News & Articles on Burma-Wednesday, 23 February, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Wednesday, 23 February, 2011
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Junta Weighing Options to Reign in BGF Defectors
Burma’s Ethnic Wars seem unstoppable
Ethnic Armed Groups to Negotiate Jointly
Junta army beefing up after fight
More Wa wings clipped
Myanmar's Suu Kyi, US official discuss sanctions
Myanmar absorbs 3.56 bln USD of foreign investment in 3 months
Jailed DVB reporter taken from prison
India-Myanmar trade to boom with Stilwell Road's opening
Nai Htar Wa Ra, Mon leader, dies at 55
Rescuers locate Myanmar businessman stranded on Ice Mountain
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Junta Weighing Options to Reign in BGF Defectors
By THE IRRAWADDY Wednesday, February 23, 2011

With the number of border guard force (BGF) troops in Karen State who have defected with their ammunition increasing by the day, Burmese military authorities are attempting to retain the remaining BGF troops with increased salaries and benefits.

According to sources from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Union (KNU), more than 200 BGF troops have defected thus far. There are 10 BGF battalions in Karen State, consisting in aggregate of about 2,000 troops.

A BGF officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that many troops who defected joined the KNU or the DKBA, which are still fighting against the military government.

“The new government will increase the BGF troops' salary and other benefits such as houses with electricity, free education for their families, etc,” a BGF officer said.

One BGF soldier who defected said, “An ordinary BGF soldier get 35,000 kyat (US $39) per month. Maung Win, one of the BGF commanders, said we will get 150,000 kyat ($168) when the new government is in place. We don't believe him and that is why we defected.”

Some BGF sources said that the military regime had a budget of about 1 billion kyat ($111,000) for each BGF battalion. Saw Chit Thu, a former operation commander of DKBA Special Battalion 999, and Maw Tho from BGF Battalion No. 1022, are the people who will manage the finances and benefits to be handed out, according to sources.

An engineer from a construction group which received a contract from the BGF to construct a building said, “We got the contract to build the barracks through Saw Chit Thu and Maw Tho.”

Many BGF troops said that the Karen State BGF troops will not receive the promised benefits, but they will go to people who receive contracts for those kinds of projects.

Meanwhile, sources said the DKBA will attack the town of Chukli, a new town for which the opening ceremony will soon be held, and have informed government servants that they should flee the township. Chukli, 30 miles from Myawaddy, is located between Myawaddy and Kyar Inn Seik Gyi in Karen State.

Maj. Saw San Aung, a spokesperson for the DKBA, said that the ethnic armed group asked people to leave the town because it wanted to avoid civilian causalities. The Burmese military has brought in about 40 military trucks to reinforce and secure the township for the opening ceremony.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20812
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Burma’s Ethnic Wars seem unstoppable
By Zin Linn Feb 23, 2011

Burma’s military junta terminated the license of an airline linked to Burma’s largest ceasefire group United Wa State Army (UWSA) in November 2010. It was the Yangon Airways which forced to suspend its operations from 3 December, as a result of the aviation officials refused to reinstate its Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC).

The company-owner was Aik Hauk, the son-in-law of Bao Youxiang (Pau Yu Chang), who leads the strongest ceasefire rebel-group, the UWSA. Even though agreeing to a ceasefire deal with the junta in the 1990s, UWSA’s refusal to turn into the junta’s Border Guard Force plan has seriously damaged relations.

Then, the junta made a harsh move to beat the Wa. Following its rejection to renew operating license of the Wa’s Yangon Airways in December, Nay-pyi-taw has ordered closure of its Hong-pang bus line that runs between Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai, and Kengtung, 160 km north of the border, according to a report by Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).

However, Hongpang had already reassigned ownership to Hsarm Tao, its additional firm more than a year ago. It was managed by Khun Hsai Hsook, believed to be a member of the UWSA.

Many believe that Aik Hauk also runs a number of hotels and the estate agents, Yangon Holdings. He has been accused in the past of overseeing money laundering operations by the UWSA, which was branded by the US in 2005 as the largest drug-trafficking organization in Southeast Asia.

The closure-order of Hong-pang bus line was delivered to the UWSA’s liaison officer Ah Chang in Kengtung on Sunday, 20 February, by General Staff Officer Grade 1 Col Khin Maung Htwe, Shan Herald said quoting a source close to the Wa. There are 2 other bus lines running between the two cities – Shwe Myodaw and Shwe Yegan.

