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  1. #1276
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    Generals Sending Mixed Messages in the Media
    By Wai Moe
    October 22, 2007



    The Burmese junta has taken a typically hard-line stance in the state-run media following US president George W Bush putting additional sanctions on Burma, specifically targeting the junta’s officials and their cronies.

    snip

    The Myanmar Times published photos of Snr-Gen Than Shwe, Gambari and Suu Kyi on the front page. It was the first time the media in Burma had run with a photo of Suu Kyi alongside that of Than Shwe.

    snip

    irrawaddy.org


    ..............................................


    Dissident Women Speak About Why They Fled Rangoon
    By Saw Yan Naing
    October 22, 2007


    Five women who recently arrived at the Thai border town of Mae Sot have spoken to The Irrawaddy about why they had to flee Burma in fear of their lives.

    snip

    “People in Burma think that international pressure is important,” she said. “They want the international community to put more pressure on Burma.” She said that they would sacrifice what they needed to sacrifice to achieve change in Burma.

    She confirmed that members of the pro-government Union Solidarity and Development Association and the paramilitary thugs known as “Swan Arr Shin” were the main groups responsible for gathering information for the authorities.

    snip

    irrawaddy.org


    ..............................................


    Ethnic Ceasefire Group Welcomes UN as Mediator
    By Violet Cho
    October 22, 2007

    Four ethnic ceasefire groups, including the United State Wa Army, have issued a statement criticizing the Burmese military government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters, but welcoming the United Nations’ role as mediator in helping to find a solution to the conflict in Burma.

    However, they condemned the international community’s response in imposing sanctions on Burma and said they strongly disagreed with the proposed boycott of the Olympic Games due to be held in China in August 2008.

    According to the very first statement of the Peace and Democratic Front, a combination of ethnic ceasefire groups based on the Burma-China border, the Burmese military government should reconsider the people’s demands as expressed during the recent demonstrations on the streets of Burma’s cities.

    The Peace and Development Front confirmed that this was a joint statement by the United Wa State Army, the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance, the National Democratic Army (Kachin State) and the National Democracy Alliance Army.

    snip

    However, according to an ethnic and military analyst, the statement was laced with a hidden political agenda.

    Htay Aung, a Burmese researcher for the exiled Network for Democracy and Development, called the statement “unacceptable” and said that the ethnic ceasefire groups had been quiet when the regime began its deadly crackdown on monks and civilians.

    snip

    The condemnation of the Olympic boycott clearly shows that the ethnic ceasefire groups operating along the Burma -China border hope to make a good impression and improve relations with the Chinese government, according to Htay Aung.

    snip

    irrawaddy.org


    ..............................................


    Targets of New US Sanctions Feeling the Heat [Editorial]
    By The Irrawaddy
    October 22, 2007

    US President George Bush has imposed additional sanctions on Burma, requiring the US Treasury Department to freeze the assets held in the US by 11 more high-ranking members of the military regime.

    The new sanctions target the mayor of Rangoon and the ministers of electric power, health, education, industry, labor, science and technology, commerce, national planning and economic development, finance and revenue, telecommunications and construction.

    The sanctions also target 12 businessmen and business entities close to Snr-Gen Than Shwe and other hard-line military leaders.

    One of the wealthiest businessmen one the list is Tay Za, the CEO of Htoo Trading Company and the owner of Air Bagan, which recently launched flights to Singapore.

    Two other prominent businessmen, Htay Myint and Khin Shwe, have had friendly relationships with the regime for years.

    snip

    irrawaddy.org


    ..............................................


    Implications of US Myanmar sanctions unclear: Singapore
    26 minutes ago

    SINGAPORE (AFP) - The implications of US sanctions against three companies in Singapore are not clear, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Monday.

    "MFA has just been formally informed by the US embassy in Singapore of the stated sanctions today, which affect three companies in Singapore that are linked to a Myanmar national, Tay Za," it said in a statement.

    "The implications of these US sanctions are still not entirely clear. We are studying them and will also seek further clarification from the US if necessary."

    snip

    news.yahoo.com
    Last edited by Mid; 22-10-2007 at 10:58 PM.

  2. #1277
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    NLD members allege torture during interrogation


    Oct 22, 2007 (DVB)–Members of the National League for Democracy in Taungup have claimed they were tortured at an interrogation centre before being given prison sentences, according to sources close to the detainees’ families.

