July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7

For subscriptions,please contact.

MIZZIMA NEWSP.O.Box. 311,

Chiang Mai University,Chiang Mai - 50202

Thailand.(or)

Flat No. 1, 63C,Ibrahimpur Road, Jadhavpur,

Kolkata - 700032, India.(or)

Mizzima JournalRegional Representative

Now

E-mail: mizzima@hotmail.com

mizzima@mizzima.com

Web: www.mizzima.com

www.mizzima.tv

Subscribe the Mizzima

This Month Focus:

"Unresolvedhumanitar-ian crisis"

Mizzima

page -6

page - 7

MONTHLY JOURNAL

Junta's reshuffle; what liesbehind ?

By Mungpi

Who was there to help?

By Christopher Smith

Postcard from cycloneaffected Irrawaddy delta

By Diana

page - 7

Birthday present forDaw Suu : waves of ' SaffronRevolution'

By Nathan Maung

page - 8

www.mizzima.com, www.mizzima.tv

Sons of 1962 and future ofBurma's political freedom

By May Ng

page -9

Continued to Next Page

Htet Win July 14

There are several options themilitary regime can resort tobefore and the 2010 multi-partydemocracy elections, apart fromits self-acclaimed constitutionalrights, to cling to power.

The first thing several top-ranking generals – especially thepresent leader Senior GeneralThan Shwe – are turningthemselves into civilians to set upa military-backed political party,through whih they will run or beselected by the Commander-in-Chief as representatives for theirrespective constituencies in theelection in 2010.

That would be the way thegenerals prefer most to make surethat they win the forthcomingelection, said a senior member ofthe Union Solidarity andDevelopment Association (USDA)of Thingangyun township inRangoon. The USDA is a proxy ofthe military regime to politicallymaneuver in Burma.

He added that the militaryregime had planned to make anannouncement next month that allpolitical parties are to register forcontesting the election.

Secondly, the top-rankinggenerals would transform theUSDA to a political party which willsupport the military generals.That party would be much like theNational Unity Party in the 1990election, the results of which the

military regime ignored and hasbeen recently declared no longervalid.

The USDA member, who doesnot wish to be identified, said themilitary generals would continuedefying the desire of the populaceand the international communityas well, adding that the generalscared about their own plan attheir own pace.

”The military regime also hasa well-rounded plan to restrictand harass any potential politicalparty or political figures who arereally seeking a free and fairelection to usher in democracy inMyanmar (Burma),” he said.

In the third option, theregime would resort to relying onthe young generation with politicalsegments such as NationalLeague for Democracy(Wuntharnu) and local mediaowners who are viewingthemselves as potential politicalrepresentatives. They are now intheir forties, having closebusiness ties but covertly withhigh-ranking military authoritiesfor commercial interests.

”Among them are also youngbusinessmen who have built theirpersonal ties with the militaryauthority for business,” the USDAmember said.

Both the general secretaryAung San Suu Kyi and vicepresident of NLD U Tin Oo arecurrently under house arrest. NLDwon a landslide victory in 1990general elections but the junta

refused to hand over power.Moreover, the junta

formulated a seven-step so-calledroad map to democracy and itsfifth step is to hold generalelections.

The referendum on theconstitution, the fourth step of theroad map, which guarantees therole of military in futuregovernment was held in May 10and 27 despite Nargis Cyclonekilling more than 138,000 peoplea few days earlier.

Another option is that theUSDA may not transform into apolitical party but a breedingground for election candidates as

individuals and Hluttaws (Houses)will be filled up with a majority ofpro-military parliamentariansalong with some representativesof cease-fire ethnic group’sparliamentarians. The juntahopes some ethnic groups willparticipate in the elections. In thiscase, there will be no politicalparty for opposition and onlyindividual opposition.

Last but not the least, seniorNational League for Democracymembers – now in their seventies– would be props to the generalswho are wielding their strongpositions in power.

Junta plans to pull strings to win elections

Two months after Cyclone Nargis, condition of survivors still ‘critical’

This photograph taken in June shows a middle primary school inShan State. Foreigners are not allowed to visit any schools,especially those in big cities in Burma even for purposes ofdonation. Only after obtaining permission from township authoritiescan they visit schools.

Mungpi & Solomon

July 3

Two months after the killer

Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma,

thousands of survivors said they

still lack basic assistance including

food, farming equipments and

shelter.

“We received only one time

support from the Red Cross. They

gave us 24 tins (measured in

condensed milk tins) of rice for our

family,” said a farmer with five

family members from Paungthe

village of Bogale township in

Irrawaddy delta.

The farmer said while he did

not know how much rice other

families received as aid, it was the

only help the whole village had

seen.

”There are more then 1300

people in our village,” the farmer

added.

Talking to Mizzima over

telephone, the farmer said, he

had come to Bogale Town, about

40 miles from his village, with the

expectation of help from local as

well as international aid groups.

World Vision, a Christian

non-governmental organization

that has been helping cyclone

survivors, however, said

humanitarian assistance is getting

through to a lot survivors but

difficulties remain in assessing

how widespread the needs are

and how many people are getting

aid.

”It’s still quite a critical

situation but a lot of people are

getting the aid that they need,”

Ashley Clements, spokesperson

of World Vision in Burma told

Mizzima.

While the immediate need for

the farmer and members of his

village remain basic food, with the

rainy season fast approaching,

the farmer said he is also

burdened with the fear of missing

the cultivation season, which

would mean greater disaster

ahead.

“I am hoping to find some

help from the government in

terms of farming equipments as

well as some cattle,” said the

farmer, adding that while there

were no human casualties caused

by the cyclone in their village,

most of the cattle were dead.

“I lost all my buffaloes and

cows, which I need to plough the

fields before it’s too late,” said the

farmer, who has over 15 acres of

farm land.

”If I get some buffaloes, I can

still race and finish planting rice

within 15 days before the rains

start,” said the farmer, adding that

the plantation period will be over

by mid-July.

The World Vision said most

farmers in the cyclone hit areas

will miss this farming season as a

result of lack of equipments to

work in the fields.

”I think there is going to be a

large number of farmers unable

to farm their land this growing

season,” Clements said.

”So, we need to look at the

coming months to support the

farmers in finding a way to make

a living,” Clement added.

The farmer in Paungthe

village is not alone in seeking

help. An aid worker in Bogale said

several survivors from other

villages in the Township have

often come to town in search of

help.

Bogale, one of the worst hit

towns in the Irrawaddy delta,

where several aid groups are now

based, has become a hub for

desperate survivors searching for

help.

The aid worker, who helped

the farmer talk to Mizzima, said,

“Yesterday around 30 people

came to us asking for food but

today another 700 people from

more than 30 villages came here.

He said it was more than

ÒÔContinued to Next Page 3

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 2 JournalMizzimaThe

Inside Burma

June 26

At least four Burmese athletes willbe joining the Beijing Summer Olympics.

Of a total of six athletes who applied,four have been allowed to join the gameto be held in Beijing, China in August.The Sports and Physical EducationDepartment submitted applications for sixathletes for track and field, swimming,archery and rowing to the OlympicCommittee.

”Shwe Zin Latt was admitted tocompete in rowing. The rest have not yetreceived letters of admission from theOlympic committee. I think they will getit a month before the game. Asswimming and track and field categoriesare the first ever competition for theBurmese athletes in the Olympic game,they can join disregarding theirqualification,” Nau Taung, Director(Training and competition) of Sports andPhysical Education Department toldMizzima.

Kyaw Zin (Swimming), Shwe Zin Latt(Rowing), Soe Min Thu and Lae Lae Winfor track and field are sure to join thegame but Phone Myint Tayza (rowing)and Nay Myo Aung (archery) are not yetsure to join as they are still waiting foradvisory letters from the OlympicCommittee.

“The athletes can join the game onlyif they meet the standards andqualifications prescribed by thecommittee. For archery, the WorldArchery Federation must give its approvaland so too for rowing,” Nau Taung said.

The Burmese athletes selected forthe 2008 Olympic game where athletesfrom 205 countries will participate aremedal winners in the 24th SEA games.Though they cannot be expected to winmedals in the Olympics, the athletes willtry their best to perform, he said.

Burma sent her athletes for archeryand weight lifting in the 2004 OlympicGames but this year it cannot send tothe weight lifting category as the athletesare not qualified. But more athletes havebeen allowed to join this year.

The Burmese athletes will beaccompanied by 14 Burmese OlympicCommittee members.

The Chinese government brutallycracked down on peaceful demonstrationby Tibetan monks and people in Tibet incapital Lhasa and other places in Marchthis year.

After which Burmese pro-democracyactivists launched the ‘Boycott Beijing2008 Olympic’ campaign along withTibetans in exile. The Tibet movementtook place six months after the protestsin Burma in August-September 2007,where there were protests against thesudden fuel price hike by the Burmeseregime which triggered essentialcommodity prices.

Four Burmese athletes to join Olympic

Games

Solomon

July 10

United Kingdom’s Department for

International Development (DFID) on

Wednesday announced that it will provide

an additional £17.5 million to help cyclone

victims, adding to a total of £ 45 million in

aid since Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma two

months ago.

David Leslie, spokesman of DFID said

the donation will be handed over on

Thursday during a United Nations’ flash

appeal in New York to aid groups working

in Burma’s Irrawaddy and Rangoon

division.

United Nations aid agencies as well as

several other international humanitarian

groups have said emergency relief works

and reconstruction programmes could

come to halt unless more funds are

provided.

The United Nations World Food

Programme has said it requires US$ 28

million more to keep its six-month

programme running.

The International Federation of Red

Cross on Wednesday said it needed US$

72.5 million to fund its three-year relief

plans which will include emergency relief

as well as long term reconstruction

programmes.

Alistair Henley, head of the IFRC’s Asia

Pacific Zone said hundreds of thousands

of Burmese people in the Irrawaddy and

Rangoon division have been living

precarious lives long before the cyclone

hit them.

”Nargis has left them weaker and

more vulnerable than ever. We must

needed for each organization,” he added.

On May 2 and 3, Cyclone Nargis hit

Burma’s coastal divisions of Irrawaddy and

Rangoon, leaving more than 138,000 dead

and missing and devastated over 2.4 million

people’s lives.

Following the natural disaster in

Burma, DFID immediately announced £5

million in aid and an additional £12 million

on May 15. The DFID announced a further

£10.5 million donation following the

ASEAN/UN pledging conference in Rangoon

on May 25, which Douglas Alexander

attended.

Burma’s military government,

however, has appealed for US$ 11 billion

in aid to fund emergency relief works and

reconstruction in the cyclone affected

region.

ensure not only that they regain what they

lost but have improved and safer lives in

the future,” Henley said.

Leslie said, the DFID has decided to

provide additional funds as a response to

the flash appeal by the UN and international

humanitarian groups.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of DFID,

in a statement on Wednesday said, “While

access has improved and the rate of

delivery of relief goods continues to

increase, we believe that around 300,000

people are at quite serious risk if they do

not get more help soon.”

Leslie said, “We will wait and see what

the flash appeal contains today, and then

we will make an assessment where the

money will go.”

”We have assessment teams in Burma,

they are looking at where the fund is

Additional £17.5 million by DFID to help Burmese cyclone survivors

Continued From Front Page

July 2

A Burmese armed student rebel group,Vigorous Burmese Students Warrior(VBSW), on Tuesday claimed responsibilityfor the bomb blast on Monday in a suburbantownship in Burma’s former capitalRangoon.

VBSW in a statement, posted on aBurmese blog in exile, on Tuesday said theyhad triggered the bomb blast at the officeof the Union Solidarity and DevelopmentAssociation (USDA) on Monday, July 1.

