News & Articles on Burma-Monday, 18 June 2012-UZL

News & Articles on Burma Monday, 18 June 2012 ----------------------------------------- Burmas state media bars Suu Kyi Nobel Prize speech Burma Opposition spokesman could receive jail sentence Thai firms urged not to miss out in Myanmar Emergency health care needed in western Myanmar, group says Advocacy group eyes Myanmar's transparenc Bill Introduced in Congress to Renew Sanctions on Burma Death Sentence for Arakan Rape-Murderers SSA-South Accuses Govt of Risking War Famed Journalist Ludu Sein Win Dies Suu Kyi wins pop star reception in Europe Aung San Suu Kyi urges 'healthy scepticism' over Burma Laughter as Suu Kyi meets 'starstruck' Bono in Oslo ---------------------------------------- Burmas state media bars Suu Kyi Nobel Prize speech By Zin Linn Jun 18, 2012 3:00AM UTC Burma or Myanmars Information Minister Kyaw Hsan delivered a speech at the First Conference of Myanmar Writers Association (MWA) at the University of Nursing (Yangon) on Saturday. Present at the event were Yangon regional ministers, departmental heads, patrons of the committee and members of the sub-committee for organizing MWA, writers, representatives from township writers associations and responsible personnel from the media. In his speech, Union Minister Kyaw Hsan said the first conference of the Myanmar Writers Association was an historic event in the literary world as the decision to reconstitute literary associations in accordance with the free civilization made at the conference of the Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association on 24 March, 2012, at same venue had taken shape. The union minister repeated points that should be abided by the writers and journalists to be free from bias, to combine freedom, responsibility and good judgment when reporting stories. However, the information ministers did not tally with the actions of Burmas state media this weekend. Coincidently, on the same day, Burmas Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received two standing ovations inside Oslos city hall as she gave her long-delayed acceptance speech to the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the presence of Norways King Harald, Queen Sonja and several hundred public figures. The 67-year-old democracy icon paid tribute to the power of her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in saving her from the depths of personal desolation and shining a durable limelight on the injustices in her native land. TV stations, websites, newspapers and news agencies around the world treated it as one of the top stories of the day. Regrettably, Burmas state-media, controlled by Kyaw San, did not give one line to the Suu Kyi story. The Nobel Committee statement dated 14 October 1991 says: In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour this woman for her unflagging efforts and to show its support for the many people throughout the world who are striving to attain democracy, human rights and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means. However, the Burmese government deemed the Nobel Prize event a non-story. Moreover, some people suspect that government authorities did not take appropriate action with the recent riots in Burmas Rakhine State. Some even say state media fueled the situation by using biased terminologies and facts. Suu Kyi emphasizes in her Nobel lecture: Every thought, every word, and every action that adds to the positive and the wholesome is a contribution to peace. Each and every one of us is capable of making such a contribution. Let us join hands to try to create a peaceful world where we can sleep in security and wake in happiness. The people of Burma are familiar with Suu Kyis calls for a peaceful Burma and national reconciliation in her homeland where more than hundred ethnic nationalities live. However, the Thein Sein government is still reluctant to end the civil war in Kachin state and it also failed to look after several thousand of war refugees and internal displaced persons there. Suu Kyi continued: My party, the National League for Democracy, and I stand ready and willing to play any role in the process of national reconciliation. The reform measures that were put into motion by President U Thein Seins government can be sustained only with the intelligent cooperation of all internal forces: the military, our ethnic nationalities, political parties, the media, civil society organizations, the business community and, most important of all, the general public. We can say that reform is effective only if the lives of the people are improved and in this regard, the international community has a vital role to play. The Burmese government missed an important opportunity by not covering Suu Kyis acceptance speech. It does not bode well for national reconciliation and points to disagreements regarding political reform within the Thein Sein government. http://asiancorrespondent.com/84433/burmas-state-media-bars-covering-nobel-awarding-event-of-suu-kyi-why/ ------------------------------------------- Burma Opposition spokesman could receive jail sentence Last Updated: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:38:00 +1000 Burma's main opposition spokesman, Nyan Win, could face several months in prison for suggesting that ballot sheets from April's landmark election were tampered with. Nyan Win complained that a thin layer of wax had been put over check boxes for National League of Democracy (NLD) candidates, which meant a mark made on the wax could later be rubbed off to cancel the vote. A senior official at the country's Election Commission, Thaung Hlaing says the body had asked Nyan Win to publicly withdraw the allegation, as it affected the impression the polls were free and fair. He says the NLD failed to respond to the request, leading the Election Commission to submit a complaint to Zabuthiri Court in Naypyidaw. Nyan Win is due in court on June 26th, and faces up to six months in jail and a fine equivalent to $US1.20 if convicted. Nyan Win, who also acts as lawyer to the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, says