    U Than Pe, Vice Chairman of NLD in Taungup, and U Tun Kyi, both aged around 50, were reportedly tortured at an interrogation centre in An, said a person close to their families.


    “While they were being interrogated in An, they were tortured by having their faces covered with wet cloths.

    A health worker stood nearby measuring their blood pressure.

    When the reading dropped to 90 over 60, the worker said the detainees could still take more torture and were not about to die yet,” he said.


    The source said that the interrogation was carried out by members of the army.


    Reporting by DVB
    english.dvb.no

  3. #1278
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    Russia positive over Myanmar decision to draft new Constitution
    22/ 10/ 2007


    MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow considers the Myanmarese government's decision to establish a special commission to draft a new constitution for the country a positive step, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.
    "We view this move as evidence that the Myanmarese leadership is ready to carry out a political reorganization in line with the roadmap of democratic reforms it has adopted," the ministry said. "We hope for further democratization in Myanmar and for preservation of internal stability, civil peace and public law and order."

    snip

    en.rian.ru

  4. #1279
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    ^ Russia has no stake whatsoever in Burma as far as I know unless Russian oil companies are investing offshore? Anybody know?

  5. #1280
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    oil and military supplies ,

    the junta was in Moscow last week on a shopping trip ..............

  6. #1281
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    Russia’s biggest arms trader, Rosoboronexport, planned to open an office in Burma before the end of 05 according to sources I knew then. I've no reason to believe this expansion did not go ahead. Below is an extract from a release in 05

    The Russian state-owned company announced their intention to have an office in Burma for the first time in November 04 when Director General Sergei Chemezov told reporters new offices in Belgium, Burma, Italy and Venezuela were on the cards. 'This will help us to expand our influence on world arms markets. We open representations in the countries that show direct interest in procurement of Russian weapons,' Chemezov said.
    'Wherever we see such interest, we send our representative there immediately to establish relations with the Defence Ministry or other uniformed agencies, offering our technical and commercial projects and informing of the Russian armament and military hardware.'
    Rosoboronexport has offices in several south-east Asian countries including Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam.

    Regards
    (\__/)
    (='.'=) I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own.
    ('')_('') I am not a number. I am a free man!

  7. #1282
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    ^ Yup, completely overlooked the obvious. But, I'm puzzled. The Burmese can get endless arms from China and it's the same technological level as Russian arms for their budget.??

  8. #1283
    Member A Traveller's Avatar
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    View point is usually that they prefer to have multiple avenues for supply of equipment, thereby allowing them some flexibility {price, delivery etc.}. Should be noted though that the Russians refused support for the development of an Atomic facility to be built by the Ministry for Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation, or Minatom, in Kyaukse after Russian officials said the Burmese generals could not afford the project.

    Regards

  9. #1284
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    basket , eggs , one ....................

    same game the Nepalese played .

  10. #1285
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    ^^ Very nice to see another quality poster on this forum! I just love all this arms talk, makes me go fuzzy. And, as you may know, I'm a Russophile, lived there quite some years.

  11. #1286
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    I posted in another place an overview of equipment from collated {mostly} public sources, if there's a wish I can repost herein as background, though it may have been covered earlier.

    Regards

  12. #1287
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    AT pls ,

    add anything you feel is relevant .

  13. #1288
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    The Burmese Military infrastructure. An obvious problem here is that much data is either, genuinely, classified or subject to eliding. I make no claims for acces but let's put some of the {mostly} publicly available data in context:-

    Military Under arms 400,000
    Military viable population {male+female} 16,000,000 {Note the present number under arms is a close match to men arrived at conscription age per annum.}

    Equipment
    84 mm rockets for Carl Gustav recoilless guns
    RPG-2 grenade launchers
    57mm M43 anti-TankGuns
    Weapons {mortars, rocket launchers, assault rifles and ammunition} valued at some 20,000,000 USD from Pakistan {pre Musharraf, possibly siphoned from foreign arms shipments originally sent to Pakistan for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan}.
    Small Arms and ammunition from China including some 10,000x7.62 mm Type 56 assault rifles
    40 mm anti-tank grenade launchers
    82 mm mortars (probably Type 67 and Type 55)
    57 mm and 75 mm recoilless guns (probably Type 56 and Type 52).
    RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers and 62 mm and 66 mm HEAT projectiles.
    China also provided the army with radar and communications equipment, night vision devices and military parachutes.
    A Portuguese arms manufacturer reportedly sold some US$1.5 million worth of arms and ammunition, despite the EU embargo against Burma, this was said to include 120 mm heavy mortars, 81 mm medium mortars, and possibly some 60 mm light mortars.
    North Korea sold Burma 20 million rounds of 7.62 mm rifle ammunition.
    Singapore is alleged to have supplied M16A1 automatic rifles and 5.56 mm ammunition via a joint venture.
    Israel is alleged to have supplied Uzi 9 mm submachine guns.

