BURMA RELATED NEWS - DECEMBER 16, 2010-UTK

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BURMA RELATED NEWS - DECEMBER 16, 2010
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The Temasek Review - Lee Kuan Yew: ASEAN should not have admitted Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Bernama - Myanmar Launches Largest Hydropower Plant To Fulfil Electricity
Asian Correspondent - Burma’s Largest Hydropower Plant inaugurated for stronger military rule
Asia News Network - Burma needs 'less obtuse' leaders
AsiaOne - Dealing with Myanmar junta like 'talking to dead people'
Reuters - China PM on India charm offensive, offers trade boost
The Japan Times - Myanmar families take first steps
Business Standard - India gears up to serve in Security Council with new outlook
2point6billion - China to Issue Loan to Fund Gas Projects in Myanmar
Deutsche Welle - Myanmar minorities threaten to escalate their struggle
Galway Advertiser - Council calls for Aung Sang Suu Kyi to be invited to Galway to receive freedom
Bangkok Post - More than 3,000 teak logs seized in sting operation
The Irrawaddy - Min Ko Naing in Poor Health as Temperatures Drop
The Irrawaddy - Some Burmese NGOs Say Suu Kyi Hampers Their Work
Mizzima News - Prepare for battle, with better weapons, junta tells militias
DVB News - Victim of land confiscation facing jail
DVB News - Norway ‘funding abuse’ in Burma
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The Temasek Review - Lee Kuan Yew: ASEAN should not have admitted Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
December 16th, 2010 |

A day after a diplomatic spat erupted between Singapore and Malaysia as a result of leaked diplomatic cables quoting senior Singapore diplomats making unflattering remarks about their neighbors, another diplomatic storm threatened to engulf the entire Southeast Asia.

Whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks released the latest diplomatic cables on Singapore yesterday containing “confidential” conversations between PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew and U.S. Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold.

The cable with serial number “VZCZCXRO3881″ was wired to the embassies of Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and United States and therefore is unlikely to be a mere “gossip” and “cocktail talk”. (read full WikiLeaks cable here.)

During the meeting in 2007, Lee told the U.S. officials present that “ASEAN should not have admitted Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as members in the 1990’s.”

“The older members of ASEAN shared common values and an antipathy to Communism. Those values had been “muddied” by the new members, and their economic and social problems made it doubtful they would ever behave like the older ASEAN members,” Lee argued.

While Lee was most optimistic about Vietnam, he dismissed Laos as an outpost for China, saying that Laos reports back to China on the proceedings from all ASEAN coutnries and that Cambodia’s political system is too “personalized” around Prime Minister Hun Sen. (the pot calling the kettle back?)

The shocking release is likely to cause some red-faces among diplomats and leaders attending the next ASEAN summit in Indonesia next year.

There are no immediate comments from Lee, who has been strangely “missing in action” for the last one week since the eruption of the WikiLeaks fiasco.
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16 Disember, 2010 12:15 PM
Myanmar Launches Largest Hydropower Plant To Fulfil Electricity

YANGON, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Myanmar launched its largest hydropower plant of Yeywa Wednesday in northern Mandalay region, which is believed to contribute much to the development of the country's industrial sector and fulfil domestic electricity demand, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

The RCC embankment and Yeywa hydropower plant project was implemented by the Ministry of Electric Power-1 and the project involved contract by the CGGC International of the Gezhouba Group and China's SINOHYDRO Corporation.

The Yeywa dam is not only the first ever RCC facility in Myanmar but also the third largest RCC dam across the world, experts said, adding that the Yeywa hydropower plant is the 15th facility of its kind in the country.

Lying on the Myitnge River, 50 km southeast of Mandalay city, the 790-megawatt (mw) Yeywa hydropower plant was installed with four 197.5 mw generators that will generate 3.55 billion kilowatt- hours of electricity annually to fulfill electricity need of the nation.

The project, which costs about US$600 million, started in 2001 lasting for 10 years and the No. 1 generator started functioning in February 2010, No. 2 in July 2010, No. 3 in October and No. 4 on the day of total inauguration.

The completion of the project adds generating capacity to the country's total by nearly 50 percent, contributing to easing the country's electricity shortage and playing an important role in development of central Myanmar and its socio-economy as a whole.

The Yeywa hydropower plant is said to mainly distribute electricity to the commercial city of Yangon running short of electricity.

With development of the nation, electricity is in high demand and Myanmar claimed that all-out efforts were made on self-reliant basis in a short time for generating electricity that is essential for daily socio-economic life of the people and in building the industrialised nation.

Myanmar Prime Minister U Thein Sein, who inaugurated the plant, told the ceremony that although the nation is rich in water resources that can generate hydropower according to the geographical condition, Myanmar could generate 529.1 mw across the nation before 1988 due to many limitations such as the need of huge investment and long construction period.

As generating of electricity has been speeded up after 1988, 15 hydropower plants including the present Yeywa's, one coal-fired power plant and 15 gas-power plants totaling 31 across the nation are now generating 3,045 mw, he disclosed.

In addition, out of the ongoing hydropower projects, Shwegyin's that can generate 75 mw and Kunchaung's that can yield 60 mw are expected to be launched soon.

According to official statistics, installed capacity of 62 ongoing power stations totaled 41,393 mw with another one 25 mw plant being planned.

Upon completion of all the plants, Myanmar sees 44,267 mw of installed capacity with 94 power stations, generating more than 254 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

Meanwhile, according to other official report, a Japanese company, High Tech Concrete Technology Co Ltd, reached a contract with Myanmar in May this year on concrete work of Upper Yeywa hydropower project which is a follow-up one of the Yeywa project.