”As a continuation of VBSW’s operation,the attacked the USDA office in Rangoon’sShwepyithar Township is apart of our unitno. 18’s handiwork,” the Burmesestatement posted on http://drlunswe.blogspot.com/, said.

The statement further said, they havebeen launching an operation againstBurma’s military rulers and that it hadexploded two bombs on April 20, targettingvehicles owned by USDA officials, whichwere parked in front of the ‘ABC’ restaurantin downtown Rangoon.

The VBSW members, who claim to beoperating inside Burma’s business hubRangoon, were, however, unreachable forconfirmation of the authenticity of thestatement.

On Monday, a small bomb exploded inthe office of the USDA, a pro-junta civilorganization, in northern Suburb ofRangoon.

While the existence of the StudentWarrior group cannot be proved, thestatement allegedly by them said, they aregenuinely opposed to the military junta’scontinued rule in Burma and have resolvedto carry out attacks on them.

It, however, said, “In our operationagainst the junta’s political activities,military and economy, we have vowed notto harm innocent civilians.”

The VBSW had earlier claimedresponsibility for several similar bombblasts including a deadly blast at thePanorama restaurant in Rangoon’sPasodan Street in December 2004.

So far, Burma’s military junta, hasmade no official accusation against anygroups regarding the blast, but merelystated that “authorities are investigatingthe incident,” in its state-run newspaper,New Light of Myanmar.

But the paper urged the people, “topay special attention to the saboteurs whowill be active assuming various forms inpublic places and to expose them byreporting to officials in time.”

‘Warriors’ claim responsibility for Rangoon

blast

what he and his group could afford to

provide in terms of food and other

assistance, as his group is dependent on

local and national donors to help cyclone

victims.

”We know that there are several

villages that have not been accessed but

we are helpless,” the aid worker said.

Meanwhile in Laputta, another badly-

hit town in the Irrawaddy delta, several

thousand survivors, who are temporarily

staying in make-shift camps, are faced with

a renewed threat as the local authority has

urged them to shift from their temporary

homes.

Dr. Aye Kyu, a physician in Laputta

Township who has been helping survivors,

said at least 10,000 survivors are living in

four camps near Laputta town. And as most

of the refugees have no land of their own,

it has become problematic for survivors to

go back to their original villages.

”They are telling me they will not go

back, they will try to continue surviving

here by themselves,” Aye Kyu said.

According to a local resident of

Laputta, who met the survivors, the police

have threatened them that no more food

would be supplied to them unless they

move from the area.

”Two survivors told me that divisional

police officers told them to go back to their

villages or else they will be forcibly evicted,”

the local resident said.

Aye Kyu said, the survivors have no

homes, face severe problems of food

shortage and fear of an impending disaster

ahead.

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 3 JournalMizzimaThe

Inside Burma

Nem Davies July 3

Burmese authorities in Rangoon saidit will revoke the license of over 400 WorldWar II vintage Chevrolet buses, which areunique to the city.

’All Routes Commuter Bus Authority’has commenced plans to replace theChevrolet buses with a wooden body witha modern fleet of buses on Rangoon roads.

Japanese made City Buses will replacethe old buses to ease traffic jams, an officialof the Bus Authority told Mizzima oncondition of anonymity.

”We will use the City Bus. Most of themare made in Japan. The old buses can

accommodate few people. The new busescan carry more people and will help easetraffic jams in the downtown area. Weneed only one new bus instead of two oldbuses for that area,” he said.

The main idea is to better the capacitywhich the new City Buses will providecompared to the old buses though theengines of these old ones are still in goodshape, the official said.

”We have been replacing the busessince June 1 with the new buses that wehave got. We will continue replacing as andwhen we get the new buses. It dependson the money we receive. We already haveover 60 new buses,” he said.

The fare in the new buses is Kyat 200per head like the ‘Parimi’ buses. Thenumber of passengers on the new busesis limited to its seating capacity. If busesare found carrying passengers standing,action will be taken against the drivers, theofficial said.

However the old Chevrolet buses canstill be seen plying on the roads in Rangoonsuburbs such as Thaketa, South Dagon andNorth Dagon.

There are a total of 5,000 buses plyingon Rangoon roads.

Old Chevrolet buses being phased out in

Rangoon

July 10

The arrest of young business tycoonMaung Weik has thrown a spanner in theworks in the reconstruction contract givento his company - Maung Weik and FamilyCo. Ltd - in Cyclone Nargis-hit Kyaiklattown.

Though officials of Maung Weik andFamily Co. Ltd. at Lanmadaw Townhsip inRangoon city are refusing to answerqueries, local residents said reconstructionworks in Kyaiklat has been affected by thearrest of the businessman.

Burma’s military rulers have assignedMaung Weik and Family Co. Ltd a contractto conduct reconstruction works in Kyaiklat,as it does with other companies fordifferent regions devastated by the cyclone.

But local residents in Kyaiklat andjournalists said the company was rarelyseen conducting any reconstruction works.

The junta assigned over 30 companies,most of which are their business cronies,to undertake reconstruction work incyclone-hit regions in Rangoon andIrrawaddy Divisions.

The junta also appointed several of itsMinisters and Mayors to oversee the work.Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd wasassigned to Kyaiklat Township along withShwemarlar and Thawdarwin Companies.

Activities of Maung Weik Co Ltd. hasbeen drastically reduced after their bossMaung Weik, age 35, was arrested in

connection of trafficking and abusingecstasy drug (popularly known as‘Gaungkharsay’), local residents andjournalists said.

His company officials, however,refused to provide any information on thecase.

Meanwhile, several companiesassigned for the reconstruction jobs arereportedly reluctant to undertake theventure as there has been no indication ofrecovering their expense and no sign ofany ‘business opportunity’ from thegovernment.

Maung Weik, the billionaire tycoon,donated rice to the cyclone victims ofHleseik village in Kyaiklat Township on May25, before his arrested on May 31.

Sources said in connection to hisarrest, his close friends Aung Zaw YeMyint, son of Lt. Gen. Ye Myint, andBurmese popular actress Nawaratt wereinterrogated.

However, after revealing all about thedrug case to the investigators, Aung ZawYe Myint, was reportedly sent to theWettikan drug rehabilitation centre in UpperBurma, while Nawaratt was released.

Sources said, several other Burmesecelebrities including actors, actresses, andsingers were also interrogated inconnection to the drug trade and abuses.

Following the mess, Burma’s PoliceChief, Brig. Gen. Khin Yi, on June 26, duringa rare press conference in Burma’s newjungle capital, Naypyidaw, clarifiedreporters that no artistes and celebritieswere currently under detention inconnection with the drug case.

But the Myanmar Times journal, aprivately owned Weekly, which has bothEnglish and Burmese version, on Thursdayreported that a Malaysian national is amongthe six co-defendants in the case along withMaung Weik.

The Weekly said a case has beenregistered against a Malaysian national,Peter, Maung Weik, Aung Min, Nay TunLwin, Kyaw Phone Naing, Kyaw Hlaing, andOhn Thee (alias) Kyaw Win at Lanmadawpolice station in Rangoon for trafficking andabusing Ecstasy, Stimulants, Ketaminedrugs.

Reconstruction work of Maung Weik Co.

falters

Solomon July 1

With thousands of cattle killed in thecyclone and in its aftermath from diseases,farmers in Burma’s cyclone hit regions arehelpless as the season for rice plantationis to end soon.

”I lost all of my buffaloes and I couldnot plant this year, I have nothing left,” saida local farmer from Bawkone village inLaputta township.

The farmer, who owns over 30 acresof paddy fields, said even the few waterbuffaloes and cows that survived thecyclone, died in the aftermath of the cyclonefrom diseases.

”The cattle cannot eat and did not getenough rest as they are constantlydisturbed by big forest flies making themsuffer from various diseases,” the farmersaid.

A local resident in Laputta said a newdisease spreading in the region causedcattle to suffer from foot and mouth painand several buffaloes and cows reportedlydied in the region.

”Diseases have killed at least two tothree buffaloes or cows in each village inthe region,” said the local.

While the disease is not an outbreak,it added to the loss of cattle for farmers,who have suffered great loss in the cyclone,the local added.

According to the UN Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO), CycloneNargis that lashed Burma’s southwesterncoastal regions in May 2-3, killed at least120,000 cattle – cows and buffaloes.

The United Nations estimates that thecyclone left more than 138,000 dead ormissing and left at least 2.4 million peopledevastated.

Irrawaddy delta, the hardest hit by thecyclone, is the rice bowl of Burma,producing nearly 65 per cent of rice forthe country, according to the FAO.

However, a local aid worker in Laputtasaid Burma is likely to face food shortageunless farmers in the region are able toplant rice in the monsoon season, whichwill be over soon in mid-July.

”It is crucial for farmers to plant now,as the farming period for this year will soonbe over,” said the aid worker, who wishednot to be named.

Aid to farmers

But for planting, farmers need help

including tractors, power tillers or cattleto be used to plough the fields.

The local farmer in Bawkone said, “Thegovernment offered a pair of bullocks foraround 60 families but even these buffaloesdied after working for a few days.

”Though the government hasannounced that it is providing more than5,000 power tillers and tractors, very fewof them are visible in their area, said thefarmer.

An aid worker, who has been helpingsurvivors in Bogale town, said there areno more cattle visible in the town andfarmers are desperately in need of powertillers and tractors to plough their fields.”Alot of farmers are now idle as they haveno cattle and no paddy seeds,” the aidworker said.

The aid worker said he has seen a fewtractors being brought to villages inKunchankone Township in Rangoon divisionbut they are too few to be shared amongthe many farmers.

”I saw two tractors brought to a villagein Kunchankone, but what I heard fromfarmers is that they were made to share itamong many farmers in the village,” theaid worker said.

Lack of knowledge to operatepower tillers and tractors

Albert Lieberg, FAO’s specialist, whomade an assessment trip to Burma’scyclone hit regions, in a press conferenceon June 18, said plantation of rice will onlybe possible through replacement of cattle,particularly water buffaloes.

”If there is no replacement for 120,000water buffalos or draught animals, (60,000pairs of bullocks) then, 120,000 hectareswill not be prepared for planting,” saidAlbert Lieberg.

Lieberg’s assessment rightfully pointsout that farmers in Burma’s cyclone hitregions prefer cattle – water buffaloes andcows – to power tillers, as they are notused to handling the machinery.

The aid worker, who just returned fromKunchankone Township, said while thegovernment’s supply of power tillers isinsufficient, the few farmers who receivedthem find it difficult to operate.

”It is new to them and they are notused to it. In fact, they prefer old fashionedtilling of the fields with buffaloes,” the aidworker said.

Additional information and Editingby Mungpi.

Cattle shortage adds to misery of Burma’s

cyclone hit farmers

photo-madalar net

ÒÔContinued From Front Page

”The political figures – such as AungSan Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, and young asMin Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi – are now indetention. Without them the NLD’s politicalactivities, especially for competing in theelection is not as absolutely reliable as itwas in 1990,” said a Mandalay-basedpolitical observer.

The government is also preparing tomake amendments to the 1990 electionlaw in order to keep out those whocontested the election then and wereagainst the military regime, he said.

The observer continued that presentNLD activities are already infiltrated withthugs and informers orchestrated by themilitary regime.

”That way, the generals not just divideand rule the country but divide and willwin the election also,” he said.

Every option could be a success story

for the generals, while all of them couldbe coming in a unified fashion to make surethat results of the 2010 election is in favourof the generals.

However, it is intense internationalpressure and recent domestic strugglesthat moved the junta to hold a referendumin May on a proposed new constitutionwritten under military guidance, to befollowed by a general election in 2010.