The signs of closures of Yangon Airways Hong-pang bus line owned by UWSA seem gloomier than ever in the Shan state. The military regime has been tightening its grip toward the ceasefire groups those refused to accept the BGF proposal.

Furthermore, 21 truckloads of soldiers and military supplies were sent out to the armed clashes site between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army (SSA) South which took place last night, according to local and rebel sources, SHAN News said.

The one-and-half hour-long fight was between an SSA patrol and the Burma Army unit providing security for tractors expanding and repairing a road between Gawng Teevee in the west and Monghta in the east, some 44 km north of Chiang Mai’s Wiang Haeng district border. No casualties were reported.

The encounter last night took place after bombardment by an unknown armed group on the Burma Army outpost in Monghta on 18 February. The area has been actively influenced by both the Wa and the SSA, Shan Herald said.

Naypyitaw has designated Monghta, as well as Kali, Kholam and Mongzang villages on the west bank of the Salween River to become new sub-townships. The latter three sub-townships will be directly controlled by the newest Middle East Region Command.

According to the Shan rebel source, the armed clash on 22 February with Monghta-based Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 328 lasted for nearly 90 minutes. The Shan patrol saw three dead and one injured, but they believed there were more casualties on the Burma Army part.

Tensions are still heightened between the Burma Army and ceasefire groups – the UWSA, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), SSA ‘North’ and the NDAA. Discomforts have been soaring up since the junta raises ultimatum to accept BGFs program. Both sides have been reinforcing their troops on heightened alert after none of them accepted the junta’s plan.

Although the newly formed parliament under President Thein Sein, an ex-general, has been going on with its sessions selecting ministers, chief judge and chief attorney etc., there is no discussion on the autonomy issue put forward by the ethnic ceasefire-groups since June 2004 National Convention.

It is true that Sai Mauk Kham, a 61-year-old Shan physician, becomes Burma’s new vice-president. But, he will not be allowed practicing effective power within the new government. He cannot able to fulfill the main necessities of the nation, such as national reconciliation and the ethnic equal opportunity.

Several political observers believe that the military-backed new USDP government will not change its high-handed policy which constantly negates the self-determination of the ethnic people. Thus, civil war may not stop all along the ethnic areas unless a true democratic government cannot come to the office.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/48979/burma%E2%80%99s-ethnic-wars-seem-unstoppable/
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Ethnic Armed Groups to Negotiate Jointly
By SAW YAN NAING Wednesday, February 23, 2011

More than a dozen of Burma's ethnic armed groups decided at a recent meeting in northern Thailand to adopt the new strategy of negotiating in concert with the military regime rather than individually.

They also set up the United Nationalities Federal Council (Union of Burma), vowed to strive for a genuine federal union in Burma and agreed to support one another should Burmese government forces launch a military campaign against any member of the alliance.

In 1989, under an initiative by former junta spy chief Gen Khin Nyunt, the regime held sepearate talks with many ethnic armed groups and signed individual ceasefire agreements with 17 groups.

Those signing ceasefire agreements included strong ethnic armed groups such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Brig-Gen Saw Lah Pwe, the commander of breakaway Brigade 5 of the DKBA which broke its 15 year ceasefire by battling junta troops beginning on Nov. 8, 2010, said the junta has become dishonest about the ceasefire agreements and is not serious about maintaining them.

He said the junta generals are now more interested in forcing ethnic ceasefire groups to become members of the regime's border guard force (BGF), which is under the command of government forces. And three months after his brigade began fighting the regime on the Thailand-Burma border, he did not see the junta making any move towards new ceasefire talks. To the contrary, he saw them sending military reinforcements to the area around his bases.

The other ceasefire groups, including the UWSA, KIO and NMSP, are also under junta pressure to transform their armed fighters into BGF troops. But all have thus far rejected the BGF.

As a result, the regime has begun calling the KIO, NMSP and DKBA “insurgent groups” rather than “ceasefire groups,” which observers said signals the end of the ceasefire.

In fact, since the junta called it an “insurgent group” last year, the NMSP has assumed that their ceasefire deal had already broken down.

