• THE LADY TAKES HER SEAT!
• POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF BURMESE MEDIA!
• UN CHIEF IN BURMA!
• PRESIDENT VOWS TO END FORCED LABOR!
• MUSTACHE BRISTLES ON THE BORDER!

Cartoon
Tips for the President: At least, that’s better than nothing!

Think Piece
When authoritarian rulers embrace reforms, they always do with the hope of retaining power rather than transferring it. At most, they are ready to share it only, so long as they can keep ultimate control behind the scenes. Real change comes, if it does, when events later slip out of the group of those trying to manipulate them.

Kanbawza Win, SHAN, 24 April 2012

Government peace committee must be formed with people trusted by ethnic people, such as Aung San Suu Kyi and prominent 88 Generation Students members, including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi.

Irrawaddy, 30 April 2012

Now Western governments are prising open new markets for their corporations (“agents of capitalism”). They talk only of business, the market and debt, not health, education, ecology or the common good. The land and people of Burma of development and democratic change.

The Independent (UK), 2 May 2012

The United States needs to be very stingy about removing sanctions, as once sanctions are removed the Burmese military government (now in circlian clothes) is likely to dimp Aung San Suu kyi the NLD and the pro-democracy forces.

Kyi May Kaung, analyst based in Washington, IPS, 3 May 2012

“We found that members of the military voted in support of our proposals sometimes, when voting is conducted by secret ballot,” says a Rakhine politician Tha Sein.

Campaigning for changes like a reduction in the military’s presence in parliament, the NLD could “make soldiers the opponents rather than allies of change,” says Jim Dello-Giacoma, International Crisis Group.

AFP, 3 May 2012

(The Burmese government) deserve (s) the benefit of the doubt, just as much as we reserve the right to suspect.

Naw May Oo Mutraw, spokesperson of Karen National Union (KNU), speaking to journalists in Bangkok, 3 May 2012 (Reuters)

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The World
3 May 2012
Oxfam Aid Agency issues report, “The Devil in the Detail.” Among countries under arms embargoes around the world, the top weapons buyers are:

Myanmar $ 600 million (2000-2010)
Iran $ 574 million (2007-2010)
D.R. Congo $ 124 million (2000-2002)

(Narinjara)

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International Relations
29 April 2012
Beginning 1 June, Burma will provide tourist visas to all Asean nationals and business visas to non-Asean nationals. (DPA)

29 April 2012

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon arrives in Burma. His visit will include a trip to northern Shan State, where the UN has started poppy eradication program it says has seen significant progress. (Reuters)

29 April 2012
Japan Times reported some $ 61 million to assist ethnic peoples, improve medical care and other rural development programmes, as well as disaster prevention efforts, were pledged by PM Yoshihiko Noda. (Eurasia Review)

30 April 2012

Ban Ki-moon gives historic speech to Union Assembly:

• Calls on further reforms
• Praises both Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi
• Urges “common leadership and partnership”
• Cautions on ongoing conflicts
• Urges international community to go further in lifting, suspending or easing sanctions

“The path of change is still fragile and uncertain but it is indeed too narrow to turn back.” (Irrawaddy)

1 May 2012
Ban Ki-moon launches UN Global Compact’s Myanmar Network. Set up in 2000, the initiative has some 7,000 companies in 140 countries, which have pledged to align their business practices to 10 universally accepted principles concerning human rights, labor, environmental sustainability and the fight against corruption. (UN News Center)

1 May 2012

Ban Ki-moon, after meeting Suu Kyi, says he has invited her to visit the UN HQ in New York. She says she has yet to give a definite date. (CNN)

1 May 2012
State Department Mark Toner tells reports the US wants to see newly elected parliamentary members:

• Take their seats
• Work constructively with the government

(Irrawaddy)

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Thai-Burma Relations
2 May 2012
Tak provincial governor issues warning to Thais living in Phop Phra and Umphang districts to be careful when crossing the border, after the DKBA leader Na Khan Mwe (Mustache) threatened to take action against Thai government’s reward list of 25 drug offenders which includes him. (AFP)

3 May 2012

Na Khan Mwe closes off 12 piers and border passes under his control opposite Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces. (TNA)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
30 April 2012
Aung San Suu Kyi announces decision to take parliamentary seats on 2 May, citing two reasons: people want to see us in parliament and ethnic MPs have asked us to join Parliament. (Irrawaddy/ BBC)

30 April 2012
Among the 59 appointed MPs is Col Aung Kyaw aka Hla Myint Soe from LID 77 who Facebook users say is one of the “criminals who killed and beat the monks” during the 2007 saffron revolution. (Irrawaddy)

1 May 2012
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Myint Hlaing issues apology to the parliamentarians for calling them uneducated and thoughtless during an interview with Hot News journal last March. (DVB)

2 May 2012
Aung San Suu Kyi vows to “uphold and abide by the Constitution” before taking her parliamentary seat. (NY Times)

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Ethnic Affairs
29 April 2012
President has ordered a shakeup of the two peace negotiation teams after a lack of breakthrough with Kachin. New faces will include one of the vice presidents, senior army officers, lawmakers and state chief ministers. U Aung Min tells reporters the two teams will be consolidated into one but gives no further details. (Reuters)