he is not guilty. The National League of Democracy went on to win 43 of the 44 constituencies where it fielded candidates, which gave Opposition Leader, Aung San Suu Kyi her first ever seat in parliament. The authorities have said a subsequent investigation by the Election Commission found no evidence of ballot tampering. http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201206/3528004.htm ---------------------------------------- Thai firms urged not to miss out in Myanmar Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation Publication Date : 18-06-2012 Thai enterprises should cast extreme caution aside and start trading more with Myanmar and investing in its industries to promote growth for both sides, since the neighbouring country is already attracting huge interest from Western investors with its political and economic reforms, according to officials and bankers. "Every foreign investor wants to come here now. If Thais wait for clear-cut rules and regulations, we may be unable to compete with others and lose the chance to grow with Myanmar from the very first step," Prajuab Supinee, director of the Thai Trade Centre in Yangon, said last week. The message resonated during a road trip organised by Siam Commer-cial Bank (SCB) for Thai enterprises last week. In Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, they learned that Myanmar will be a perfect partner for Thailand if Thai investors promise recognition and mutual benefits. Benefits could be strengthened upon Myanmar people's desires to have Thailand help develop the economy. Plenty of opportunities are waiting in all sectors including farming, trading, industrial and services. However, Thai enterprises still show hesitation to make investments on concerns over political stability, changes in rules and regulations, the logistics system and the long-term benefits of export privileges granted by Western countries. After joining the business trip, giant Thai corporations now see ample opportunities to do business in Myanmar in all sectors including farming, trading, industrial and services, but they are still vacillating. They say that they may need to conduct more in-depth studies on the risks and rewards this year before making a final decision on investment next year. This year, they will send more teams to explore the market, seek local partners and continue to trade with the country. Opportunities Prajuab said Thai firms should not wait for clear-cut policies from the Myanmar government before making any decision as it may be too late to compete with foreign investors. With 60 million people, mostly of a working age, and abundant natural resources, Myanmar is becoming the new rising star in Asia. Thai companies should see that political stability is a separate issue. Myanmar will not step back to the past after it has already moved on to democracy. The current government wants to show the world that Myanmar desires economic development. The government is now changing its rules and regulations to attract new investment, so Thai companies should quickly grasp the opportunity. Companies should explore Myan-mar to understand that there are some unstable rules and differences. They should study consumer demand and draw up an investment plan that will be mutually beneficial. According to Myanmar government's objectives, each investment project should promote employment and training opportunities for its people. The Thai Trade Centre said the biggest opportunities are in agriculture, processed food and energy. Many multinational companies from Thailand like CP, Sahaphat and Gunkul have already invested here. In a few months, a giant firm involved in farming from Thailand will also make public its investment plan for Myanmar. According to the centre, Thailand has slipped to second place among Myanmar's largest foreign direct investors, losing the lead to China last year. However, Thailand should soon regain its top rank by year-end as many large investors want to start businesses here in various sectors, Prajuab added. Wichien Cherchutrakuntong, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries' Chiang Mai chapter, said Myanmar will become a new target market for Thailand in the present and the future. Thailand and Myanmar will be a perfect couple, as their cultures are similar and most Myanmar people are familiar with Thai tastes and traditions. Myanmar will soon announce its new investment rules. Thai investors should urgently study market demand, the rules and the banking system. To start up a business and begin trading with Myanmar, Thai firms should look for local partners as they will have a better understanding of the market and connections with government agencies. Thai firms that want to trade with Myanmar might start with cross-border trading, as more than 40 per cent of two-way trade takes place along border provinces. Thailand is the third largest trading partner with Myanmar after China and Singapore. The products with highest potential for trade are petroleum products, vehicles and parts, iron and construction materials, machines and spare parts, palm oil, plastic and raw materials, ships and boats, and pharmaceuticals. Banking and finance Although Thai banks have not yet been able to open a branch in Myanmar to assist investors, two Thai banks have already received permission to set up a representative office in Yangon. The one from SCB will be ready to help Thai companies this year. Sarut Ruttanaporn, head of commercial banking, said that although SCB could not yet provide any financial transaction services to customers, it is a good start for the bank to explore market opportunities with Thai investors. The Myanmar government will allow foreign banks to do business in the country in the near future, as more foreign direct investment will come in, he said. SCB is one of 17 foreign banks to secure licences from the Myanmar government, and also the second bank from Thailand after Bangkok Bank to be allowed to open a representative office in Yangon. SCB's office will first provide information and investment advice about Myanmar and also offer