News &Articles on Burma-Tuesday, 21 February 2010

News &Articles on Burma Tuesday, 21 February 2010 ----------------------------------------------- BA-SSA stand-off in Tachilek The Lady to tour Shan State in March: NLD candidate Burma to "seriously consider" poll monitors Myanmar poised to host ASEAN in 2014, Myanmar: prelate describes Kachin humanitarian crisis Burma to consider poll monitors: ASEAN Burma will upgrade two airports to international status Burma to consider ASEAN poll monitors Myanmar to consider allowing neighbors to observe elections Suu Kyi's party says Burma poll restrictions lifted Philippines and Myanmar schedule trade meeting in Manila Burma Aims to be Role Model for Media, Says Govt Official Government's factional 'business deals' adds tensions to ethnic peace plans -------------------------------------- BA-SSA stand-off in Tachilek Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:28 S.H.A.N. The Shan State Army (SSA) South that had signed the ceasefire agreement on 2December and the Burma Army are in a state of deadlock in Monghai, northwest of Tachilek, opposite Maesai, since last week, according to Lt-Col Gawn Zeun, Commander of the SSA's Shan State East military region. Both sides have been reinforcing and already 4 clashes have taken place since 6 February. The last one took place today. "The Burma Army wants to push all our forces to the Thai-Burma border," he said. "This is our land of birth. We cannot allow them to treat us this way." The SSA claims that according to the agreement reached with Naypyitaw's negotiator U Aung Min, it will operate outside the main motorroads and major towns, where Burma Army units are based. The Burma Army however argues, according to the signed agreements, the SSA is entitled to operate freely only in the Homong-Mong Hta area, opposite Maehongson and Chiangmai provinces. According to the 16 January agreement, Homong and Monghta subtownships are designated as seats of the SSA headquarters. Meeting Sao Yawdserk, SSA leader, in Chiangmai on 5 February, U Aung Min said he knew the Homong-Monghta area was not big enough to accommodate both the SSA and the thousands of civilians taking refuge near its bases. Accordingly he was looking for a suitable location. The SSA had requested that the resettlement area should be in Mongyawng township, as most of the areas along the Thai border have been occupied by the Wa people during the 1999-2001 forced relocations. "Unless something's done, the stand-off can escalate into a pitched battle," concluded Gawn Zeun. The SSA and Naypyitaw had earlier agreed to hold a third formal meeting but neither the date nor venue has been set. Loi Taileng, the SSA HQ, meanwhile, has lodged a formal complaint to Naypyitaw, said Yawdserk. It also included the killing of one SSA officer and his wife on 17 February while they were shopping at a village market in the Kyaukme-Hsipaw area. http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4435:ba-ssa-stand-off-in-tachilek&catid=86:war&Itemid=284 --------------------------------------- The Lady to tour Shan State in March: NLD candidate Monday, 20 February 2012 15:02 S.H.A.N. National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be in Shan State North capital Lashio next month to support his campaign for a seat in the National Assembly, according to Sai Myint Maung, elected representative in the 1990 elections. "Her visit will be timely," he said. "Because my campaign will begin on 27 February." Asked why it took him so long to kick-start his campaign, he replied it was because he had to apply for permission from the Elections Commission first. He believes he stands a good chance of being re-elected, if fair play is ensured. "Of course, I have received reports of People's Militia Forces (PMFs) threatening villagers to vote only for the lions (the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party's emblem). But since I have no evidence to present to the authorities, there is as yet no plan to lodge a formal complaint." During the last elections in 2010, Lashio Elections Commission (EC) had demanded evidences such as photos, video tapes, audio tapes and witnesses or face libel action. Sai Myint Maung's competitors include Dr Nang Keng Phawng Tip (USDP), Sai Sam Min (Shan Nationalities Democratic Party), Luo Xingguang (Kokang Democracy and Unity Party) and another from Lahu National Democratic Party (LNDP). The last two are regarded as spoilers planted by the USDP, according to local sources. Sai Sam Min meanwhile says he expects less votes in Lashio, but more in the 4 outlying townships: Hsenwi, Kunlong, Tangyan and Mongyai. The seat was vacated by Dr Sai Mawk Kham who was later appointed as Vice President #2 in the Thein Sein administration. He had reportedly accepted defeat by his SNDP opponent Sai Thant Zin after the ballots were counted on 7 November. However he was declared as the winner the next day, after adding the advance votes which arrived later in the evening. Sai Myint Maung, a lawyer by profession, was a co-founder of the Shan State Democratic Party (SSDP) in 1988. After the party failed to obtain approval by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), then the ruling military setup, he joined the NLD and was elected by