By GAYATRI LAKSHMIBAI
It’s a cloudy, grey Friday afternoon in the Mae La Oo refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Hla Htay, the headmaster of the Yaung Ni Oo school, sits in his bamboo hut with a keen eye on proceedings at the school just across the narrow mud lane. He takes a puff out of his cigarette. “These are Burmese cigarettes, they are good. Would you like to try one?” he asks with a palpable sense of pride.
It’s uncharacteristic of Hla Htay to be home on a weekday. He explains why he isn’t teaching his tenth standard students lessons in English grammar and History today – he’s been unwell with fever and hypertension over the last couple of days.
A former All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) soldier, Hla Htay has been head of the ABSDF-run school since 1998. He joined the student armed rebellion group during its inception around the 1988 uprising in Rangoon.
Having been in the conflict zone fighting the Burmese military for five years since 1992, Hla Htay is now content with having put his guns to rest. “I do miss being on the frontline sometimes, but I know teaching young children is going to have a bigger impact,” he says.
Sep 17, 2010
It’s a warped mirror into which Than Shwe stares
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
As part of the Senior General’s visit to ‘big brother’ China, he paid an impromptu visit to Shenzen, the Chinese city which in 1980 became a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and thus one of the country’s first forays back into commercialism.
Than Shwe spoke of his desire to emulate China’s remarkable and highly successful transformation into one of the most successful capitalist stories ever, where over a 30-year period the average income of every citizen has doubled every nine years. But what is behind China’s successful growth, and what can Burma learn from this?
Sadly for the generals, it may be more salient to look back to pre-1978 China than to the present epoch, for 1978 is broadly viewed as the year in which open market principles were introduced through the ascendancy of Deng Xiaoping, and the growth paradigm was unleashed upon the ‘middle kingdom’. Pre-1978 China would be viewed by many as similar to Burma pre-1988, but the differences are stark and, it must be noted, extremely significant.
As part of the Senior General’s visit to ‘big brother’ China, he paid an impromptu visit to Shenzen, the Chinese city which in 1980 became a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and thus one of the country’s first forays back into commercialism.
Than Shwe spoke of his desire to emulate China’s remarkable and highly successful transformation into one of the most successful capitalist stories ever, where over a 30-year period the average income of every citizen has doubled every nine years. But what is behind China’s successful growth, and what can Burma learn from this?
Sadly for the generals, it may be more salient to look back to pre-1978 China than to the present epoch, for 1978 is broadly viewed as the year in which open market principles were introduced through the ascendancy of Deng Xiaoping, and the growth paradigm was unleashed upon the ‘middle kingdom’. Pre-1978 China would be viewed by many as similar to Burma pre-1988, but the differences are stark and, it must be noted, extremely significant.
US ‘thoroughly disappointed’: Kurt Campbell
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESS
The US official leading dialogue with Burma said Thursday he was thoroughly disappointed with the results but that engagement was the best option as the country prepares for controversial elections.
“I think it would be fair to say in almost every arena, we have been disappointed,” said Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs.
“Everything we’ve seen to date suggests that the November elections will be without international legitimacy,” Campbell told a forum at the US Institute of Peace.
The US official leading dialogue with Burma said Thursday he was thoroughly disappointed with the results but that engagement was the best option as the country prepares for controversial elections.
“I think it would be fair to say in almost every arena, we have been disappointed,” said Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs.
“Everything we’ve seen to date suggests that the November elections will be without international legitimacy,” Campbell told a forum at the US Institute of Peace.
Aug 28, 2010
How the CIA bedded down in Burma
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
“…in pursuit of the fundamental US goals of peace, democracy and reconciliation in Burma.”- US Congressional Statement, October 2009.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) chief was asked to come to the transmissions room in the US embassy in Rangoon. It was 1992 and Richard Horn had only recently been made DEA chief in what was then the world’s largest producer of heroin, Burma.
“A day or two after Horn had this conversation over the phone with another DEA agent, a guy at the embassy that runs all the transmissions told Horn that he may want to look at something. It was a cable from Huddle to Huddle’s headquarters, quoting verbatim a conversation that Horn had had two nights before,” says Brian Leighton, Richard Horn’s lawyer for one of the longest-running court cases in US history, Horn vs. Huddle & Brown.