Moreover, four companies have signed a memorandum of understanding in April this year to jointly implement another giant hydropower project originally agreed between the electric power authorities of Myanmar and Thailand four years ago.

The Hutgyi hydropower project will be implemented among the Department of Hydropower Planning of the Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power-1, SINOHYDRO Corporation Ltd of China, EGAT International Co Ltd of Thailand and International Group of Entrepreneur Co Ltd.

Experts of Myanmar and Thailand have made initial survey on some river ports along Myanmar's Thanlwin River in preparation to build the hydropower plant already agreed in December 2005 between Myanmar and Thailand.

Soil tests on banks of some three ports along the river in southeastern Kayin state were carried out then by experts of Myanmar and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to build the Hutgyi hydropower plant under an agreement signed in December 2005.

The Hutgyi hydropower plant will consist of a 600 megawatt (mw) turbine that can produce 3.82 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) yearly.

The project constitutes part of those on the Thanlwin and Tanintharyi Rivers agreed earlier between Myanmar and Thailand in June 2005.

Furthermore, the Myanmar government is also encouraging local private companies to invest in hydropower projects to share the government's efforts in fulfilling the country's growing electric power demand.
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Asian Correspondent - Burma’s Largest Hydropower Plant inaugurated for stronger military rule
Dec. 16 2010 - 09:02 pm
By - Zin Linn

Minority groups in Burma are calling on the Chinese government to examine the negative impacts a dam on the Nam Mao River is having on people living downstream, according to the December 15 Bangkok Post Newspaper.

On 14 December, the groups released a 20-page report titled "High And Dry: The cross-boundary impacts of China's Longjiang Dam", which claims the dam is the main reason for unusually low water levels in the Nam Mao River in northern Shan state.

Charm Tong, a member of the Shan Women's Action Network, said at least 16,000 people living along the Nam Mao in Burma had encountered difficulties because of the low water levels.

"Unpredictable increases and decreases in the water level have caused water transport businesses to lose two-thirds of their income," she said. "They are now suffering very much."

The military junta has already planned to build 21 massive dams in Burma to be constructed by companies from Thailand, China and India. These dam projects will only earn revenue for the Burmese junta but will not benefit the people. As a result of these projects, human rights violations will be rampant in the project sites, according to the Burma River Network (BRN).

There is no public participation in decision making, no transparency in energy planning, and no alternative considerations for building the dams. On March 14 the International River Day, anti-dam campaigners urged neighbouring countries and international investors to put a halt to dam construction in Burma.

Coincidentally, Burma launched its largest hydropower plant of Yeywa on 15 December, 2010 (Wednesday) in northern Mandalay region. It is believed to contribute much to the development of the country's industrial zone which belongs to the generals and their cronies.

The RCC embankment and Yeywa hydropower plant project was put into service by the Ministry of Electric Power-1 and the project involved contract by the CGGC International of the Gezhouba Group and China's SINOHYDRO Corporation. The Yeywa dam is not only the first ever RCC facility in Burma but also the third largest RCC dam across the world, experts said. The Yeywa hydropower plant is the 15th facility of its kind in the country.

Lying on the Myitnge River, 50 km southeast of Mandalay city, the 790-megawatt (mw) Yeywa hydropower plant was installed with four 197.5 mw generators that will generate 3.55 billion kilowatt- hours of electricity annually.

As said by the junta’s media, the achievement of the project adds generating power to almost 50 percent of the country in general. It is going to ease the country's electricity shortage and playing an important role in development of central Burma.

The junta’s mouthpiece newspapers say that the facility will fulfill electricity need of the people. But, residents in the region daren’t believe the propagandas as they have had enough experience in the past.

The Yeywa hydropower plant is said to mainly distribute electricity to the commercial city of Yangon running short of electricity. With development of the nation, electricity is in high demand in Burma.

Junta’s Prime Minister Thein Sein, who inaugurated the plant, told the ceremony that national plans were laid down and are being implemented with momentum for development of all-round infrastructures such as agriculture, transport, human resources and health care services in the Union including border areas. With development of the nation, electricity is in high demand and thus, all-out efforts were made on a self-reliant basis in a short time for generating electricity that is essential for daily socioeconomic life of the people and in building the industrialized nation, he said.

As generating of electricity has been speeded up after 1988, 15 hydropower plants including the present Yeywa's, one coal-fired power plant and 15 gas-power plants totaling 31 across the nation are now generating 3,045 mw, he disclosed.

Even though, the junta’s prime minister did not mention the impact of the emergence of dams. Due to the dams, there will be deforestation; plantations and fields will be flooded; green pastures will become extinct; and there will be global warming, said a forestry expert.

Dams menace international renowned biodiversities and its enriched areas. Nobody can gather enough information about the devastation of the environment in such region. On March 14, 2009, the International River Day, anti-dam campaigners urged neighbouring countries and international investors to put a halt to dam construction in Burma.
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Asia News Network - Burma needs 'less obtuse' leaders
Rachel Chang The Straits Times
Publication Date : 16-12-2010

According to a WikiLeaks cable released Wednesday (December 15), Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew allegedly told two United States diplomats in late 2007 that a solution to the political crisis in Burma then was for a younger group of 'less obtuse' military officers to step forward to run the country.

The two US diplomats were then-US ambassador to Singapore Patricia Herbold and then US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Thomas Christensen, who was visiting Singapore at the time.