Some observers said the junta is unlikely to offer new ceasefire talks with the ethnic armed groups because they are busy forming the new government and participating in the new parliament.

“It seems this regime does not want to have political talks. They want to use their weapons to eliminate us. We are also ready to destroy them with our guns,” said Nai Hang Thar, the secretary of the NMSP.

Some observers, however, think ceasefire talks with ethnic armed groups is likely during the administration of the new military-dominated government. They also have seen more cooperation among ethnic ceasefire and non-ceasefire groups after the junta's announcement of the BGF plan.

Zipporah Sein, the general-secretary of the Karen National Union, said the junta may offer ceasefire talks with the ethnic armed groups, but perhaps separately rather than in concert.

The KNU has held ceasefire talks with the regime a couple of times in the past, but has never signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta.

“We always keep the door open for talks. We want to solve political problems by dialogue in which all ethnic alliance groups need to get involved,” said Zipporah Sein. “We agreed to meet together at the same time if the regime offers ceasefire talks.”

However, one observer said that while the armed ethnic groups agreed to the new strategic initiative of negotiating as a group with the junta, it is very important that members of the alliance effectively play their role.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20811
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Junta army beefing up after fight
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 13:30 S.H.A.N.

21 truckloads of men, supplies and ammo were dispatched to the site of the one and half hour long fight between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army (SSA) South which took place last night, according to local and rebel sources.

The fight that lasted 21:00-22:30 was between an SSA patrol and the Burma Army unit providing security for tractors expanding and repairing a road between Gawng Teevee in the west and Monghta in the east, some 44 km north of Chiangmai’s Wiang Haeng district border. No casualties were reported.

The shootout last night followed shelling by an unidentified armed group on the Burma Army outpost in Monghta on Friday.

Both the Wa and the SSA are active in the area.

Naypyitaw has designated Monghta, as well as Kali, Kholam and Mongzang west of the Salween, as new sub-townships. The latter three sub-townships will be directly administered by the newest command named the Middle East Region Command.

Update 16:00

A rebel source said the shootout with Monghta-based Light Infantry Battalion 328 took place at 21:40 and lasted until 23:00. The Shan patrol saw 3 dead and 1 wounded, but believed there were more casualties on the Burmese side.
http://www.shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3483:junta-army-beefing-up-after-fight&catid=86:war&Itemid=284
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More Wa wings clipped
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 13:25 S.H.A.N.

Following its refusal to renew operating license of the Wa’s Yangon Airways in December, Naypyitaw has ordered closure of its Hongpang bus line that runs between Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai, and Kengtung, 160 km north of the border, according to a report received by SHAN.

Hongpang had already transferred ownership to Hsarm Tao, its subsidiary firm more than a year ago. It was managed by Khun Hsai Hsook, believed to be a member of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

The order was delivered to the UWSA’s liaison officer Ah Chang in Kengtung on Sunday, 20 February, by General Staff Officer Grade 1 Col Khin Maung Htwe, said a source close to the Wa.

Moreover, Ah Chang was told all vehicles owned by the Wa must obtain official permission before embarking on a trip. “The noose has tightened,” the source quoted a Hsarm Tao employee as saying.

The Hongpang signboard near the Hsarm Tao bus station at the foothills of Loi Pangkoi, Mong Zame village tract, 13 miles south of Kengtung, where it also has a livestock farm, has also been pulled down.

There are 2 other bus lines running between the two cities: Shwe Myodaw and Shwe Yegan. The bus fare is K 4,000 (roughly $ 4) per passenger. http://www.shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3482:more-wa-wings-clipped&catid=86:war&Itemid=284
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Myanmar's Suu Kyi, US official discuss sanctions
(February 23rd, 2011 @ 2:45am)

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The top U.S. diplomat in Myanmar says he has begun talks with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi about what kind of aid Washington can offer the military-dominated nation.

Charge d'Affaires Larry M. Dinger says the U.S. also is talking to the newly installed government on the issue, which hinges around long-standing sanctions Washington has applied because of human rights abuses by the country's junta and failure to institute democracy. Parliamentary rule was nominally restored last month after last year's elections, which were widely criticized as a sham.

The Obama administration has been exploring ways of engaging the new government, while Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has cautioned against lifting sanctions too quickly.