    Heavy Equipment
    85 tanks, probably consisting of 80 Norinco Type 69II main battle tanks and 100+ Type 63 light amphibious tanks.
    250 Type 85 armoured personnel carriers.
    100 artillery pieces including 122 mm howitzers, a number of anti-tank guns
    30+ Norinco 107 mm Type 63 multiple launch rocket systems.

    Air Defence
    Chinese 37 mm Type 74 twin-barrelled towed anti-aircraft guns
    Norinco twin 57 mm Type 80 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun systems, or Norinco single-barrelled 57 mm towed anti-aircraft gun systems
    The above complete with complete with generators, radars and directors.
    Hongying HN-5 MANPADs

    Transportation
    6.5 tonne Aeolus trucks,
    5 tonne Jiefang trucks,
    2 tonne Lan Jian trucks,
    2 tonne Kungi trucks,
    Sundry heavy-duty machines. E.g. Chinese Type 72 tank recovery vehicles and Hanyang tank transporters.
    Star 266 road cranes from Poland and some East European bridge layers {probably also from Poland}.
    Polish Star 12.5 ton trucks,
    Toyota DA-80 and FA-60 trucks,
    Nissan Container Carriers,
    Nissan 5 ton diesel trucks
    Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive general purpose vehicles.

    Data on contracts is difficult to validate and assumptions have to be made. Further I would caution that this data is not as current as one would wish, but I do believe it provides a realistic measure of the range and sophistication of equipment available to the Burmese Army. It is probable that there has been considerable training provided both for the maintenance and use of the equipment, especially from the Chinese.

    Regards
    PS Re the Carl Gustav recoilless guns. Seems likely they either came from Charted Industries {via Swedish-based Förenade Fabriksverken}. and/or by a re-shipment process through Singapore. The Singapore route may have been via SKS Marketing, which was a Singapore-based joint venture with the Burmese military government. Note this is not new data, though the weapons are still active. Reports include academic, Janes's, the good 'old' FEER and the think tank IDEA, which is Swedish.
    Last edited by A Traveller; 22-10-2007 at 11:17 PM. Reason: Edit add PS

  14. #1289
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    ^AT, do you have any figures on the Wa or other private armies?

  15. #1290
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    Re Wa and private armies, not to hand, and qualitatively of a lower order. However, I'll have a rummage and post an overview, probably on the morrow.

    Regards

  16. #1291
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    Army extorts money from hill tribes
    Kaladan News
    Monday, 22 October 2007


    Paletwa. Chin State: Burma Army personnel of the Paletwa based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 289 have forced Chin people to pay money for a rally in support of the National Convention on October 18, said a local from Paletwa township in Chin state, Burma.


    Most army personnel are from Pinray camp and Mayiwa camp, in border areas which is used as special zone since it neighbours Bangladesh and India.

    Troops from the special zone forced the tribes from Paletwa area- Thet, Mru, Khumi, Daignet, busy with seasonal cultivation, to pay up. The tribes complied in order to go about their cultivation without hassle, he added.

    snip

    bnionline.net


    ..............................................




    Oct 22, 2007 (DVB)–Two former teachers who were arrested last week after challenging a pro-government rally in Bago have been released on bail, according to their relatives.

    A close relative of Maung Maung Oo and Ni Ni Mar, speaking on condition of anonymity, told DVB that the couple were released on bail on Saturday after some influential townspeople agreed to act as guarantors for them.


    snip



    Reporting by Moe Aye
    english.dvb.no
    Last edited by Mid; 23-10-2007 at 10:56 AM.

  17. #1292
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    Singapore counters concerns on Yangon
    Published: Tuesday, 23 October,

    SINGAPORE: Singapore’s foreign minister has countered concerns over the country’s ties to Myanmar, saying yesterday that there have been no recent defence sales and that economic links are limited.

