News & Articles on Burma-Tuesday, 01 November, 2011=uzl

News & Articles on Burma Tuesday, 01 November, 2011 --------------------------------------------- Burma must make a Judgment to end civil war immediately US-Burma Detente Efforts Quietly Gather Speed Significance of Pictures in Burmese Politics Burmese fighter planes fly over near KIA headquarters Local Authorities In Kachin State Issue New Order 23 govt soldiers killed by KIA during fighting in three areas 9 Burmese soldiers killed on Myitkyina-Sumprabum Road Myanmar gets support to lead ASEAN UN official visit Myanmar for five days Govt personnel back in Wa territory to resume work Fleeing migrants lacking food, water NLD and Allies Discuss Party Registration --------------------------------------------- Burma must make a Judgment to end civil war immediately By Zin Linn Nov 01, 2011 11:48AM UTC Burma Armys full-scale offensives are becoming greater than ever in Kachin State. The fighting seems revengeful as Burmese soldiers used to commit various crimes such as looting, killing, raping and burning down the civilians villages in the front line. Actually, ordinary Kachin people are just innocent citizens of Burma and soldiers should spare their lives and properties. However, Kachin natives are singled out by the Burmese soldiers and they are not regarded as citizens of their own nation. It looks like Burma Army has been launching a racial war. In frontline areas, Burmese soldiers are committing crimes freely as there are no effective or appropriate penalties set by senior authorities. The worst and concrete evidence is that the wicked Burmese Army has used a mysterious chemical weapon in the recent offensive against Kachin rebels in Northern Burma, quoting victims suffering, Kachin News Group reported. For more than a week, Burmese soldiers used the unidentified chemical weapon in three war zones Christian Prayer Hill and Lung Zep Kawng in Ga Ra Yang village, and Shwe Nyaung Pyin village against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Myitkyina-Manmaw (Bhamo) Road in Waingmaw Township. Those events were narrated by KIA soldiers, who were under attack by such poisonous gas. On October 29, Burma Army troops fired two mortar rounds of chemical weapons on the Peoples Army fighters under the KIA in Prayer Hill, said civilian fighters. Two rounds of chemical weapons were fired at us in Prayer Hill. There were seven of us present. Dark smoke billowed from the areas where the mortar shells landed, La Gun, a civilian fighter and a victim of the chemical weapon told Kachin News Group on Sunday. When the victims breathed the dark smoke, they felt extremely dizzy, found it hard to breathe, thirsty and vomiting for hours, according to one victim. The same chemical weapon was used during the week-long fighting in Lung Zep Kawng last week, La Gun said. The same day, the chemical weapon was used by the Burmese Army in Ntap Bum battle zone, near the KIA headquarters Laiza. Four KIA soldiers suffered dizzy, fell on the ground and began vomiting for a long time, said eyewitnesses. This is an act of breaking the Geneva Protocol which banned use of chemical and biological weapons in both civil and foreign conflicts. President Thein Seins government has to take responsibility for the use of such chemical weapon. Burma observers and analysts are confused over the war between KIA and Burma Army. While the president is speaking about the importance of national unity, his army has been increasing the hostilities in ethnic areas. Derek Mitchell, special U.S. envoy for Burma, said on 17 October that violence had continued against ethnic minorities in the countryside north and east and there were credible reports of continuing human rights abuses against women and children. During a visit aimed at assessing the military-dominated nations bid to the ASEAN chair, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Saturday he urged Burmas leaders to release more political prisoners and take greater steps to reconcile with restive ethnic groups. He also said that he expected progress in these areas before the country assumes the chair of ASEAN. Burmas democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made an appeal on last July 28 for political talk and an urgent ceasefire between major ethnic rebel groups Kachin Independence Organization, Karen National Union, New Mon State Party, Shan State Army and government troops. In her open letter dispatched to the new President Thein Sein, Suu Kyi offered to act as a mediator between the government and the ethnic rebels. National reconciliation cannot be accomplished by using military might. If stakeholders used the gun to solve out the disagreement, it will make disadvantage for all sides. To establish an authentic national unity, that will make safe the future of the Union, can only be accomplished through political dialogue, the open letter says. If the President Thein Sein truly wanted to recreate the country into a democratic and developed society, all the wars with respective ethnic rebels including KIA must be stopped at once. President Thein Sein should not say poverty alleviation while he has been launching civil war against ethnic groups that make the country underprivileged in the region. Hence, it is really essential for the president to end the civil