business matching. After Myanmar's central bank announced the move to a single exchange rate on April 2, the kyat has become more stable, which should make it easier for Thai companies to do more trade and investment here. Previously, Myanmar had two exchange rates - an official rate and an underground rate, which was very different. Now each bank can quote the kyat up to 0.3 per cent above or below the daily reference rate of the central bank. As of June 8, the kyat was worth 842 to a US dollar, while 1,000 kyat was valued at 26.62 baht. Junya Srireunsawad, manager of trade structuring and solution-wholesale banking at SCB, said the kyat is more stable, as its value is determined by supply and demand and is announced only once a day. SCB has three allied banks in Myanmar, which are owned by the government and are authorised to provide foreign transactions. The bank is ready to serve customers and support their trading and investment, she said. The three partner banks are Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank and Myanmar Economic Bank. Rules and regulations Myanmar is scheduled to issue its new Foreign Investment Law next month, which will promote more and faster development of the country. Tubkwan Homchampa, senior analyst of SCB, said the floating of the kyat has not only led to a stable currency, but also to better financial operations for investors. The revised foreign investment law is expected to provide a better tax-holiday period for investors. It should define clearer rules for land leases. The suspension of sanctions on Myanmar by Western countries has also encouraged the Myanmar government to accelerate the modernisation of its rules to facilitate more investment, he added. Aung Soe, director of the International Trade Promotion Department under Myanmar's Commerce Ministry, said Myanmar's parliament is expected to pass the amended Foreign Investment Law next month, and it may be enforced immediately. Myanmar has completely overhauled its strict rules and regulations to support growth in commerce. After the EU suspended its sanctions, the economic environment has improved significantly. This is a very good sign for promoting trade and investment. Automobiles and parts Suvit Vongsariyavanich, managing director of Deestone, a tyre maker, said the firm will open a plant in Bo Nam Pu in the border province of Kanchanaburi to export its products to Myanmar. Investing directly in Myanmar may be too fast for his company so the firm will use the new Thai plant as a strategy to penetrate the Myanmar market. Deestone may consider setting up a factory in Myanmar in the near future if it gets a good response from consumers here. The rapid growth of auto purchases should drive growth of rubber tyre sales, he added. Wirat Kitgarndethwut, assistant general manager of Siam GS Battery, said the firm will not yet invest in Myanmar as it wants to wait for clearer rules and more political stability. However, since the market is growing exponentially, the firm will hold more campaigns and activities to promote the sales of its car batteries. It only exports its products to the country. Among neighbouring countries, sales to Myanmar have witnessed the highest growth, he said. Perapat Thinsuntisuk, managing director of Cosmo Truck and Equipment, said that after the opening of the country, Myanmar is a new frontier for investors. The firm will try to find a business partner to import its products, including heavy trucks and equipment, to serve the explosion in investment projects in Myanmar. Farming Lackchai Kittiphon, president and CEO of Thai Hua Group, said he plans to lease land and raise rubber trees in Myanmar as the environment is suited to that type of agriculture. He would consider building a plant to process rubber in the near future. Manut Saensiripongpun, managing director of Chokchai Starch and Chokchai Modified Starch, said the firm will not yet start operating in the country as it wants to ensure that the investment law is practical. However, he sees good prospects for Myanmar to become a production base for tapioca and a base for exporting the product to third countries. Charoen Chanpalangsri, managing director of Thai Polycons Plc, said he is highly interested in developing oil palm plantations in Myanmar as the country has to rely heavily on palm oil imported from Thailand. Tourism Kamonwan Wipulakorn, president of The Erawan Group, said she is keen on opening a hotel in Yangon to serve foreign businessmen and tourists, who have been flocking to Myanmar's commercial capital. Although the government has moved its capital to Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon still serves as the centre of trade and tourism. "Myanmar will be a target for the group's investment from 2011-15. A budget of 8.5 billion baht (US$270 million) has been set aside for investment," she said. However, the firm needs to do more studies before investing and most of the investment budget will continue to be for Thailand. Since the border is near, Thailand can serve as a gateway to Myanmar for tourists. An investment in Thailand will also serve the growth of the tourism industry connecting Thailand, Myanmar and other Asean countries. Worawut Chiayoburana, vice president of Bager Co, said the firm will consider a plan to set up a paint plant here in the future. However, since accommodation projects in Myanmar are booming, the firm will hunt for new dealers to help promote the sale of Beger paint in the country. U Hlaing Oo, director of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism under the Hotel and Tourism Ministry of Myanmar, said the tourism industry has taken off in the past year. Myanmar is projected to welcome 1.7 million visitors this year, about double last year's 816,369 visitors. The government has granted operating licences for 759 hotels, of which 50 are joint ventures of local and foreign investors. Foreign hotel investment was worth US$1.14 billion. The largest foreign hotel operators are from Singapore with 12 hotels, followed by 11 hotels owned by Thais, six by Japanese, four by Hong Kong investor and two by