The generals seem to be aware thattheir slow progress to a democracy couldpave the way for others – including somewestern nations – to intervene or exploitBurma domestic affairs, and they arepoised to become stronger, said theobserver.

Meanwhile, the new constitutionguarantees 25 percent of parliamentaryseats to the military, plus it allows thepresident to hand over all power to themilitary in a state of emergency.

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 4 JournalMizzimaThe

Inside Burma

Phanida July 7

The authorities in Rangoon havebeefed up security in townships today onthe occasion of the July 7 Anniversary Day.

The government backed ‘Swanahshin’has been deployed at crowded junctions,near the university campuses and in frontof the NLD headquarters today the 46thanniversary July 7 day. Soldiers arepatrolling the city in vehicles.

”The security is tight today. But wecould not find the police. There were about50-60 ‘Swanahshin’ personnel in front ofthe NLD headquarters in four Toyota Dynalight trucks. There were another 30-40‘Swanahshin’ personnel at the Sulepagoda”, Ko Naing Ngan Linn, a NLD Youthin-charge said.

”The soldiers have been patrolling thecity since last night in police cars. Todaysecurity personnel were deployed in anunusual move in mufti by the ‘Swanahshin’at many crowded junctions and key placesin the city,” an undercover reporter ofMizzima said.

About 20 ‘Swanahshin’ personnel weredeployed at the town hall in the city centretoday by the Police Col. in a Mazda jeepand a riot police truck, he added.

Police personnel, soldiers and‘Swanahshin’ in plain clothes weredeployed at many crowded junctions suchas Kokkai, Shwegondaing, Sule,Thingangyun, Kyimyindine, Sanchaung,Hledan, South Okkalapa, Lanmadaw andLatha townships, a Rangoon local residentsaid.

The Dawbon Township ‘Peace andDevelopment Council’ (PDC) asked forabout 80 ‘Swanahshin’ from the townshipto deploy them at Dagon University and‘Tarwa’ University campuses in RangoonDivision for security, it is learnt.

The Revolutionary Council led by Gen.Ne Win who grabbed power in a coup

brutally killed unarmed students who werestaging demonstrations for freedom ineducation on July 7, 1962 — 46 years ago.

”They are always scared of studentdemonstrations. The ‘All Burma Federationof Student Union’ (ABFSU) launched aposter campaign in almost all universitycampuses today,” Ko Myo Tayza,spokesperson of ABFSU, said.

The copies of the ABFSU statementcalled ‘Revolting against enslavement bymilitary, Let’s fly fighting peacock flag’ werefound pasted on the walls of Arts andScience University, Computer College,Government Technical College (GTC),Government Technological Universitycampuses.

”The best and smoothest way for abreakthrough in the current politicalimpasse is to release all political prisonersincluding students, monks and nuns whoare unfairly imprisoned unconditionally andimmediately, and enter into a dialogue withthe opposition”, the statement said.

”Education is politics. Without freedomof education, we cannot achieve politicalfreedom. We are at the forefront of thisstruggle and leading the students toencourage them to express their will anddesire freely and for freedom ofeducation”, Ko Myo Tay Za said.

”Resolving the current political crisisthrough coercion and bullying unilaterallyby using arms and thugs will not besuccessful and will exacerbate the situationin the future. It will also ensure many moreprotests, calamities and unrests which willlead the country to utter devastation andfinally to a failed state,” the ABFSUstatement added.

The University Student Union buildingwhich was a historical monument of anti-colonial and anti-fascist struggles wasdynamited by the ‘Revolutionary Council”led by Gen. Ne Win in the early morning ofJuly 8, 1962.

Security beefed up in Rangoon on July 7

Anniversary Day

Nem Davies July 2

Close on the heels of sacking the editorof a Rangoon based Monthly magazineCherry for publishing a poem, Burma’scensorship board has demoted a seniorclerk from the publishing licensedepartment on June 24, sources said.

The source said, Yin Yin Nwe, an UpperDivision Clerk (UDC) from the publishinglicensing department, of the CensorshipBoard under the Burmese Ministry ofInformation, was reportedly demoted toLibrary In-Charge rank.

A censorship examiner, May SuuHlaing was also reportedly reprimanded,the source, who is close to the CensorshipBoard added.

“Yin Yin Nwe was transferred toanother department under the Censor

Board, this means demotion. She wasdemoted to Lower Division Clerk (LDC)from Upper Division Clerk (UDC). May SuuHlaing was just reprimanded but notdemoted. As she was a rookie in thisdepartment, she was spared from severepunishment,” the source said.

According to the rules of theCensorship Board, a publishing licensemust be surrendered to the department,in case of the death of the license holder.

The publishing license of Cherrymagazine was transferred illegally to anew holder, without surrendering it to theconcerned department, when the originallicense holder died. Yin Yin New wasdemoted for this reason, an editor of aweekly journal said.

”It is because of this poem, the staffwas hauled up. The unauthorized licensetransfer is just a reason as it has beenmade earlier. The censor examiner wasalso reprimanded for this poem, as shewas responsible for the censorship onpoems,” added the Editor.

Cherry, in its June issue ran a poemtitled ‘De Pa Yin Ga’, which speaks ofDepayin town in central Burma saying thatthe town has become a birth place fordacoits and thugs.

Picking the town Depayin, which iswidely known as a placed of massacreafter Burmese pro-democracy leader AungSan Suu Kyi was brutally attacked by junta-backed thugs during her political tour inMay 2003, seemed to have enragedBurmese military officials.

The poem appeared on page 7 of theJune issue of ‘Cherry’ magazine. Underpressure exerted by the Censor Board,‘Cherry’ magazine officials had to ask itsEditor-in-Charge Htay Aung to resign fromhis post.

July 8

Temporary camps for flood evacueeswere set up in Mawlight and Khanti inSagaing division in western Burma todayafter the water level rose dangerously inthe Chindwin River.

In Khanti, 22 families are sheltered inPaw Mine monastery, 10 families havebeen put in the Basic Primary School No.3while 61 families have been providedshelter in Basic Primary School No. 1. Fivefamilies are in a Middle Primary School.

In Mawlight, 68 families have beenmoved to three different accommodationssuch as the city hall, Basic Primary School

No.1 and a stadium.There are no reports of causalities yet

but the weather department officialsnearest to this area warned that waterlevels in Chindwin could rise further in thenext 24 hours.

The water level is at 1380 centimeterswhile the danger level for Mawlight is 1230centimetres.

In Homelin, the river water level roseto 3021 centimetres, which is 121centimetres above the danger level. InKanti it is 1480 centimetres, 120centimetres above the danger level. In theKalaywa water is flowing 124 centimetresabove the danger level which is 1550centmetres.

Flood causes evacuees to shelter in public

buildings

Censor Board clerk demoted for allowing

publication of poem

Solomon July 7

Introducing a new communicationtechnology, Burma’s military juntaauthorities have started distributingWideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA) telephones, an official at theMyanmar Posts and Telecommunications(MPT) Department said.

However, due to infrastructureinadequacies the authorities have onlybeen able to distribute 50 WCDMA setson trial since the beginning of July, saidthe official, who requested anonymity ashe is not authorized to speak to the press.

”We need to do a lot more in termsof construction of towers and need moretime for tests, after that more telephoneswill be offered,” the official said.

About 200,000 mobile phones havebeen distributed across the country oncethe infrastructure is in place, he added.

The WCDMA is the latest to beintroduced in Burma, where thegovernment has provided limitednumbers of Global System for Mobile(GSM), and various kinds of CDMAphones.

Despite the new introduction,obtaining a mobile phone is not alwayseasy for ordinary Burmese citizens. Onehas to go through a lot of procedures atan extraordinary cost.

According to the official, the newWCDMA sets are priced at 2.8 million Kyat(US$ 2150), while a GSM costs about 2.3million Kyat (US$ 1800). A CDMA costsabout 2.1 million Kyat (US$ 1615).

These are black market prices andnormally it is impossible for ordinarypeople to buy mobile phones.

”If you want to apply for a mobilephone, you need to submit your identitycard, address proof, occupation and pay1.5 million Kyat (US$ 1192) on receivingthe permit,” the official explained.

But applying for a mobile phone atthe government’s telecommunicationoffice is almost impossible for ordinarypeople, as government officials andemployees are given first priority toreceive the limited number of phones.

”Government officials or employeescan easily get mobile phone permits,” asalesperson at a mobile shop, GlobalDigital Electronic Centre in Rangoon said.

It has become a fashion forgovernment officials to seek mobilephones permits and rent them again inthe black market, he said.

“These officials, who receivemultiple phone permits for one family,then rent it out to others at a cost of about40,000 to 50,000 kyat per month,” thesales person said.

”Most businessmen have to rentmobile phones from others,” he added.

Burma introduces WCDMA

June issue cherry magazine cover

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 5 JournalMizzimaThe

Regional & World

Solomon June 27

To stop Burmese military rulers fromits unabated use of rape as a ‘weapon ofwar’ in its campaign against ethnicminorities, there is a lot that theinternational community and United NationsSecurity Council needs to do. The appealcomes from an ethnic Chin woman activistat a press conference on Friday in HongKong’s Foreign Correspondent Club.

Her impassioned appeal highlights thevulnerability of women in Burma, a countryliving through nearly 50 years of unrestand civil war where women continue tobe targets of lust and humiliation of adepraved section of the military. All as a‘weapon of war’ and attempt atsubjugation.

Cheery Zahau, coordinator of theWomen’s League for Chinland saidwomen, particularly in areas where ethnicminorities live, are the ones who are theworst affected by the junta’s relentlesscampaign against its own people to clingto power.

In its campaign, Zahau said, the juntauses sexual violence and rape as a‘weapon of war’ to terrorize and to createfear psychosis against the military. And this

has been on by the junta to extend its rulefor nearly half a century.

”In one case,” Zahua said, “a woman[in Chin state, western Burma] was strippednaked and hung on a cross, in a deliberateand perverse act of mockery andpersecution against her Christian religion.”

The junta, which grabbed power in amilitary coup in 1962, in order toperpetuate its rule, has notoriouslylaunched campaigns against its ownpopulation, with its main target beingethnic minorities.

Systematic sexual violence, tortureand rape are commonly practiced by theBurmese military without any reservationor punitive action, Zahua said.

”I want to make sure people knowabout this,” said Zahau adding that theworld community, particularly the UNSCshould pressure the Burmese governmentto stop its rampant human rights violation.

She added that the voices of Burmesewomen crying for help had gone unheardfor a long time and that UNSC shouldshoulder the responsibility and come to theaid of Burmese women.

”They [junta] does not care becausethe international community has notmounted pressure which is strongenough,” Zahau added.

UNSC needs to shoulder responsibility of

Burmese women’s woes

Solomon July 2

Burma’s main opposition party – theNational League for Democracy – said onTuesday that it welcomed the UnitedNations Secretary General’s firmcommitment to bring about political changein military ruled Burma.

Nyan Win, spokesperson of the NLDsaid, “We are happy with the UN’s role intrying to bring about changes and focussingon Burma despite many hindrances andlimitations.

”Nyan Win’s appreciation of the UNwas following a statement by the worldbody chief in Tokyo on his re-affirmationof his commitment on change in Burma.

Ban Ki-moon, during a pressconference in Tokyo on Monday toldreporters that he had seen signs ofdevelopment in Burma and “things seemedto be moving towards the right direction,”in terms of helping cyclone survivors in thecountry.

However, on the political issue, thathas seen a deadlock for nearly twodecades, the UN Chief said, “you have myfirm commitment and assurance that I willwork very hard to help the people ofMyanmar [Burma] enjoy genuine freedomand democracy.”

The global body chief said, he wascommitted to continue his efforts “throughMr. Gambari’s process and if and when itis necessary, I am going to broaden anddeepen this process in my dialogue withthe Myanmar authorities.”

