta's
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Yangon.
Nagai's death was captured on video, and the widely-circulated footage
influenced the Japanese government's decision to back out of a ¥552
million infrastructure project in Myanmar.
However, Myanmar has never issued an official apology or explanation
for Nagai's death. In addition, Nagai's camera, which he was holding
and filming with at the time of his death, has not been returned.
Just as international reports on the chaos in Myanmar faded away, so
too did reports on Nagai's death. But APF News President Toru Yamaji
refuses to allow Nagai's death to be forgotten. At a press conference
on Nov. 4, 2007, Yamaji announced his hope that the Japanese
government would sue the Myanmar junta through the International
Criminal Court over Nagai's murder. In an interview with AsiaMedia,
Yamaji discusses the progress of his efforts, his frustrations with
the Japanese media and government, and Nagai's legacy.
The following is an edited transcript
AsiaMedia: What is the status on the lawsuit against the Myanmar
junta?
Toru Yamaji: We are currently waiting for the Japanese Foreign
Ministry's support for the lawsuit. Yet, there has been no response
from the ministry. We'd like to bring the lawsuit to the International
Criminal Court, but without the Japanese government, we cannot do
anything.
AM: What is the progress on getting Nagai's camera returned?
TY: It is still under police investigation. Last month in Yangon,
there was a meeting with Myanmar foreign ministry. Negotiation is in
progress.
AM: What is your opinion of the Japanese media's coverage of Nagai's
death?
TY: Honestly, there wasn't enough. Not then and not now. Nowadays,
Myanmar and Nagai have simply disappeared from the news.
AM: Why do you think there is this lack of Japanese media coverage?
TY: It's because no one wants to go and report in dangerous areas. If
you are part of mass media corporations, you aren't allowed to go to
conflict areas because of the fear of danger.
AM: If that's the case, how did Nagai end up going to Myanmar?
TY: Nagai believed in a different mission. Nagai believed that if no
one went to these conflict areas, then who would? Nagai wanted to give
a voice to the people and their situation. He couldn't just abandon
them in the dark.
AM: In regards to Japan's media coverage of Nagai's death, how does it
compare to the international media coverage?
TY: The international media like BBC and CNN heavily covered Nagai's
situation. Speaking of the international community, even the United
States embassy called me and offered their assistance.
AM: Other than the lawsuit, what else has APF been doing to honor
Nagai's memory?
TY: Nagai had many news projects before his death. He did much of his
research on North Korea and Palestine and Iraq. We are actively
continuing his work.
AM: With the lawsuit at a standstill, how can the public get involved?
TY: We can't do too much without the Japanese government in regards to
the lawsuit. But, even though the lawsuit is being halted, we can
continue to pursue answers for basic questions like how did he die and
why? These questions are not asking for much. We are asking for the
truth.
More importantly, though Nagai's life was cut short, we can continue
his legacy through our own actions. His life was based on service. As
a reporter, he felt a duty to go to places in need and expose the
injustices to the rest of the world. He told these stories through the
eyes of the people. Danger and fear never stopped him because lives
were at risk. Nagai hoped Japan and the media could embrace this
mindset. Now, with him gone, I feel we owe it to Nagai to carry on his
mission.
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The Nation
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Upcoming political uncertainties hover over Burma
Published on Apr 21, 2008
In less than three weeks the Burmese people will vote in a national
referendum on the country's draft constitution.
Kavi Chongkittavorn
It will be a historic democratic battle between the iron-fisted
government that wants to impose its rule and impoverished voters who
want to be free. The draft constitution, which would give 25 per cent
of parliament seats to the military, was recently completed after 15
years. Draft copies are now available in bookstores for 1000 kyats
(Bt4,846) - something not all Burmese can afford.
Bangkok-based diplomats and Burmese living in exile around the world
have predicted that voters will certainly reject the draft
constitution. Growing resentment over the increased price of gas and
oil, which triggered the saffron uprising last August, continues to
mount and is currently being compounded with increases in the price of
rice and other basic-food commodities.