    George Yeo, responding to questions in parliament, also said the country has strict rules against money laundering.

    His comments followed the arrest on October 8 of four Singapore Democratic Party members who held a protest to demand official clarification of whether government-linked firms, including defence suppliers, do business with military-run Myanmar
    .
    “I can say that over the years, defence sales to Myanmar have not been substantial and have always been linked to items that are not suitable for countering civilian unrest,” Yeo told parliament.

    snip

    gulf-times.com


    ..............................................


    Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
    Tuesday, 23 October 2007


    The Asian Human Rights Commission thus reiterates its calls for the international community--and in particular the UN Human Rights Council through its special session on Burma this week--to demand that the government of Burma immediately:

    1. Reveal in full the whereabouts and physical circumstances of all detained persons and the remains of all those who have died;

    2. Enable the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), concerned United Nations agencies and other relevant agencies to establish centres where incidents of disappearance, torture and extrajudicial killing can be reported, documented and investigated.

    3. Show evidence of under what laws and legal procedures all recently-detained persons have been arrested and are being held;

    4. Bring all detained persons before courts of law within 24 hours as required by section 61 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and guarantee their personal integrity at all times;

    5. Provide detainees with unrestricted access to family members, lawyers and the ICRC;

    6. Conduct judicial inquests into the deaths of all persons fired upon or assaulted by security forces, or otherwise killed under unnatural circumstances;

    7. Permit access to the country by key United Nations experts, including the Special Rapporteurs on Myanmar, torture, and extrajudicial killings, and members of the Working Groups on arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances; and,

    8. Agree to the establishing of a UN observer mission to be dispatched to the country within the shortest possible time, under the auspices of the Secretary General, to prevent further incidents of torture, arbitrary detention, forced disappearance and killing.

    In the event that the authorities in Burma fail to comply with these requests--which amount to no more than calls for adherence to domestic standards and little more than the minimum requirements of international law--the AHRC calls for the United Nations and all concerned international and bilateral agencies to review immediately their operations in Burma with a view to withdrawing all non-essential activities until such a time as the government there indicates its willingness to cooperate.

    scoop.co.nz


    ..............................................


    UN Says Myanmar Has Agreed To Visit By Human Rights Official

    UNITED NATIONS (AP)--Myanmar's government has agreed to a visit by the U.N.'s human rights investigator, who has been barred from entering the military-ruled country since 2003, the United Nations said Monday.

    In a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win suggested that Paulo Sergio Pinheiro's visit take place before the Nov. 17 summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

    snip

    nasdaq.com

  18. #1293
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    from todays chat ..................


    Breaking News: SPDC want to see Daw Suu this morning in yangon

    Breaking News: SPDC is doing for good or bad ways with Daw Suu

    mid: Breaking News , source pls ??

    Breaking News: Than Shwe want to meet with Daw Suu in Yangon today, she is out of her home late last night in yangon

    Breaking News: Daw Suu is waiting for Doggy Than shwe in Gov house now

    KoThein: The metting take place in yangon at 11 am in government house

    mid: KoThein need source pls ??

    KoThein: They will released students leders and other ppl this evening from Insein

    KoThein: SPDC source

    KoThein: Most of the monks will release tonight

    Breaking News: Min Ko Niaing and his buddies will released this evening

    Breaking News: Just wait and see situation in Yangon, Burma is on Headline again

    KoThein: GTI detainess are out from their cells now

    KoThein: Monks( Real ) , students, workers will released tonight in Yangon > source burmese police force
    Last edited by Mid; 23-10-2007 at 11:10 AM.

  19. #1294
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    Stole this from another site, pretty much sums up the losing story of democracy in SE Asia:

    Monday, October 22, 2007
    Jonathan Manthorpe,
    Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