Nyan Win said, “We are confident oftheir [UN] credibility and we believe theycan do as we hope.”

Despite the slow process, Nyan Win,said he and his party appreciated the efforttaken by the world body and hoped thingswould change progressively.

The NLD, which won a landslide victorywith over 80 per cent votes in the 1990general election, has been reduced to asmall office in Rangoon, while its leaderDaw Aung San Suu Kyi remains underhouse arrest for over 12 of the past 18years.

Contrary to the NLD’s expectations overthe UN Chief’s statement, Larry Jagan, ajournalist and a Burma affairs expert saidthe UN was impotent regarding dealingwith the Burmese military junta, which hasmaintained an unbroken reign of over fourdecades, since 1962.

”The [Burmese] regime is not

prepared to listen to the UN and is notprepared to listen to anybody else,” Jagansaid.

Jagan added that under suchcircumstances Mr Gambari and Ban Ki-moon had little credibility with the Junta,which “makes it difficult for the UN to haveany role.”

Despite visiting Burma thrice, Gambari,the UN undersecretary for political affairshas made little visible progress. In spite ofhis repeated demands, the junta in May,extended the house arrest of Burma’s pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The junta also continued to implementits planned seven step roadmap todemocracy, excluding all opposition groupsdespite Gambari and the UN’s repeatedsuggestions to broaden and to make it anall inclusive process.

Jagan said, he doubted that the UN, inany case, could influence the Burmesegovernment to implement the kind ofpolitical change that it perceived.

”In my view the UN have not, cannot,and will not influence the Regime,” Jaganadded.

But David Scott Mathieson, a Burmaconsultant at the Human Rights Watch, saidthe success of the UN’s mission in Burmawould largely depend on the support givenby its member states.

Mathieson said, the UN so far hasplayed a vital role in trying to bring changein Burma, but lacks the support of a few ofits key members such as China and Russia.

”Other key members of the UN suchas China and Russia need to support theeffort of the World Body,” Mathieson said.

In January 2007, China and Russia,both veto wielding countries at the UNSecurity Council, opposed a councilresolution on Burma that called for greaterhuman rights respect in that country.

The draft resolution was sponsored bythe United States and endorsed by twoother permanent council members – theUnited Kingdom and France. But, it failedto yield any result as Russia and China,which maintain a good business as wellas military relationship, used its veto powerto oppose it.

Mathieson said, while the UN wasmaking the effort to convince the Burmesemilitary junta, a united front among themembers of the UN, particularly within theSecurity Council, was necessary to forcethe junta to implement change.

Editing by Mungpi

UN firm on commitment to change in Burma

July 9

Leaders of the Group of Eight, meetingin Japan, on Tuesday urged the Burmesemilitary junta to free all political prisonersand usher in political transition todemocracy.

Leaders of eight industrial powers -Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,Japan, Russia and the United States – in astatement called on Burma’s military junta,“to immediately release all politicaldetainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi, andto foster a transition to a legitimate,democratic, civilian government.”

Ignoring international calls andpressures, Burma’s military regime in May,extended the house arrest term of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyifor another year.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmesedemocracy icon has spent over 12 of thelast 18 years in solitary confinement at herlakeside villa in Rangoon. She was lastarrested in May 2003, after a brutal attackby junta-backed mobs during her politicaltour in upper Burma.

The leaders of G8, in its statement,also called on the Burmese junta to allowfree access to foreign aid workers in orderto provide assistance to victims of CycloneNargis, which lashed the country’ssouthwest coastal division of Irrawaddy

and Rangoon in May 2-3, leaving more than138,000 dead and missing.

G8 leaders said they are “committedto ensuring aid reaches those affected byCyclone Nargis and called on the authoritiesin Burma to lift all remaining restrictionson access for foreign aid workers.”

The Burmese government on Tuesday,however, said it has granted more than1,500 visas to foreign aid experts to deliverhumanitarian aid to victims of the cyclone.

According to the UN Office of theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs(UNOCHA), as of 7 July, visas for 317 UNstaff have been approved, while 13requests remain pending.

”Visas are now issued within two tothree days of the application being sent tothe TCG. The majority of visas are givenas single-entry visas with an initial durationof two weeks,” UNOCHA said in a ‘situationoverview’ report released on Tuesday.

Permission to allow travel to thecyclone affected regions has to berequested from the Burmese Ministry ofSocial Welfare, Relief and Resettlementand the average processing time for suchrequest takes about four to five days.

”More than 270 international UN staffand at least as many international stafffrom NGOs have travelled to affected areasas of 7 July,” the UNOCHA said.

G-8 leaders urge junta to free Aung San Suu Kyi

July 9

For the first time, Britain’s PrinceCharles on Wednesday met students,alumni and staff from Prospect Burma, aneducational trust that funds the educationof young Burmese students.

Prince Charles, next in line for theBritish throne and future king of the UnitedKingdom met about 20 Burmese studentsand staff members of Prospect Burma atClarence House in London.

Zoya Phan, a former student whoattended the meeting, said, “The meetingwas significant, Prince Charles showed alot of interest about Burma.”

The Burmese students were able toexplain the current political, social, arts andcultural situation of Burma to the Prince,Zoya Phan said.

”During our meeting, Charles said he

will raise the Burma issue in every waythat he can,” Zoya Phan told Mizzima.

Burma’s Nobel Peace Laureate DawAung San Suu Kyi, now under house arrestin Rangoon, supports Prospect Burma withthe award money she received from theNobel Prize.

UK has maintained a critical standagainst Burma’s military rulers and hadsupported the United States’ call for a UNSecurity Council Resolution, in January2007. The proposed UNSC resolutionincludes the demand for the immediaterelease of Aung San Suu Kyi and respectfor human rights.

But the proposed resolution wasturned down by veto wielding China andRussia.

Prince Charles meets Burmese students

G-8 Leaders in Japan Photo-AP

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 6 JournalMizzimaThe

Letter to Editor

Mizzima JournalThe

EditorialO c t o b e r 2 0 0 7

Opinion

For subscriptions, please contact. MIZZIMA NEWS P.O.Box. 311, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai - 50202 Thailand.

(or)Flat No. 1, 63C,Ibrahimpur Road, Jadhavpur,Kolkata - 700032, India.

Now

E-mail: mizzima@hotmail.com

mizzima@mizzima.com

Web: www.mizzima.com

Subscribe the Mizzima

Mungpi

June 23

In an unusual and sudden move,

Burma’s military junta has reshuffled

several key army officers and promoted

young officers to the important rank of

regional military commanders.

The reshuffle, which included

promoting at least four young officers to

regional commanders, is seen as a

significant move by observers who think

the junta may be gearing up for its planned

general elections in 2010.

While the secretive junta is known to

reshuffle its officers from time to time,

shifting around about 200 officers from

their ranks could be a move especially

designed for the post 2010 general

elections, a Burmese military analyst based

in China said.

Mya Maung, the Sino-Burmese border

based analyst said, “This time it is

significant as at least 200 of them have

been reshuffled.”

While it is obvious that the junta is

infusing ‘Young Blood’ into its control

mechanism, it is more than apparent that

the junta is preparing for a new form of

governance that is likely to surface after

the 2010 general elections, the fifth step

of the junta’s planned roadmap to

democracy.

“It is possible that the junta is making

way for the younger generation to come

up but the junta could also have different

plans. It could also be a preparation,” Mya

Maung added.

Sources in the military establishment

said the junta has ordered the transfer of

four of its key military commanders to

positions in the Bureau of Special

Operations (BSO).

The source added that four officers of

the BSO were made to retire in order to

make way for the newly transferred

officers, while five young officers were

promoted to commanders of Triangle,

Eastern, Southern, Northern and Rangoon

division commands.

“While it means pumping new blood

into the junta’s ruling mechanism, it is

significant for even the BSO officers have

been moved,” Win Min, a Burmese analyst

based in Thailand said.

Win Min, also suggested that the

reshuffle may be the result of power

struggle between the junta’s top generals

– Snr. Gen. than Shwe and Vice Snr. Gen.

Maung Aye.

“But this reshuffle will further

strengthen Than Shwe’s power, as most

of the officers who have been given control

of strategic commands are his loyalists,”

Win Min said.

Win Min, however, does not rule out

the possibility that the junta’s reshuffle may

indicate its plan for a new form of

governance post general elections.

According to the ruling junta’s planned

roadmap to democracy, the approval of a

draft constitution will be followed by a

general election, after which the winning

party will govern the country in keeping

with the constitution.

The junta in February announced that

it will hold general elections in 2010,

though it has not set any specific date.

Critics have slammed the junta’s

roadmap to democracy, declared its draft

constitution as non inclusive and called the

process of referendum approving the

constitution — ‘rigged’.

“It seems the junta is slowly planning

its new administration after the elections,”

Win Min said.

Mya Maung, from the Sino-Burmese

border said, the junta’s plan is to switch

from direct military dictatorship to a new

civilian dictatorship, which was effectively

implemented by its predecessor General

Ne Win from 1962 to 1988.

“So, it is likely that the junta is retiring

some of its key people to form a civilian

cabinet that will actually rule the country,”

Mya Maung said.

Bo Bo Kyaw Nyien, a veteran Burmese

political observer, however, said it might

be too early to jump to any kind of

conclusion and it requires observation of

the junta’s next move.

“The reshuffle is definitely a significant

move, but in politics it will be too early to

jump to conclusions before observing their

[the junta] next move,” Bo Bo Kyaw Nyien

said.

Junta’s reshuffle; what lies behind?

I am writing from Na Lung Village in Daw Hpum Yang Township in Kachin state,northern Burma.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint during his trip to our village in the recent past had instructedpromoting the primary level schools to middle level schools. Following the instruction,we learnt that the government is going to provide 35 million Kyat (USD 27,000) toconstruct a new two-storey building for the school.

The construction contract was given to the Jade-land Company. And theauthorities also gave it license to draw wood for the construction. The workers said,the longer it takes to complete constructing the school building the better for thembecause it would allow them to draw wood at government rates. So far we don’tknow how much wood has been taken and only God knows how much has beenmisused.

Ah JaLajayangKachin State

Ò

Delayed school construction breeds corruption

Even three months after the cold blooded multiple murders in Rangoon the

culprits have not been brought to justice. Moreover, a suspect died in police custody

during interrogation. All those responsible for this custodial death must be brought

to justice.

The daylight murder was committed on March 3 this year at No. 126, Green

Bank, Kamayut Township where four of a family was killed along with a maid. The

crime scene was in well guarded posh colony, almost impossible for a stranger to

enter without being noticed.

Charlie a.k.a. Sao Kyi Pha (60), his wife San San Myint (58), daughters Mya

Sandar (36) and Hnin Pwint Aye (27) along with their maid Ma Ei Phau (15) were

found shot dead at their residence.

But the junta’s security mechanism only concentrates in closely monitoring the

Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung Suu Kyi who turned 63 last month and the opposition

which express their will and desire in a peaceful manner. This has led to crimes

rising.

The rampant drug abuse among artistes and celebrities including high profile

business tycoon Maung Weik and Aung Zaw Ye Myint, son of one of the recently

retired top generals, proves the point vividly.

Lack of media freedom in Burma worsens the rising crime rate in Burma. The

media in Burma could write about the aforesaid multi-murder case only several

weeks after the crime was committed.

The censor board punished the ‘Seven Days’ weekly journal by suspending its

publishing rights for printing the story of the multiple murder case entitled ‘The

four departed souls seeking justice’.

After the Green Bank multiple murder case, the Rangoon West District Police

Force arrested and interrogated the suspects. One of them died in police custody

during interrogation after eight days. Then the police gagged the bereaved family

by paying some money to them. The family had to say everything is okay and could

not a lodge complaint against them.