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) http://www.620ktar.com/category/world-news-articles/20100819/Myanmar-pro~democracy-leaders-praise-US-decision/
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Myanmar absorbs 3.56 bln USD of foreign investment in 3 months
17:03, February 23, 2011

Myanmar absorbed 3.56 billion U.S. dollars of foreign investment in the three months from November 2010 to January 2011, bringing the total to 35.406 billion dollars as of January this year since the country opened to such investment in late 1988, the Popular News reported Wednesday.

The 3.5 billion USD include 3.18 billion USD from China, 186 million USD from Singapore, 183 million USD from South Korea and 3 million USD from China's Hong Kong, the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development was quoted as saying.

Of the total foreign investment injected in over two decades, China's investment has now topped with 9.603 billion USD, overtaking Thailand which once stood 9.568 billion USD in the foreign investment line-up previously.

The Chinese investment was raised by its increased involvement in building of deep seaport, hydropower plants, exploration of natural gas and exploitation of mineral resources and transport.

The foreign investment coming from 433 enterprises of 31 countries and region were respectively injected into 12 economic sectors which are oil and gas, electric power, manufacturing, real estate, hotels and tourism, mining, transport and communications, livestock breeding and fisheries, industry, construction, agriculture and services sector.

Source:Xinhua http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90858/90863/7297672.html
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Jailed DVB reporter taken from prison
By KHIN HNIN HTET
Published: 23 February 2011

A senior reporter for the Democratic Voice of Burma who was imprisoned this month has been taken from his cell in Insein prison, possibly in lieu of a transfer to a remote jail, his brother says.

No warning about the transfer was given to the family of Maung Maung Zeya, who was sentenced in early February to 13 years in prison after being caught photographing the aftermath of the Rangoon bombings in April 2010.

His older brother, Dewa, claims he only learnt that Maung Maung Zeya had left Insein during a visit to the Rangoon prison on Tuesday.

“Now we don’t know where he is and it makes it difficult for the family,” he told DVB. “I’ve heard stories about prisoners being selectively sent to remote prisons and now we are actually experiencing it ourselves.”

A source close to Insein prison said that the 58-year-old may now be en route to Mandalay prison, from where he will be sent to one of Burma’s many far-flung jails.

More than 25 media workers are among the nearly 2,200 political prisoners in Burma, which has some of the world’s strictest media laws. Transfers to remote jails are an additional means of punishment for many, given the often unfeasible distances needed to travel for family members, who are often an inmate’s only source of medicine and outside contact.

Dewa says he had gone to the prison to attend a court hearing for Sithu Zeya, the son of Maung Maung Zeya, who was arrested alongside his father and later sentenced to eight years.

The 21-year-old, also a DVB reporter, is facing additional charges and remains in Insein prison, where his family claims he has been tortured.

Nine people died in the 15 April 2010 grenade attacks in Rangoon, making it the most deadly incident of its kind in the former capital in years. The alleged culprit, Phyo Wei Aung, is facing murder charges.

Five more youths also arrested in connection with the attacks were yesterday handed lengthy prison sentences. Bo Bo Thein, Thaung Htike Oo, Myo Min Thu. Yan Naung Soe and Thaw Zin, were each given a total of eight years, while Bo Bo Thein had an additional three years added for drugs charges.

His father, Han Thein, said that “there were no witnesses at all [to support the accusations], apart from the police report resulting from interrogation”.
http://www.dvb.no/news/jailed-dvb-reporter-taken-from-prison/14388
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23 Feb, 2011, 11.25AM IST,PTI
India-Myanmar trade to boom with Stilwell Road's opening

ITANAGAR: With the road being cleared for trade between India and Myanmar via the Pangsau Pass on the Arunachal Pradesh border, the historic Stilwell Road is likely to come alive with commercial activities.

"Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of Ministry of Home Affairs has recently agreed in-principle to allow border trade between India and Myanmar for economic development of the North-East," Trade and Commerce Commissioner Makbul Pertin told PTI.

Arunachal Pradesh had submitted proposals to the Centre for beginning border trade with China, Bhutan and Myanmar at various locations.

The proposed border points in Arunachal Pradesh for trade with China include Bumla (Tawang district), Kibitho (Anjaw), Taksing (Upper Subansiri), Mechuka (West Siang) and Geling (East Siang), while Dongsengmang and Blating in Tawang district have been proposed as the points for border trade with Bhutan.