According to the cable they sent from Singapore to Washington on Oct 17, 2007, Lee said Burma's leadership was "dense" and "stupid", and he had given up on them a decade ago as it was like "talking to dead people".

In September 2007, hundreds of thousands of Burmese people, led by Buddhist monks, protested against the military regime. A bloody crackdown quelled the protest, but left the region reeling.

During his meeting with the US diplomats, Lee allegedly said the younger generation of military leaders could share power with Burmese democracy activists, although probably not with Aung San Suu Kyi as she is 'anathema' to the military.

He allegedly added that the Burmese ambassador had told Singapore's ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) that the country could "survive any sanctions" due to its natural resources.

Asked about the possibility of Asean naming an envoy to engage Burma, Lee allegedly said it could not be someone from Singapore as it was too close to the US.

He purportedly suggested Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as an interlocutor, as he was a "former general" and "keen to play the role of peacemaker".

The cable is the latest from Singapore that WikiLeaks has released. It has said that it has more than 800 cables from Singapore, out of a total of 250,000 leaked cables.

Lee also allegedly told the US diplomats that Asean should not have admitted Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam to the 10-member grouping in the 1990s, as they did not share the same values as the original members - such as an antipathy to communism.

Asean's common values had been 'muddied' by the new members, and their social and economic problems made it doubtful that they would ever behave like the original members.

Although Lee characterised the Vietnamese as "bright, fast learners", he allegedly said that Cambodia's political system was too personalised around Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Laos was an "outpost of China", reporting back to it from all Asean meetings.

Lee's purported comments on Taiwan, Japan and the China-Asean relationship were also detailed in the cable.

Lee has made his frustration with the Burmese junta known before. According to news reports from October 2007, he told American journalists he believed the junta could not "survive indefinitely".

Both Lee's press secretary and MFA declined to comment on the latest leaked cable.

On Sunday (December 12), responding to reporters about other leaked cables containing comments purportedly made by Singapore diplomats about neighbouring countries, foreign minister George Yeo said the comments were taken out of context, and were interpretations of views reflected by US officials.

The ministry therefore would not respond to the remarks, he said, as it would not be right to comment on what might have passed in an informal and confidential setting.

He also urged the public not to read too much into the comments.
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AsiaOne - Dealing with Myanmar junta like 'talking to dead people'
AFP Thu, Dec 16, 2010

SINGAPORE - Singapore's founding father Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said dealing with Myanmar's regime was like 'talking to dead people', US cables from WikiLeaks showed.

In a 2007 meeting with top US officials, Mr Lee also reportedly said Myanmar's envoy in Singapore had told the city-state that his country could "survive any sanctions" because of its abundance of natural resources.

"He said he had given up on them (Myanmar's rulers) a decade ago, called them 'dense' and stupid' and said they had mismanaged the country's great natural resources," according to the US cable classified as confidential.

Mr Lee believed the Myanmar problem could be solved if a younger generation of generals who were less "obtuse" would step forward and possibly forge a power-sharing agreement with the country's democracy movement, the cable said.

"They could share power with the democracy activists, although probably not with Aung San Suu Kyi, who was anathema to the military," it said.

Mr Lee also reportedly told Thomas Christensen, the former deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, in the meeting that ASEAN should not have admitted Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as members in the 1990s.

"The older members of ASEAN shared common values and an antipathy to Communism," the leaked diplomatic cable released on WikiLeaks' website said.

"Those values had been 'muddied' by the new members, and their economic and social problems made it doubtful they would ever behave like the older ASEAN members."

Asked about the prospects of ASEAN appointing an envoy to Myanmar, Mr Lee suggested that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's military background would make him an ideal candidate for the post.

"He suggested that Indonesian President Yudhoyono could potentially be an interlocutor," the US cable said.

"As a former general, SBY might be able to meet with Senior General Than Shwe and get him to listen.

"Furthermore, SBY is 'keen to play the role of peacemaker' but the challenge would be getting someone who is not too close to the United States to ask him to do it."
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China PM on India charm offensive, offers trade boost
By Sui-Lee Wee and Abhijit Neogy – 49 mins ago

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pressed on with a charm offensive in India on Thursday, offering support for New Delhi's bid for a greater role in the United Nations and agreeing on an ambitious target of $100 billion in trade between the rising Asian powers by 2015.

Relations between the world's two fastest growing major economies are tense, despite the booming trade relationship between them. Nearly 40 years after they fought a war there are still rifts over disputed borders, and suspicion in New Delhi over China's regional ambitions and its close ties with arch-rival, Pakistan.

But both Wen and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh exchanged vows of amity and goodwill, appearing to brush under the carpet a series of differences that have dogged relations for decades.

"I believe with our joint efforts, through the visit, we'll be able to raise our friendship and cooperation to a high level in the new century," said Wen, standing alongside Singh at the Indian presidential palace after a formal red-carpet welcome ceremony.

Wen's visit, the first by a Chinese premier to India in five years, has looked carefully choreographed to improve ties between two countries that between them are home to more than a third of the world's population.

At least 34 Tibetan protesters were arrested for taking part in anti-China demonstrations in New Delhi on Thursday.

Arriving with more than 300 business leaders on Wednesday, Wen said that India and China were not rivals and there was room in the world for both powers to develop.

"There is a trust deficit, a trade deficit but certainly not a charm deficit," said broadcaster CNN IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose.

Singh responded in kind to Wen's effusive words before they went into a meeting behind closed doors: "A strong partnership between India and China will contribute to long-term, peace, stability, prosperity and development in Asia and the world."