According to the Police Chief Police Brig. Gen. Khin Yee, more than one handgun

was used in the crime and the spent bullets were found with Defense Industry (DI)

markings.

However, when we look at the security forces under military rule, it is not

surprising for culprits to be at large in this murder case. Bombers who killed 11 and

left 162 injured in serial bombings committed on 7 May 2005 in Rangoon in three

separate places are still at large which highlight the junta’s mismanagement and

incompetence.

Police incompetence; multiple

murderers still at large

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 7 JournalMizzimaThe

Opinion

In a squalid, bare room dozens ofsurvivors from Cyclone Nargis sat and laidupon the concrete and thin mats of amonastery in Burma’s afflicted RangoonDivision – the complex’s hti standingominously and noticeably askew. Just shyof a week after the devastating storm, themonastery and its remaining monks weresupplying what relief they could. And whatrelief the monastery was in a position tosupply, was not nearly adequate.

This is a scene that played itself outseemingly ad infinitum throughoutRangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions in theimmediate wake of the storm, which hitBurma’s delta region with all its force onMay 2nd.

Commonly the most permanentstructures in villages otherwise dominatedby bamboo and thatch homes, monasteriesbecame the de facto destination ofrefugees and the natural focus of any aidoperations. Further, if there was any slightinclination in the topography of the region,it was typically the local monastery thatoccupied the relative higher ground,providing another obvious reason forvillagers to seek shelter inside. However,in those immediate days after Nargis, tospeak of the monastic community beingable to effectively administer a reliefoperation and thorough cleaning-upcampaign would be to distort reality.

I cannot recall a single monasterywhose roof did not leak and whose groundsdid not suffer major damage, its temporaryresidents exposed to the elements ofBurma’s rapidly approaching monsoonseason. Pools of stagnant water, quicklydepleting, were often the sole source ofwater for those in need. Rice soup had tobe consumed as being the only availableoption. When the rice soup was depletedin one location, refugees were forced tovisit next nearest alternative for theirmeals. Debris, the remnants andreminders of the fateful day nearly a weekpreviously remained strewn acrossmonastic grounds and throughoutdevastated communities.

Monasteries and their occupants werecrying out for assistance, forcing therefugees that could to come to the side ofmajor roads to plead for help.

At this time soldiers could be seen inthe center of the delta’s major towns.Literally the centers, a hundred meterseither way and there would be no sign ofthe military – or of any semblance of agovernment. Outlying villages, and theirmonasteries, were left to fend entirely forthemselves. The only presence of themilitary government was commonly a

recruited informer whose job it ostensiblywas to inform the government of anyvisitors.

The relief supplies the military wereable and willing to offer the local populationwere miniscule – a packet of noodles here,a few kilograms of rice for an entire familyfor a week there. Again, there was a failurein both quantity and distribution system.

As the days passed and mid-Mayapproached, the military steadily advancedand enhanced its presence along thedelta’s main thoroughfares and in thepopulation centers, in the processincreasingly restricting access to stormravaged areas. Soldiers could be seencutting away giant trees dislodged from theearth and painstakingly piling heaps ofdebris. But just off the main roads, thepeople still suffered and were ignored.

Meanwhile, assistance to populationsand monasteries in need began to tricklein. The Rangoon-based Metta DevelopmentFoundation, no longer officially a Buddhistorganization but still defining its missionas one of loving kindness, set about on themomentous task of delivering aid toapproximately 115,000 communities itidentified as vulnerable. Monasticcommunities from Rangoon and furtherafield also sent relief supplies. But the effortwas led by the people, not a single faith.Concerned citizens, media outlets,mosques and businesses came to providewhat relief possible.

Three weeks after the cyclone struck,and after the natural disaster drew the

attention of the world and a visit fromUnited Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a United Nations report claimed thatover a million victims of the storm had stillyet to be reached. Certainly Burmeseauthorities had not reached them, andwithout any outside assistance it is dubiouswhat comfort local monasteries couldprovide other than a watery bed andcompanionship in a time of sorrow.

Now, as June starts to fade, there areincreasing voices being raised of localorganizations and specifically monasticcommunities having taken the lead in reliefand rehabilitation following Nargis. Thetruth is, nobody had the capacity or was ina position to effectively deliver the helpnecessary in the critical first half of May.

The fields and shoreline of the deltaremained littered with not only thedecaying flesh of animals and laypersons,but those of the sangha as well. Water andfood were often scarce, and monks couldalso be seen scrounging for what help andassistance could be found.

Owing to a feeble transportationinfrastructure, one which the governmentnow vows to drastically upgrade, and theslothlike response and interest of themilitary to establish a logistical presencethroughout afflicted regions, materialsupport and assistance was hard to comeby for hundreds of thousands of people,regardless of whether or not they weredraped in saffron.

This does not speak poorly of thesangha. Entire communities were, if not

utterly destroyed, then left with a fractionof its structures and residents. Foodstores, animals and tools simply ‘flewaway’, as the local population would muse.Ground reality made it virtually impossiblefor any actors in the region to jump to thelead in the immediate days to follow; theBurmese Naval base on Hyine Gyi Islandlay in ruin.

Help had to come from outside thedelta. And the lead needed to be taken bythe government, and they failed to do so.They were the only possibility of a conduitto effectively reaching hundreds ofthousands of people in a timely manner.

A lack of government institutions andlegitimacy throughout the region factoredinto the plight of the cyclone’s survivors,the geography of the region and poordevelopment played no minor role, anddomestic and international politics sealedthe fate of any hoped for rapid response.

The fact is, in the crucial days afterNargis there was arguably no organization,let alone government, positioned to offerrelief remotely approaching the levelsmandated. And the further one venturedinto the delta, the worse the situationbecame. Providing time effective relief inthe face of such a disaster would have beentrying for any country and government; forBurma, it proved an impossible feat.

Thus is the plight of present dayBurma. It can only be hoped that theepitaph of the tens of thousands lost willprovide the final script as to why changemust one day come.

Diana

A month has elapsed since Cyclone

Nargis lashed the shores of Burma and

affected more than 2.4 million people. In

recent weeks, the government announced

that, in addition to accepting donations in

cash and kind, it would now permit much

needed international relief workers into the

country to assist with aid distribution.

As part of our own relief effort, 6

medical doctors, 9 nurses and 15 other

volunteers (engineers plus media, logistics

and church members) from Irrawaddy

Relief Mission embarked on a relief

expedition on May 29, 2008, to the

southern region of the Irrawaddy delta. Our

objectives were twofold: Provide cyclone

victims with immediate relief through

medical treatment and material aid, e.g.

tarpaulins, bottled water, energy food,

clothing, slippers and small tractors; and

assess the extent of the damage done, so

as to determine how we can help rebuild

the villagers’ lives and livelihood.

After spending a night in Pathein

(formerly Bassein) our team of doctors,

nurses and other volunteer workers

headed south in boats towards Ngapudaw

and Latbutta. Our first stop was at Ayodah

village – a location that was not directly

affected by the cyclone, but which housed

numerous refugees who had fled from

their villages further south in Pyinsalu.

There were no major ailments here and

Postcard from cyclone-affected Irrawaddy delta

the medical team saw 280 patients in a

local Church hall.

Over the course of five days, the

doctors and nurses treated a total of 1,216

patients. Though this fell below the number

of the team expected, we came to

understand that most of the villages we

went to had already been wiped out, and

that the remaining inhabitants survived only

because they had the physical strength to

avoid death and sickness in the first place

and depended on rainwater for survival.

With water being so scarce, villagers gladly

welcomed the 20 to 30 gallons of bottled

water we distributed at each village. We

also had survivors from neighbouring

villages come to us on their small fishing

boats and ask for water. Despite the fact

that their store of rainwater was also

limited, the mostly Christian Karen (Kayin)

villagers we met unselfishly invited us into

their homes for a shower. Their belief was

that this rainwater had been provided by

God at no charge, and He was bound to

send more – why then should they snub

our request for some bath water?

Though they have shown great

vulnerability to the unpredictability and

force of tempestuous weather, the villagers

have also shown us their resilience and

determination to survive these difficult

times. With or without outside aid, they

have begun piecing back together their lives

with whatever that has been left behind

by the storm. For as pitiful as their

conditions are, they know that they need

Continued to Page 8

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 8 JournalMizzimaThe

Continued From Page 7

Opinion

I didn’t realize that the article that Iwrote last fall would be significant and bea precious moment in my life. After retiringfrom the media world and living as astudent in North Carolina State, Mizzimaeditor Sein Win who was a classmate inmedia training conducted in Cambodiaseven years ago, pressed me to write anarticle for his media. It was no doubt SeinWin created a remarkable opportunity forme to write a Burma related article after athree-year lull.

At that time, hundreds of monks weremarching in procession by reciting Mettasutra in Rangoon’s monsoon rain and wind.The monk-led protest, tirelessly andassiduously striving for sweepingcompassion across Burma, in rain soakedrobes, was the most thrilling and excitingmoment for me as well as to the modernhistory of Burma.

As I was watching this Metta (Love)reciting movement in full excitement at myhome, the protesting monks met pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whowas under house arrest at her residence-turned-prison with Metta in theenvironment of incarceration. The monkssaw her standing at her door step on thatvery day 23rd September 2007. At thatmoment, I realized that I’d got enoughinspiration to write an article.

The compassion clad movement wasthe climactic moment in the 19-year longnon-violent democratic movement led byDaw Aung San Suu Kyi which seemed tobe the prelude of forthcoming surging tidalwave of our democratic movement. Icouldn’t help recollecting the images ofpeaceful democratic transformationmovement in East Europe, (countries onceunder the now defunct USSR).

The monks led protest calling the rulersto stop violence was the sequel of incidentswhere the regime brutally beat up monks,the most revered in Burmese society, inPakokku two weeks ago. This incidentsparked the nationwide movementdrawing all the people in joining theprotest, calling for sweeping politicalchange and writing the modern history ofBurma, was in fact, compassion head-buttagainst the brick wall.

The 2003 Red Rose revolution inGeorgia, 2004 Orange Revolution inUkraine, 2005 Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstanare the sequels of the famous 1989 ‘VelvetRevolution’ in Czech Republic, transformingto democratic states from totalitarianregimes. All these movements are firmlyimpressed in my head. Then I realized weneed to symbolize our movement also withthe images of flowers and colours, soonafter that, I wrote my article.

In that article, I wrote,”……Colours and flowers revolutions have

started from systematic and peacefuldefiance by the student movements andanti-communist movements….”

”The successful Velvet Revolution inCzech Republic was the encouragement tothe newly emerged republics of formerUSSR to free from the yoke ofcommunism.’Red Rose Revolution’ in 2003in Georgia compelled the corrupt President

Eduard Shevardnadze who led the countryto total economic chaos, had to enter intonegotiations with the opposition leaderbrokered by the Russian government, andhad to step down. The people weresupporting the opposition leader, holdingthe red roses in their hands, and protestingagainst the rule of the existing government.Finally the peaceful red rose revolutionsucceeded. After one year, the pro-democracy forces in Ukraine started theirstruggle to topple the pro-Russia Presidentby wearing orange ribbons which was laterpopularly known as ‘orange revolution’. Theelectoral crisis created by controversialvote counting and massive electoral fraudmade opposition leader Viktor Yushchenkoan overwhelming success.

“In 2005, the Tulip Revolution whichtoppled the President Askar Akayevoccurred in Kyrgyzstan. Like other colouror flower revolutions, the dictatorPresident and his family was toppled andhad to flee to Russia. At first, the worldmedia referred this popular movement asPink, Lemon, Silk and Daffodil revolutions.But the toppled president himself referredthis movement as Tulip revolution andwarned the people not to wage colourrevolution against his administration.”