Huddle and Brown were officially State Department, but in reality Brown worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), one of the US’ many intelligence bodies with a long history in Southeast Asia, whilst Huddle assisted the agency from his position as Charges d’Affaires of the Rangoon embassy.
“…in pursuit of the fundamental US goals of peace, democracy and reconciliation in Burma.”- US Congressional Statement, October 2009.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) chief was asked to come to the transmissions room in the US embassy in Rangoon. It was 1992 and Richard Horn had only recently been made DEA chief in what was then the world’s largest producer of heroin, Burma.
“A day or two after Horn had this conversation over the phone with another DEA agent, a guy at the embassy that runs all the transmissions told Horn that he may want to look at something. It was a cable from Huddle to Huddle’s headquarters, quoting verbatim a conversation that Horn had had two nights before,” says Brian Leighton, Richard Horn’s lawyer for one of the longest-running court cases in US history, Horn vs. Huddle & Brown.
Huddle and Brown were officially State Department, but in reality Brown worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), one of the US’ many intelligence bodies with a long history in Southeast Asia, whilst Huddle assisted the agency from his position as Charges d’Affaires of the Rangoon embassy.
Six Reasons to Welcome US Support for War Crimes Probe
By DR ZARNI
On 24 Aug, the United States officially confirmed that it is "exploring how best to proceed" on the initiative to push for "a properly structured international commission of inquiry that would examine allegations of serious violations of international law in Burma".
My old college mate from Mandalay University would not welcome this move. In the 1980s, he confessed to me that he had raped a young Shan village woman at gun point as she was preparing to bathe in the Salween river. He was at that time a young private on patrol in Eastern Shan State.
On 24 Aug, the United States officially confirmed that it is "exploring how best to proceed" on the initiative to push for "a properly structured international commission of inquiry that would examine allegations of serious violations of international law in Burma".
My old college mate from Mandalay University would not welcome this move. In the 1980s, he confessed to me that he had raped a young Shan village woman at gun point as she was preparing to bathe in the Salween river. He was at that time a young private on patrol in Eastern Shan State.
Aug 19, 2010
Yuzana company grabs land of 1,000 families
In a land grab of massive proportions, huge tracts of land of nearly 1,000 families in Hukawng Valley in Burma’s northern Kachin State have been seized by the Rangoon-based Yuzana Company backed by the country’s ruling junta, said local sources.
A valley farmer said tens of thousands of acres of land--- active crop plantation and paddy fields, owned by people in five Kachin villages between Nawng Mai and Danai --- Wara Zup, Bangkok, Nam Sai, Awng Ra Yang and Sahtu Zup have been grabbed by the regime-backed Yunaza company.
A valley farmer said tens of thousands of acres of land--- active crop plantation and paddy fields, owned by people in five Kachin villages between Nawng Mai and Danai --- Wara Zup, Bangkok, Nam Sai, Awng Ra Yang and Sahtu Zup have been grabbed by the regime-backed Yunaza company.
KSPP’s future depends on KIO’s decision
By KNG
The Election Commission’s approval of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) to contest the polls is now hinging on the stand to be taken by the Kachin Independence Organization’s (KIOs) decision following its meeting with public representatives, which is to be released soon, said party officials.
The KIO has tentatively informed the junta before the three-day Laiza meeting three things--- it will support the November 7 election, accept transformation of KIA in principal and finally, it will not secede from the Union of Burma. The final decision, however, will be mentioned in the statement to be released.
The Election Commission’s approval of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) to contest the polls is now hinging on the stand to be taken by the Kachin Independence Organization’s (KIOs) decision following its meeting with public representatives, which is to be released soon, said party officials.
The KIO has tentatively informed the junta before the three-day Laiza meeting three things--- it will support the November 7 election, accept transformation of KIA in principal and finally, it will not secede from the Union of Burma. The final decision, however, will be mentioned in the statement to be released.
A Good Move by Washington
The US decision to begin consultations with key international and regional partners to support the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Burmese junta's alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes is a good move but it must be more than just symbolic.
Benjamin Chang, deputy spokesman of the US National Security Council, confirmed to The Irrawaddy that the US has began talks with a broad array of stakeholders, including the regional countries, about how to reach this goal.