the Lashio constituency. http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4426:the-lady-to-tour-shan-state-in-march-nld-candidate&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266 -------------------------------------- Burma to "seriously consider" poll monitors By AFP Published: 21 February 2012 President Thein Sein attends the ASEAN leaders Meeting with ASEAN Business Advisory Council in Nusa Dua, Bali (Reuters) Burma has promised to "seriously consider" allowing election observers for April 1 by-elections in which Aung San Suu Kyi is standing, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said today. It said Burma President Thein Sein made the pledge to visiting ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan during talks in the capital Naypyidaw. "We will seriously consider having observers from ASEAN ... during the April elections," Thein Sein was quoted as saying. The polls, which will see Suu Kyi run for a seat in parliament for the first time, are viewed as a key test of the authorities' commitment to budding reforms. A 2010 election which swept the army's political allies to power was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and intimidation. The opposition cannot threaten the ruling party's majority even if it takes all 48 available seats in the by-elections, but a Suu Kyi win would lend legitimacy to the fledgling parliament. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won a landslide victory in an election in 1990, but the then-ruling junta never allowed the party to take power. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time. She was released from her latest stint in detention a few days after the 2010 vote. The upcoming polls are being held to fill places vacated by those who have since become government and deputy ministers. http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-to-seriously-consider-poll-monitors/20348 --------------------------------------- Information to Empower Filipinos Myanmar poised to host ASEAN in 2014, plans and capacity building underway Tuesday 21st of February 2012 TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThisMANILA, Feb. 21 - Myanmar will seriously consider allowing observers from ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat during the April by-elections, said Myanmar President Thein Sein. In a release sent to PIA, it said that, We will seriously consider having observers from ASEAN, and the ASEASN Secretariat during the April elections, he told visiting ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Surin Pitsuwan. The two leaders agreed that such a move will boost transparency, which will add to the international goodwill that Myanmar had attracted so far. In a relaxed meeting which lasted more than an hourwell beyond the half an hour originally scheduledthe President spoke confidently of the countrys vision. Job creation is our top priority. We want to create as many jobs as we can, so Myanmar workers can work in the country, and ease the burden on our neighbouring countries like Thailand and Malaysia, he said, adding that plans for a deep sea port, as well as special industrial zones, are already in the pipeline to meet the objective of job creation. The President also concurred with Dr Surins suggestion that the Irrawaddy Delta area be developed as the next Rice Bowl of the world. Our population stands at 60 million now, and it is projected to hit 100 million in 20 years. We are certainly looking to develop the rice production capacity of the Delta area, as that will contribute realty to food security now only for our country, but also the world, the President continued. Echoing similar upbeat sentiment, Myanmars Minister for Information and Culture Kyaw Hsan said: We are not going back. We are going forward. Minister Kyaw Hsan added that plans and preparations are underway to make sure Myanmar is ready for the 2013 Southeast Asia Games, as well as chairing the ASEAN Meetings in 2014. He agreed with Dr Surin that Myanmar can tap the experience of the ASEAN family and the ASEAN Secretariat in hosting major events and meetings. The sense of confidence and determination is also captured in Dr Surins meeting with Mr Tin Naing Thein, Myanmars Minister for National Planning and Economic Development. Nothing that reforms had been smooth in the country, the Minister said political change in Myanmar is on track, and is ready to take off fully. One area which Myanmar has promised full cooperation, is the provision of economic data to what Dr Surin described as to fill in the blank in ASEANs economic report. The countrys Foreign Minister, Mr Wunna Maung Lwin, also gave his assurance that Myanmar is ready and willing to cooperate with the rest of the ASEAN family, in meeting its commitment to the region. But he also reminded some nations that the lifting of sanctions will help matters a lot more. Myanmar is keen to create employment and jobs to help its people. Many countries also said they are keen to help us. Statements and pronouncements have been made, but actual changes are needed now, he urged. Dr Surin Pitsuwan is leading a delegation from the ASEAN Secretariat on a four-day visit to Myanmar. The trip is to hold discussions with senior Myanmar officials, to find ways for Myanmar and the ASEAN Secretariat to explore cooperation, attachments, internships and workshops to help Myanmar prepare for the major events. Across the board officials that Dr Surin met are excited and determined that Myanmar will successfully host its regional, as well as international partners and media. All ASEAN activities are fully open to Myanmar now. Myanmars determination, and the assistance of ASEAN and our dialogue partners, will ultimately determine the pace and intensity of Myanmars integration into ASEAN and the world, said Dr Surin, summing up the meetings on the first day.