News & Articles on Burma-Saturday, 26 March, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Saturday, 26 March, 2011
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China offers $500,000 to quake-hit Myanmar
Quake Victims Fill Tachilek Hospital
Swiss Government To Launch Investigation Into FIFA Spending In Burma - Report
Earthquake Death Toll Rising to 150
Myanmar earns a record $2.8 billion at annual gems auction
India offers assistance to quake-hit Myanmar
Chinese president extends condolences to Myanmar over earthquake
China extends condolences to quake-hit Myanmar
Libya Conflict Reopens R2P Debate on Burma
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China offers $500,000 to quake-hit Myanmar
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-26 22:31

BEIJING- China had decided to offer emergency humanitarian aid of $500,000 in cash to quake-stricken Myanmar, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Saturday.

Related readings:
China offers $500,000 to quake-hit MyanmarPowerful quake in Myanmar kills more than 70
China offers $500,000 to quake-hit MyanmarEarthquake in Myanmar kills at least 75 people
The aid was extended to help Myanmar's disaster relief efforts and post-quake reconstruction, the MOC said in a statement on its website.

Chen Deming, Minister of the MOC, expressed condolences to Myanmar in a letter to his counterpart of Myanmar, Minister of National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha.

Chen also said in the letter that China was willing to provide Myanmar with any necessary help. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/26/content_12232161.htm
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Quake Victims Fill Tachilek Hospital
By SAW YAN NAING Saturday, March 26, 2011

TACHILEK, Shan State—Following Burma’s worst earthquake in decades, the hospital in this small trading town on the Thai-Burmese border is struggling to cope with an influx of people injured by the deadly magnitude-6.8 temblor that struck on Thursday.

Already filled to capacity, the hospital has been forced to leave many patients out in the open, in sight of passersby. Inside, many other patients, including children and the elderly, can be seen lying on beds or seated on the ground awaiting treatment.

According to local officials, around 700 people have filled the hospital and its compound, many of them suffering from life-threatening injuries.

“Every room is full,” said a woman waiting outside a room where members of her family were being treated. “Only the most serious cases have been admitted. Everyone else has to wait outside. Those who can are taking their relatives to hospitals in other places.”

In Mae Sai, opposite Tachilek on the Thai side of the border, local authorities said that Burmese officials were not allowing Thai and other foreign doctors to enter the country across the Friendship Bridge linking the two towns. Journalists have also been banned, they said.

According to MRTV4, a Burmese state-run television station, 73 people have died in the quake. However, local people told The Irrawaddy that they expected the final death toll to be much higher—perhaps in the hundreds.

Many of the casualties are from Tarlay, a town near the earthquake’s epicenter, where almost every building was damaged and many collapsed. It is believed that many bodies remain buried in the rubble.

Access to Tarlay has been restricted since the quake, with government troops blocking the road into the town to keep out everyone except people returning to search for relatives. Many of the dead and injured in the area are family members of military officials.

Meanwhile, cleaners are busy tidying up the compound of the hospital in Tachilek in anticipation of a visit by junta officials from the capital, Naypyidaw.

As the cleanup continues, fears of further aftershocks remain. In Mae Sai, an aftershock rattled local residents at 5:37 on Saturday morning.http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21016
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Swiss Government To Launch Investigation Into FIFA Spending In Burma - Report

FIFA will be questioned by the Swiss government after it reportedly did business with a man blacklisted by Switzerland, the US and the EU
By Patrick Devaney
Mar 26, 2011 11:45:00 AM

A probe is set to be launched by the government of Switzerland after FIFA conducted business with a blacklisted person at the head of the Burma Football Federation. Instead of money being directly given to the national football federation, it was awarded to a construction company to complete football projects on behalf of FIFA, according to Swiss news magazine Woz.

The head of the Myanmar Football Federation, President Zaw Zaw had funds allocated to complete football projects in the Burmese nation. However, he is also the founder of construction company Max Myanmar Group and it is believed the funds were diverted to his own private company when they should have been given to the national team's football federation. It is not yet known whether these funds were misused or not and the investigation is set to clarify any findings.

Being based in Zurich, Switzerland, it is the Swiss government's choice to investigate these claims that the funds were not used for their purpose. Sanctions could be imposed on the world footballing body.

A statement was released by the Swiss government earlier in light of the allegations: ''We will need to clarify this and contact FIFA.''

The rumours started when Sepp Blatter accepted an invitation from Zaw Zaw to visit his country. Zaw Zaw has been blacklisted by the EU, US and Swiss governments and with Blatter supposedly trying to extinguish corruption in the game, their meeting will only add fuel to the fire of crookedness in the game.

If anyone in FIFA, the Burmese Football Federation or the Max Myanmar Group is found guilty of improper use of these funds, heavy penalties could be imposed by Switzerland. A maximum term of one year in prison as well a $570,000 fine could be levied against anyone found involved if the allegations are proven to be true.