“The reason why we referred thismovement of democracy loving anddemocracy longing people as ‘saffronrevolution’ because it was representing thefaith (Sasana) of most monks, laity,students and people in Burma; young andbrave fighting peacock; the consciouscitizens who own yellow paddy fields acrossthe country which will make our countryprosperous and free from the current crisis.

Mizzima posted my article the sameday, 23rd September. I wrote the same inEnglish under the title ‘Yellow Revolution’and was posted in Irrawaddy and Mizzimawebsites consecutively. After two days,

London Times first referred the series ofthis movement as ‘Saffron’. On 25thSeptember, former US Charge d affairesin Rangoon Ms. Prescilla referred thismovement as ‘Shwe Wa Yaung’ in VOABurmese Service.

During these days, the people andstudents joined the monk-led movementactively and enthusiastically. The numberof demonstrators increased to hundredsof thousands from tens of thousands whotook to the streets. The international mediasuch as Boston Globe, United PressInternational, Washington Post, Economicsmagazine and Burma expert columnistLarry Jagan first referred this movementas ‘Saffron’.

But until that time, the Burmese mediahad not yet referred the movement as‘Shwe Wa Yaung’. Mizzima first used theheadline ‘The Shwe Wa Yaung has started’on 24th September. Then ‘New Era’followed suit on 1st October, Saya MaungSwanyi on 2nd October in Moemakha, andBBC Burmese Service first referred themovement as ‘Shwe Wa Yaung Revolution’on October 4th. Since then, the peoplehave accepted their September movementas ‘Shwe Wa Yaung Revolution’. Thoughthe words ‘Yellow’ and ‘Saffron’ aredifferent in English, it is the same inBurmese and it is more appropriate to use‘Saffron’.

A friend of mine in Thailand warnedme that the Chinese government was verymuch concerned over the christening of thismovement as ‘Saffron Revolution’. It is notsurprising to see the Chinese governmentwas worrying about coining the term withanother colour revolution in the backyardof their country while they are still lickingthe wounds left by the Great CulturalRevolution and its nightmares. The colourrevolutions occurred in Central Asia toppledthe communist governments which made

the Chinese government understandablynervous and cautious. But this is theserious mistake of the Chinese governmentnot able to comprehend clearly about thenature and phenomenon of Burma.

It is time to continue the struggle tofulfill the unfinished task of the SaffronRevolution. Some are reluctant to use‘Saffron Revolution’ as the movement dieddown due to the brutal suppression of theregime on the halfway to ‘democracy’ goal.Some preferred to use the term ‘revolution’only after complete victory. But we shouldunderstand one thing very clearly that wecould have laid the foundation of a ‘peacefuland non-violent movement’ firmly throughlove and compassion, which firmly believesin compassion and refused to seeopponents as an enemy, need strivingtogether for establishing a new era filledwith democracy, justice and equality.

In fact, this movement follows thedoctrines of Nelson Mandela and MahatmaGandhi, follows the Daw Aung San SuuKyi’s doctrine of peaceful democratictransformation which could deeply impressthe peaceful non-violent way in the heartsand heads of many pro-democracy forces.This is the hallmark of this movement. Thisis the great success for all of us.

We have crossed the 20-year longjourney. We have covered a great distancein this long journey. We are still marchingtowards our goal through variousexperiences and different encounters inthese 20 years. We are building our futuredemocratic state with compassion andknowledge based on our tears and sweat.

This is the sole birthday present wecan give to our beloved leader Daw AungSan Suu Kyi. The lone candle we can lighton her birthday cake is the eternal truthfor all of us. If she is the icon of SaffronRevolution, we must be the saffron flamesso that our future will be bright.

to begin rebuilding their huts and replanting

their crops; otherwise they will end up

destitute and starve.

It is not an easy task, which is

compounded by the lack of clean water,

sustenance, livestock and farming/fishing

tools. These villagers have lost close to

everything, and will continue to need

external help for at least the next six

months to obtain food, water, medicines,

clothing, livestock, paddy seeds, farming

equipment, fishing tools, artisan/tube wells,

et cetera. Thus it is imperative that we

continue our contributions of cash and kind,

and ensure that they receive the physical

or emotional support they require.

As for our team we decided, after five

days at sea, not to make our way to the

mouth of the Irrawaddy where the villages

of Pyinsalu once stood. The river was

getting too rough and we did not have with

us the necessary safety equipment or a

sufficient number of life vests. On top of

that, we saw from satellite photos that the

area around Pyinsalu has been submerged

by seawater – any survivors from those

villages would have already travelled up

north to seek medical treatment, and the

scale of devastation would have been

beyond our means for providing relief.

Thus in this manner our journey within

the delta ended. We returned to our homes

in Pathein and Yangon to carry on with our

lives and more importantly, to continue

with the relief and rebuilding efforts for

these people who badly in need and

looking forward to our return.

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 9 JournalMizzimaThe

Opinion

The Burmese Army grabbed politicalpower in a coup on 2 March 1962; andBurma again lost its political freedom 14years after independence, to the nativemilitary dictatorship instead of a foreigncolonial power.

Within a few months, in a move tocrush the students protest against the armytakeover the Burmese military dynamitedthe Rangoon University Student Unionbuilding on 7 July 1962. And from thebeginning the military dictators proved tobe more ruthless and destructive than theforeign invaders.

During the 1962 crackdown, the armygenerals were no doubt confident that thelast of students’ rebellion has beenextinguished, for good. But 26 years later,Ko Min Ko Naing and Ko Moe Thee Zunwho were born in 1962, like many othersin their generation, became studentleaders of the 1988 uprising. The numberof student protesters exploded from a fewhundreds in 1962 to hundreds of thousandsin 1988.

Ko Moe Thee Zun, the student leaderin exile said that, in 1988 the military didnot expect the student rebels to survivethe harsh and difficult conditions in theopposition camps. But like the Karen, Shanand other ethnic organizations that camebefore them, after decades of trials anderrors, the student organization led by KoMoe Thee Zun has also matured into onemore challenger to the junta’s rule.

While the military’s credibility as thesaviour of the nation and protector of thepeople has diminished, the students’political commitment has earned respectand credibility. It became evident when the2007 fuel price protest led by the ’88student leaders escalated into a full blownSaffron uprising last fall.

While the military generals areincreasingly isolated in their citadel;according to Ko Moe Thee Zun, thedifficulties experienced by the students inthe jungles, since 1988 have helpedBurman majority urban-elites gain greaterunderstanding of the ethnic politicalmovement. An invaluable common bondand respect has also been forged amongthe students and ethnic political oppositionsto help shape durable peace in Burma,later.

The ethnic armed rebels, who wereperceived to have been more concernedwith the ethnic right of self determinationinstead of aiming for a larger politicalchange, are finally evolving into morepolitically correct organizations afterdecades of violent conflicts with the militaryregime in Burma. The surviving armedrebels are no longer tainted with drugtrafficking or political and ideologicalconfusion. Their aim for a genuinedemocratic change, and, their support forAung San Suu Kyi and the legacy of herfather, has never been clearer.

China which claims to be rising

peacefully has nevertheless unilaterallysupported the military dictatorship inBurma. China’s support for the Burmeseregime has been devastating for the armedresistance in Burma.

However, since the end of the VietnamWar, long before the war in Iraq, armedconflicts alone no longer determine thepolitical future of a country. After the coldwar, many nations gained democracythrough mass protests and peacefulpolitical uprising, in places where civil warshave already ended.

The enormous military apparatus inBurma is a threat mostly to the militaryjunta which has to feed and support suchan enormous and costly apparatus that donot contribute to the wellbeing of the rulersor the citizens of Burma.

There is no need for such a large armyeven just to suppress the urban dissidentsor the armed rebels. It is only for thepsychological need of the generals. And itreflects the operational inefficiency of theBurmese military.

The end result of such greatinadequacy is calculated to be in billionsof dollars of losses for Burma. Within weeksafter the Tsunami in December of 2004,the storm relief efforts received two and ahalf billion dollars worth of pledges fromaround the world. The United States aloneprovided 90 helicopters involving militaryassistance with 12,600 personnel and 21ships, immediately after the storm.

Whether the people in Irrawaddy deltaare barely surviving or not, Burma cancertainly use such great outsidehumanitarian assistance.

Not only the regime’s inability toovercome the distrust of outside powers,the military’s inability to convince theworld’s of its sincerity toward helping itsown people has also cost Burma dearly,by earning less than two hundred milliondollars worth of pledges for a disaster asoverwhelming as Tsunami of 2004.

The military’s violent crackdown onpeaceful monks and the regime’sintentional neglect of Cyclone Nargisvictims, have sparked a renewed call tobring the Myanmar government before theInternational Criminal Court, for committingcrimes against humanity.

In addition, the UN Security Councilhas recently passed a resolution,condemning rape as “a war crime, a crimeagainst humanity, or a constitutive act withrespect to genocide,” while the BurmeseArmy continues to use rape as a weapon

of war against the ethnic minority.It has been shown that the enormous

private wealth can no longer protect theworld’s tyrants from prosecutions for thecrimes they have committed. Jean-PierreBemba who is accused of committingatrocities in the Central African Republicin 2002, and the former Liberian presidentCharles Taylor who begins to stand trial infront of a special tribunal in The Hague foralleged war crimes in Sierra Leone, willjoin two former Khmer Rouge, ministersIeng Sary, and his wife, Ieng Thirith whoare being charged with war crimes andcrime against humanity for their allegedrole in Cambodia’s 1970s genocide.

Aung San Suu Kyi has often said thatpolitics is everyone’s business and peopleshould overcome fear to involvethemselves in politics. Hillary Clinton saidlast January during her bid for presidencythat, “some of us put ourselves out thereagainst pretty difficult odds because wecare about our country.”

The Burmese struggle for democracyhas come of age like the student leaders.For Burma to be able to move closertowards its democratic goal, the political,economic and military elite will all have toshed fear and come forward to bear theirshare of responsibility.

Burmese people can no longer sit backand play the role of virtuous sages. Blamingthe military dictatorship founded by a postalclerk, and sustained by illiterate generalsand their business cronies; is no longersufficient. People should begin to take theirown fate into their hands, instead ofblaming others.

Kishmore Mahbubani, Dean of the LeeKuan Yew School of Public Policy at theNational University of Singapore wrote thatWestern principles of democracy, the ruleof law, and social justice are among theworld’s best bets. And he continued thatthe world does not need to invent any newprinciples to improve global governance;the concept of domestic good governancecan and should be applied to theinternational community.

And even if the above concept ofdemocracy were written in an Asianlanguage other than English, itsfundamental value will not be lost to thepeople of Burma. The belief in democracyand freedom is fully supported by theBurmese Buddhist tradition as well.

Ashin Gambira the famous monkleader said in March, 2008 that, if thepeople no longer want to live under thecruel military dictatorship they will have tospeak up and protest. Unless they resistthe military rule with courage, absolutemilitary power will continue indefinitely.

As Aung San Suu Kyi warned afterthe military crackdown on the monks lastSeptember, the Burmese people can nolonger sit around and simply hope for thebest. They must all begin preparing for theworst to come until the end of militarytyranny in Burma.

The recent Cyclone Nargis in theIrrawaddy delta has proven that thedowntrodden people of Burma can still takecare off themselves even with minimaloutside help, and will manage to survive.There is no longer doubt if they have thepower to change their future. The peopleof Burma can and must work together toend the military dictatorship. No one elsecan do it for them.

May Ng is from the Southern ShanState of Burma and NY regionaldirector of Justice for Human Rightsin Burma.