Malaysians. The Asean Economic Community has also helped promoted better trade and investment in Myanmar, Soe said. Duties on more than 80 per cent of goods have been cut to zero in Asean, which should create more opportunities for trade with Myanmar for Thailand and other Asean countries. The country has also relaxed more of its import rules by allowing in long-banned products, including MSG, soft drinks, assorted biscuits, canned foods and instant noodles. Cho Thiri Maung, who sits on the executive committee of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said her country has tended to promote more investment and industries that focus on value-added processes and hi-tech transfers as well as business that are environmentally friendly and promote sustainable growth. Many industries and services are beckoning Thai and foreign investors. They are agriculture, livestock, processing, trading, banking, fisheries, energy and hydro projects, mining, tourism and infrastructure development. Under the current Foreign Investment Law, foreign companies investing in manufacturing must inject at least $500,00 into each project and $300,000 into a service business. The Myanmar government lets foreigners lease land for 30 years, with two options to extend for 15 years each time. http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=31963&sec=2 -------------------------------------- Emergency health care needed in western Myanmar, group says June 18, 2012 5:29 pm Yangon - The medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres(MSF) on Monday expressed concern over victims of sectarian clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine State, where about 50 people have died this month. "MSF is extremely worried that victims of the clashes are not receiving emergency care, and about the ongoing healthcare needs of our patients," said Joe Belliveau, MSF Myanmar operations manager. MSF, one of the leading providers of emergency aid in Myanmar, pulled out of Rakhine State in the west of the country on June 9, after Muslims of the Rohingya ethnic group allegedly attacked Buddhist Rakhines in Maung Taw township, killing seven people. Altogether 50 people have been killed in communal fighting in the state since May 18, when a Buddhist woman was raped and murdered, allegedly by three Muslims. The incident sparked a series of clashes across Rakhine State, which borders Bangladesh, displacing up to 30,000 people. The state was placed under emergency law on June 10. MSF criticised Bangladesh for refusing entry to refugees. "People seeking refuge and in need of food, water and medical care should be allowed to cross the border," Belliveau said. "In both Myanmar and Bangladesh, MSF is trying to reach those affected by the violence, but they should also be allowed to reach us (in Bangladesh)," he said.//DPA http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Emergency-health-care-needed-in-western-Myanmar-gr-30184394.html --------------------------------------- Advocacy group eyes Myanmar's transparency Published: June 18, 2012 at 8:46 AM WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- EarthRights International said it was pressing for stronger disclosure rules for international oil and natural gas companies working in Myanmar. Christophe de Margerie, chairman and chief executive officer at Total, met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and government officials during a visit to Myanmar early this month. His company operates the Yadana natural gas field in the country. Suu Kyi, in an address to the International Labor Organization, said state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise lacks "both transparency and accountability." MOGE oversees foreign participation in the country's oil and natural gas sector. EarthRights International said it joined a consortium of groups in calling for disclosure of the payments made by oil and natural gas companies, including Total, to the government in Myanmar. The organization said companies have refused to disclose that information because of contractual issues. ERI said, however, that its review of the contracts uncovered "no such specific prohibition." It stated that Total disclosed in 2008 that it contributed more than $254 million to the government in Myanmar from its Yadana project. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/06/18/Advocacy-group-eyes-Myanmars-transparency/UPI-23961340023578/#ixzz1y9bOf769 ---------------------------------------- Bill Introduced in Congress to Renew Sanctions on Burma By LALIT K JHA / THE IRRAWADDY| June 18, 2012 | WASHINGTON, DC Top American lawmakers have called for renewal of sanctions on Burma and said that this is not the right time to issue waivers to US companies for new investments in the Southeast Asian nation. Identical pieces of legislation were issued in both chambers of the US Congressthe Senate and the House of Representativeslast week wherein several top lawmakers reviewing current situation in Burma said that this is not the right time for US companies to make fresh investment in the country. I urge the administration to refrain from issuing waivers at this time for new US investment in Burmas oil and gas industry until Aung San Suu Kyis concerns with MOGE [Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise] are sufficiently addressed, Sen John McCain said, even as he noted that he supports the Obama administrations decision to suspend sanctions on US investment in Burma. Renewing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act would leave intact the import ban against Burmese goods, thus maintaining leverage the executive branch can utilize to help prompt further reform, said Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, reintroducing the bill in the Senate last week. Reauthorizing this measure would permit the executive branch, in consultation with Congress, to calibrate sanctions as necessary, thus preserving its flexibility, he said in his remarks on the floor of the Senate. The bill has been reintroduced by several US senators, a similar version of which has also been reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The Burmese government still has not met all the necessary conditions to justify a complete repeal of all existing sanctions. Despite the unmistakable progress made by the Burmese government, now is not the time to end our ability either to encourage further governmental reform or to revisit sanctions if necessary. As Suu Kyi herself has cautioned, the situation in Burma is not irreversible. Serious challenges need to be addressed, McConnell said. Violence in Kachin State remains a serious problem. Numerous political prisoners remain behind bars. The constitution is still undemocratic. The regimes relationship with North Korea, especially when it comes to arms sales with Pyongyang, remains an issue of grave concern, the senator said. McConnell said renewing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act will leave undisturbed the process for suspending sanctions announced three weeks ago. In part for this reason, the State Department supports renewal of this measure. In fact, a vote for reauthorization of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act should be seen as a vote to support the administrations easing of sanctions and a vote to support reform efforts in Burma, he said. Sen Diana Feinstein, who co-sponsored the legislation, said even though remarkable changes have taken place in Burma after years of violence and repression, the government of Burma still has a lot of work to do to demonstrate to the international community, and, above all, the people of Burma that it is truly committed to reform, democratization and national reconciliation. We should renew this ban for another year as an incentive to the government of Burma to continue on the path it has undertaken and take additional actions, she said. The fact of the matter is, the reforms are not irreversible and the government of Burma still needs to do more to respond to the legitimate concerns of the people of Burma and the international community, the senator said. Feinstein said McConnell has recently spoken with Aung San Suu Kyi directly about this matter and she supports renewing the import ban for another year. I believe that renewing this ban will help keep Burma on the path to full democratization and national reconciliation and support the work of Suu Kyi, the democratic opposition, and the reformists in the ruling government, she said. It will give the administration additional leverage to convince Burma to stay on the right path. The administration will still have the authority to waive or suspend the import ban as it has suspended sanctions on investment and financial services if the government of Burma took the appropriate actions, the senator said. If we let the import ban expire, however, and Burma backslides on reform and democratization, we would have to pass a new law to re-impose the ban. By passing this joint resolution, we ensure that the administration has the flexibility it needs to respond to events in Burma as it has done so with financial services and investment, Feinstein said. McCain hoped that Suu Kyi and her fellow members of Parliament in Burma can work legislatively to reform the countrys state-owned enterprises, especially MOGE, and to make their operations fully accountable to Burmas elected leaders and fully consistent with international standards, such as the International Monetary Funds Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. Calling on the Obama administration to refrain from issuing waivers for new US investment in Burmas oil and gas industry, McCain said, I also urge the administration to push our European allies to do the same. This is an important case in which continued principled US leadership is needed.http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/7087 -------------------------------------- Death Sentence for Arakan Rape-Murderers By NYEIN NYEIN / THE IRRAWADDY| June 18, 2012 | Two men have been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of an ethnic Arakanese woman that sparked recent sectarian clashes in western Burma. The Provincial Court of Kyauk Phyu Township, in northern Ramree Island of Arakan State, convicted the pair on Monday morning. They were arrested along with a third man two days after the May 28 slaying of Thidar Htwe, the authorities reported. Ba Shein, a lawyer and Lower House MP for the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party who attended the sentencing, told The Irrawaddy that, the verdict was made before noon under section 302(1c) [of the Burmese Penal Code] One of the original three men arrested, Shaun Shou (aka Htet Htet or Phyo Zayyar Kyaw), committed suicide in prison on June 9, state-run media reported on June 11. The rape and murder case enflamed sectarian tensions between Buddhist Arakanese and Rohingya Muslims in the region with ten Muslims pilgrims killed by a lynch mob in Taunggok Township on June 3 in apparent retaliation. On the first day of the case being heard on June 8, a riot broke out as a group of Muslims returned from Friday prayers and torched dozens of Arakanese houses in Maungdaw Township. Fighting spread all over Arakan in subsequent days including the state capital Sittwe. Official figures reveal that 50 people were killed, 54 people injured and more than 2,500 houses burned down in the ensuing violence. More than 30,000 people in the region have been forced from their homes as a result. A 6 pm to 6 am curfew was imposed immediately after violence broke out in Maungdaw and a state of emergency was also declared in Sittwe. The trial was heard in public with the victims family and other local residents present in the courtroom. The accused pleaded guilty on June 15. Ba Shein said the case was concluded within a couple of weeks because there were plenty of witnesses. He also paid tribute to the local police force for their efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The accused were charged with Burmese Penal Code section 376 for rape, section 302 (1c) for murder and section 392 for looting properties. The two convicted on June 18, Hla Win (aka Marme or Yaw Pi) and