BOOSTING TRADE

China's willingness to increasingly engage with India on key issues such as their dispute over boundaries, as well as free trade talks, could stem from a realization in Beijing that China needs India's support in increasingly significant international platforms such as the G20.

The two sides said they wanted bilateral trade to cross $100 billion by 2015 from $60 billion in 2010, partly driven by greater access for Indian firms to Chinese markets.

Wen offered plenty of compromises during his visit but gave few details on when and how the thorny issues, including reducing India's trade deficit with China, would be addressed.
India's trade deficit with China is by far the highest among its trade partners and could touch $25 billion this year, which would account for around a fifth of India's total expected annual deficit.

India has sought to diversify its trade basket, but raw materials and other low-end commodities such as iron ore still make up about 60 percent of its exports to China.

"We would like our pharmaceuticals, we would like our agricultural commodities and we would like our IT services, all of which we are brand leaders internationally, to come into China," said Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

India and China are the world's fastest-growing major economies. But India fears China wants to curtail its rise as a global power, and is concerned about Beijing's close security ties with Pakistan where Wen arrives on Friday on the second part of his trip.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 and Delhi broke off peace talks after Pakistani militants attacked Mumbai in 2008, killing 166 people.

The China-India statement on Thursday outlined Beijing's support for U.N. Security Council Resolution 1267, which calls for sanctions against the Lakshar-e-Taiba militant group that New Delhi blames for the attack and accuses Pakistan of harboring.

India also fears China wants to restrict its global reach by possibly opposing its bid for a permanent U.N. Security Council seat or encircling the Indian Ocean region with massive projects from Pakistan to Myanmar.

China reiterated its support for India's aspirations to play a greater role in the Security Council, but it stopped short of expressing full backing for India.

CHARM OFFENSIVE

Long wary of Washington's influence in South Asia, Beijing's overtures toward New Delhi come just a little over a month after U.S. President Barack Obama's trip to India, during which he endorsed India's long-held demand for a permanent seat.

India has sewn up almost $50 billion in commercial deals with the United States, France and China over the past few weeks. The number of foreign leaders visiting, with Russia's president due next week, highlight the growing importance of India on the world stage.

Wen's avuncular style contrasts sharply with that of Singh, who is seen as shy and lacking charisma. Singh is also engulfed in what may be India's biggest corruption scandal, threatening the stability of the Congress party-led coalition government.

Wen announced on Wednesday that Chinese companies would sign deals with Indian firms worth more than $16 billion ranging from power equipment to telecoms gear -- underscoring business was driving the relationship, for now. Chinese banks will provide the bulk of lending for these deals.

Although both India and China have said they are exploring a possible free-trade agreement, no real progress was made on that front during the visit as there is skepticism in New Delhi that Beijing may only want to dump cheap manufactured goods on India's booming $1.3 trillion economy.

"Gradually, the whole relationship seems to be becoming better than before ... on the economic side, the private deals signed yesterday show things might be becoming a little more equitable," Bhaskar Roy, a political analyst told Reuters.

China is now India's largest trade partner and two-way trade is expected to reach $60 billion in 2010/11 compared with $3 billion in 2001/02 -- illustrating the phenomenal growth rate.

Still, total investment by China in India is small, amounting to only $221 million in 2009, representing about 0.1 percent of China's total outward foreign direct investment in that year. That figure is seven times less than what China has invested in Pakistan, according to official data.

While the two are often lumped together as emerging world powers, China's GDP is four times bigger than India's and its infrastructure outshines India's dilapidated roads and ports, a factor that makes New Delhi wary of Beijing's growing might.
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Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
RESETTLEMENT
The Japan Times - Myanmar families take first steps
By MASAMI ITO Staff writer

The air was filled with hope and warmth as the five families from Myanmar who are in Japan on the third-country resettlement program met with visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees chief Antonio Guterres last month in Tokyo.

"This is the first group that resettles in Japan . . . and we all want your integration in Japanese society to be a success," Guterres told the families. "And when I look at your children, I hope that they will become doctors or engineers, that they can really have a wonderful future in this country."

Guterres, who had been a strong advocate for Japan to start the resettlement program, was in Tokyo last month for the first time since the families arrived from Thailand in September and October.

A total of 27 family members of ethnic Karen ranging from young children to adults were selected by the Japanese government from the Mera refugee camp at the Thailand-Myanmar border.

The Mera camp is the temporary home to 50,000 refugees, most of whom fled Myanmar because of the armed conflict between the military junta and Karen National Union rebels.

"You have suffered a lot . . . and I know how difficult it has been for all of you. The conditions of the camp were also not so good and I hope that finally you will find a new home," Guterres said.

Since their arrival, the families — including the children — have been undergoing intensive training to learn the Japanese language and daily-life skills like using electronic goods and flush toilets. The training, which ends next spring, has kept the families extremely busy getting ready for their new lives in Japan.

One of the fathers spoke on behalf of the five families, expressing their gratitude to the government.

"We are truly grateful for being welcomed to Japan and we would like to express our appreciation to the Japanese government for its various support, including the resettlement training program," he said.
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Business Standard - India gears up to serve in Security Council with new outlook
Press Trust of India / December 16, 2010, 13:08 IST

India is gearing up to serve the powerful UN Security Council as a non-permanent member after a gap of 19 years with a fresh outlook on several international issues, especially human rights.

India will return to the Security Council on January 1, 2011 for a two-year period along with South Africa, Colombia, Germany and Portugal.