"The Burmesestruggle for demo-cracy has come ofage like the studentleaders”

“Burmese peoplecan no longer sitback and play therole of virtuoussages”

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 10 JournalMizzimaThe

Inside Burma

July 3

Following a secret largest investigationagainst drug users since 1988, youngtycoon Maung Weik stands to face severepunishment for alleged drug trafficking.

Maung Weik, the 35-year old billionairehas been shifted to notorious Insein prisonsince last Friday from a police investigationcentre along with six others from Latha,Dagon and Kyi Myint Dine township, said asource close to the prison authorities andthe Home Ministry.

”He (Maung Weik) may even bepunished with a 20 year sentence or lifeimprisonment,” he said.

The accused drug kingpin was takenaway from his residence in Than LwinStreet, Bahan Township. The police seizeda machine for making Yaba ormethamphetamine tablets and Kyat 1200million in a crackdown against drug usersamong Burma’s elite. The police said theracket was run by the Managing Directorof Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd.

Aung Zaw Ye Myint the son of retiredLt. Gen Ye Myint and the owner of Yetagon

construction company, who is also involved,has been sent to the Wat Thee Kantreatment center due to drug addiction.

The former chief of Special OperationBureau No.1 Lt. Gen Ye Myint was askedto retire by the junta supremo Senior Gen.Than Shwe following his son’s suspectedinvolvement in the controversial drugracket. However, the resignation directiveto Ye Myint followed a major reshuffle inthe military establishment.

Observers and friends suspect that atop-level conspiracy has been hatchedagainst Maung Weik.

Win Min, a Burmese observer basedin Thailand who has contacts in the militarysaid “To my knowledge, Maung Weik is notinvolved in distributing drugs.”

”But Maung Weik and Aung Zaw YeMyint used drugs at parties together andgave drugs as presents to party-goersincluding some movie stars,” he added.

A businessman in Rangoon said “Ihonestly do not think Maung Weik willmanufacture Yaba. I heard the news but Idoubt it.

”International drug agencies saidBurma is Asia’s largest source of

methamphetamine pills and synthetic drugsare replacing opium and heroin.

The military junta ruling Burma now,came to power in 1988 after cracking downon pro-democracy protesters. The cash-strapped Burmese junta has been accusedof dealing with drug lords and is known tohave laundered money for various druglords including Khun Sa, once one of theworld’s most wanted men. He was livingin Rangoon till he died in October 2007.

Moreover, communists turned drugtraffickers, the heavily armed United WaState Army (UWSA) signed a cease-fireagreement with the military junta in 1989but they have been operating almost freelyproducing and trading opium andmethamphetamine pills at least in theircontrolled terrority.

The much-talked about crackdown onthe drug racket which also netted Burma’sfilm stars, wealthy businessmen andrelatives of men-in-power was believed tobe linked with family matters of thecountry’s most powerful man SeniorGeneral Than Shwe.

The movie industry suggested said thatNay Shwe Thway Aung (aka) Pho La Pye,17-years-old, a grandson of Than Shwewas at the centre of the case. The studentof Technology University (WesternRangoon) was caught with some drug pillsby his family a few months ago whichsparked Than Shwe’s anger.

Mizzima’s investigation reveals thatPho La Pye started using drugs since thelast water festival or Burmese traditionalNew Year celebrations in April. He did notcome back home for two days during thewater festival and he was said to have useddrugs.

The first family blamed drug suppliersand friends who introduced Pho La Pye todrugs.

Not surprisingly, some businessmenlured the beloved grandson with drugshoping to maintain a relationship with thefamily of the strongman of Burma. Eventhough he is just 17, business tycoonsincluding Tay Za take him to massageparlours and other places of entertainmentthat finally ended up in his using ATS

drugs. It is not clear who supplied drugs

regularly to the grandson but later policesuspected Maung Weik and Aung Zaw YeMyint.

Hotel Nikko staff told Mizzima that theyused to see Pho La Pya with Tay Za of HtooTrading Company, one of the richestpersons in Burma at the Siam Spa in thehotel.

”All businessmen are trying to befriendThan Shwe’s grand children for a goodbusiness relationship,” a businessman said.

Despite Than Shwe’s anger with hisgrandson using drugs, the order for acrackdown did not come from the Snr. Gen.

The whole affair came to lightaccidentally when an actress NandarHlaing and her groom Zay Thiha invitedGen. Thura Shwe Mann, the number threeman in the military hierarchy, for theirwedding reception in May this year. ZayThiha is the son of the owner of May YeikNyo hotel and his brother-in-law is the sonof Shwe Mann.

A friend of the actress told Mizzimathat Shwe Mann asked whether she knewabout the cause of the death of one of themost popular actors Dwe, who died froman overdose of drugs. The actress bluntlybut politely replied she was not aware ofit. Then, Shwe Mann talked aboutwidespread use of drugs among moviestars and talked about his idea tocrackdown through the Home Ministry.

On the account of the number threeman, a personal assistant of Shwe Manntold his friend, the personal assistant ofMaung Oo, the Minister of Home Affairs.Then, Maung Oo, who immediately startedinvestigations.

Although investigations are still on, themilitary government is tight lipped about itand has denied the investigation is takingplace.

”We have not arrested any celebritiesnor charged any businessmen inconnection with drug abuse,” Police chiefKhin Yi said during a press conference heldin Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) on ‘ WorldDrugs Day’.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung Along With Top Leader ofthe Military Junta

Drug investigation, heavy punishment likely for Maung Weik

Mungpi July 8

In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis,Burma’s military rulers have assignedseveral private companies to undertakereconstruction work in the affected areas.However, many are said to be reluctant totake on the job as there is no certainty ofbeing paid the money they need to spend,sources said.

A source close to Burma’s militaryestablishment said, the junta has assignedmore than 30 companies to undertakereconstruction work. But several of these

companies are apprehensive of goingahead.

Normally, these business groups, mostbeing business cronies of the junta, rushin to help the regime in any kind of project,because the companies in return arerewarded with ‘Business Opportunities’,which give them special advantages in theirbusiness ventures.

”For companies, this has becomealmost like their life line,” the sourceadded.

However, with no clear indication ofany ‘Business Opportunities’ in return for

helping in reconstructing the cyclonedevastated areas, companies seem to besoft pedaling in undertaking voluntary andcharity work, the source said.

But Aung Naing Oo, a Thailand basedBurmese analyst, said while severalbusinessmen expressed theirapprehension, some have really beentouched by the extent of devastation andare fully involved in the reconstruction.

”Some groups have already givenmore than 20,000 US dollar worth of aidto help cyclone victims,” said Aung NaingOo, citing sources close to business circles.

But he also added that several othercompanies are playing games to gain outof helping cyclone victims in reconstructionand rehabilitation.

”There is gossip among the people inthe delta that this cyclone has clearlyshowed who among the businessmen havea human heart,” Aung Naing Oo said.

Following the devastation caused byCyclone Nargis, Burma’s military regimehas appointed several of its ministers tomonitor the reconstruction andrehabilitation work in different townshipsin the affected areas.

But the source close to the militarysaid, the junta was forced to undertake

reconstruction work out of shame andhumiliation.

The source said, the junta’s secretary1 Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, duringhis trip to Haing Gyi Island had told villagersthat “we are doing this relief andrehabilitation out of shame andhumiliation.”

While the information on Tin AungMyint Oo’s speech cannot be independentlyverified, an aid worker helping cyclonevictims in Rangoon division said, the juntahas been shifting cyclone refugees fromtheir make-shift tents in order to show thatthe situation has normalised.

”Now most of the temporary refugeecamps have been closed down and peoplehave been forced to go back home, wherethere is still nothing to live on,” the aidworker, who has been helping victims inKunchangone, Daedeye and Kawhmutownships in Rangoon division said.

He added that the authorities want toshow the international community thatunder their coordination and effort, thesituation has returned to normal.

Junta’s business cronies shying away from reconstruction work

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 11 JournalMizzimaThe

Inside Burma

Solomon

July 8

Two months after the deadly Cyclone

Nargis ripped across Burma’s southwestern

coastal divisions, more than 400 children

are still frantically searching for their

parents, the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF) said on Monday.

The UNICEF, in its report ’60 Days

response to Cyclone Nargis’ said, as of end

June 428 separated and unaccompanied

children have been traced.

Zafrin Chow Chury, spokesperson of

UNICEF in Rangoon said, “15 have been

reunited with their parents, but as for the

others we are still trying to trace their

parents.”

UNICEF said while it is focussing on

finding family members for separated

children, the process is largely hampered

by the movement of refugees from their

temporary shelters back to their villages

or from one location to another.

”At present, efforts at tracing the

families are being intensified with support

from partners,” the UN agency said.

Education

While tracing families for separated

children is being intensified, the UNICEF

said education for other children is one

among the major concerns as many of the

children cannot yet attend schools because

several schools have been severely

damaged or destroyed.

According to the UNICEF, over 4,100

schools have been damaged by the

cyclone that ravaged Burma’s Irrawaddy

and Rangoon division on May 2-3.

In Irrawaddy delta alone, at least

1,200 schools were totally destroyed and

many collapsed in the cyclone, the UN

agency said.

”We have helped in the repair of about

1,326 schools,” said Chury, but she said

there are still a lot of schools which need

to be repaired and reconstructed.

”We are providing support with back

up temporary learning spaces, tents and

material where all school buildings have

been destroyed,” Chury said.

Health

According to the UNICEF’s report,

Cyclone Nargis destroyed over 600 health

centres and contaminated more than 4,000

drinking water wells.

“The biggest challenge facing the

Health Sector is the destruction of Health

Centres and depletion of health workers

in the affected areas because of deaths,”

the UNICEF said.

While there has been no large-scale

outbreak of water borne or vector borne

diseases, UNICEF said cyclone survivors

need ORS, antibiotics, infusion, vaccines

and vitamin A to protect from any possible

outbreak of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue

hemorrhagic fever.

Over 400 orphans still search for parents:

UNICEF

Than Htike Oo July 8

The Burmese Army’s severe humanrights violations have forced 165 Karennirefugees to flee to refugee camps alongthe Thai-Burma border this year, campofficials said.

The 165 refugees are from Shardawand Phrusoe Townships in Karenni State.They fled to the border after beingintimidated by the army. They wereaccused by the troops of having contactwith insurgents, forced to relocated andforced into labour. The refugees startedarriving at the camps situated in Mae HongSong District, Thailand since January thisyear. The exodus continues till today.

”The Burmese Army soldierssummoned the refugees to their outpostsrepeatedly and lodged false complaintsagainst them. They were wrongly accusedof having contact with insurgents andsome were arrested on suspicion. They didnot dare stay in their villages and fled tothe border after hiding in the jungle forsome days,” Pho Pya, Chairman of KarenniRefugee Camp Committee, told Mizzima.

”The junta forcibly and frequentlyrelocated their villages. They were forcedto perform labour without being paid. Theywere made to work in building, mending

and renovating army outposts and fencesbuilt around them. Moreover they had topart with meat, food, fish, bamboo andtimber free of charge to the soldiers. Thesoldiers forcibly relocated their villagesunder various pretexts such as withholdinginformation on insurgent movements to thearmy, lading to encounters with theinsurgents around these villages amongother such fabricated charges. Therefugees chose to flee to the border as alast resort after suffering harassmentwhich was becoming unbearable,” Khu OoRe, Secretary II of ‘Karenni NationalityProgressive Party’ (KNPP), which is wagingan armed struggle against the junta said.

KNPP has had numerous skirmishesand encounters with the Burmese Army inShardaw and Mawchi areas. It is learntthat the Burmese Army’s LIB 426, 530 and531 are operating in these areas.