Unfortunately, the exact count will never be known or publicised. The
results - whatever they may be - will depend
totally on the whip or rather the imagination of junta leaders.
Without international observers, the referendum would lack
creditability and legitimacy. There is also a strong possibility that
there could be further violence after the referendum if the junta goes
against the people's will.
To the junta, public affirmation and legitimacy - even if it has been
fabricated to the hilt - is necessary and considered a pivotal step to
put its seven-point roadmap for democracy in place. At issue here are
the various post-referendum scenarios and the outside world's reaction
to them. Whatever happens would inevitably affect Burma's future and
its people's aspirations for democracy, including the planned 2010
election. Despite pessimism, Asean, the UN and the international
community continue to look for ways to make Burma more democratic and
inclusive in future political processes.
They are now trying to gauge the junta leaders' political moves, which
have been surprising so far. After repeatedly failing to engage the
Burmese regime even before September's crackdown on monks, they have
been looking for new ways to keep channels with the junta open.
De-linking politics from humanitarian and development assistance, the
approach currently taken by the EU, could serve as a new modus
operandi. The idea of punishing the regime, coupled with increasing
assistance to those most vulnerable inside Burma, is gaining currency.
With the US continuing to impose harsher sanctions, the EU approach is
obviously more attractive at this point. However, it is still too
early to tell if this path will lead to more positive outcomes. In
past months, vulnerable Burmese have benefited more from increased
humanitarian and development assistance, especially in heath care and
education, than before. As a matter of urgency, the EU should provide
more anti-viral drugs for additional HIV/Aids patients beyond the
current 10,000.
Asean's inability to convince Burma to comply with norms of collective
responsibility and group interest has been appalling. For over a
decade, the Burma debacle has sapped the grouping's energies and
marred the grouping's prospects of cooperation with dialogue partners.
As the current Asean chair, Singapore, has tried and subsequently
failed to engage both Asean members and major powers in resolving the
Burmese quagmire.
Burma's bitterness over Singapore's handling of the political fallout
from the September crackdown remains evident. The cold shoulder that
Burma has been giving UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari over the past
six months is linked to his aborted plan to brief East Asian leaders
at November's Asean Summit in Singapore.
But the UN remains crucial for any future settlement and
rehabilitation in Burma. With continued coordination between US, UK
and France, the council is expected to add Burma to its future agenda.
A tougher and more binding resolution could be expected.
In the previous council's discussion last year, China and Russia
vetoed the resolution calling for sanctions. Given the current
international political environment, there could be further trade-offs
among the council's members.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's dealings with Burma
have been quite exceptional. He has had personal correspondence with
the reclusive General Than Shwe for quite some time. But it was only
last week that the president's office had enough confidence to inform
the media that Yudhoyono's efforts were not all in vain and that the
general has answered his mail.
In his letter, Than Shwe assured Yudhoyono of the continuing
democratic process in his country and pledged to continue
communicating with him. "This is a unique process as every one of the
president's letters has been replied to by General Than Shwe," said
presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal.
It remains to be seen whether this "unique process" will lead to more
tangible progress. After all, Than Shwe is still the leader who
decides everything in Burma. With a presidential election scheduled
for next year, Yudhoyono is also pondering his own political legacy.
As Asean's largest member, Indonesia carries weight with whatever
plans it undertakes, especially on regional issues.
To back up Yudhoyono's personal initiative, the Indonesian foreign
ministry has fine-tuned a peace plan for Burma that would involve
initially informal discussions among a handful of key stakeholders. It
is essentially a mechanism similar to the informal talks held in
Jakarta in the early 1990s to end the Cambodian conflict. Indonesia
skilfully played the role of mediator and employed a strategy that
allowed rival Cambodian groups to meet and subsequently agree on
common ground, which eventually led to the Paris peace talks.
Before it is formally proposed to Asean, Indonesia wants to make sure
that it has the support of its colleagues and the international
community for a Burmese peace plan. China has already supported this
peace plan and soon Asean would make its position known.
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