Lu Lu (aka Myint Swe or Wushee, were sent back to Kyauk Phyu Prison after the sentencing hearing. They both have the right of appeal to the Union Supreme Court in Naypyidaw, added Ba Shein.http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/7112 ---------------------------------------- SSA-South Accuses Govt of Risking War By LAWI WENG / THE IRRAWADDY| June 18, 2012 | The Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) has accused the Burmese government of jeopardizing a fragile peace agreement by failing to control its troops after a rebel base was torched on June 16. This is the second clash since Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gen Soe Win signed a peace agreement with the SSA-South on May 16. Government troops from Light Infantry Battalions 225 and 65, a joint force based in Mongton Township, reportedly attacked a Shan rebel base in Ponpakyin Village. They attacked our base at around 10 am [local time]. Our troops withdrew from the base after defending against their offensive for around one hour, said SSA-South spokesman Maj Sai Lao Hseng. After they took our base, they burned downs our barracks. No casualties were reported from the fighting, according to Sai Lao Hseng, who added that the Burmese military ordered the SSA-South to move the base around a week before the attack. The Shan rebels said that they had a general understanding with the government peace committee about the location of bases and control issues after several rounds of peace talks, but a concrete agreement is not yet in place with regards certain detailed matters. The SSA-South leadership believes that the latest skirmish occurred as government troops on the ground did not want to see the rebels influencing local Shan people and even worried that they may lose control at the village after the ceasefire was signed. They do not want to see that we have influence on our people and this is why we think they occupied our baseto make us stay away from our people, said Sai Lao Hseng. The SSA-South has already opened liaison and business offices in Taunggyi, Kentung, Tachilek and Muse after meeting Naypyidaws peace committee last month. But government troops earlier attacked the SSA-South at Ponpakyin Village on May 23 just a week after the two sides engaged in peace talks in the eastern Shan State town of Kengtung. Railways Minister Aung Min, who acts as the governments leading peace negotiator, told the SSA-South that he would not allow such clashes to occur again. They give explanations about how they would not let it happen again after attacking our troops. But they attacked us again when they could not order our troops to move the base as they wanted, said Sai Lao Hseng. The SSA-South has sent another letter to Aung Min which asks for a detailed explanation about how fighting can continue while a peace agreement has been signed. For us, we do not want to be fighting each other. We are ready to solve armed conflicts on the negotiating table as we have already set up our liaison offices in the towns, said Sai Lao Hseng. To build trust is important. If they do not believe that and keep using their armed forces, unnecessary conflicts will occur again. A preliminary ceasefire was signed by representatives of the SSA-South and Aung Min in Taunggyi Township on Jan. 16, yet there have nevertheless been around 20 clashes since this time. Forces from either side must inform the other before traveling in enemy-controlled areas, according to the ceasefire agreement. However, government troops did not give any prior warning that they were entering rebel-held territory before the weekend clash, claims the SSA-South. Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi used her belated Noble Peace Prize acceptance speech in Norway on Saturday to emphasis that all the different ethnicities of Burma must come together in a true spirit of union. Since we achieved independence in 1948, there never has been a time when we could claim the whole country was at peace, said Suu Kyi. We have not been able to develop the trust and understanding necessary to remove causes of conflict. In recent months, negotiations between the government and ethnic nationality forces have been making progress. We hope that ceasefire agreements will lead to political settlements founded on the aspirations of the peoples, and the spirit of union. http://www.irrawaddy.org/?slide=ssa-south-accuses-govt-of-risking-war ---------------------------------------- Famed Journalist Ludu Sein Win Dies By SAW YAN NAING / THE IRRAWADDY| June 18, 2012 | Ludu Sein Win, an outspoken Burmese journalist, passed away at Shwegondaing Hospital in Rangoon on Sunday after a long fight with lung disease. He was 71. Widely respected in the world of media both inside and outside Burma, Sein Win was known for his outspoken comments and biting criticism of the military junta led by retired general Than Shwe. Until his final days, he continued to write critical commentaries expressing skepticism of the new Thein Sein-led government. Born on Aug. 13, 1940, in Mandalay, Sein Win was educated at Lafon Memorial High School and Mandalay University, before heading south to study at Rangoon University. He was always deeply interested in journalism and in 1964 landed a position as a reporter for Ludu Newspaper. In 1967, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison when Ludu was shut down by the central government. He was released in 1976, but was again apprehended and jailed in Insein Prison for four years. Soon after his release in 1980, he suffered a stroke which left one-half of his body paralyzed. Despite his ill-health, Sein Winor Ludu Sein Win as he was now known due to his prominent role within the banned newspaper and the pen name he adoptedremained dedicated to journalism and wrote many memorable articles which were continually published in Rangoon-based journals and magazines until shortly before he died. Sein Win published more than 20 books, including translations, many of which were about journalism. He also organized English language training courses for youths in Rangoon. The patron of the