Junta into diversionary tactics
News - Shan Herald Agency for News
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 13:04
In what seems to be tactics to divert attention, the Burmese Army has been deploying and redeploying troops and armour in Kachin State, Shan State North and Shan State East, but its next target after Kokang is so far anybody’s guess.
In northern Shan State, one tactical command of the Sagaing-based Light Infantry Division No. 33, deployed in Kokang last month, has been ordered to move to Kachin State further north, according to a border source. A tactical command from the Kalaw-based LID No. 55 is due to replace it. (One tactical command comprises three infantry battalions)
In eastern Shan State, more troops and heavy weapons are arriving in Mongkhark and Monyang, facing the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its southeastern ally the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
However, a representative from Naypyitaw, Col Kyaw Kyaw, who used to be commander of the Infantry Battalion No. 279 based in Mongyang, told the local people on September 4, “There is no way the government is going to attack either the Wa or Mongla.” He therefore urged the people to recall their relatives who have fled the area.
“Which is contrary to exhortations by local TV channels in neighbouring Yunnan to all Chinese nationals working on the Burmese side of the border to return to their homeland for their safety and welfare,” said a source close to the Mongla authorities.
On the Thai-Burma border, a Lahu militia source claimed yesterday that his unit was instructed to do everything it could to provoke the Wa soldiers to shoot first. “My boss told me that the idea is for the Burmese Army to have an excuse to attack the Wa, as it did in Kokang,” he explained.
Areas of the Kokang, a ceasefire group north of Wa, were overrun three days after an advancing police column was fired upon by the defenders on August 27.
The Burmese Army has also reinforced its troops at Namzarm, the village east of Monghsat, where the road branches off to the Wa strongholds in Mongyawn, opposite Thailand’s Mae Ai district. “There used to be only the LIB (Light Infantry Battalion) 333,” said a local. “But now we are seeing at least 200 more troops, with 10 armoured cars.”
West of the Salween in southern Shan State, all units have been ordered to requisition both civilian trucks and porters and be ready to move in 24 hours. “Even in Taunggyi and Kalaw, where requisition of trucks and porters were unheard of in the past, are not being spared,” a local source said “Each unit has to have at least 10 trucks and 100 porters at its disposal.”
Bewildered, many people are consulting local spirits through known mediums, he added.
Shan State Army leader Sao Yawdserk has predicted that Naypyitaw’s next target would be Mongla, followed by Kachin, Wa and then the SSA.
“The Burmese Army is in a high state of readiness,” commented a Thai security official. “What it needs is a good excuse (to attack the ceasefire groups).” http://www.bnionlin e.net/news/ shan/6993- junta-into- diversionary- tactics.html
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Junta into diversionary tactics
An 'Election' Burma's People Don't Need
An 'Election' Burma's People Don't Need
By U Win Tin
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb's recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue -- the potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.
In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma's people.
While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue -- based on peace and mutual respect -- that could address Burma's critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake -- these two issues are linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.
ad_icon
The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase "elections" and claiming that "disciplined democracy" will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined "foreign ties" from holding public office -- catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.
Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.
The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organize. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.
How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Burma's regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbors, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China." Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Burma's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Burma's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.
In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.
U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Burma's National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.
http://www.washingt onpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/ article/2009/ 09/08/AR20090908 02959.html
============ ========= ======
Win Tin Speaks Out
Win Tin Speaks Out
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
In an article published in the Washington Post on Wednesday, Win Tin hit out at the Burmese regime’s planned election in 2010.
Win Tin has spent 19 years in prison for his political beliefs and is considered to be the country’s most prominent contemporary politicians.
The senior leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) wrote: “Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham.”
He stated in his article that his party will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to Burma.
And he reinforced the NLD’s demands that all political prisoners are released, a full review of the constitution is granted and that the opposition be allowed to reopen its offices and have the right to associate and organize.