"Over the last year we have been repositioning ourselves on issues...I can anticipate that we will be much more upfront and even demanding on human rights issues," said Hardeep Singh Puri, India's ambassador to the UN.

"That reflects the changing priorities in India," he told PTI.

"I don't see us having any problem in terms of where our interest lies and where the interest of the permanent members lie including the West...In fact I think we are on the same page with them on most of these issues."

One indication of this stance was the case of Iran where India abstained on a resolution dealing with human rights in that country, instead of voting against it.

"Quite likely we will review the situation and see how the situation develops and there may be even a further movement in the vote," Puri said.

The top diplomat further stressed that while India is part of G-77 and the Non-Aligned world, this affiliation would not prevent it from taking actions and positions that contributed to the "larger public good."

"If this means going against positions that some groups take then we will have no hesitation," he said.

Puri, however, dismissed reports that India's changing position had to do with appeasing the US and other Western countries in order to secure a permanent seat on the Security Council.

"India takes position in a manner in which India deems appropriate and we think it is the right thing to do and it is in our interest...I don't subscribe to the fact that we will take positions because we are extra accommodative."

The situation in Myanmar, however, is more complicated.

While the Western nations are ready to openly slam the regime for human rights abuses, India, China and other south-east Asian nations in the neighbourhood are more cautious in their approach.

India and China have been criticised by human rights groups for going soft on the Myanmar's military regime to secure its trade interests and President Barack Obama has called on New Delhi to be tougher.

"We prefer the silent counseling approach... The objectives are the same, the question is what modalities you use," Puri said.
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2point6billion - China to Issue Loan to Fund Gas Projects in Myanmar

Dec. 16 – On November 30, Myanmar Foreign Investment Bank and China Development Bank Corporation signed an agreement in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyitaw for cooperation that commits US$2.4 billion of loan issuance from China in the future.

According to Jin Honggen, economic and commercial counselor to the Chinese embassy in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon, the loan will mainly be invested in the China-Myanmar gas pipeline, which runs from Myanmar’s Kyaukphyu, Rakhine to China’s Yunnan Province. The massive natural gas project in Kyaukphyu will involve Myanmar, China, South Korea and India, with Myanmar will taking up 7.3 percent of the shares.

Jin added that the completion of the project will benefit both Myanmar and China because the natural gas will also be supplied to meet Yunnan Province’s industrial and residential requirements.

Although he did not provide more details, Jin said the rest of the loan will be used in other different projects, while Dr. Maung Aung, a Myanma economist hopes the government will use the funds to strengthen Myanmar’s infrastructure, which – according to Economy Watch – is generally considered to be the main hindrance to the country’s underdeveloped international trade.

Myanmar is currently one of the leading producers of natural gas via pipeline in the Asia-Pacific region. A report on the Myanmar Times says the country’s two offshore projects in the Gulf of Mottama produce more than 1 billion cubic feet of gas every day, and Myanmar has so far earned more than US$2 billion from exporting natural gas to Thailand. The new gas project addition is hoped to bring the country even more earnings over the next three years.
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Politics | 14.12.2010
Deutsche Welle - Myanmar minorities threaten to escalate their struggle
Rebels in the eastern part of Myanmar (Burma) are threatening to escalate their struggle against the government. Thousands of people have fled the region.
Author: Bernd Musch-Borowska / tb
Editor: Arun Chowdhury

The Shan State Army is one of the biggest rebel armies in Myanmar. It has pledged that there will be an escalation of fighting with the Burmese military unless the junta is ready to hold talks with the country's ethnic minorities.

Thousands of new recruits have been trained over the past weeks in the jungles of the northeastern Shan State, claims the commander of the Shan State Army, General Yawd Serk.

Unstable border region

He is calling on Myanmar's rebel groups to join hands in fighting the military. "If we take on the armed forces together, we are as strong as they are. Even if they have more arms and better equipment than we have, they cannot defeat us because their soldiers are not as determined as ours," he says. "If the military regime is not ready to enter into a dialogue with the minority groups, the ongoing fighting will spread to other parts of the country."

The military is dominated by Myanmar's ethnic majority, the Burmans. For decades, the military has been unable to control many border regions, where more than 100 ethnic minorities, comprising more than 30 percent of Myanmar's population, are concentrated.

Precarious security situation

In the past, the junta tacitly accepted the fact that different rebel armies controlled these territories. The junta also struck ceasefire deals with them. But recently, the regime has sought to expand its control by integrating the rebel groups into the military-run Border Guard Force.

This has triggered widespread anger among the minorities and led to a number of clashes with the army this year. In several minority areas, the regime called off the general elections in November, citing the precarious security situation as a reason.

Refugees fleeing across Thai border

But analysts believe that the military-backed party would not have stood a chance in elections against the local candidates. On the election day, November 7, heavy fighting erupted between rebels of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army DKBA and Burmese forces in Myawaddy, a town on the border with Thailand. Although the rebels were driven away after a couple of days, the fighting continues in the region.

"The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army had a ceasefire agreement with the government. But they were being pressurized more and more, until they couldn't take it any longer and took up their arms again - which was the best decision they could take," Yawd Serk says.

Fearing more fighting, thousands of people of the Karen minority have fled across the Thai border during the past weeks. After marching through the jungle for days, they crossed the river to Mae Sot, where hundreds of thousands of refugees from Myanmar have been living in overcrowded camps for years.
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Council calls for Aung Sang Suu Kyi to be invited to Galway to receive freedom
Galway Advertiser, December 16, 2010.
By Kernan Andrews

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi has been invited to officially visit the city and receive the Freewoman of Galway honour, originally given to her in 2005.