war, particularly war against KIA. If Burmese troops have used chemical weapon, President must determinedly order them to stop immediately. By doing so, president has to show the country is on the right reform path. Judgment to end civil war will also achieve wide-ranging supports domestically and internationally. http://asiancorrespondent.com/68545/burma-must-make-a-judgment-to-end-civil-war-immediately/# ------------------------------------------- US-Burma Detente Efforts Quietly Gather Speed By BA KAUNG Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Two senior US diplomats are visiting Burma this week in the latest sign that Washington is stepping up its efforts to engage the country's military-backed government, which has recently undertaken a series of minor economic and political reforms apparently aimed at ending decades of international isolation. On Wednesday, the US special envoy to Burma, Derek Mitchell, will begin his third visit to the country in less than two months. During his three-day trip, he is expected to travel to Naypyidaw for another round of talks with senior government officials, and will be accompanied by the US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Michael Posner, who is arriving in Burma today. Both men will meet in Rangoon and Naypyidaw with senior Burmese officials, representatives of international organizations, and civil society groups to discuss a range of issues related to human rights and reform in Burma, according to a media notice released by the US State Department. Mitchell just concluded his second visit to Burma a week ago, during which he met with Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, Lower House of Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss calls for further reforms. The new government, which took power in March following a heavily rigged election carried out by the former ruling junta almost exactly a year ago, is also expected to raise the issue of lifting sanctions imposed on the country over the past two decades in response to ongoing human rights abuses. However, the US has repeatedly said that sanctions will remain in place until the Burmese government takes serious steps to improve human rights conditions in the country, including the unconditional release of all political prisoners and an end to violence in ethnic minority areas of the country. The increased US interaction with the Southeast Asian nation comes after the Burmese government recently extended a series of overtures to the opposition, including a meeting between Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein, the release of some political prisoners, the suspension of an unpopular Chinese-backed hydropower dam and, most recently, moves to change the party registration law to pave the way for Suu Kyi's disbanded party to re-register and contest future elections. "These latest visits indicate that the United States wants to drum up the pace of change in Burma," said Maung Wuntha, a political commentator in Rangoon. Proponents of greater engagement with Burma have made increasing calls for the US to end its punitive sanctions and diplomatic isolation, which they say have made the country overly dependent on its giant neighbor, China, both diplomatically and economically. "President Obama should publicly support the changes taking place, and back up those words with actions to end the country's isolation, before hardliners who oppose reform are able to push back," wrote Burmese historian Thant Myint-U in a recent New York Times commentary that suggested lifting all restrictions that limit the United Nations and international financial institutions like the World Bank from offering Burma their technical expertise. In another recent op-ed piece, Morton Abramowitz, a former acting president of the International Crisis Group, and Tom Pickering, a current co-chair of the influential Brussels-based think tank, said that the US should elevate the status of its senior diplomat in Rangoon from charge' d'affaires to ambassador, and also urged President Barack Obama to personally acknowledge Thein Sein's efforts at the upcoming East Asian Summit if he expands his political reforms. There are, however, still several outstanding issues that could stand in the way of such gestures by the US, including ongoing conflicts in Burma's ethnic minority areas and Naypyidaw's murky relations with North Korea. US officials are not the only ones whose presence in Burma has increased expectations of a possible breakthrough in relations between Burma and its international critics. Vijay Nambiar, chief of staff to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the provisional UN special adviser for Burma, also made a surprise visit to Naypyidaw on Monday to meet with Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin for discussions about developments in Burma. His visit came on the heels of another by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who was in Burma over the weekend to assess the country's political direction ahead of a summit by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where member states are expected to decide whether the country is ready to become chairman of the regional bloc in 2014. Norwegian Minister of the Environment and Development Cooperation Erik Solheim is also visiting Burma to attend a paper-reading session at the Green Growth Forum, an environmental discussion group in Naypyidaw where Nambiar gave a speech on Tuesday. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22364&page=2 ----------------------------------------- Significance of Pictures in Burmese Politics By WAI MOE Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Hanging photographs is a normal action for most human beings, but displaying pictures in Burma can have important connotations regarding who is in charge of the country or respected by its people. On Oct. 21, Burma's Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw) discussed "whether it is right to rehang" pictures of Burma's independence hero Aung San on the walls of government offices, halls and schools, following a question from an MP to President's Office minister ex-Maj-Gen Soe Maung. According to state media, Soe Maung replied that "it has been established to hang the picture of the present head of state." However, civil servants and foreign journalists who recently traveled to Burma believe that, although Thein Sein is president and the official head of state, Than Shwe's picture still appears on the walls of government offices. Pictures of former junta supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe can still be seen at government offices (Photo: Uzo) Shortly after Rangoon's Eleven Media Group published a news report about the Lower House discussion on Oct.25, a reader commented about recently seeing Than Shwe's picture on the wall of a school run by the Ministry of Science and Technology. A foreign journalist who recently visited Mandalay also said that he saw Than Shwe's picture hanging on the wall of government offices there. From 1962 to 1988, during the regime of the Burmese Social Programme Party, government offices, schools and other state buildings had to hang pictures of Aung San---the official martyr who was assassinated in July 1947---and late dictator Gen Ne Win, who was then head of state. Following the 1988 coup and uprising, Ne Win's pictures could still be found at government offices and institutions. However, Ne Win put a personal announcement in state-run newspapers in 1990 that his picture was to be removed from government buildings after student activists from Rangoon high schools ripped down his image from their headmasters' offices. At the time, some students in Rangoon were arrested for this act. But despite his announcement, some government offices still displayed Ne Win's picture for years afterwards. In 1997, Than Shwe's pictures began to be shown at government offices, schools and other state buildings. It has remained that way until now. Although nobody can deny that Aung San is the most well-respected hero in modern Burma, ruling generals have been uncomfortable with his picture at state buildings and in public while his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, developed into a pro-democracy icon over the past two decades. Aung San's pictures have not been seen at government offices since 1997, yet the Burmese public has maintained its faith and deep respect for the independence hero. But the Burmese people's desire to see Aung San's pictures at significant places throughout the country resurfaced two months ago. Many were surprised to see his image on the wall of the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw when government television broadcasted news of Thein Sein's first talks with Suu Kyi on Aug. 19. It was not only Aung San's picture that caused a stir, but other key figures from Burmese history were also on show at Thein Sein's office. These including Gen Khin Nyunt who was removed from power in October 2004 following conflicts with his infantry colleagues, according to official sources. Putting Khin Nyunt's picture on his office wall seemed unusual to Burmese observers as, following the junta's purge of the former spy chief and his military intelligence, all references to him were removed---even his name from temples. After returning from Naypyidaw, Suu Kyi reportedly said that seeing Khin Nyunt's picture in Thein Sein's office was surprising, and that paying respect to ousted military figures was not commonly seen amongst other ruling generals. The importance of public figures has not only had an effect on Burma's politics, but also played a significant role in recent relief efforts for flood victims in middle Burma. On Oct. 29, local aid workers raised funds by selling pictures of Aung San at a tradition performance of comedians who returned from Thailand. They said that pictures of Aung San valued at more than 200,000 kyats were bought by artists and other audience members. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22365 ------------------------------------------- Burmese fighter planes fly over near KIA headquarters Category: News Published on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 01:11 Written by KNG KIA's general headquarters Laiza in eastern Kachin State, northern Burma. Burmese Air Force fighter planes made several runs on Tuesday over the strategic Ntap Bum mountain base of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, Northern Burma, eyewitnesses said. According to one eyewitness, Burmese war planes also air-dropped rations and military personnel near the mountain in the morning. A KIA officer on the frontline told Kachin News Group over telephone, "Yes, Burmese fighter planes are flying around Ntap Bum since this morning. There is no fighting between ground troops from the two sides so far". Yesterday, over 200 Burmese Army troops on the mountain withdrew to the mountainsides after they were attacked the whole day by the KIA, added the KIA officer. In geographical and military terms it is a strategic mountain because if Burmese Army troops take control of the mountain, then it will pave the way to overrun KIA-controlled Shadan Pa valley and KIA's Laiza headquarters, local people pointed out. Fierce fighting between government troops and the KIA has occurred in Ntap Bum Mountain since last weekend. On October 29, four KIA soldiers on being attacked by Burmese troops with poison gas, felt weak and lay down on the ground and continued to retch and vomit. The Burmese Army is using soft chemical weapons in the ongoing five-month civil war in Northern Shan State and Kachin State against the KIA, according to KIA soldiers, who faced the brunt of poison gas. According to KIA officials, heavy fighting will commence soon if the Burmese Army sends reinforcements to the Ntap Bum Mountain. http://www.kachinnews.com/news/2127-burmese-fighter-planes-fly-over-near-kia-headquarters.html ------------------------------------------------ Burma: Local Authorities In Kachin State Issue New Order Regulating Bible Study, Sunday School, Fasting And Prayer Tue, 2011-11-01 00:05 editor London, 01 Novembeer, (Asiantribune.com): Burmese authorities are imposing new restrictions on religious activities in Kachin State. On 14 October, 2011 the Chairman of Maw Wan Ward in Phakant Township, Kachin State sent a letter to local churches, titled Concerning Christians conducting cultural training. The letter refers to an order by the General Township Administration Department requiring Christians in Phakant Township to submit a request at least 15 days in advance for permission to conduct short-term Bible study, Bible study, Sunday school, reading the Bible, fasting prayer, Seasonal Bible study and Rosary of the Virgin Mary Prayer. A request for permission must be accompanied by recommendations from other departments, and must be submitted to the Township Administration Office. According to a press release by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) obtained a copy of the document in Burmese, and a translation, last week. Churches in Burma are already required to obtain permission for any events other than Sunday services, but this new regulation imposes further severe restrictions. CSWs East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said, For many years, successive Burmese regimes have suppressed freedom of religion and imposed serious restrictions on Christians and other religious minorities. Christians and Muslims in particular have been the target of discrimination and persecution. It appears that despite changes in rhetoric, there has been no change of attitude, particularly at a local level, on the part of Burmese authorities to religious minorities. Burma is already regarded as one of the worlds worst violators of religious freedom, and is one of the US State Departments Countries of Particular Concern. To impose a requirement on churches and individuals to seek permission to read the Bible, pray, fast and hold a Sunday school is an extreme restriction and an extraordinary further violation of freedom of religion. We urge the Burmese authorities to withdraw this requirement, in Phakant Township and in any other parts of the country where it may have been issued, and to uphold freedom of religion for all the people of Burma. We also urge the Burmese regime to invite the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief to visit the country, and conduct an independent investigation. - Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/10/31/burma-local-authorities-kachin-state-issue-new-order-regulating-bible-study-sunday-s --------------------------------------------- 23 govt soldiers killed by KIA during fighting in three areas Category: News Published on Friday, 28 October 2011 08:29 Written by KNG A civilian fighter of Kachin People's Army under KIA. At least 23 government soldiers were killed and more than 22 were injured during fighting in three different locations on Thursday, in Kachin State, said witnesses. Sixteen were killed and more than 22 injured during an ambush by the Kachin People's Army Thursday afternoon in southern Kachin State, local people said. At least three military horses were also killed, said witnesses. A government military column was ambushed near Ja Ing Yang, on the road to Sinbo, according to local witnesses. It was largest loss of Burmese troops this week in that area, said local people. The ambush was carried out by civilian fighters under the Kachin Independence Army, KIA officers at the Laiza headquarters confirmed. Three Burmese soldiers from the Sarhmaw-based Infantry Battalion No. 105, from the Kai Htik Post on the Manmaw (Bhamo)-Kai Htik-Nam Hkam Road were killed in the quick attack by the KIA's Battalion 1, said witnesses. Burmese soldiers responded by firing mortars at the KIA for an hour. A Kachin soldier received minor injuries, according to a KIA officer. Four