(ASEAN/DFA) http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1781329822190 ------------------------------------- Myanmar: prelate describes Kachin humanitarian crisis RSS Facebook February 21, 2012 From Our Store: Witness of Suffering (eBook) A bishop in Myanmar (Burma) has described the humanitarian crisis in his diocese amid fighting between Myanmar's army and Kachin rebels. "Now there are over 57,000 displaced people," says Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam of Banmaw. "The diocese is strongly influenced by the civil war and the people have fled to the cities and border areas." "Currently our Caritas takes care of 13,500 IDPs [internally displaced persons] in different camps," he added. We offer schooling, clothes, food, medicine, education, support, pastoral care and spiritual assistance. But the displaced people in remote and border areas live in poor conditions ... Respiratory diseases among children have broken out, but also dysentery, malaria, and tuberculosis, with a high risk of mortality." "Agricultural land around villages is scattered with landmines," he continued. "A [Christian], crossing his field of sugarcane, due to the explosion of a mine, lost his leg and right arm. Therefore the refugees are afraid to resume a normal life, and their future is precarious." 1.2% of the nation's 54.0 million people are Catholic, according to Vatican statistics. http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13405&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CatholicWorldNewsFeatureStories+%28Catholic+World+News+%28on+CatholicCulture.org%29%29 -------------------------------------- Burma to consider poll monitors: ASEAN 21 February 2012 | 05:13:39 PM| Source: AFP Burma has promised to "seriously consider" allowing Southeast Asian observers for by-elections marking the opposition's return to mainstream politics, the ASEAN regional bloc said. The April 1 polls, which will see Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi stand for a seat in parliament for the first time, are viewed as a key test of the military-backed government's commitment to budding reforms. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said in a statement that Burma President Thein Sein made the pledge to its visiting Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan during talks in the capital Naypyidaw. "We will seriously consider having observers from ASEAN ... during the April elections," Thein Sein was quoted as saying. A 2010 election which swept the army's political allies to power was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and intimidation. Foreign election observers and international media were not allowed into the country for that vote, which was denounced by Suu Kyi's opposition party and Western powers as lacking legitimacy. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party held a news conference on Monday to warn that the fairness of the April vote was also under threat because it was being denied the use of suitable venues for campaign rallies. But just hours later the NLD said the authorities had eased the restrictions in a turnaround it described as "very significant." The opposition cannot threaten the ruling party's majority even if it takes all 48 available seats in the by-elections, but a Suu Kyi win would lend legitimacy to the fledgling parliament. The NLD won a landslide victory in an election in 1990, but the then-ruling junta never allowed the party to take power. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time. She was released from her latest stint in detention a few days after the 2010 vote. Suu Kyi's decision to stand for a seat in parliament is the latest sign of dramatic change taking place in the country formerly known as Burma after the end last year of nearly half a century of outright military rule. The regime has surprised observers with reforms including welcoming the NLD back into the political mainstream, signing ceasefire deals with ethnic minority rebels and releasing hundreds of political prisoners. The upcoming polls are being held to fill places vacated by those who have since become government and deputy ministers. The new military-backed government, which is dominated by former generals, assured visiting top EU officials last week that the vote would be democratic. Western nations are now considering further easing sanctions, adding to hopes of an end to decades of isolation, but controversy surrounding the 2010 vote means the upcoming by-elections will be heavily scrutinised. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1628339/Burma-to- ---------------------------------------- Burma will upgrade two airports to international status Tuesday, 21 February 2012 15:03 Mizzima News (Mizzima) -- Burma is planning to create two more international airports, one in Bago to serve central Burma, and one at the Dawei deep-sea port project in the south, according to Civil Aviation Department officials. Both airports, which already exist, will be upgraded to international standards. The Dawei Airport in southern Burma will be upgraded to international status. Photo: en.wikipedia.org The Dawei Airport in southern Burma will be upgraded to international status. Photo: en.wikipedia.org Foreign investment is invited, most probably from Japan and Singapore, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. The two planned airport upgrades will become the Hanthawaddy International Airport in central Bago region, about 80 kilometres from Rangoon, and the Dawei International Airport at the Dawei deep-sea port in southern Tanintharyi Region. The existing Dawei domestic airport will be upgraded to international status within three years at a cost of about US$ 4 million, officials at the Civil Aviation Department were quoted as saying. The Italian-Thai Development Public Company is now expanding the Dawei airport runway and expansion of other facilities will follow, said the news agency. At present, Burma has three international airports, and 29 regional airports; international airports are located in Rangoon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay. Construction of the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial zone with road and rail links to Thailand is now underway. The project, which is estimated to cost $13 billion, is projected to be completed in 10 years in three phases. http://www.mizzima.com/business/6622-burma-will-upgrade-two-airports-to-international-status.html ------------------------------------- Burma to consider ASEAN poll monitors Created: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:12:43 GMT+0700 Burma has promised to seriously consider allowing election observers to monitor by-elections in April. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said in a statement that Burma's president Thein Sein had made the pledge to its visiting Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan. "We will seriously consider having observers from ASEAN ... during the April elections," Thein Sein was quoted as saying. The polls will see pro democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi stand for a seat in parliament for the first time. It is also being seen as a key test of the military-backed government's commitment to reform. Fairness threat A 2010 election which swept the army's political allies to power was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and intimidation. Foreign election observers and international media were not allowed into the country for that vote, which was denounced by Suu Kyi's opposition party and Western powers as lacking legitimacy. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party held a news conference on Monday to warn that the fairness of the April vote was also under threat because it was being denied the use of suitable venues for campaign rallies. But just hours later the NLD said the authorities had eased the restrictions in a turnaround it described as "very significant." The opposition cannot threaten the ruling party's majority even if it takes all 48 available seats in the by-elections, but a Suu Kyi win would lend legitimacy to the fledgling parliament. The NLD won a landslide victory in an election in 1990, but the then-ruling junta never allowed the party to take power. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time. She was released from her latest stint in detention a few days after the 2010 vote. The regime has surprised observers with reforms including welcoming the NLD back into the political mainstream, signing ceasefire deals with ethnic minority rebels and releasing hundreds of political prisoners. The upcoming polls are being held to fill places vacated by those who have since become government and deputy ministers. The new military-backed government, which is dominated by former generals, assured visiting top EU officials last week that the vote would be democratic. Western nations are now considering further easing sanctions, adding to hopes of an end to decades of isolation, but controversy surrounding the 2010 vote means the upcoming by-elections will be heavily scrutinised. http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3436230.htm?desktop -------------------------------------------- Myanmar to consider allowing neighbors to observe elections By the CNN Wire Staff February 21, 2012 -- Updated 0906 GMT (1706 HKT) (CNN) -- The Myanmar government will "seriously consider" accepting observers from neighboring countries to monitor elections taking place in April, a regional organization said Tuesday. In a meeting Tuesday with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, President Thein Sein said Myanmar would consider allowing observers from the association to watch the elections. "The two leaders agreed that such a move will boost transparency, which will add to the international goodwill that Myanmar had attracted so far," the