Ms Suu Kyi, who was, until recently living under house arrest in Burma, was originally conferred with the honour five years ago, but was unable to receive it due to her incarceration by the Burmese military.

Following her release, calls have come from both the Labour party and Independent councillor Catherine Connolly to invite the pro-democracy leader to Galway and grant her the honour with a formal reception.

At Monday’s city council meeting Labour councillor and Galway West candidate Derek Nolan called for the Department of Foreign Affairs to invite Ms Suu Kyi to Ireland. The motion was passed.

“This situation needs to be remedied,” said Cllr Nolan. “Aung San Suu Kyi has been a global icon of heroic and peaceful resistance in the face of military repression, and she takes her rightful place in history among Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi. I hope that at some time she will be able to accept our invitation.”
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Bangkok Post - More than 3,000 teak logs seized in sting operation
DSI accuses company of using false papers
Published: 16/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

CHIANG MAI: Authorities have confiscated more than 3,000 teak logs estimated to be worth more than 200 million baht and believed to have been smuggled into Thailand from Burma.

A security force led by the Department of Special Investigation seized more than 3,000 teak logs worth about 200 million baht in Chiang Mai. The logs are alleged to have been smuggled into Thailand from Burma through nearby Mae Hong Son. CHEEWIN SATTHA

A joint operation between the Department of Special Investigation, Customs Department and Royal Forestry Department raided two sawmills owned by Suksawat Group Co yesterday and seized the logs.

The operation was carried out following a complaint from Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga that a company had imported teak wood illegally from Burma through Mae Hong Son.

DSI deputy chief Narat Savetnant alleged Anton Co had falsely declared the confiscated logs to the Customs Office in Mae Hong Son as sawn timber using 57 documents that claimed the imports had been approved by Burmese officials.

The import documents were later found to be counterfeit, Mr Narat said.

The crackdown has raised questions over whether local officials responsible for approving the import of the confiscated wood were aware of the company's activities.

No charges have been made against officials but they will face an inquiry to determine if they had anything to do with the illegal wood imports and whether they should take responsibility, Mr Narat said.

The DSI unit which investigates special criminal cases in the North has been looking into the case since February. It had learned by September that Anton Co had imported sawn teak from Burma under suspicious circumstances.

The company owner was charged by the DSI with violating regulations on the import of sawn timber.

Anton Co said last month it was considering suing the Forestry Department for refusing to renew its licence to transport teak logs from Burma through Salawin National Park in Mae Hong Son.

Phichet Lertlum-umphaiwong, the company's deputy managing director, said its permission to transport teak expired a month ago and the department had refused to renew it, even though it had previously been renewed on a yearly basis.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti claimed at the time that the company did not have an export licence from Burma and no source-of-origin documents to prove where the logs came from. Anton Co insisted legal documents were issued by Myanmar Timber Enterprise, the government-owned corporation and sole extractor of timber in Burma.
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The Irrawaddy - Min Ko Naing in Poor Health as Temperatures Drop
By SAW YAN NAING Thursday, December 16, 2010

Min Ko Naing, a well-known activist and leader of the 88 Generation Student group, is in greater pain due to cold temperatures in Kengtung, where he is serving a 65-year prison sentence in a remote township in eastern Shan State that is one of the coldest places in the country at this time of year.

Suffering from osteoporosis, a disease weakening the bones that is exacerbated by poor diet and lack of exercise, he is experiencing pains in his arms, hands and legs.

Political and other prisoners in Burma commonly suffer from health problems due to poor diet and the lack of proper medical care and staff in Burma's prisons. Min Ko Naing has previously suffered from eye disease and hypertension (high blood pressure) while in jail.

Speaking with The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Min Ko Naing's sister Kyi Kyi Nyunt said, “It is like living in a freezer there and he can't do much physical exercise to warm himself up, so his legs and hands are painful.”

Min Ko Naing is only allowed to meet with family members one time every three months. His sister's last visit was in October and the next visit will not be until January.

“We worry about his health as the Kengtung area is now very cold and he isn't given enough time for walking or physical activities,” said Tate Naing, secretary of the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Min Ko Naing is only allowed one hour a day for walking. However, he is allowed to read some journals and religious books in the prison.

Min Ko Naing was arrested in August 2007, along with more than a dozen other members of the 88 Generation Students group, after leading demonstrations against steeply rising prices. The demonstrations preceded massive protests the following month, which were brutally suppressed by the regime.

Min Ko Naing and his colleagues Ant Bwe Kyaw, Hla Myo Naung, Htay Kywe, Ko Ko Gyi, Kyaw Min Yu and Phyoe Cho of the 88 Generation Students group were sentenced to 65-year jail terms for their participation in the non-violent protests in 2007.

Tate Naing also said female activist Nilar Thein, a mother and member of the 88 Generation Student group who is being detained in Thayet prison in Magwe Division, is also in poor health due to a peptic ulcer.
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The Irrawaddy - Some Burmese NGOs Say Suu Kyi Hampers Their Work
By HTET AUNG Thursday, December 16, 2010

Some Burmese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have complained to a United Nations envoy that their work has been hampered by the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her active involvement in social issues.

The complaints were voiced in a meeting between Vijay Nambiar, the UN secretary-general's special envoy to Burma, and representatives of local NGOs during his two-day visit to Burma. Unofficial notes on the meetings, obtained by The Irrawaddy, reported that the potential for opening up the country's civil society groups to address the country's social issues
in the post-election period had been discussed.