This new move by the Obama administration is a timely action, which should have been taken long ago. The chief target is junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe, one of the world's most notorious dictators, who has totally and repeatedly ignored the international community's concerns about the systematic and massive human right violations committed by the junta over the past 22 years.
Benjamin Chang, deputy spokesman of the US National Security Council, confirmed to The Irrawaddy that the US has began talks with a broad array of stakeholders, including the regional countries, about how to reach this goal.
This new move by the Obama administration is a timely action, which should have been taken long ago. The chief target is junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe, one of the world's most notorious dictators, who has totally and repeatedly ignored the international community's concerns about the systematic and massive human right violations committed by the junta over the past 22 years.
US Consulting on Junta War Crimes
By LALIT K JHA and BA KAUNG
The US government said it is “consulting” with its international partners, as well as key global and regional players, on the subject of creating an international commission to investigate alleged war crimes by the Burmese military junta, the White House said on Wednesday.
“We have begun to consult with a broad array of stakeholders and key players, other countries, regional authorities, multilateral authorities, about how to reach this goal,” Benjamin Chang, the deputy spokesperson of the National Security Council told The Irrawaddy.
The White House official said that the US supports establishing an international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma as was previously called for by UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Quintana.
The US government said it is “consulting” with its international partners, as well as key global and regional players, on the subject of creating an international commission to investigate alleged war crimes by the Burmese military junta, the White House said on Wednesday.
“We have begun to consult with a broad array of stakeholders and key players, other countries, regional authorities, multilateral authorities, about how to reach this goal,” Benjamin Chang, the deputy spokesperson of the National Security Council told The Irrawaddy.
The White House official said that the US supports establishing an international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma as was previously called for by UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Quintana.
Aug 17, 2010
Shan State Railway to Suppress Armed Ethnic Groups: Rights Groups
By WAI MOE
The Burmese junta is building a strategic railroad from southern Shan State to eastern Shan State to suppress ethnic armed groups, particularly the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Shan ethnic human rights groups said at a press conference on Tuesday.
At the launch of a campaign opposing construction of the new railway begun in 2009 from Mong Nai to Kengtung, the Shan Women Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) said the railroad, which runs near the Thai-Burmese border, is directly related to the junta's military strategy to suppress ethnic armed forces.
The Burmese junta is building a strategic railroad from southern Shan State to eastern Shan State to suppress ethnic armed groups, particularly the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Shan ethnic human rights groups said at a press conference on Tuesday.
At the launch of a campaign opposing construction of the new railway begun in 2009 from Mong Nai to Kengtung, the Shan Women Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) said the railroad, which runs near the Thai-Burmese border, is directly related to the junta's military strategy to suppress ethnic armed forces.
Election Commission Keeps Kachin Parties Waiting
By SAW YAN NAING
Although the date of the Burmese election is now known, three Kachin political parties are still waiting for a decision on their application for registration.
The leader of one party, Tu Ja of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), said he hoped to receive the green light from the Election Commission within a week. He said he was nevertheless unhappy about the long delay in dealing with the party's application, which was submitted in April.
The other two parties still waiting for a decision by the Election Commission are the United Democracy Party (Kachin State) (UDPKS) and the Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSSPP), which is led by Kachins
Although the date of the Burmese election is now known, three Kachin political parties are still waiting for a decision on their application for registration.
The leader of one party, Tu Ja of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), said he hoped to receive the green light from the Election Commission within a week. He said he was nevertheless unhappy about the long delay in dealing with the party's application, which was submitted in April.
The other two parties still waiting for a decision by the Election Commission are the United Democracy Party (Kachin State) (UDPKS) and the Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSSPP), which is led by Kachins
Election Date Hasn't Changed the Screwed Up Political Scene
By KYAW ZWA MOE
Burma's election date has finally been announced and constituencies have been designated. So, what has actually changed.? The blunt answer to that question is that everything is screwed up.
“Multiparty general elections for the country's parliament will be held on Sunday Nov. 7,” announced the Election Commission last Thursday. Interestingly, one week later, on Saturday Nov. 13, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is due to be released after her latest, 18-month term of house arrest.
Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 years of the past 20 years as a prisoner in her own home, is likely to be released if the election goes as planned by the generals. If junta leader Than Shwe still feels insecure about freeing her so close to the election he will probably find some trumped up excuse to keep her detained—perhaps along the lines of the stage-managed trial she endured after an American trespassed on her lakeside property. So, whether or not the 65-year-old Nobel laureate will be freed is still a big open question.