3 May 2012
Naw May Oo Mutraw, spokeswoman for KNU peace negotiation team, says the reforms in Burma are “not yet irreversible”, and takes the international community to task for displaying “excitement beyond measure”. At the same time, she says the government can be taken “at face value”, but warns substantive issues remain to be discussed including the controversial 2008 constitution. (Reuters/Irrawaddy)

5 May 2012
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) delegation, on a 10 day visit to Japan, returns to Thai-Burma border. (SHAN)

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Shans/ Shan State
1 May 2012
Sai Saw Aung, Shan representative meeting UN Chief Ban Ki-moon, says both Asean and UN should work hand in hand in restoring peace to the country torn by war since Independence. (SHAN)

2 May 2012

Hkun Tun Oo pays homage to Math Myint Than, whose 6th anniversary of passing away ceremony is held in Taunggyi today. The two, together with 7 others, went to prison in February 2005 of treason against the state. (SHAN)

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Economy/ Business
27 April 2012
Myanmar Alin publishes statement by the Insurance Business Supervisory Board (IBSB), which is under the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, announcing firms interested in establishing insurance enterprises will be able to submit their applications for approval. (DVB)

1 May 2012
Leading American companies, in a letter to President Obama, has urged his administration to go beyond announced plans for a limited easing of sanctions. They include US Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Institute and US-Asean Business Council. (AFP)

4 May 2012
The Japanese press reports today Itochu Corp has begun a feasibility study in Burma to isolate specialty metals including tungsten and molybdenum. (The Australian)

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Human Rights
30 April 2012
Minister of Immigration and Population Khin Yi signs letter confirming commitment to conduct the nationwide census by 2014. This survey:

• will adhere to global standards
• include all national races
• give census workers access to all areas of the country

In the two years leading up to data-collection period, the UN will assist in survey or training and drafting survey documents, says UN Funding for Population Activities (UNFPA) country representative Mohamed Abdel-Ahad.

Meanwhile Myint Kyaing, Director General of the Ministry’s Department of Population, that is responsible for conducting the survey, says there is no Rohingya in Myanmar. (VOA)

30 April 2012
“The Voice”, in response to Ministry of Mines request to reveal the name of the reporter whose March 12 report alleges that the Ministry sold 50% of its Monywa copper mines shares to the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) bid that a foreign company paid the money on its behalf, says responsibility lies with the editor and its publisher. (Mizzima) Aung San, as editor of Oway magazine, also once refused to reveal the identity of the author of a provocative article – Editor

1 May 2012

President Thein Sein, marking May Day, vows to “eliminate all forms of forced labor once and for all.” (DVB)

3 May 2012
The government will lift “unnecessary” restrictions on the media when a new press law is introduced later this year, says Deputy Informator Minister Soe Win, marking World Press Freedom Day. No details disclosed. (Irrawaddy)

3 May 2012
Marking World Press Freedom Day, Myanmar Journalists Association Organizing Committee says censorship must end. 178 publications that focus on non-political topics allowed to publish without going through censorship process, but more than 180 others that focus on news, religion and crimes must pass through censors before publication. (Mizzima)

3 May 2012
World Press Freedom’s Day. On the plus side:

• Burma climbs out of 2nd worst country for censorship
• Freedom House’s list of 8 “worst of the worst” nations does not include Burma this year
• Previously banned exiled news organizations are now accessible inside the country

The negative side:

• Major news organizations still have to visit Burma as tourists
• Visas to cover the April 1 elections valid for 5 days only
• It has started to use the courts to censor the media (Charge against “Modern” has been dropped but similar one against “The Voice” remains)
• Ludu Sein Win’s article that calls all those who attended the new media law conference as “helping to make the rope to hang themselves” banned
• All privately run news publications subject to a blackout on reporting of armed conflict in Kachin State

(Irrawaddy / CPJ / Freedom House)

3 May 2012
In a forum organized by the UN and the ministry of Population, minister Khun Yi says the 2014 census will require broad and effective partnership among society, private sector and international organizations. (Mizzima)

4 May 2012
Earlier this year 7,800 acres of farmland in Sagaing’s Salingyi township were confiscated by authorities for a copper mine project. Landowners have been forced out of their villages. (Irrawaddy)

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Drugs
4 May 2012
Retreating Burma Army troops on April 26 from Laja Yang, outside Laiza, left behind a number of yaba tablets as well as homemade pipes made from plastic water bottles. (Kachin News Group/Mizzima)

6 May 2012

Tarit Pengdith, chief of Department of Special Investigations (DSI), said a Thai criminal network is feeding supplies to drug gangs in Myanmar so that they can make methamphetamine and Ice to supply Thailand’s addicts and abusers. The network has 7 big shots using 11 hospitals as a front. (Bangkok Post)

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War
29 April 2012
New Light of Myanmar says deadly assault in Waingmaw township by Kachin rebels left at least 4 officials dead and 3 others missing. (AFP)

4 May 2012
Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked Pangwa sub-township on 27 April. They retreated on 29 April after suffering heavy loss. (New Light of Myanmar)

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