Among those who met Nambiar were Nay Win Maung, of Myanmar Egress; Khin Maung Yin and Dr Myo Lwin of the Pyo Pin Program; Thiha Kyaing of the Phoenix Association (Myanmar); Myint Su from the Local Resource Center; and officials from the Metta Foundation and the International Development Enterprise.

The notes on the meeting said Nay Win Maung and Khin Maung Yin told the UN envoy it had become more difficult to carry out their social works after Suu Kyi's release because of what they perceived as her hardline political stand. Her call for a second Panglong conference, for example, was “dangerous,” they said.

However, the notes didn't elaborate precisely on how the NGOs felt Suu Kyi's political stand could hamper their social works. The Irrawaddy tried to contact Nay Win Maung to obtain further elaboration but couldn't reach him.

Nay Win Maung is one of the founders of Myanmar Egress, which actively promoted the Nov. 7 election through voter education programs. He also owns the local weekly journal The Voice. Khin Maung Yin is a leader of the Pyo Pin Program, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development via the British Embassy in Rangoon.

“They don't view the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi positively,” said Thiha Kyaing. “They said they could do their social works better before Daw Suu was freed and that after her release the political situation became shaky. It was difficult for them to operate their works.”

Thiha Kyaing said he didn't share these views. “Most of the people who met the special envoy are not really working at the grassroots level and they spoke mostly about policy issues, neither truly representing nor knowing the real situation of the community.”

Phoenix Association is a non-profit social organization and its members are people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization was established in 2005 with the objective of supporting HIV/AIDS patients facing social and economic problems.

Thiha Kyaing said the Phoenix Association had not experienced greater difficulty in carrying out its social work since Suu Kyi's release, which the organization viewed positively.
“In fact, Daw Suu's influence can even be used to raise funds for our work.” he said. “People in the communities that I am working with strongly support Daw Suu.”

In the unofficial meeting notes, Nay Win Maung and Khin Maung Yin said Suu Kyi needs to update her knowledge of the changes that occurred during her house arrest.

They complained they hadn't had a chance to meet Suu Kyi—although Thein Oo, the National League for Democracy (NLD) official responsible for arranging all meetings with Suu Kyi, told The Irrawaddy: “There has so far been no request from Egress to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Ohn Kyaing, the NLD central executive committee member responsible for contacts with other local organizations, dismissed the Egress and Pyo Pin Program complaints as “baseless.” He said: “Since her release, she has already made clear that she is willing to cooperate with all parties.”

Following her release last month, Suu Kyi has advocated a strengthening of the civil society organizations. In a video speech sent to the recent EU Development Forum, she called for more investment in the development of civil society organizations, adding that it must be “accountable and transparent.”
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Prepare for battle, with better weapons, junta tells militias
Thursday, 16 December 2010 21:02 Jai Wan Mai

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Burmese Army officers promised better weapons including heavy arms to around 200 junta-led militia leaders in Tangyan Township in Shan State’s north after calling them to a meeting early this week, a militia source said.

People’s militias and Border Forces Directorate chief Major General Maung Maung Ohn, told them to increase their combat readiness, the militia source said.

Maung Maung Ohn praised the co-operation and loyalty of the militias and promised to supply more weapons to, he said, maintain stability and peace in the area. Heavy weapons would also be provided he said.

He urged participants to closely monitor troop movements of the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) and the United Wa State Army (UWSA), a pair of the armed ethnic groups that have rejected the Burmese generals plan that they transform into Border Guard Forces (BGF) or state militia under junta command.

Around 1,500 militia soldiers have lined up in Tangyan along the frontiers of territories held by SSA-N Brigade 1 and the UWSA.

Among the meeting participants, Bo Moon and Ja Htaw, who were believed to head the two strongest militia, were also present, the source said.

Bo Moon is an adopted son of notorious Golden Triangle drugs kingpin Khun Sa, who surrendered to Burmese authorities in 1996. The son gained the full support of the Burmese Army after he joined Burmese troops in halting the advance of SSA-S troops towards the north of Shan State between 1999 and 2000.

He is allegedly involved in the drug trade, under the protection of a reputed force of 800 armed men. The group is sometimes known as the Wan Pang militia.

Meanwhile, Ja Htaw, of Lahu ethnicity, had about 250 men but only 150 were armed, a Shan State source said.

One military analyst said: “The Burmese regime has been successful in using the ‘divide and rule’ strategy to [thwart] the opposition groups. The break-up of the Karen struggle by using the DKBA against KNU, the collapse of the Mong Tai Army, the Kachin, Mon and Pa-O were obvious examples. The Burmese Army will not hesitate to use other groups to attack its main rivals.”

He was referring to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and its rivals since 1994, the Karen National Union. He predicted: “Militia groups would be used on front lines in case a bigger confrontation between the opposing groups and the Burmese Army takes place.”

A Lahu man in Chiang Mai said: “The Lahu people were both recruited into the UWSA or the Burmese Army … we don’t want our people to be used as pawns.”

He confirmed that some of the Lahu militia leaders had gained business concessions for co-operating with the Burmese Army but that many Lahu people were still poor.

A trader in Mae Sai gave his thoughts on why local merchants had moved their allegiance to the junta-led militias.

“Many businessmen have changed their business partners from within ceasefire groups to those of militia groups because they have more power than the ceasefire groups,” the trader said. “Some of the businesses are illegal”.