Burma's election date has finally been announced and constituencies have been designated. So, what has actually changed.? The blunt answer to that question is that everything is screwed up.
“Multiparty general elections for the country's parliament will be held on Sunday Nov. 7,” announced the Election Commission last Thursday. Interestingly, one week later, on Saturday Nov. 13, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is due to be released after her latest, 18-month term of house arrest.
Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 years of the past 20 years as a prisoner in her own home, is likely to be released if the election goes as planned by the generals. If junta leader Than Shwe still feels insecure about freeing her so close to the election he will probably find some trumped up excuse to keep her detained—perhaps along the lines of the stage-managed trial she endured after an American trespassed on her lakeside property. So, whether or not the 65-year-old Nobel laureate will be freed is still a big open question.
Burmese Supremo Plans “Election Victory”
By NAYEE LIN LATT
Burmese Snr-Gen Than Shwe has attended an “election victory campaign” meeting held on Friday by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by Prime Minister Thein Sein, according to sources in Naypyidaw.
The meeting, which is being attended by USDP candidates including ministers, deputy ministers, director generals of government departments and businessmen close to the regime, resumes on Monday.
Than Shwe has given instructions at the meeting regarding assigning constituencies for party candidates and appointing election campaign managers, according to a Burmese military official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Burmese Snr-Gen Than Shwe has attended an “election victory campaign” meeting held on Friday by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by Prime Minister Thein Sein, according to sources in Naypyidaw.
The meeting, which is being attended by USDP candidates including ministers, deputy ministers, director generals of government departments and businessmen close to the regime, resumes on Monday.
Than Shwe has given instructions at the meeting regarding assigning constituencies for party candidates and appointing election campaign managers, according to a Burmese military official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Food related unrest to hit the table?
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
The world’s attention has been firmly focused on a smog choked Moscow, where record temperatures have caused the often icy countryside to burn with a litany of wild fires, a predicament that lead the government there to suspend wheat exports to preserve local prices.
Such a move created the steepest rise in wheat prices since 2007/2008 when prices caused riots globally. And this year after temperature records were broken in many countries including Burma, are commodity price fluctuations going to cause social unrest in Burma?
A new report meanwhile has indicated that rising temperatures will have a negative impact on rice yields. The study from the University of California, San Diego, found that rice yields fell when night time temperatures increased. Whilst mildly increased day time temperatures can in fact increase yields the study indicates that night time temperature increases significantly lower yields; a researcher on the study told Reuters that; “we see much more consistently increases in night-time temperature”.
The world’s attention has been firmly focused on a smog choked Moscow, where record temperatures have caused the often icy countryside to burn with a litany of wild fires, a predicament that lead the government there to suspend wheat exports to preserve local prices.
Such a move created the steepest rise in wheat prices since 2007/2008 when prices caused riots globally. And this year after temperature records were broken in many countries including Burma, are commodity price fluctuations going to cause social unrest in Burma?
A new report meanwhile has indicated that rising temperatures will have a negative impact on rice yields. The study from the University of California, San Diego, found that rice yields fell when night time temperatures increased. Whilst mildly increased day time temperatures can in fact increase yields the study indicates that night time temperature increases significantly lower yields; a researcher on the study told Reuters that; “we see much more consistently increases in night-time temperature”.
UN, US and UK slam Burma elections
Burma’s announcement of the date for elections this year has been met with strong words by the international community, with the US saying there remains “no level playing field” for the polls.
The date for the country’s first elections in 20 years has been set for 7 November, after months of wild speculation and rumours, and even doubt as to whether they would be held this year.
But the UK foreign minister, Jeremy Browne, said that the polls “are set to be held under deeply oppressive conditions designed to perpetuate military rule,” adding that the opportunity for prosperity and an open society “has been missed”.
The date for the country’s first elections in 20 years has been set for 7 November, after months of wild speculation and rumours, and even doubt as to whether they would be held this year.
But the UK foreign minister, Jeremy Browne, said that the polls “are set to be held under deeply oppressive conditions designed to perpetuate military rule,” adding that the opportunity for prosperity and an open society “has been missed”.
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