News & Articles on Burma-Wednesday, 18 May, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Wednesday, 18 May, 2011
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Bomb kills two near Burmese capital as US envoy visits
Train explodes on passenger train near Myanmar's capital, two killed
Bomb Blast on Train Near Naypyidaw
Only 47 political prisoners freed in Myanmar amnesty
Karen State Conflict Intensifies
Burma Censors Reports on UN Envoy Press Briefing
Suu Kyi risks arrest over Australian message
UK cautions ASEAN from allowing Myanmar to assume regional leadership
US Diplomat Begins Visit to Burma
US Sending Senior Diplomat to Meet New Burmese Government
PTTEP drops Myanmar exploration block
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Bomb kills two near Burmese capital as US envoy visits

AFP / NEWSCORE

Last Updated: 9:29 AM, May 18, 2011

NAYPYIDAW, Burma -- A bomb blast on a train near the Burmese capital Naypyidaw left at least two people dead Wednesday during a visit by a US envoy for talks with the new government.

Officials said the bomb was on a timer and blamed it on rebels of the Karen ethnic group. Seven people were injured in the blast, in Tatkone township near the capital. The junta moved the capital from Rangoon in 2005.

The explosion came shortly after Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs, arrived in Burma for talks. Yun is also expected to meet with democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi during his four-day visit to the military-dominated country.

President Barack Obama's administration in 2009 launched a drive to engage with Burma''s junta, which in March this year made way for a nominally civilian government after the first election in 20 years.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/bomb_kills_two_near_burmese_capital_ugiJqgcZ4A9ZOO0Y4LzKLO#ixzz1MiQyheEc
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Train explodes on passenger train near Myanmar's capital, two killed
Yangon, Myanmar— The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, May. 18, 2011 9:40AM EDT

An official says a bomb has exploded on a passenger train near Myanmar's capital, killing two people and injuring seven.

The public security official says the explosion occurred Wednesday evening about 40 kilometres north of the capital Naypyitaw on the line to Mandalay. It appeared that none of the victims were foreigners. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information.

No one has taken responsibility for the blast and no suspects have been named.

Bombing are rare but not unknown in Myanmar, where pro-democracy activists and ethnic minority groups are at odds with the military-backed government. The government usually blames opposition militants for such blasts, but most remain shrouded in mystery.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/train-explodes-on-passenger-train-near-myanmars-capital-two-killed/article2026365/
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Bomb Blast on Train Near Naypyidaw
By The Irrawaddy Wednesday, May 18, 2011

At least two people died in a bomb blast on a train at Sinthay Railway Station near Burma’s capital of Naypyidaw on Wednesday, according to sources in Naypyidaw.

A police official in Naypyidaw told The Irrawaddy, “A woman and a man died instantly on the spot. Seven others were injured and hospitalized in Naypyidaw-Tatkon.”

An investigation is now being conducted by the police in Naypyidaw.

“Police officers visited the hospital where the injured people are hospitalized and questioned them about the incident,” the police said.

The train originated in Rangoon and was headed to Mandalay.

This is the first bomb blast in Burma since the new government led by President Thein Sein took office in March.

The blast happened on the same day a high ranking US official arrived in Naypyidaw to meet with government officials. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21317
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May 18, 2011
Only 47 political prisoners freed in Myanmar amnesty

Just 47 political prisoners were among those freed in a mass amnesty in Myanmar this week, an opposition group said on Wednesday, urging the military-backed government to release the estimated 2,100 that remain behind bars. -- PHOTO: AFP

YANGON - JUST 47 political prisoners were among those freed in a mass amnesty in Myanmar this week, an opposition group said on Wednesday, urging the military-backed government to release the estimated 2,100 that remain behind bars.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), a banned political party and Myanmar's biggest pro-democracy group, said 23 of its members were among the 47 activists released on Tuesday, too few to be taken seriously as a gesture of reconciliation.

In all, 14,600 people were freed.

Myanmar's government insists there are no political prisoners in its jails. Rights groups say hundreds of jailed politicians, students and activists were convicted on trumped-up charges to justify their incarceration.

'There was no general amnesty granted for the prisoners of conscience, just a reduction in prison terms of criminal convicts,' said Nyan Win, spokesman for the NLD, the popular movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, herself a former political detainee.

The issue of political prisoners in Myanmar has been key to the imposition of economic sanctions on the country since a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 1988. Critics say the embargoes have failed and have only alienated Myanmar's leaders from the international community. -- REUTERS http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_669962.html
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Karen State Conflict Intensifies
By SAW YAN NAING Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Armed clashes have been occurring across Karen State on a near-daily basis for the past four months with no end in sight.