He added that the Burmese Army had applied increasing pressure in various forms on the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), aka the Mongla group, and the UWSA, to transform into BGFs. Currently, Burmese officials had also stopped goods entering the NDAA-controlled area through the Taping border checkpoint.
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DVB News - Victim of land confiscation facing jail
By NAW NOREEN
Published: 16 December 2010

A farmer whose land and property was confiscated and destroyed by Rangoon authorities faces a possible jail term after being charged with trespassing.

Zaw Weik had initially refused to leave his Tagondai village land when approached in 2008 by two fish farmers, Aung Shein and Khin Myint, who were accompanied by local authorities. He claims they then destroyed his two houses and farmland in two separate incidents, in 2009 and January 2010.

He added that his bean crops were razed whilst he was attending a court hearing in March this year.

Rangoon division authorities are attempting to sue Zaw Weik on charges of trespassing that stem from his refusal to leave the land. He claims also that the death of his son earlier this year was linked to the case.

“My younger son took photos of the people destroying our house and the crops and he was assassinated on 10 June [2010] under the guise of an accident when a motorbike crushed into a shop stall,” Zaw Weik said.

“They are hiding the truth of the assassination. Our reports on the two incidents were barely read and absolutely no action was taken.” He added that both sides in the trial have finished presenting arguments and a verdict is due to be heard next week.

Land confiscation by authorities in Burma is rife. The majority of cases involve land been taken for infrastructure projects, although numerous cases of farmland being forcibly converted to grow specific crops abound.

Only the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) is officially mandated to deal with cases of land confiscation, although groups such as Guiding Star, run by lawyer Aye Myint, handle complaints.
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DVB News - Norway ‘funding abuse’ in Burma
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 15 December 2010

Norway’s state-owned pension fund is investing in companies that continue to do highly controversial business in Burma, according to a damning report released today.

The Washington DC and Thailand-based EarthRights International (ERI) says in the report that there is “a high likelihood that the Fund is contributing to grave unethical actions in Burma through its holdings in the Fund”.

The Norwegian pension fund is a sovereign wealth fund founded on the country’s North Sea oil wealth. It is estimated to be worth some $US500 billion and holds the largest number of stocks and shares in Europe, owning approximately one percent of global equity markets.

Its size means that it has channelled approximately $US4.5 billion into companies doing business in Burma, which includes “a cumulative $US450 million invested in companies participating in the controversial Shwe gas and oil transport pipeline project” to China, according to the report.

As of December last year, investments worth $50 million were concentrated in three companies who owned the majority of the Shwe project, off- and onshore: South Korea’s Daewoo International, GAIL of India Ltd., and Korea Gas Corp.

On top of this, the Fund had a $US244 million stake in POSCO, which owns the majority of Daewoo, and approximately $US12 million invested in Hyundai Heavy Industries, which is a construction subcontractor on the project.

Furthermore, around $US90 million is invested in PetroChina and $US58 million invested in Kunlun Energy Co Ltd., the distributors in the project. It also holds a $US168 million stake in Transocean Inc, the Swiss-American drilling company implicated in BP’s Gulf of Mexico disaster, which has also been used for offshore in Burmese waters.

ERI Senior Consultant Matthew Smith, who co-authored the report, says that the investment “puts the Norwegian people in an inconvenient position of complicity in grave human rights abuses in Burma”.

Indeed multiple NGOs, activists and residents are keen to point out that the Shwe project, which is set to net the Burmese junta $US30 billion over the next three decades, is being built with forced labour on land cleared of inhabitants by the military, and with little environmental or social impact assessments.

The Fund has a set of ethical guidelines which, ERI believes, such investments contravene. “The Norwegian peoples’ money is invested in corporate human rights abuses while the Ethical Guidelines go unapplied,” Smith said. “This report presents a distinct opportunity for Norway to do what is intended by its Ethical Guidelines.

“Now is the time for the Council on Ethics to recommend that the Ministry of Finance act on these companies and restore Norway to its position as a global leader in ethical investment,” he added.

Gro Nysteun, the chair of the Council on Ethics, an independent body that looks into investments by the Fund, said that while the findings of the report would be investigated, it would not make the Fund reconsider the stakes it holds in these companies.

“We don’t disagree on the situation in Burma but we can only exclude companies form the pension fund when the companies themselves are actively participating in the violations of norms,” she said.

“If we were to divest from all of the companies that have activities in Burma it would be the same as an economic boycott, and the signal would be that all of those companies cannot operate in Burma at all.”

The Shwe gas pipeline is a huge multinational project that will transport not only much of Burma’s natural gas wealth to China, but a portion of their oil imports from the Middle East and Africa.

As well as the Shwe project, the report is critical of the Fund’s continued investment in the French oil giant, Total, which runs the Yadana gas pipeline carrying natural gas to Thailand. The report says that in 2005 the Fund’s ethical committee surmised that the Yadana pipeline was no longer violating human rights and was therefore not an unethical investment.

ERI claims however that in February it documented two targeted killings close to the Yadana site that were carried out by a Burmese army battalion providing security for Total projects.

“[ERI] continues to document widespread forced labour and other violations by the Burmese Army on behalf of Total and its partners. In five of the last ten years, EarthRights International has documented targeted extrajudicial killings of villagers in the project area by Burmese Army battalions providing security for the Yadana pipeline, and the Yetagun pipeline that runs alongside it.”

It claims the Norwegian pension fund “has $US3.6 billion invested in five companies involved in the Yadana and Yetagun projects”.
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