FIFA will do its best to resist any sort of investigation by the Swiss government and has already retaliated to growing speculation that an investigation will in fact be conducted.

‘'The details of contacts signed by FIFA are confidential,'' a FIFA spokesperson said to Mizzima. http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2011/03/26/2412132/swiss-government-to-launch-investigation-into-fifa-spending
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Earthquake Death Toll Rising to 150
By WAI MOE Saturday, March 26, 2011

Local relief workers in eastern State Sate said on Saturday that the death toll from the powerful earthquake that shook Shan State on Thursday night could very likely rise to more than 150.

Burma’s state media reported on Saturday that 73 people had died as a result of the 7.0 magnitude tremor and its subsequent aftershocks on Thursday and Friday.

“At least 150 people were killed. The worst hit areas were Tahlay and Mong Linn, said a member of the Red Cross based in Tachilek on the Thai-Burmese border.

“The death toll could continue to rise because local people and relief workers are still rummaging through collapsed buildings,” he said. “The efforts are not helped by the fact that there is a lack of trained relief workers, equipment and sniffer dogs.”

Locals from the town of Tachilek and Mae Sai, on the opposite side of the border, have collected food and other emergency supplies for the victims.

“We collected rice, drinking water and blankets for victims, and sent them to Tahlay and Mong Linn,” said a store owner in Tachilek.

State-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported the news of the Shan State earthquake on its back page on Saturday while the front page carried junta supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s speech to mark Armed Forces Day on March 27, alongside a report that the Burmese leader’s had sent a message of felicitations to Bangladesh on the anniversary of the country’s independence.

“The earthquake, according to observation at 1:35 pm today [Friday], has claimed 73 lives and injured 125. A total of 224 houses, one six-unit quarter, 11 religious buildings and nine departmental buildings were reported to collapse down in Tachilek, Tahlay, Naywg Village, Monglin Village, Mongkoe Village tract, and Kyakuni Village,” said the The New Light of Myanmar.

The state newspaper also reported that Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut, the head of Bureau of Special Operations-2, and Brig-Gen Than Tun Oo, the commander of Triangle Regional Command, were inspecting the earthquake-hit areas.

While The New Light of Myanmar published a photo of a rescue center in Tachilek on Saturday, MRTV news showed security forces carrying relief supplies from a military cargo aircraft at a local airport.

“When I see the government action in Shan State, I remember the authorities’ relief mission in Cyclone Nargis,” said a Burmese staffer with a foreign NGO in Shan State who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The military generals used the catastrophe for photo opportunities and propaganda while people were dying.”

Other state media reported about the earthquake and said that the speaker of parliament in Naypyidaw had said “condolences go to the victims.”

MPs in the parliament clapped after the speaker’s announcement.

“Normally, MPs clap whenever a proposal is passed or recorded. It is a regular occurrence in parliament. So I suppose many of the MPs thought they were expected to cheer and clap when the announcement was made to offer condolences to the earthquake victims,” said an MP who attended Friday’s session.

Meanwhile Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolence on Friday to Thein Sein, the Burmese president-in-waiting, “over the losses of life and property inflicted by a strong earthquake,” Xinhua reported on Saturday.

“The Chinese president also voiced his belief that under the leadership of U Thein Sein, the Myanmar people would unite in a concerted effort to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes,” the Chinese state media said.

Xinhua reported that more than 6,500 people in China’s southwest province of Yunnan have been affected by the earthquake. However, Burmese authorities have still not announced how many people have been affected or made homeless by the disaster.
http://irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=21017
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Myanmar earns a record $2.8 billion at annual gems auction
By The Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar earned more than $2.8 billion from the sale of jade, gems and pearls at its annual gems auction this month, a report said Saturday.

The weekly Voice news magazine said 16,939 lots of jade, 206 lots of gems and 255 lots of pearls were sold through competitive bidding to fetch the record-high revenue. It said 8,719 local and foreign gem merchants took part in the 48th annual event, held in the capital, Naypyitaw, according to an official from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Commerce and Industry.

The March 11-22 auction, held under the auspices of the Mines Ministry, is a major foreign exchange earner for the military-dominated government, which faces economic and political sanctions from the West because of its poor human rights record.

Myanmar is one of the world's biggest producers of jade as well as the source of up to 90 per cent of its rubies, and gems from the country are specifically targeted by U.S. sanctions.

in 2008, the United States enacted legislation banning the import of gems from Myanmar, which already was the voluntary policy of retailers such as Tiffany's and Bulgari.

U.S. officials said at that time that Myanmar had evaded earlier gem-targeting sanctions by laundering stones in other countries before they were shipped to the United States.

Myanmar gem sellers say the sanctions have little impact on their business because they rely on Chinese and Thai gem merchants, who are the major buyers. http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b6370234
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India offers assistance to quake-hit Myanmar
PTI

India on Saturday offered help to Myanmar, hit by a powerful earthquake causing loss of lives and damage to property.

