News & Articles on Burma-Saturday 25 June, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Saturday 25 June, 2011
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Chinese-Burmese military officers meet in Mangshi on KIA
US will support UN-backed Myanmar rights probe
Kevin Rudd to visit Burma
Myanmar-Thailand bilateral trade doubled in five years
Rudd to be pressed on Burma inquiry
U.S. concerned over violence, human rights abuses in Burma
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Chinese-Burmese military officers meet in Mangshi on KIA
Saturday, 25 June 2011 21:05 KNG

Two high ranking military officers from China and Burma met secretly in Mangshi on June 23 night in China’s southwest Yunnan province, bordering Burma for talks on capturing Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), said Mangshi sources.

At the meeting the Burmese Army officer asked China to permit crossing of the border by Burmese troops and its allies to attack and capture Laiza, said sources.

The meeting was joined by regional Chinese military officials and Burmese military officials from Naypyidaw and Lashio-based Northeastern Regional Command including officers from Konghka militia group, formerly known as Kachin Defense Army (KDA), said sources close to the meeting.

Laiza, the Capital of KIO/KIA near China border in eastern Kachin State, Northern Burma.
Permission was sought to allow Burmese troops to cross the Chinese border marching from Ruili (Shweli) River from the Burmese side to the Chinese side to attack the KIA’s Brigade 3 based near the China border, added sources.

China was also informed in the meeting by the Burmese military officer that the joint forces of Burmese troops and Konghka militia group (KDA) led by Mahtu Naw, which split from KIA in 1990, will launch the military operation to capture KIA’s Laiza headquarters and 3rd brigade, said sources among Chinese border authorities.

The Burmese military officer also explained to the Chinese the need to use some Kachin troops of the former KDA in the military mission for two reasons--- avoid racism and to look for an opportunity for negotiations. Only Burmese troops in the military mission to capture KIA’s Laiza headquarters may seem like a form of racism and make negotiations difficult.

China declined to comment on the war with KIA, but granted permission to cross the border to Burmese troops and the Konghka militia (KDA) during military operations, said sources among Chinese authorities.

Sources close to Konghka militia group said the group has over 800 military personnel and they are going to march to the frontline today to capture KIA’s Laiza headquarters and the 3rd brigade.

The renewed civil war started in Kachin State and Northern Shan State when the military-dominated Burmese government launched an offensive against the KIA at Sang Gang in N’mawk (Momauk) Township in Manmaw district in Kachin State on June 9.

Over 20,000 Kachin refugees from Burmese government controlled areas have fled to KIA’s territories near China border but China has refused to accept them into its territories, according to KIA officials.

The main reason for the refugees fleeing to KIA areas is fear of torture, interrogation and use as porters by government troops, said refugees. http://www.kachinnews.com/news/1988-chinese-burmese-military-officers-meet-in-mangshi-on-kia.html
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STRAITS TIMES: Jun 25, 2011
US will support UN-backed Myanmar rights probe

WASHINGTON - THE United States said on Saturday it is prepared to support a UN-backed human rights probe in Myanmar, after opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi urged such an investigation.

The United States 'is committed to seeking accountability for the human rights violations that have occurred in Burma by working to establish an international commission of inquiry,' said the State Department, using the older term for the South-east Asian country.

'We are consulting closely with our friends, allies, and other partners at the United Nations,' US officials said in the statement.

Ms Suu Kyi, who was released in November after spending most of the past two decades under house arrest, spoke by video on Wednesday in a first-ever message to the US Congress, a stronghold of support for the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

She asked lawmakers to do 'whatever you can' to support the work of the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar and assured that a so-called commission of inquiry would not be a tribunal.

The United States has publicly supported a UN-led probe - a longstanding demand of activists. But it has done little to make it a reality, worrying its efforts would be futile so long as Asian countries - particularly China - are opposed. -- AFP http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_683976.html
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Kevin Rudd to visit Burma
By THE IRRAWADDY Saturday, June 25, 2011

Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd will visit Burma next week and he will meet Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and government leaders.