Divided loyalties following the split in Buddhist Karen ranks over last year's border guard force (BGF) proposal, and a lack of confidence in Naypyidaw's new government have cemented the Karen rebels' resolve against the Burmese army, rebel sources say.

According to a report from the headquarters of the Karen National Union (KNU), between January and April, a total of 359 clashes have taken place, mostly in southern Karen State, between Burmese government troops and a combined force of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and renegade fighters from Brigade 5 of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

During that four-month period, the KNU report claims that just six Karen rebels have been killed, and seven injured, while the Burmese army have reportedly lost 611 soldiers, with 848 injured.

Government sources confirmed to The Irrawaddy that the Burmese army has lost soldiers on a near-daily basis.

While most battalions of the DKBA remain loyal to the ceasefire agreement the group signed with the Burmese government, a breakaway faction, Brigade 5, led by Brig-Gen Saw Lah Pwe, has turned sides and joined forces with the KNU's military wing, the KNLA.

Brig-Gen Saw Johnny, the commander of KNLA Brigade 7, said, “So far, we have not seen any positive signs from this new government,” said Johnny. “They [the government] needs to put an end to this armed conflict and bring about peace. They have to call an immediate halt to their assaults in ethnic areas.

“They have to sit down at the negotiating table with ethnic and opposition leaders and find a solution to the problems,” he added.

Since Burma staged a general election in November last year, armed conflict has intensified across Karen State in both urban and rural areas.

The day after the election, on Nov. 8, a serious clash broke out in Myawaddy Township between Burmese government troops and DKBA Brigade 5, forcing more than 20,000 local residents to seek refuge temporarily in Thailand.

Sources said that the Karen rebels have become markedly stronger since Brigade 5 led split from government ranks and rejoined its old ally, the KNLA.

Karen rebel sources have claimed that there is a great deal of internal conflict within the newly founded BGF units, which are formed by former members of the DKBA. Some of the Karen BGF members have reportedly deserted and defected to the KNLA and the DKBA.

“We are stronger than before,” said Col Paw Doh of the KNLA. “Our troops can now patrol areas that we had abandoned in the past.”

“If the government wants to meet and talk with us in the interest of peace, we will ensure a reduction in hostilities,” he said. “Otherwise, the conflict will go on. It all depends on the new government.”

According to a recent Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) report, at least three civilians died and eight were injured during battles between April 22-30 in Kya In Township in southern Karen State. The firing of mortars by the Burmese army in civilian villages also forced at least 143 villagers from four villages to seek refuge across the Thai border.

On May 13, the KHRG reported that the firing of mortars and light skirmishes were ongoing in the areas of K' Lay Kee and Noh Taw Plah, and that some villagers continued to seek refuge at discreet locations in Thailand. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21316
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Burma Censors Reports on UN Envoy Press Briefing
By THE IRRAWADDY Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Burmese Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD) has rejected attempts by local journals to print the words spoken by UN Special Envoy to Burma Vijay Nambiar at a press briefing following his three-day visit to Burma, according to sources from the Rangoon media community.

During his press briefing at the Rangoon International Airport, Nambiar told reporters that when he met with top Burmese government leaders he demanded that the government release all political prisoners and start a tripartite dialog for national reconciliation, according to the media sources.

The sources said that the PSRD rejected attempts to print any of this information.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy, a local reporter said, “It seems that the Burmese government won't accept the use of the term 'political prisoner.' That’s why they rejected all of the information through the PSRD, but allowed descriptions such as: We welcome the new government; We welcome the speech of the president; etc.”

The PSRD also rejected the use of any part of Aung San Suu Kyi’s press briefing but allowed descriptions on the journals' inside pages of the meeting between Nambiar and Aung San Suu Kyi.

An executive editor of a local journal who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Irrawaddy that, “A reporter asked Aung San Suu Kyi during her press briefing what she thought of the Burmese government trying to become the chairman of Asean (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations). She replied that it is more important to have a change in the country than to become the chairman of Asean. The PSRD rejected this part.”

Many from the local media community said that the PSRD will not allow descriptions of Aung San Suu Kyi or her National League for Democracy's (NLD) political and social activities.

“Although the PSRD blocked descriptions of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi’s activities, they forced us to put in descriptions of the [government backed] Union Solidarity and Development Party’s activities,” said a Rangoon-based reporter.

Meanwhile, the PSRD suspended publication of the Rangoon-based weekly True News for two weeks after the PSRD accused the journal of misreporting a mobile phone offer by the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs (MCPT). It is the first suspension of a local journal since the new civilian government took office.