“As your government rallies to provide relief and other assistance to the people in the earthquake—affected region, I would like to assure you that India stands ready to render any assistance that your government may require of us,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

In a condolence message to Myanmar’s top military ruler General Than Shwe, Mr. Singh said that “on behalf of the people and government of India, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Myanmar on this tragic natural disaster“.

A 6.8 magnitude quake that had struck north eastern Myanmar on March 24 has so far claimed 75 lives.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1573874.ece
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Chinese president extends condolences to Myanmar over earthquake
English.news.cn 2011-03-26 16:07:38 FeedbackPrintRSS

BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has delivered a message of condolences to his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein over the losses of life and property inflicted by a strong earthquake.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Hu extended heartfelt condolences on Friday to U Thein Sein and via him to the victims of the disaster which struck the country Thursday.

The Chinese president also voiced his belief that under the leadership of U Thein Sein, the Myanmar people would unite in a concerted effort to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that toppled homes in northeastern Myanmar has left 73 Myanmar people dead and 125 others injured as of Friday night, according to Myanmar authorities.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-03/26/c_13799359.htm
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China extends condolences to quake-hit Myanmar
18:52, March 26, 2011

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) expressed condolences to Myanmar on Saturday after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the country Thursday.

Yao Jian, a MOC spokesman, said the ministry extended condolences to victims of the disaster and paid tribute to workers conducting rescue and disaster relief operations in the country.

Yao said China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors, and that China is willing to provide Myanmar with any necessary assistance.

Myanmar authorities said the death toll from Thursday's major earthquake has reached 73, while 125 others were injured as of Friday night.

Source: Xinhua http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/7332077.html
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EDITORIAL
Libya Conflict Reopens R2P Debate on Burma
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Images of fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles streaking across the skies of Libya have quickly become popular viewing in military-ruled Burma.

Despite the fact that Naypyidaw heavily censors news about the recent uprisings in Libya and the Middle East, many Burmese have access to satellite TV and shortwave radio. Others go online to learn about the rise and fall of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

Many Burmese believe that international intervention is necessary to stop the atrocities in Libya, and they hail UN Security Council Resolution 1973. Then they take a step back and ask: “Why Libya and not Burma?”

But although the UN and the US-led international community reserve the right to wage war on Islamic countries, and to buy and sell out dictators at will, the realpolitik of the situation is that they will never forcefully intervene in Burma.

In May 2008, France and the US sent warships with cargoes of humanitarian aid close to Burmese waters soon after Cyclone Nargis had wrought death and destruction in lower Burma. They offered to deliver emergency supplies to victims and survivors of the natural disaster in which nearly 140,000 people were killed and some 2 million left homeless. The Burmese regime rejected the offer. A Mexican standoff ensued and many in Burma anticipated that an intervention—or an invasion—was in the pipeline. But the West blinked first and the ships withdrew.

The international community had been faced with the option of overriding the junta's decision and landing on Burmese soil. Many in the UN argued that a legitimate case of intervention under the Responsibility to Protect framework, or “R2P,” was justified. The regime's refusal to allow aid to its citizens was argued to be a “crime against humanity” that fell under the loosely worded (and never employed) R2P mandate.

In the end, no foreign forces entered Burma's territorial waters. Some Burmese were bitterly disappointed, others were relieved.

But the blunt truth is that the majority of Burmese, of all classes and creeds, would embrace any form of humanitarian intervention.

Unfortunately, Burma is a messy affair; it is ravaged with geopolitical problems, not to mention one of the world's most endless civil conflicts. Foreign intervention alone will not solve its problems.

In early 2010, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana took an unprecedented move in a report to the UN's Human Rights Commission in calling for a Commission of Inquiry into possible crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

More than 2,000 political prisoners still languish in Burma's gulags while hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees and internally displaced persons cannot return to their homes for fear.

Many in Burma still believe that only violence will succeed in removing the junta from power. The optimism some felt toward the general election in November has dissipated as it becomes glaringly obvious that the regime's idea of a “disciplined democracy” is no more than a brand new parliament building filled with old junta loyalists.

Located between China and India, Burma is unlikely to ever attract any armed intervention from the Western alliance. In 2008, China, the junta's closest ally, immediately rejected international calls for humanitarian intervention in the Irrawaddy delta following the cyclone disaster.

In the event of a future catastrophe—whether it be a natural disaster or a crime against humanity— the roles that regional powers play are pivotal.

Burma is a member of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean). Just as the Arab League supported the UN resolution that led to “No Fly Zone”—in reality, a bombing campaign against government forces in Libya—it stands to reason that regional support is essential before the UN can tailor a resolution that will pave the way for military intervention.

For an R2P framework to be considered in Burma, it is paramount that regional powers Asean and China are on board. Without Eastern support for intervention, Burma's ruthless military leaders will continue to thumb their noses at the West for as long as they live.
http://irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=21006