    DEMOCRACY SLOW FOR SE ASIA

    Not so long ago, Southeast Asia was held out as a prime example of the theory that democracy inevitably followed economic development and the growth of a middle-class. Well, the monk-bashing generals of Burma remain boneheadedly opposed to this theory. Vietnam finds the one-party state and a vibrant economy perfectly compatible, thank you. The Laotian Communist party likes to keep politics a private matter, except when internal rivalries occasionally become bomb attacks on the streets. In Cambodia, prime minister Hun Sen is delighted to have elections so long as everyone understands he has to win or there will be civil war. Malaysia's democracy is so highly organized the whole process is pre-programmed. In Singapore, citizens are essentially holders of non-voting shares in the Lee Kuan Yew family conglomerate. Thailand is going through one of its regular phases of rushing for the calming comfort of military rule when multi-party democracy becomes too exciting. In Brunei, oil money floods through the royal palace front door, and some is dispensed out the back. Indonesia, almost unbelievably, is the only country firmly on the path of political reform. And in the Philippines, there are rumours of an impending coup as the military becomes increasingly unhappy with the corruption of the regime of the attack-trained chickadee, President Gloria Arroyo. Troops fighting al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf separatists in the southern Philippines are said to be mightily miffed the acquisitive government will not give them an extra $3-a-day frontline pay.

  20. #1295
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    Mid-year Gem Emporium slated for Nov 14-26
    New Light of Myanmar
    Tuesday, October 23, 2007.

    Yangon, 22 Oct - The Mid-year Gem Emporium 2007 is scheduled earlier to be held from 7 to 19 November.

    However, the emporium is to take place from 14 to 26 November.

    myanmar.com


    ..............................................



    Large Burmese ruby
    Published:Friday, October 5, 2007
    Source:Aung Hla Tun, Reuters


    A person holds the biggest ruby displayed at the Mid-Year Gem Emporium exhibition in Rangoon in October 2006. Weighing at 46 carat, the floor-price of the ruby is 500,000 Euros.

    xxx.xxx.xx


    ..............................................


    Recent Myanmar Gems News from Pala Gems International

    The following news items pertaining to Burma were published since our last Gem News.

    • Burma to Grant More Jade Mining Blocks to Local Businesses: Burma will grant 319 mining blocks to local entrepreneurs,
    People’s Daily Online reported May 4. Each block measures one acre and will be leased for three years.

    • Te Za Begins Mining in Phakant: Burma tycoon Te Za has begun jade mining operations in Phakant, in the Kachin State of northern Burma,
    Burma News International preported May 1. The area was confiscated with the help of the Phakant-based military junta, displacing “over 30 households in each mine area.” The households received compensation.

    • Burma Forms First Gem Merchants Association: Burma's largest business organization and the Ministry of Mines are facilitating formation of the country’s first rough-gem merchants association, the Myanmar Gem Merchants’ Association, Rapaport reported April 15.

    myanmargems.com


    .................................................. ........


    Myanmar Postpones Holding Mid-Year Gems Emporium
    2007-10-23

    snip

    According to the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise (MGE), of Myanmar's top 10 exporters for 2006-07 which were dominated by the state sector, the MGE stood the third with a gem sale value of 296. 9 million dollars after Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and the Myanmar Timber Enterprise.

    The government's Central Statistical Organization revealed that in the first three quarters (April-December) of 2006-07, Myanmar produced 13,732 tons of jade and 14.52 million carats of gems which include ruby, sapphire, spinel and peridot, as well as 67, 985 mommis pearl.

    Xinhua


    .........................................


    Bloodstained Rubies Fund Burmese Regime
    By Beat Balzli
    October 16, 2007

    snip

    Roughly 90 percent of the global supply of rubies comes from Burma. According to eyewitness accounts, mining bosses mix amphetamines into the workers' drinking water to boost productivity.

    Sometimes children also work in the muddy mines. "Alongside teak, gas and oil, gems are the fourth financial mainstay of the junta," says Ulrich Delius from the German-based Society for Threatened Peoples.

    snip

    spiegel.de


    ..............................


    CIBJO condemns violation of human rights in Burma
    10/22/2007

    In a press release, The President Council of CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation condemned the oppression of human rights in Burma (Myanmar).

    It has urged member organisations to abide by CIBJO Code of Ethics and stop purchasing gemstones from the Myanmar government.

    It has advised that its member associations urge their members to seek information about the origins of the gemstones from the suppliers, and to stop purchasing the Burmese gemstones until the United Nations signals that democracy has been restored in Burma.

    diamondworld.net
    Last edited by Mid; 23-10-2007 at 03:27 PM. Reason: additional info added

  21. #1296
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    Myanmar Events Have Silver Lining: Monk
    Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007
    by K.K. Cheow

    The brutal crackdown in Myanmar may yield some benefit, a monk said at Bukit Gorblok Hawker Centre today.