Reporters Without Borders issued a statement on Tuesday which said that press freedom and online freedom of information are still being restricted in Burma despite the formation of the new civilian government.
“He [Burmese President Thein Sein] promised to respect the role of the media, but heavy jail sentences for journalists, suspension of newspapers and police raids on Internet cafes show that there has been no let-up in controls and intimidation,” the statement said.

Recently, the MCPT sent a new set of rules to the public Internet cafes which are more restrictive than before.

The rules require 12 commitments, including: to record the personal information (name, identity card number, contact address, phone number, etc) of the Internet users; to submit the records of the users (date, time, screen shot, URLs) to the Directorate of Communication once a month; to not allow the use of floppy drives, USB ports and other external drives by the users; to not allow VoIP calls (Gtalk, Skype, Pfingo, etc) by the users; and to permit inspections by the Internet service providers and the authorities.

Rule number 12 said that information that could harm the state's security and interest must not be leaked. Perpetrators who leak such information will be punished under the State Secrets Act.

Reporters Without Borders said that Burma is still on a list of “Enemies of the Internet.” Seventeen video journalists are still in jail and serving long prison sentences, and three of the most prominent—Zarganar, a famous comedian; Nay Phone Latt, a blogger; and Kaung Myat Hlaing, also known as Nat Soe in the Burmese bloggers community—are sserving long sentences for freely expressing their views online. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21313
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ABC News: 18 May, 2011
Suu Kyi risks arrest over Australian message
By Jeff Waters

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be arrested again for recording a video message aimed at Australian MPs.

In the three-minute video, Ms Suu Kyi says there have been no real moves toward democracy in the 100 days or so since the Burmese junta held a national election, which was widely described as fraudulent.

The recording appears to have been made on a home video camera.

"We have not seen any positive, definite move towards a truly democratic process. I am particularly grateful to the members of the Australian Parliament," she said.

Ms Suu Kyi says if there was genuine democracy in Burma, all political prisoners would be released.

Supporters say she is risking rearrest by distributing the video. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/18/3220564.htm?section=justin
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UK cautions ASEAN from allowing Myanmar to assume regional leadership

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, May 18, 2:11 PM

MANILA, Philippines — The British government has cautioned Southeast Asian countries not to allow Myanmar to take the leadership of their regional bloc.

It says Myanmar will need to show “enormous political progress” to deserve the prestigious role that it now seeks.

Myanmar, among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has sought the annual chairmanship of the 10-member bloc in 2014. Fellow members have not raised any objection but urged it to continue taking steps to realize a long-unfulfilled promise to fully democratize.

U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN David Carden says it’s up to ASEAN to decide on Myanmar’s leadership role.

He says Washington hopes Myanmar will take seriously the new ASEAN charter, which includes promotion of human rights. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/uk-cautions-asean-from-allowing-myanmar-to-assume-regional-leadership/2011/05/18/AFW4iK6G_story.html
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US Diplomat Begins Visit to Burma
By HTET AUNG AND LALIT K JHA Wednesday, May 18, 2011

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun began a four-day trip to Burma on Wednesday for introductory meetings with members of the country's new government.

“Deputy Assistant Secretary Joseph Yun of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau is scheduled to travel to Burma from May 18-21,� said State Department spokesperson Mark Toner. “His visit reflects our continued willingness to engage with the government of Burma and to continue consultations with civil society as well as the Burmese people.�

Toner added that Yun will hold introductory meetings with senior government officials in Burma.

Yun’s trip to Burma comes soon after US President Barack Obama's Monday announcement that his administration would extend the national emergency with respect to Burma, and the resulting sanctions, for one more year.

“These actions and policies are hostile to US interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,� said Obama in his notification to the US Congress about his decision to extend the national emergency regarding Burma, which commenced on May 20, 1997.

“For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this threat,� he added.

Also on Monday, Burma's new President Thein Sein announced “a clemency program,� releasing more than 14,000 prisoners. However, only about 40-50 of Burma's approximately 2,100 political prisoners were included in the release.
Asked about whether the US has seen changes in Burma since the election last November, Toner said in his press briefing on Tuesday: “There’s been some developments. Aung San Suu Kyi was obviously released, and we applauded that, but we remain steadfast in our call that all political prisoners should be released.

“We recognize that there’s some fairly serious challenges to address in this relationship, but we’re going to continue to pursue a dual-track policy that involves pressure but also principled engagement.�

Yun's visit to Burma also comes less than a week after the visit to Burma by Vijai Nambiar, the UN Secretary-General's acting Special Envoy to Burma. Nambiar also called on the new government to release all the political prisoners during his meetings with Burmese government officials.

Burma political observers said that Yun will probably address two key interlinked issues on his trip. The first issue is Burma's desire to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2014, to which the US has already announced its opposition due to the lack of the meaningful political change in Burma as reflected by the second key issue—the government's failure to release all political prisoners.