Burmese soldiers from the Dawhpumyang-based Infantry Battalion No. 142 were ambushed and killed by KIA troops from Battalion 24, when government troops tried to transport rations to the frontline near Dawhpunyang, from Num Lang Village, said witnesses. The fighting continued on Friday as Burmese troops continued to fire 120 mm mortar rounds at the KIA positions, said local people. According to KIA officers, over 6,000 government troops are now deployed around the headquarters but cannot overrun Laiza because of KIA resistance. http://kachinnews.com/news/2121-23-govt-soldiers-killed-by-kia-during-fighting-in-three-areas.html ----------------------------------------- 9 Burmese soldiers killed on Myitkyina-Sumprabum Road Category: News Published on Thursday, 27 October 2011 08:22 A KIA post based in Putao district, northern Kachin State. Nine government soldiers, including military post Commander Captain Zaw Zaw, were killed on Wednesday during an attack by the Kachin Independence Army, at a frontline post on the Myitkyina-Sumprabum Road, near Sumprabum, according to sources at the frontline. Only a sergeant escaped, according to witnesses in the attack. It's was highest number of casualties for the Burma Army in the war in northern Kachin State against KIA troops from the N'Gumla-based 1st Brigade since June, KIA officers in the brigade said. Those soldiers, based near Daru Hka River, secured the river bridge. They were from the Mung Lang Shidi (Putao)-based Infantry Battalion No. 138, said local residents. A KIA soldier was killed during the fighting, added KIA sources. The KIA seized one soldier, 3 guns, 3 Kenwood R/T, one wireless transmitter and over 1,000 bullets after the fighting, said KIA officers from the KIA's Laiza headquarters. http://kachinnews.com/news/2120-9-burmese-soldiers-killed-on-myitkyina-sumprabum-road.html --------------------------------------------- Myanmar gets support to lead ASEAN Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 11/01/2011 11:32 PM Support has grown for Myanmar's potential to chair ASEAN after Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa visited the country last week. University of Indonesia international relations specialist Hariyadi Wirawan said Monday he always believed that a persuasive approach was the best way in dealing with Myanmar. "[Marty's] visit to Myanmar was to make sure that democratization is ongoing in Myanmar as suggested by ASEAN," he told The Jakarta Post. "Every little step Myanmar takes during that process should be appreciated." On the sidelines of his trip, Marty said Myanmar's political reforms looked "irreversible" and put the country on course to chair ASEAN, while urging the United States and the European Union to ease sanctions as the embargoes had done more harm than good in the country, Reuters reported. The US and the EU have imposed a number of sanctions on Myanmar due to a long record of human rights abuses in the country, although the EU claimed earlier this year that it had lifted some of the sanctions. "I wish to believe and I get the sense that they are meant to be irreversible," Marty said of the reforms as quoted by Reuters. "I did not get any indication that the process will stop." The ministry's director for East Asia and Pacific affairs Dewi Savitri Wahab said the minister would further discuss the results of his trip with other ASEAN foreign ministers while taking into account dynamics developing outside the regional grouping. After two decades the Myanmar government held its first elections in December last year, albeit imperfectly, as admitted by Indonesia. The new Myanmar government, however, has called for peace with ethnic minority groups, has offered easing media control, released about 200 political prisoners and has been more communicative with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Hariyadi said Marty's trip to the restive country showed that Myanmar's democracy was encouragingly developing in an ASEAN way, but that did not necessarily satisfy the US and the EU because they had stricter standards in terms of democracy and human rights values. "What the US and European countries want is instant changes in Myanmar. They will never be satisfied with small improvements," he said. Burma Partnership coordinator Khin Omar has urged Indonesia not to allow Malaysia's ASEAN chair bid to pass because reforms Malaysia had carried out were merely cosmetic. Another international relations analyst, Bonggas Adi Chandra, said he supported the Indonesian government and ASEAN should give Myanmar incentives rather than punishments. "By giving Myanmar our trust, we are actually pushing Myanmar to accelerate its improvement in democracy and human rights by 2015, when the ASEAN Community is officially effective," he told the Post. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/01/myanmar-gets-support-lead-asean.html --------------------------------------------- UN official visit Myanmar for five days New York, Nov 1: A top United Nations official arrived on Monday in Myanmar for a five-day visit during which he will meet with a number of Government officials and other key actors. The visit by Vijay Nambiar is at the invitation of the Government, according to a statement issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson. It comes amid ongoing dialogue between the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate who was held under house arrest for much of the past 20 years before being released last Nov, as well as the negotiations between the authorities and ethnic groups. It also follows the release earlier this month of a significant number of detainees, a move welcomed by Ban, who said he hoped the Government will ensure the early release of all political prisoners, consistent with its commitment to uphold fundamental rights and the rule of law. A new Government was established in Myanmar seven months ago, and more recently the country has received a series of high-level bilateral visits. In addition, President Thein Sein has made a pledge for Myanmar to "catch up with the changing world." Nambiar, who is Ban's Chief of Staff as well as Special Adviser for Myanmar, will hold meetings in Naypyitaw and Yangon with the Government, as well as political parties, civil society organizations and other key players, in carrying out the UN Secretary-General's good offices mandate. --IBNS http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-98300.html --------------------------------------------- Govt personnel back in Wa territory to resume work Tuesday, 01 November 2011 16:08 Hseng Khio Fah Around 300 of government personnel are reportedly on the way to Panghsang, headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) to resume their work in the Wa territory due to agreement reached between the two sides to send state personnel to their areas except military personnel, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border. Currently, they are reportedly stopping over at Mongyang, 102 km northeast of Shan State East's capital Kengtung, to wait for more of their people as the 300 arrivals were from only two departments said a source from Mongyang. "The said 300 appear to be only for Mongpawk sub-township (of Mongyang township), as it is considered part of Shan State East," explained an informed source. "Those working in Panghsang and elsewhere, being part of Shan State North, will be coming from Lashio." The returnees were part of the Wa request to the Burmese government when the two sides met last month, to return government personnel such as teachers and medical workers to the UWSA controlled areas as well as those working with international organizations. As for military personnel, the group said it has enough strength to guard its region. Therefore the government need not send back military personnel, according to a high ranking Wa officer. In mid March 2010, the military junta had ordered all junta personnel and NGOs working in the Wa State to return to their home bases due to rocky relationship between the two sides over Naypyitaw's Border Guard Force program. Finally both sides came to meet for the first time in September, and second time in early October and reached some agreements such as to send state personnel, to provide all Wa people citizens' identification cards and driving licenses as well as motor vehicle licenses and support 2,000 sacks of rice plus10 million kyat (about $12,500 U.S.D.) each month. The two are expected to hold a third meeting in the near future. Panghsang's ally, Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), meanwhile, says it has yet to hear anything from Kengtung. http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4158:govt-personnel-back-in-wa-territory-to-resume-work&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266 ----------------------------------------------- Fleeing migrants lacking food, water By MAHN SAIMON Published: 1 November 2011 A resident pulls her belongings as she wades through her flooded neighborhood in Thon Buri outside Bangkok (Reuters) Up to 1,000 Burmese detained in the Thai border town of Mae Sot after they escaped extensive flooding are struggling to access food and water, with Thai authorities accused of exploiting the thousands of migrants attempting to flee back to their home country. Reports began to emerge last week of police arresting Burmese migrants as they made their way to the border, having been displaced by Thailand's worst flooding in 70 years. Upon arrival in Mae Sot, which lies opposite the Burmese town of Myawaddy, a number were detained at the immigration lock-up. "Since there are a lot of people, there isn't enough space and food so the migrants are not given a meal or any water," said Sutthisak Runprueang Phasuk from the Thailand-based Migrant Assistance Programme (MAP), which has visited detainees over the past week. While they are permitted to buy supplies from a shop in the detention centre, Sutthisak said, most have little money and therefore are struggling to find food The majority are kept in the lock-up temporarily before being sent across the border by Thai police. Their problems don't stop there, however, with many forced to go through checkpoints run by a local government-backed Border Guard Force, which charges up to 4,000THB for re-entry. Those who cannot afford the fee return to Mae Sot, where they again face possible arrest. A female migrant worker, who worked in the construction industry in Pathum Thani province, north ofBangkok, said she came to Mae Sot in a truck operated by brokers, who charged a fee of 4,000THB. Migrants whose registration papers dictate