    “What’s happening in Myanmar is all very horrible now but it has an upside,” said Mr. Gimmee Sommani, a freelance monk from Thailand who specializes in ‘alms-acquisition’ in Singapore. “I’ve been finding that Singaporeans have been much more generous with giving me their spare change since the crackdown. So there really is a silver lining to the dark clouds in Myanmar.”

    Mr. Sommani says that his takings have even doubled when he changes his usual yellow robes for red ones.

    “Last time, if I approach them at the hawker centre while they’re eating, people usually just wave me away or say, ‘Do’wan, do’wan’. But now, if I just mumble ‘Myanmar, Myanmar’, they toss me a buck or two,” he continued, while taking a break and sipping from a bottle of Tiger Beer. “It’s not like most people here know the difference between Burmese and Thai anyway. You know, meh?”

    Mr. Sommani denied any exploitation of the situation. “Yah, it’s a real bummer for Burma, but I’m almost the same as my brothers in Yangon, what. They live under a regime who came to power under a military coup, and I live under a regime who came to power under a military coup. Potato, potahto. If you want to know about exploiting Burma, read this article in the Sydney Morning Herald. Donno how true or not, but after reading this, I think that any money Singaporeans give to Burma is just compensation.”

    talkingcock.com

  22. #1297
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    America Seeks Way for Suu Kyi To Address Security Council
    October 23, 2007
    By BENNY AVNI

    UNITED NATIONS — A day after members of the military regime in Burma belittled the imprisoned, democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, America's U.N. ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, yesterday called for the creation of "circumstances" that would allow her to have direct contact with the outside world, including by briefing the Security Council.

    snip

    nysun.com

  23. #1298
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mid View Post



    Dam to displace thousands: Report - "Damming the Irrawaddy"
    October 22, 2007
    KNG

    A proposed dam project on the Irrawaddy River by China and the Burmese military junta threatens to displace ten of thousands of people in the project area, Kachin environmental activist groups said.

    The observation was made in a new report "Damming the Irrawaddy" by the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) released today at a press conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

    The report noted in its executive summary that an estimated 47 villages will be washed away following the damming and approximately 10,000 people will be displaced. Villagers affected by the dam project will be cut off by widespread flooding which will also impact their livelihoods, communication, transportation, and trade.

    There will be more human rights abuses, more sexual violence on women around the dam project area by the military regime, said Naw La, a coordinator for the Kachin Environmental Organization (KEO) and a member of KDNG.

    snip

    kachinnews.com
    China Power Investment, Yunnan Power Grid join Myanmar's Irrawaday dam project
    10.23.07

    BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Chinese companies, including Yunnan Power Grid Corp and the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI), are at the center of new plans to dam the Irrawaday River in neighboring Myanmar, a local pressure group said.

    Yunnan Power Grid will connect the Myitsone hydropower plant, located at the confluence of the Irrawaday, to the Greater Mekong power network and to the rest of China, according to the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG), a human rights organization based in the northern Myanmar state of Kachin.

    KDNG's Naw La said that 'standards such as emergency measures for dam breaks, public participation, and impact assessments that are written into Chinese law are not being followed in the Irrawaday dam project.'

    snip

    forbes.com

  24. #1299
    Member A Traveller's Avatar
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    This may fall into the smoke & mirrors category, note emboldened section:-

    The military government in Burma has agreed to allow the UN's expert on human rights to visit after refusing permission for four years. Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, who visits countries to check on their human rights performance, made repeated requests to visit during that time.
    Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win wrote to the UN suggesting that Mr Pinheiro could arrive before mid-November.
    The UN's special envoy to Burma is also hoping to be allowed to return soon.
    Ibrahim Gambari is currently in India awaiting a visa.
    On an initial visit just after the military's crackdown on mass protests in September, he met both the military and jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
    BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Burma allows human rights visit

  25. #1300
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    As Myanmar cracks down, ethnic Chins flee
    31 minutes ago
    by Linda Chhakchhuak

    AIZAWL, India (AFP) - After Myanmar's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September, ethnic Chins escaping to India say they are being targeted to join pro-junta rallies or pay hefty fines -- or worse.

    There are approximately two million Chins in Myanmar and Chin organisations say they face persistent persecution for being Christians and non-ethnic Burmese.

    snip

    And in the weeks after the crackdown, Chins, who have a long history of migration to India to escape poverty and forced labour, say the military and its supporters are forcing them to march in support of the junta.

    snip

    news.yahoo.com

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