association said in a statement. Thein Sein met with ASEAN's Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. Look inside Myanmar's young 'democracy' The 10-member association is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its goal is to promote economic growth and regional stability. The international community has applauded recent political reforms in Myanmar, long secluded from the rest of the world after a military junta grabbed power in 1962. The generals have begun loosening their grip after international sanctions and criticism over their regime's human rights record. After boycotting elections in 2010, the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party will participate in the April by-elections. Suu Kyi registered last month to run for a parliamentary seat in Kawhmu after the regime agreed to negotiate with an ethnic rebel group and pardoned hundreds of political prisoners. Her party, the National League for Democracy, is putting up candidates for all 48 parliamentary seats that are being contested. Suu Kyi and her supporters, as well as international political leaders, have urged Thein Sein's government to ensure that the elections are carried out in a free and fair manner. Representatives from ASEAN allowed into Myanmar in 2010 did not carry out thorough monitoring of the elections that year, said Aung Saw, editor of the Myanamar exile magazine Irrawaddy, which is based in Thailand. "They were just taken to a few polling stations, that's it," he said. Western governments have made a number of gestures in recognition of Myanmar's recent political changes -- the United States announced in January that it would exchange ambassadors with the country for the first time since 1988. But the April by-elections are seen as a key gauge of the government's commitment to reform. The international attention trained on the elections may prompt the Myanmar government to allow more rigorous monitoring this time around, Aung Saw said. He noted that the Thailand-based Asian Network for Free Elections, which aims to promote and support democratization, is an example of a regional body that could provide independent election monitoring. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/21/world/asia/myanmar-elections/index.html ------------------------------------ Suu Kyi's party says Burma poll restrictions lifted AFP/NEWSCORE Last Updated: 10:40 AM, February 20, 2012 RANGOON, Burma -- Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party said Monday that the authorities lifted campaign restrictions ahead of closely-watched elections, just hours after it made a complaint. "They withdrew the restrictions. We can campaign freely," according to Nyan Win, a spokesman for the Nobel Peace Prize winner's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. "It's a very significant change. We are still hoping for fair play." Earlier Monday, the NLD had called a news conference to complain that it was being denied the use of sports facilities to hold rallies ahead of the April 1 polls, warning that the fairness of the vote was under threat. Suu Kyi, whose party boycotted a 2010 election because it thought the rules were unfair, is standing for a seat in parliament for the first time. The 2010 vote, which swept the army's political allies to power, was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and intimidation. The democracy icon has drawn crowds of tens of thousands of cheering supporters on the campaign trail, posing a security headache for her party. Earlier this month, she postponed a trip to the central city of Mandalay because her party said the venue offered by the authorities was too small. The NLD announced at the news conference that it also had been denied permission to use a venue in northern Kachin State for a planned speech by Suu Kyi later this week. But just hours later, the party said it received the green light from the election authorities. "They said that they can take care of Aung San Suu Kyi's security in the cities ... but they cannot reach the remote areas easily," Nyan Win said. Suu Kyi's decision to stand for a seat in parliament is the latest sign of dramatic change taking place in the country, referred to as Myanmar by the regime, after the end last year of nearly half a century of outright military rule. The regime has surprised observers with reforms, including welcoming the NLD back into the political mainstream, signing cease-fire deals with ethnic-minority rebels and releasing hundreds of political prisoners. The new military-backed government, which is dominated by former generals, assured visiting EU officials last week that the vote would be democratic. Western nations are considering further easing sanctions, adding to hopes of an end to decades of isolation, but controversy surrounding the 2010 vote means the upcoming elections will be heavily scrutinized. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/suu_kyi_party_complains_of_burma_WwqzDsplrRDz3jfEv29SbJ ----------------------------------------- Philippines and Myanmar schedule trade meeting in Manila The meeting "will provide the roadmap" to move Philippine-Myanmar relations further By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief Published: 16:06 February 21, 2012 Manila: The Philippines and Myanmar, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), scheduled a trade meeting in June to strengthen trade ties. In a meeting between Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Myanmar's Foreign Secretary U Wunna Maung Lwin in Myanmar in early February, they agreed that the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) will meet from June 5 to 6 in Manila, del Rosario said in a statement. JCBC is a mechanism for the Philippines and Myanmar to discuss bilateral issues, including trade and investment, air services, education, technical cooperation and other regional and international issues. The meeting "will provide the roadmap to move relations further," said del Rosario. Myanmar President Thein Sein also invited Philippine-based businessmen to invest in its oil and gas, agriculture, mining, forestry and timber products, development of deep sea ports and infrastructure, said del Rosario. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on tourism and anti-drug trafficking prevention. Thein Sein thanked del Rosario for the Philippines' support to lift economic sanctions against Myanmar. The Philippine foreign affairs secretary said his official visit to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on February 8 and 9 happened when Myanmar was "at its crossroads of history". Before 2010, the Philippines was openly critical of Myanmar's military junta. Thein Sein, a former junta general was appointed president to head a civilian government after the 2010 elections. He ordered the release of political prisoners, including democracy icon Suu Kyi in 2010. The Nobel Peace laureate was under house arrest for 15 years. Myanmar also established its Human Rights Commission, and passed a new labour law, and began peace process with various ethnic groups. In response, the US announced plans to restore diplomatic ties with Myanmar. After promising to fast track reforms, the Asean approved Myanmar's chairmanship of the Asean leaders' summit in 2014. Asean members also include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Asean's dialogue partners in its yearly meetings include Australia, China, European Union, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, US, Since the 1990s, Europe and the United States imposed tough financial and economic sanctions against Myanmar due to alleged gross human rights violations and failure to institute democratic reforms. http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/philippines-and-myanmar-schedule-trade-meeting-in-manila-1.984133 --------------------------------------------------- Burma Aims to be Role Model for Media, Says Govt Official By SAW YAN NAING / THE IRRAWADDY Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Burmas media will serve as a role model for the Southeast Asian region as the long-isolated country opens up, said Ye Htut, a senior official from the Ministry of Information. In an interview with The Irrawaddy editor Aung Zaw in Burmas capital Naypyidaw, Ye Htut, the director general of the Information and Public Relations Department in the Ministry of Information, said that Burmese media freedom can now be said to be better when compared to nations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Laos. In Singapore, publications cannot publish news about the opposition on their front pages. Malaysia is the same. We are now better than Singapore, Malaysia and Laos. I hope our media will become a role model within Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], he said. Ye Htut also said that government servants in the past were afraid to talk to the media as they were restricted, and feared for their careers. It was not because they were afraid to talk to the press. It was because they had to be very careful about what they said. There were no guidelines or public relations training to instruct them on how to address the media, he said. Ye Htun added that spokespersons for all respective government departments will deal with the media. We also plan to host public relations training for civil servants from all government departments, said Ye Htut. Asked his opinion about exile Burmese media, Ye Htut said that in the past there were misunderstandings between the government and exile media organizations. While the government misunderstood and accused exile media, the exile media also thought that the government didnt want change and only wanted to hold on to power. Now I think we have met in the middle. If you [exile media] write something wrong, we will inform you. And you can now ask us if you want to know something, said Ye Htut. He said that international technicians may come to Burma to help build an infrastructure for Internet and communications. Presently, we only have one door. They should come and open more doors for us or teach us how to open these doors by ourselves, he said. The official said that Naypyidaw is currently discussing a media law which will probably be in place by late 2012. The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division will be phased out after that new law comes into effect, he said. However, he said that the censorship board will remain as a watchdog for media groups. It will monitor the press, solve problems and