they cannot travel outside of permitted zones in Thailand have been forced to use clandestine brokers to carry them out of flood-affected areas. The confirmed death toll from the floods now stands at 381, with two missing. Millions are attempting to flee Bangkok and surrounding provinces, with Reuters saying on Sunday that vehicles were bumper to bumper for around 12 miles on an elevated road out of Bangkok. Floodwaters have submerged an area the size of Kuwait and destroyed nearly a quarter of Thailand's rice crop. The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority says the amount of rainfall this year has been 40 percent higher than average. http://www.dvb.no/news/fleeing-migrants-lacking-food-water/18474 --------------------------------------------- NLD and Allies Discuss Party Registration By WAI MOE Monday, October 31, 2011 A key decision that could affect Burma's political future is pending as Aung San Suu Kyi and the leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD) are scheduled to meet with their pro-democracy allies on Friday. Aye Thar Aung, a leader of the Arakan League for Democracy, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the meeting is significant for both the NLD and its ethnic allies since they will discuss the issue of political party registration, an option that has been availed to them since Burma's Parliament passed a bill last week amending the Political Parties Registration law. Ahead of the meeting, Suu Kyi met government liaison minister Aung Kyi in Rangoon on Sunday for 55 minutes, the 13th meeting between the two and the fourth since President Thein Sein took the helm in March. According to a report in The New Light of Myanmar on Monday, Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi issued a joint-statement following the meeting saying that Sunday's discussion focused on free trade, commerce, monetary circulation, ensuring peace with armed ethnic groups, and the general conditions surrounding the granting of amnesty. Nay Zin Latt, a political advisor to Thein Sein, said Sunday's meeting between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi showed that discussions were now focusing on wider issues and include economic and financial issues. Suu Kyi said on Sunday that her party will not discuss the issue of party registration until the law was finally approved. The amendment was passed in the Lower House last week and sent to the president for signing. "The NLD's registration depends on the law," Suu Kyi was quoted in The New Light of Myanmar as saying. "The registration is the issue we can tell [sic] only after the law is approved and enacted. When the law is approved, we will hold a meeting. According to the rules and regulations of our party, we can make [a] decision after the meeting." Some 50 seats are up for grabs in by-elections scheduled for November. Observers say the new law would allow the NLD to compete. Under the amended party registration law, a political party would only have to contest three constituencies in by-elections or general elections in order to be recognized as a legitimate party. The bill was one of three amendments passed without opposition by both Houses of Parliament recently. Asked about the amendment to the party registration law, Nay Zin Latt said the government's approach has been aimed at getting the NLD to participate in the political process by registering. He said there could be benefits for both sides---the government and the opposition. "The amendment of the law means cooperation. I see this as a good step," he said. Suu Kyi talked for the first time with President Thein Sein at the presidential palace in the capital of Naypyidaw on Aug. 19 when the pro-democracy leader traveled there for a state-run economic workshop. Hopes were high that part of the process would include the release of political prisoners, including key leaders such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and other 88 Generation Student leaders, as well as ethnic leaders such as Hkun Htun Oo of the Shan National League for Democracy. However, there were only about 200 political prisoners among 6,359 prisoners released on Oct. 12 on what President Thein Sein called "humanitarian grounds." "However, more political prisoners could be released---including Ko Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and U Hkun Htun Oo," said Aye Thar Aung. "We heard they are on the list, although I can't say the exact date." Another key amendment in the party registration law is that the clause, "Anyone convicted by a court of law is prohibited from joining a political party," will be removed. If so, many dissidents---particularly the 28 members of the 88 Generation Students group who remain behind bars serving up to 65 and a half years---could land the opportunity to become party members or even leaders if the amendment is authorized by Thein Sein. "As far as I know, my colleagues who remain in prison support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's current political stance, including her dialogue with government officials," said Thein Than Tun, a member of the 88 Generation Students group who was released from Buthidaung Prison in western Burma on Oct 12. "They are all ready to work with her."http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22359