In a recent editorial, the Bangkok-based English newspaper The Nation wrote: "One day before the 18th Asean summit began in Jakarta, the US sent an urgent message to Indonesia—the Asean chair—Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines simultaneously, saying now was the time to push for real progress in Burma, otherwise it would be difficult to envisage any US president attending the East Asia Summit there in 2014."

Yun is scheduled to meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the evening of May 19. He will also consult with a variety of Burmese stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, nongovernmental organizations, ethnic minorities and the business community.

“As far as I know now, Yun will meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi tomorrow evening,� said Nyan Win, spokesperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Asked about the NLD's response to Obama's decision to extend the national emergency with respect to Burma, Nyan Win said, “The US sanctions are designed to improve democratic and human rights in Burma. Therefore, this extension is a reflection of the lack of change from the side of Burma.�

Although the UN, the US and the Asean—of which Burma is a member state—have all recently tried to persuade Burma's new government to release all political prisoners as a first step to show change in Burma, President Thein Sein's announcement ignored their efforts.

Some members of Burma's new parliament also expressed a desire to have more political prisoners released.

“Any amnesty is better than no amnesty, and firstly I welcome the president's announcement,� said Myat Nyana Soe, a member of the Amyotha Hluttaw, or Upper House of Parliament. “But considering the long prison terms, it would be good if the government could consider including those prisoners in this amnesty.�

“To reflect the desire of the people through the people's parliamentary representatives, they expected the government to release many more political prisoners. They even had a specific desire to release some specific persons, like the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. If the government listens to the desire of the people and responds to them, it will be a good deed and all the people will be happy,� Myat Nyana Soe said.

Myat Nyana Soe added that releasing all political prisoners would not be bending to pressure from outside countries, but rather fulfilling the desire of the people.

Copyright © 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.org http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21314
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US Sending Senior Diplomat to Meet New Burmese Government
David Gollust | The State Department May 17, 2011

The United States is sending a senior diplomat for “introductory” talks with leaders of Burma’s new, nominally-civilian, government. The new government was seated in late March to replace a military junta but U.S. officials say the military retains effective control.

Officials here say the dispatch of the diplomat to Burma does not reflect any easing of the critical U.S. view of the political changes there, but that the Obama administration remains committed to trying dialogue with Burma.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Joseph Yun is due to leave Washington Wednesday for a visit to Burma spanning three days.

The senior diplomat last visited Burma in December and so his visit his week will be the first since the new government was sworn in on March 30th.

The military junta that ruled Burma for decades ceded power at that time, following a national election in November that was widely criticized as a sham.

A quarter of the seats in the new parliament were set aside for military officers and more than half of the remaining seats were won by a pro-military party.

Announcing the Yun visit, State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said the United States still considers the political process in Burma badly flawed and does not approach this week’s talks with any illusions. “It’s consistent with our two-track approach to Burma. There’s nothing [unduly optimistic] about this. We recognize that there’s some fairly serious challenges to address in this relationship. But we’re going to continue to pursue a dual-track policy that involves pressure, but also principled engagement," he said.

A senior official who spoke to reporters said that in addition to meeting government officials and civil society members, Yun will try to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed last November after spending most of the previous 20 years in detention.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party won Burmese elections in 1990 but was barred by the military from taking power. The November elections were largely boycotted by the opposition.

In a notice to Congress Monday, President Barack Obama renewed U.S. economic sanctions against Burma, including a near-total trade ban, that would have otherwise expired this month.

The routine extension notice said Burma is still engaged in actions hostile to U.S. interests including the large-scale repression of the democratic opposition.

The State Department also Monday dismissed a limited clemency program announced by Burmese President Thein Sein that would among other things cut sentences for all Burmese prisoners by a year.

It said Burma should immediately free all of the country’s estimated 2,200 political prisoners.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/US-Sending-Senior-Diplomat-to-Meet-New-Burmese-Government-122064264.html
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PTTEP drops Myanmar exploration block

Published: May 18, 2011

Offshore staff

BANGKOK, Thailand – PTTEP International Ltd. has relinquished the entire exploration block M4 in the Gulf of Martaban offshore Myanmar. PTTEP has completed its exploration work commitment on the tract.

PTTEP retains three exploration projects, Myanmar M3, M7, and M11; one development project, Myanmar Zawtika, which is expected to begin production in 2013; and two joint ventures now in production, Yadana and Yetagun projects.

05/18/2011 http://www.offshore-mag.com/index/article-display/4296390213/articles/offshore/regional-reports/asia-pacific/2011/may/pttep-drops_myanmar.html