During the visit, Mr Rudd will have discussions with members of Burma's new government and opposition figures including Suu Kyi.

“I will use these meetings to reiterate Australia's long-standing calls for genuine progress towards national reconciliation and democratic reform,” Mr Rudd said in a media release. “This visit comes at a critical juncture in Burma's history and will allow the Australian government to assess how it can best support reform and economic development.”

In 2002, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer visited Burma. Mr Rudd’s visit will be the first high-ranking official visit since 2002.

Opposition members say that Suu Kyi is likely to press Canberra to take a more active role in the setting up of a United Nations commission of inquiry into human rights in Burma. Australia supported calls by the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights situation in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, for an independent commission into rights abuses in Burma.

This week, Suu Kyi urged US lawmakers to support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) by the United Nations into alleged human rights violations in Burma. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21568
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Myanmar-Thailand bilateral trade doubled in five years
Posted: 2010/09/07

YANGON, Sept. 7 (mathaba) -- In 2005-06, the bilateral trade was 1.593 billion dollars ,the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( UMFCCI) was quoted as saying.

Myanmar and Thai entrepreneurs had met for promoting bilateral trade cooperation this month.

Besides the normal trade, border trade has also been improving comparing the two fiscal years' Myanmar-Thai bilateral trade, according to vice chairman of UMFCCI U Tun Aung who added that the border trade at Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthaung and Myeik hit 199 million dollars in 2005-06 and rose to 295 million dollars in 2009- 10.

Thailand stood first in Myanmar's normal foreign trade partner line-up, followed by Singapore, China, India, China's Hong Kong region, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

But it stood the second in border trade with neighboring countries.

Thailand exports to Myanmar textile, shoes, marine products, rice, rubber, jewelry, motor cars, computer and electronic accessories and vice versa, while importing from Myanmar forestry products, marine products, agricultural produces and natural gas.

Meanwhile, Thailand is leading in the Myanmar's foreign investment which is followed by the United Kingdom and Singapore.

Thailand injected 7.41 billion dollars into Myanmar during the 21 years' period from 1988 to 2009, of which 81.7 percent went to electric power, while 8.33 percent and 3.1 percent in manufacturing and hotel and tourism sectors respectively.

(Mathaba and Agencies) # http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=624607?rss
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Rudd to be pressed on Burma inquiry
June 25, 2011 - 2:00PM

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Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is likely to press Australia to take a more active role in the setting up of a United Nations commission of inquiry into human rights in Burma, rights groups say.

The call by Ms Suu Kyi is set to take place during talks with Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd during an official visit to Burma next week.

Mr Rudd, who yesterday announced plans to go to Burma, said the visit, the first by an Australian foreign minister since 2002, came at a "critical juncture in Burma's history".

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/rudd-to-be-pressed-on-burma-inquiry-20110625-1gkeo.html#ixzz1QIgAO7D8
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U.S. concerned over violence, human rights abuses in Burma
Politics 6/25/2011 9:14:00 AM

WASHINGTON, June 25 (KUNA) -- The U.S. voiced here late Friday its concern over the ongoing violence in Burma, in addition to reports of human rights abuses in that country.

State Department Spokesman Victoria Nuland said in a statement "the United States is concerned by on-going violence in Burma's northern Kachin State and other regions of the country and calls for a halt to hostilities." She indicated that the Burmese Army and the Kachin Independence Army began fighting on June 9 and have continued over the past three weeks. "We are particularly concerned by the reports of human rights abuses in the area, including reports of casualties, rape, and displacement of thousands of local residents. There have also been reports of clashes in Karen and Shan state," she stressed.

Nuland noted "we urge all appropriate authorities to ensure, in line with international standards, adequate support, safety, and protection for those persons fleeing conflict along Burma's borders." She affirmed "this recent violence underscores the need for an inclusive dialogue between the Government of Burma and opposition and ethnic minority groups to begin a process of genuine national reconciliation." (end) si.nfm KUNA 250914 Jun 11NNNN http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2176172&Language=en