oversee violations of copyright, he said, adding that he had personally worked on drafting this media law since 2008 when he went to Europe to observe foreign media laws. We went overseas to learn about media law starting in 2008. We took as a model the Press Complaints Commission in England. This group consults, monitors and solves disputes when plaintiffs wish to sue publications, said Ye Htut. We think we will call this board the Media Freedom and Ethnic Promotion Committee. It will include journalists, well-known lawmakers, and representatives from the Press Complaints Commission, he added. Ye Htut said that Burma started to allow for media freedom in 2008 and has since permitted constructive criticism against the government. In the past, the censors even controlled the news about celebrities, he said. For example, the censorship board rejected news about celebrities who had died from drugs overdoses. Although Rangoon-based journals still have to pass through state censors, the government announced in June last year that publications and articles focusing on sports, technology, entertainment, health and childrens issues no longer had to be submitted. With the approval of Parliament, the media law will not be biased in determining who can apply to start up publications, said Ye Htut. The media law will be submitted to the Attorney Generals office where it may be amended. Then it will be sent to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw [combined Houses of Parliament] for approval. Journalists and publishers will also be invited to offer ideas, he said. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=23071 ------------------------------------------- Government's factional 'business deals' adds tensions to ethnic peace plans February 20 | Author: By Ehna A Karen leader warns that the Burma government's offers of 'business opportunities' to the various Karen and other ethnic armed factions in territory controlled by the Karen National Union will create conflict and fuel tension. A government newspaper, *Kyaymon*, reported that a breakaway group known as the KNU/KNLA Peace Council signed an initial seven-point agreement on 6thFebruary in the country's capital Naypyidaw. The agreement included the setup of various leisure businesses in the Karen towns of Pa-an, Myawaddy, Three Pagoda Pass, Kawkareik, Maw Taung, and Kawthaung. Maw Taung is a Thai-Burma border trading post in Southern Burma, the area that is still largely control by the KNU's 4th Brigade in the Mergui-Tavoy District. Saw Beeler, joint secretary of the KNU Mergui-Tavoy District told *Karen News*. "The agreement reached between the KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the resulting security issues are now the responsibility of the government. For us, [the KNU] we can't offer or guarantee security for the KNU/KNLA Peace Council businesses." The KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the Burma government agreed to continue and maintain the agreed peace deal and that the KNU/KNLA Peace Council can keep their arms. Referring to the Maw Taung businesses and other new investment opportunities in the south, Pastor Timothy Laklem, KNU/KNLA Peace Council Foreign Minister explained to *Karen News*. "The KNU/KNLA Peace Council plans to open businesses and take back Karen lands as much as we can. We don't bring our soldiers into the area as it already has Karen National Union troops based there. We will not have any conflict with the KNU as the area is large and the KNU themselves should also plan to retake their Karen land." Pastor Timothy said. "The KNU/KNLA Peace Council is also interested in investing in business such as fisheries and tourism." The KNU/KNLA Peace Council is led by Brigadier General Htein Maung and split from the KNU in February 2007 and immediately reached a ceasefire agreement with Burma's military regime at the time, forming it's headquarters in Hto Kaw Koo in Karen State. The KNU/KNLA Peace Council delegation was led by its chairman Brigadier Gen. Htein Maung, and included central committee members -- Pastor Timothy Laklem, Saw Ray Nu, Dr. Naw Ka Paw Htoo, Saw Eh Kaw Htoo, Saw Joseph, Dr. Saw Aung Than, Naw Karen Na -- the government delegation was led by U Aung Thaung and U Thein Zaw. The two delegations met and reached a peace agreement and business deal on February 6th. In 2010 the KNU/KNLA Peace Council refused to become a Border Guard Force under the control of the Burma Army. Military sources allege that the potential for future sources of conflict between ethnic ceasefire groups could be the New Mon State Party's (NMSP) proposal to the Burma government to grant them Ah Mla village for Mon new settlement. Ah Mla village was Karen village until villagers were forced to flee from it during a 1997 Burma Army offensive -- Ah Mla is in the heart of the KNU controlled Mergui-Tavoy District. The area has already seen trouble between the KNU Mergui-Tavoy District and NMSP. The KNU claims the NMSP is taking advantage of their previous ceasefire arrangement with the Burma government and taking lands of Karen villagers to expand their settlements in Karen State.http://karennews.org/2012/02/governments-factional-business-deals-adds-tensions-to-ethnic-peace-plans.html/ __._,_._