The former journalist and editor of the well-known Hanthawaddy newspaper wrote: “The regime's answer is the continued jailing of [Aung San] Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.”
He also criticized US Sen James Webb’s recent and controversial visit to Burma.
Win Tin said that he understands Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. But, he said, “Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue—the potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.”
Webb’s visit received mixed reviews among Burmese and international observers. Burma’s military leaders, including junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe, received Webb during his visit and allowed the US senator to meet detained democracy leader Suu Kyi.
Many ordinary Burmese in Burma mistakenly thought Webb represented the US government. Therefore, they assumed the US had dramatically shifting its policy on Burma by embracing the repressive regime.
The US government’s policy on Burma is under review and it is believed that the new policy will be a mixture of carrots and sticks.
During a recent visit to Asia, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that neither sanctions nor engagement work with Burma’s military dictatorship.
Copyright © 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy. org
http://www.irrawadd y.org/article. php?art_id= 16751
[info_ngo_hrn] HRNより新政権への総合的政策提言発表・国連人権理事会にむけて
ヒューマンライツ・ナウ メールマガジン購読者のみなさまへ
いつも大変お世話になります。
ヒューマンライツ・ナウでは、新しく民主党を中心とする政権が発足するのを前に、
人権を中心とする外交への転換および国内の人権課題の改善に関する総合的な
提言をとりまとめ、公表いたしました。以下をご確認ください。
http://hrn.or.jp/activity/advocacy.jpgobt2009.pdf
(これをクリックしてください)
提言では、今後の国際貢献・外交の中心として、人権促進を位置づけ、
アジア地域での人権機構の設立へのイニシアティブや、援助政策に
おける人権・ジェンダーの主流化などを進めることを求めています。
また、国内人権政策については、政府から独立した人権擁護機関の設置、
冤罪を生まない刑事司法の改革、人権条約の選択議定書の批准により
個人が人権条約機関に救済申し立てをできるようにすること、従軍慰安婦
など戦後補償の解決などを求め、今後も政策提言や人権政策の前進にHRN
として貢献していく姿勢を述べています。
これまでも、折にふれてHRNとしての政策提言をしてまいりましたが、
今回これまでの提言をとりまとめ、HRNとしての総合的な提案として公表した
ものです。今後その実現にむけて鋭意取り組む予定です。
HRNでは、国際的な人権課題に多く取り組んできましたが、日本における
人権政策の大きな転換の実現に貢献するため、今後、提言書に重要課題として
あげた日本の人権課題について、活動を強化する予定ですので、
皆様からのこの点でのご支援・ご協力もぜひよろしくお願いいたします。
なお、ヒューマンライツ・ナウでは、9月14日の人権理事会の12会期開催にあたり、
1 カンボジアの人権特別報告者の再任
2 パレスチナ、ガザ攻撃に関する真相究明
3 ビルマにおける人権状況の改善
を求めて現地でロビー活動を展開する予定でおります。
カンボジアに関連して以下の要請書を日本政府におくり申し入れを行いました。
http://hrn.or.jp/activity/topic/surya-prasad-subedi/
ビルマに関しては、以下の声明を発表しています。
http://hrn.or.jp/activity/product/statement/post-38/
パレスチナに関しては、国連の独立調査団の報告発表を受けて意見表明をする
予定でいます。ガザの国連施設に対する国連調査団の報告書を入手し
和訳して公表いたしましたので、ご活用いただければ幸いです。
http://hrn.or.jp/activity/area/cat69/200812272009119/
ヒューマンライツ・ナウでは、ガザ地区に対する攻撃が国際人権・人道法に対する
重大な違反がある可能性が極めて高いと考え、今後も国連調査の動向を
フォローアップしていく予定です。
今期、HRNは国内外の課題についていっそうの役割を果たしていきたいと考えていますので、
今後ともなにとぞよろしくお願いいたします。
ヒューマンライツ・ナウ事務局長 伊藤和子
Posts