Myanmar Journalists Association Organizing Committee, Maung Wuntha, another veteran of the Rangoon media circle, said on Monday that a great many people were mourning the death of Ludu Sein Win, saying he was one of the best known journalists in Burma, and was widely respected and loved by many, especially young people. He never hesitated to criticize or make comment, said Maung Wuntha. With his straight-forward words, he was not only brave in criticizing the government, but also opposition groups when he found their weaknesses. Ludu Sein Win also criticized Burmas main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, for its aging leadership and inactive role in the political process. He said that Burma needs to have alternative groups to lead the country forward, and pointed to the 88 Generation Students Group as an alternative democratic leadership. Maung Wuntha, who is currently an editor at Pyithu Khit, a news journal based in Rangoon, said that many youths in Burma respected Ludu Sein Win and followed his books and work with avid interest. Ludu Sein Win was often capable of writing two or three articles a day, said Maung Wuntha. In an interview with ASEAN TV on April 5, Sein Win said that he viewed the current process of political reforms as a game played by the former military regime which had transformed themselves into a civilian government. He severely reprimanded the international community for engaging with the new government, criticizing them for dealing with Naypyidaw on a business agenda. The international community, he said, saw Burma as a big market and that they wanted to go fishing in its troubled waters. He opined that the Burmese government had benefited from the international communitys lifting of economic sanctionsit had been awarded the Asean chairmanship for 2014, and it had received much international investment while ordinary Burmese civilians saw none of the benefits. In 2006, he had an opinion piece titled Burmese people cant wait much longer published in The New York Times, and he was also quoted by The International Herald Tribune over the Myitsone dam issue. Ludu Sein Win also contributed to exile Burmese media including The Irrawaddy. On Monday morning, Burmas state-owned MRTV 4which rarely mentions anything about persons who are critical of the governmentbroadcast a brief report about Ludu Sein Wins death. On Facebook, Twitter and other social media, hundreds of Burmese paid tribute to him. Thiha Saw, the chief editor of Rangoon-based Open News, said, His passing is a great loss for our society at a time when space is finally appearing for press freedom.http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/7118 --------------------------------------- Suu Kyi wins pop star reception in Europe Published on Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 08:52 | Source : Reuters Updated at Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 17:35 Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has enjoyed pop star treatment wherever she has gone on her first trip to Europe in nearly a quarter of a century, after Myanmar's rulers finally freed her from house arrest. She has been showered with flowers, Norway's King Harald almost ran to greet her, and 12,000 people waited patiently in Oslo's icy rain just to say "Thank you Mother Suu". "We fought so long for her release and she's finally here," said Brigt Olav Gaasdal, who travelled half a day from his country home on Sunday to join thousands in Norway's second biggest city Bergen to catch a glimpse of Suu Kyi. "She could have left Myanmar, she could have given up and I want to celebrate her incredible commitment," said Gaasdal. Suu Kyi, 66, the Oxford-educated daughter of Myanmar's assassinated independence hero Aung San, arrived in Norway on Friday to accept her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and the 1990 human rights prize from the Bergen-based Rafto Foundation. "We don't have to see the end of the road far away in one instant, we just have to see the right road to get there," Suu Kyi told thousands near Bergen's historic waterfront. "One step is enough for me. If there is enough light to make us take the right steps one by one, then we'll reach our goal in safety and peace." One woman cried. An elderly Asian man clutched Myanmar's flag. Children took pictures. Burmese girls, having waited hours, nervously walked up on stage to kiss Suu Kyi. Even the relentless rain, which drenched Bergen all morning, stopped. From the moment she landed in Norway, she has received star treatment. Arriving in Oslo on Friday, a screaming, chanting, and dancing crowd, a mix of Norwegians and Burmese, welcomed her at the iconic Grand Hotel. A visibly moved Suu Kyi turned back from the hotel door, even as her protocol team tried to usher her through, to accept as many flowers as she could carry from the crowd chanting "Mother Suu". Two weeks earlier, the crowd awaiting teenage pop idol Justin Bieber in front of the same hotel was tiny by comparison. On Saturday, 12,000 people stood hours through downpours to see her, prompting Suu Kyi to deliver an unscheduled speech. "In a world filled with so much violence, her message of non-violence and tolerance is extremely important and deserves that we should all come to see her," said Ingrid Daae, who was just two when Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize. Suu Kyi's trip would have been unimaginable just 19 months ago when she was freed from house arrest days after an election seen as rigged in favour of an army-backed party to entrench the military's grip on power behind a facade of democracy. She spent a total of 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and her release in late 2010, never leaving Myanmar even during brief periods of freedom after 1989, afraid the military would not let back in. The quasi-civilian government which emerged from a 2010 vote, although approved by a parliament packed with retired and serving military, has surpassed expectations in introducing a series of reforms to try to rid the country of its pariah status after decades of isolation and