These new arrivals have beenaccommodated in their relatives’ housesand provided food by the Refugee CampCommittee.

The Camp Committee will havediscussions with the district authorities forgiving them refugee status.

The camp officials said that there areabout 23,000 recognized refugees inKarenni Camp No. 1 and 2.

Karenni refugees flee to Thai-Burma border

Phanida July 8

Author and blogger Nay Phone Latt,in custody for six months, was chargedagain under the 1950 EmergencyProvisions Act under section 5(j), a switchfrom the previous charge under section32(b) of the Video Act.

”His case has been changed to

section 5(j) of Emergency Provisions Act.The Special Branch (SB) of Police informedhim about it in prison on July 2, he said.He was previously charged under section32(b). The hearing is now fixed for July16. But he also said that he will not beproduced before the court on July 16 butwill be remanded again,” Aye Aye Than,his mother, who met him in prison yesterdaytold Mizzima.

Under section 32(b) of the Video Act,he is facing a maximum of six months inprison but now faces a maximum of sevenyears in jail under the new charge undersection 5(j) of Emergency Provisions Act,if convicted, the defense lawyer AungThein said.

”The authorities and the lawenforcement agencies do not respect andabide by the law. They changed the chargeaccording to their wishes. They couldn’tproduce the accused before the court asthey do not have a sound case. They havejust changed their charge sheet again andagain under different sections of differentActs. He has been in custody for long time,”he said.

The authorities arrested blogger NayPhone Latt on January 29 and remandedhim until today without producing him

before the court and now they havechanged their charge against him.

High court lawyer Aung Theinsubmitted an application to the authoritieson June 16 seeking an interview to get hisclient’s instructions, but has not got it yet.

Aye Aye Than said she had requestedthe authorities to let him have treatmentfor his eye disease.

”He is suffering from eye disease andI requested the prison authority to let himhave treatment. My son said tears cometo his eyes at night and he cannot readbooks, his sole companion in prison. I worryabout his eyesight. He must get propertreatment before it is too late. The doctorcan prescribe him medicine and vitaminsfor his eye disease. The eye is the mostdelicate part of the human body,” hismother said.

Meanwhile another famous humanright activist Suu Suu Nwe is suffering fromhigh blood pressure in solitaryconfinement.

”I couldn’t meet her yesterday. I senta food parcel to her through prisonauthorities. They said that prison meetingswith family members are banned forviolation of prison rules and discipline. Herblood pressure was 160-140 mm Hg when

I met her last time on June 30, she said.Our family doctor prescribed medicinesand we sent them to her through theprison authorities. We do not knowwhether she’s got it,” her elder sisterDaw Htay Htay Kyi who went yesterdayto meet her said.

A heart patient Suu Suu Nwe hit herhead against the brick wall after havingquarreled with the prison authorities atthe end of June. After that, she has beenkept in solitary confinement in a prisoncell.

”I saw a notice pasted at the prisongate saying she had quarreled with theprison staff many times and made manycomplaints and argued with them so shewas punished with 14 days solitaryconfinement,” lawyer Khin Maung Sheinsaid after visiting the prison on Friday.

Suu Suu Nwe was arrested on 14November 2007 in front of MyayeiknyoHotel while she was into a postercampaign. She was then charged undersection 143 & 145 (unlawful assembly),section 505(b) (inciting crime againstpublic tranquility) and section 124(a)(committing disaffection towards theState) of the Criminal Code. She will beproduced before the court againtomorrow.

Prosecution alters charge against blogger

Nay Phone Latt

July 2008 Vol.6 No. 7page 12 JournalMizzimaThe

damage paddy package

WFP faces fund shortage, awaits international

pledging

Solomon July 9

Faced with an acute shortageof funds, the United Nations WorldFood Programme is hoping aninternational appeal would help itcontinue its operations inproviding succour to cyclonesurvivors in Burma.

”Right now we still needabout 28 million dollars forcontinuing emergency operationsto provide food to 750,000affected people for over sixmonths,” said Paul Risley,spokesperson of WFP in Bangkok.

WFP said it requires a totalof US$ 69.5 million to provideemergency support to victims ofCyclone Nargis that lashedBurma’s southwest coastalregions two months ago, leavingmore than 138,000 dead andmissing.

Risley said the UN is planningto launch an international appealnext week both in Geneva andNew York, asking for more fundsfrom donor countries to assist inboth emergency relief andreconstruction work.

”That (international appeal)is expected to attract morecontributions and donations fromdonor governments to theProgramme,” Risley told Mizzima,

adding that the current donationsreceived for emergency relief andreconstruction work is below thetarget.

Burma’s military rulers in Mayappealed for US $ 11 billion foremergency relief andreconstruction but according tothe UN an overall donation of justover US $ 200 million has beenreceived so far.

As part of an internationalresponse to Cyclone Nargis thatleft more than 2.4 million peopledevastated, the Tripartite CoreGroup, consisting of members ofSoutheast Asian Nations,Burmese governmentrepresentatives andrepresentatives of the UN, on June20, concluded an initialassessment.

”That assessment probablywill be very helpful in determininghow long food should be providedboth by WFP, the government orother NGOs,” said Risley.

While the TCG released aninitial report, the full report of theassessment is yet to be submitted.

Meanwhile, the UN foodagency said it has receivedpermission from the Burmesegovernment to import rice fromneighbouring Thailand.

An insider close to theBurmese military establishment

earlier told Mizzima that the juntahad restricted the WFP frombuying rice locally as they fearthat UN food agency’s ricepurchase might result in shortageof food in the local market.

”Since WFP is purchasinghuge quantities, the governmentfears that rice may run short inlocal markets and that it mightlead to a rice price hike,” thesource said.

The source said the juntafeared that a price hike mightanger the common people, whoare reeling under anunprecedented natural disaster,and eventually ignite a politicalupheaval, in the backdrop ofpalpable political tension.

However, Risley denied thatthe government had imposed anysuch restriction on the WFP andsaid it has allowed buying ricelocally.

”We have receivedpermission to purchase rice[locally] and we have done it. Itwill arrive soon from Thailand andwill be apart of our fooddistribution,” said the WFPspokesman.

”There is rice available inYangon [Rangoon],” said PaulRisley. However it has startedpurchasing rice from Thailand.

Solomon & Myint MAungJuly 4

House rents in Burma’scyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta hashit an all time high as a result ofhumanitarian groups includingUnited Nations aid agencies takingbased in the area to help cyclonesurvivors.

A local resident of Laputtatown said rent for a simple oneflat house has rise to more than100,000 Kyat (approximately US$80) per month from what use tobe about 20,000 to 30,000 (US$23), after several aid groups havebeen deployed in the town.

”Usually, house rents arenever so high and landlords don’talways have people to rent theirhouses,” the local said.

Two storey RC buildings arenow being rented at a price ofmore than 400,000 kyat (US$300) per month, said the local,adding that the demand forrenting houses is soaring as morenon-governmental organizations

and aid groups are wanting totake based in the town.

According to him, there areat least 6 International NGOs andseveral other national NGO besideprivate donors, taking based inthe town.

Two months after the deathlyCyclone Nargis hit Burma’s coastalregions, aid workers saidemergency relief is yet to bereached to all survivors whilereconstruction is just beginning totake place.

According to the UN’s WorldFood Programme it has openwarehouses in Bogale, Laputtaand Pyapon towns, from which itis redistributing food supplies tocyclone victims.

“Everyday we see a lot of aidworkers moving in the town andthere seems to be a huge numberof them,” a teashop owner inPyapon town told Mizzima.

While helping cyclonesurvivors, humanitarian groupsincluding the UN aid agencies donot only meet with soaring high

price rents, but are also havingto deal with the high cost oflogistic support including rentingof vehicles and boats to carry aidsupplies.

Renting a small boat, whichcan carry about 30 to 40 ricebaskets, cost about 50,000 kyat(US$ 38) per day and large boatsthat could carry at least a 100baskets of rice cost about 100,000kyat (US$ 80), a local aid workerin Laputta town.

He added that renting trucksor four wheeler vehicles is about10 million to 20 million kyat (US$1,500) per month and is onlypossible for INGOs and UNagencies due to the high rentcharges.

Despite the high charges, theaid worker said, both boats andvehicles are being continuouslyrented as boats and vehicles arethe only way to reach to cyclonesurvivors in remote areas.

”We are renting large boatswith 100,000 kyat per day,” saidthe aid worker.

Aid groups face soaring rent prices

mizzima@mizzima.com, editor @mizzima.com, mizzima@hotmail.comPh : 91-11 9891358833, 91-11 24292212

www.mizzima.com, www.mizzima.tvDaily Updated Website On Burma And Related News And Issues

N e w s G r o u p

Soe MyintFlat No. 1, 63 C,Ibrahimpur Road,

Jadhavpur, Kolkata - 700032,India.

Publisher and Editor In-Chief

FOR SUBSCRIPTIONSPlease Contact

Solomon July 11

The United Nations on Thursday made a fresh appeal, urginggovernments across the globe to donate US $ 300 million more tohelp Burma recover from the devastating effects of Cyclone Nargis,which left more than 138,000 dead and missing.

Laksmita Noviera spokesperson of the UN Coordination OfficeMyanmar said the fresh appeal was revised and based on theassessment undertaken by the Tripartite Core Group of the UN,Asean, the Burmese government and NGOs.

”Based on the results of the TCG assessment, we now have aclearer or the big picture of the residual needs,” said Noviera.

”We are hoping that the donors will continue to support thehumanitarian organizations working in Myanmar [Burma],” sheadded.

The UN on Thursday launched the second appeal for donationto help victims of Cyclone Nargis that struck Burma on May 2 and3.

The UN received a total of US $ 201 million after the firstappeal and made a revised appeal based on the assessmentconducted by the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment teams, saidNoviera.

PONJA, which comprised 38 teams, conducted an extensivesurvey covering over 250 cyclone affected villages in Rangoonand Irrawaddy Divisions. It released an initial report in the end ofJune. But the full report is to be released on July 20-21.

Burma’s military government had requested the internationalcommunity including the UN to provide US$ 11 billion foremergency relief and reconstruction work in the cyclone affectedareas.

However, the Burmese junta, which initially restrictedmovement of international aid agencies, including the UN, to helpcyclone victims, failed to receive the requested amount.

Ironically, the junta in its mouthpiece newspaper, New Lightof Myanmar, on Friday attacked several developed countries forspending more on wars but failing to respond to the humanitariancrisis including Burma.

The article in the state-run newspaper said, the US in theGulf War in 1991, spent 650 million dollars in the first day, 80billion dollars on the 43-day air-army operation, and about 100billion dollars in total for the whole war.

In response to US request, Japan contributed 10.7 billiondollars, Germany, 6.6 billion dollars, and Australia, 250 million,the article added.

”Powerful countries have spent hundreds of billions of dollarson the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. How much will they spendon rehabilitation of victims of Cyclone ‘Nargis’?” the paper asked.

Despite its accusations, the Burmese regime disallowed US,French and British aid ships from entering its coast. The aid ships,which carried aid supplies including helicopters, withdrew afterwaiting for nearly a month.

The Burmese military junta welcomed aid supply but notinternational aid workers until the United Nations Chief Ban Ki-moon persuaded Burma’s military Supremo Snr. Gen Than Shweon May 23 to relent.

Though the United Nations said it needed more funding, theinternational community’s response to its appeal is positive as ithas been able to obtain about 75 percent after the first appeal.

”I don’t think it is a slow process because the first appealbrought in 75 per cent… I don’t think it is a slow process,” Novierasaid.

UN appeals for more donations

to help cyclone victims in

Burma

Packages of damaged paddy seeds seen on roadsides of Bogale town in Irrawaddy DeltaPhoto-komyo blog