"Border trade with Myanmar through Pangsau Pass will transform the economy of North-East by reducing time, cost and distance involved in trade with China and South-East Asia," Pertin said.

Myanmar has established an administrative and immigration post, as well as a market complex on their border with India.

"There is no Myanmarese custom post at Pangsau. However, a customs station is located at Tenai, at a distance of 160 km from Pangsau Pass," he said.

"The Centre, as well as the state government, in order to facilitate border trade with Myanmar, has already constructed a border trade centre at Nampong," he said.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has been taking up construction of a 'border haat' marketplace, immigration office and bank facilities with foreign exchange services, besides posting security forces to assist all departments for operation of border trade.

Trade between India and Myanmar existed before Independence on a small scale.

The governments of Myanmar and India on September 26, 1950, signed an agreement according to which the indigenous hill tribes of both countries living within 40 km of the border were exempted from the requirement of a passport for trade purposes. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-myanmar-trade-to-boom-with-stilwell-roads-opening/articleshow/7553948.cms
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Nai Htar Wa Ra, Mon leader, dies at 55
Tuesday, 22 February 2011 21:02 Kun Chan

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Nai Htar Wa Ra, 55, a leader of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) who suffered from diabetes and hypertension, died suddenly on Tuesday morning.

A central executive committee member, party officials said he died at party headquarters in southern Mon State.

‘His heart was also weak. In the early morning, he could not breathe well, and he died about 2
a.m.’, said Nai Tala Nyi, a NMSP central executive committee member.

On Sunday, Nai Htar Wa Ra presided at a ceremony to mark the 64th Mon National Day held in Panangpain Village near the party headquarters, where he read an official message sent by the NSMP chairman.

He was born in 1956 in Kamarwat village in Mudon Township in Mon State. He joined the NMSP in 1976 and resigned from the party temporarily in late 1978. He rejoined in 1981, and he served as second commanding officer and later served as commanding oficer until 1999 in the New Mon Liberation Army (NMLA), the armed wing of the NMSP.

In 2000, he moved to the political wing and served as the district chairman. In late 2006, at the party’s 7th conference, he was elected as a central executive committee member. From 2009 to the day he died, he was in charge of the central administration department of the NMSP.

He was well known as a military strategy expert in the NMLA.

‘He was also courageous’, Nai Banyar, a former private in the NMLA, told Mizzima. ‘On some
occasions, the enemy felt a shock when they heard his name. He had an open mind, and he treated his subordinates very well’.

He is survived by his wife Mi Khin Myo Yi; a son, Min Kun Thaik (a central committee member of the Health Department of the NMSP); and a daughter, Mi Ah Chan. http://www.mizzima.com/news/breaking-and-news-brief/4915-nai-htar-wa-ra-mon-leader-dies-at-55.html
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Rescuers locate Myanmar businessman stranded on Ice Mountain

Feb 23, 2011, 5:03 GMT

Rescuers locate Myanmar businessman stranded on Ice Mountain =

Yangon (dpa) - One of Myanmar's richest businessmen was spotted Wednesday on an ice-covered mountain where his helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing two days ago.

A helicopter carrying Tay Za - ranked among Myanmar's three richest men - was forced to land Monday on Fukanrazi Mountain, also called Ice Mountain - one of Myanmar's highest peaks in the Kachin State, due to poor weather.

Six other people were on board the craft.

'A military helicopter has located them and has dropped them food,' a Myanmar government official said. 'We expect to get them out soon,' said the official, who asked to remain anonymous. Tay Za was inspecting the Kachin's mountains to explore tourism opportunities when his helicopter made an emergency landing and was unable to take off again.

Tay Za is the owner of Htoo Trading Company, Bagan Air, several luxury hotels and the Elite Telecommmunications Company, among others.

He is known to have close ties to the country's junta chief Senior General Than Shwe, who has ruled Myanmar since 1992.

Tay Za is on a list of Myanmar's 'crony businessmen' who are denied visas to Europe and the United States and whose foreign assets have been frozen as part of economic sanctions against the regime.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1621318.php/Rescuers-locate-Myanmar-businessman-stranded-on-Ice-Mountain