decay. Suu Kyi became a member of parliament this year following her triumph in a parliamentary by-election that reformist president and former junta general Thein Sein had convinced her to take part in after winning her trust. The world's major powers honoured the shift in Myanmar, suspending long-standing sanctions to encourage a full move to democracy and to share Suu Kyi's cautious optimism. Some rock stars wish they could be more like her. U2 frontman Bono will fly to Oslo to accompany Suu Kyi to Dublin on Monday for the next stop on her 17-day trip. http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world-news/suu-kyi-wins-pop-star-receptioneurope_718979.html ---------------------------------------- The Independent Aung San Suu Kyi urges 'healthy scepticism' over Burma Andrew Grice Monday 18 June 2012 Aung San Suu Kyi has urged world leaders to have a "healthy scepticism" towards Burma's reform programme as she prepares to visit Britain for the first time since spending more than 20 years under virtual house arrest. The Burmese opposition leader said she would welcome "ethical, responsible investment" by British firms in her country, which has significant energy reserves. Ms Suu Kyi told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I know what we are working towards, what our goal is, and I do believe we will get there. Not perhaps along a straight road but I do believe we will get there." She had "no regrets" about spending years campaigning for democracy to replace her country's military junta, saying her long struggle is "beginning to pay off". Her four-day visit to the UK is part of a five-nation European tour, which will see her visit Dublin today. She has been granted the rare honour of addressing MPs and peers in Westminster Hall and will visit Oxford, where she lived with her husband, an English academic, and their two sons. Her husband died in 1999, 11 years after she returned to Burma to care for her sick mother and was not allowed to leave her country. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/aung-san-suu-kyi-urges-healthy-scepticism-over-burma-7857344.html ---------------------------------------- Laughter as Suu Kyi meets 'starstruck' Bono in Oslo Published: 18/06/2012 at 07:48 PM Online news: World She wore red roses in her hair, he donned his huge orange sunglasses -- Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday met one of her biggest fans, U2 frontman and activist rock star Bono. U2 singer Bono (left) and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi meet in Oslo on June 18. "I'm star-struck," admitted the Irish singer, who has long supported Suu Kyi's freedom struggle and dedicated the song "Walk On" to her, when they met at the peace forum in Oslo, Suu Kyi's latest stop on a five-nation Europe tour. "I'm star-struck," admitted the Irish singer, who has long supported her freedom struggle and dedicated the song "Walk On" to her, when they met at a peace forum in Oslo, Suu Kyi's latest stop on a five-nation Europe tour. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has herself received superstar treatment and been cheered by crowds of many thousands as she visited Norway on her first Europe trip in a quarter-century after years of house arrest. Long isolated, threatened and vilified by one of the world's must repressive dictatorships, she has recently rejoined mainstream politics in a changing country, while many of her party members have been freed from prison. On Monday, Suu Kyi hosted a panel with Bono, who has long used his star power to promote rights and fight poverty, and who recalled a global U2 concert tour where video messages from Suu Kyi were played from giant screens. "Suu Kyi came on the road with us," the stubble-faced rocker quipped at their joint press conference. "Seven million people we played to. She was there every night. A digital version, but she's very good live! "And she made a real connection with our audience... telling them that their voices were powerful and that they could be heard all the way to Burma." Bono recalled that at the shows, not everyone in the crowd knew who was behind the initials for the name Aung San Suu Kyi. "We had a few people who would arrive with a T-shirt with 'ASSK' on and think she's a speed metal band from Asia," he joked. "It's great that in a U2 crowd not everyone is a political science student." On a more serious note, he spoke of his admiration for Suu Kyi: "It's really her non-violent position that I find so impressive. "You get the feeling with Daw Suu that peace is not the absence of war around us but rather peace is the absence of war within us," he said, using a Burmese honorific that means 'aunt' for Suu Kyi. When Suu Kyi was asked whether she liked Bono's song about her and her family's struggle, Bono interjected: "She's a Bob Marley fan... So am I." But Suu Kyi was quick to praise his work: "I like the song because it's very close to how I feel, that it's up to you to carry on. "It's good if you have supporters. It's good if you have people who are sympathetic and understanding. But in the end, it's your own two legs that have to carry you on." A thankful Bono replied about the song that "I'm amazed that this has been taken to her heart and the hearts of others." Then he added on a lighter note: "You never know. If the song was sh***, it could have made matters a lot worse." Suu Kyi, speaking earlier on the need to fight injustices and help people, paid her own compliment to Bono. "I think there is always something that can be done, and we need people like you to do that. We need people like Bono. We must have Bono in on it!" Bono was later Monday expected to give Suu Kyi a lift aboard his private jet to Dublin, where she will be feted at the "Electric Burma" tribute concert hosted by Amnesty International. Later around 5,000 people were due at a public event to sing "happy birthday" to Suu Kyi, who turns 67 on Tuesday in her former family home Britain, the next stop of her whirlwind Europe visit. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/298611/laughter-as-suu-kyi-meets-tarstruck-bono-in-oslo