• WAR IN KACHIN GRABS HEADLINES!
• BRIDGE ON THE RIVER MEKONG NEXT MONTH!
• BURMESE PASSPORTS TO BE ISSUED IN THAILAND!
• DISCUSSING CONSTITUTION IS NOT ILEGAL ANYMORE!
• SSA HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING!

Cartoon
Tips for the International Community: You’re getting old when it concerns Burma!

 
Think Piece
We can say that we’ve gained a little press freedom in 2012, but not much.

Kyaw Yin Myint, member of Myanmar Journalists Association (MTA), reported by Irrawaddy, 7 January 2013)

The sense of unhappiness with China among ordinary people in some countries has been getting more acute by the day. They feel unhappy at the role China is playing in their country. If we ignore local people’s views, in the long term we will pay a big price.

Dr Guo Jiguang, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, quoted by Wall Street Journal, 13 January 2013

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The World
1 January 2013

Le Luong Minh, 61, Vietnamese diplomat, takes office as Asean Secretary General. (Agencies)

7 January 2013
State-owned Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Co says it has started building China’s first new nuclear power plant in the eastern coastal city of Rongcheng. (AP)

7 January 2013
Calls for press freedom erupt after an article in Southern Weekly in Guangzhou was replaced by another in praise of the Communist Party of China (CPC). (AFP)

16 January 2013
Freedom House releases 2013 Freedom in the World rankings:
Libya        “partly free” from “worst of the worst”
Mali        “not free” from “free”
Myanmar    still “not free” but more free than China
(Foreign Policy)

18 January 2013

President Obama’s half brother Malik, 54, is running for governorship in Kenya. (Reuters)

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International Relations
6 January 2013

British aviation team led by David Cundall arrives in Rangoon to unearth a cache of as many as 36 Spitfire fighter planes believed to be buried beneath Mingladon airport and two other sites. (Mizzima)

8 January 2013
4 88 Generation Students representatives meet George Soros of Open Society Foundation at Chatrium to discuss foreign investment and the need for business transparency. (Mizzima)

9 January 2013
Asean summit in November agreed to set up Asean Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR). In December Asean and Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) met in Rangoon to exchange views and learn from each other. Representatives from several major ethnic groups joined the brainstorming session. (Irrawaddy)

13 January 2013

ICRC president Peter Maurer begins 6-day visit in Burma. (Reuters)

14 January 2013

Burma’s visiting commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing and Singapore’s Lt-Gen Neo Kian Hong discuss upgrading of military cooperation. (New Light of Myanmar)

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Thai-Burma Relations
8 January 2013
Dozens of factories have been closed since New Year when the 300 baht ($ 10) daily wage came into force, including 8 in Tak province. Thousands of migrant workers are estimated to have lost their jobs. (DVB)

9 January 2013
Sumit Surabotsophon, executive vice president of Ital-Thai confirms it will complete the construction for the Dawei mega project within 2015 as scheduled. (Bangkok Post)

15 January 2013
Thai government agrees to extend the deadline for undocumented migrant workers to register for official work papers until 15 April. (Myanmar Times)

18 January 2013
The Burmese government will issue temporary passport for migrant workers, 15 February-15 May 2013. (Embassy Statement)

18 January 2013
A huge procession of Thai people turn out to deliver food, cash and necessities to 18 Rohingya youths in Narathiwat, 22 in Pattani and 21 in Songkla. (Bangkok Post)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
8 January 2013
President Thein Sein forms 9 member Action Committee Against Corruption (ACAC) to be headed by one of the two vice presidents. Burma ranks 172nd out 176 countries, according to Transparency International. (AP)

8 January 2013

NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing says a conference will be held in the last week of February to elect the Central Committee and Central Executive Committee. (AFP)

9 January 2013
Parliament begins 5th session. (UPI)

9 January 2013
President Thein Sein has appointed deputy minister of information Ye Htut as his office spokesman, says the Ministry of Information. (Irrawaddy)

10 January 2013
Speaking to journalists, Aung San Suu Kyi says the constitution must change. The provision unenabling her to become president was included “on purpose” as it was never included before. (DVB)

16 January 2013

U Thein Tun, minister of post and telecommunications, forced to resign after he disagreed with a plan to drastically cut the cost of a SIM card during a cabinet meeting on 14 January from 200,000 kyat ($220) to K 50,000 ($ 55). (Irrawaddy)

17 January 2013
Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD has accepted funds West blacklisted cronies for her educational projects, altogether about $ 250,000:
K 40 million from Tayza
K 41.5 million from Shwe Than Lwin
K 30 million from SkyNet
(Reuters)

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Ethnic Affairs
4 January 2013
President Thein Sein, wearing Karen traditional dress, meets visiting KNU chairman Mutu Saypoe and his delegates. (Irrawaddy)

9 January 2013

KNU delegation that met Vice Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told him the need for nationwide ceasefire agreement. Hlaing is reported as saying that he is satisfied the government has achieved around 70% ceasefire agreements and Tatmadaw wants peace. (KIC)

15 January 2013
Burma has repealed a law enacted in 1996 while drawing guidelines for the present constitution. It was used to sentence dissidents to long prison. (AP) It was known as Law # 5/96 – Editor

19 January 2013
Addressing a development forum attended by donor countries and international aid organizations, President Thein Sein invites Kachin and other rebel groups to a political dialogue with the government.
James Lumdau, KIA spokesman, says army continues to attack today involving artillery and infantry. (Bangkok Post)

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Shans/ Shan State
3-5 January 2013

SNLD General Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin meets political parties and armed groups in Taunggyi, Yawnghwe, Pekhon and Loikaw. (SNLD Facebook)

5 January 2013
Fighting between SSA and Myanmar troops opposite Maehongson. Myanmar army believes Shan soldiers were preparing to obstruct the building of a road from Ta Hwe Kha to Homong, in preparation for the launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. (Bangkok Post) The army had moved out of planned route, counters SSA spokesman – Editor

6 January 2013
Wa, Mongla and SSA North issue joint statement calling for peaceful resolution to the Kachin conflict. (Statement)

14 January 2013

Laos and Burma will next month start building a friendship bridge across the Mekong, says Vientianne Times. Details for the 660 meter bridge between Xiengkok and Burma’s Kenglarb discussed between the two sides on 8-10 January. (Mizzima)

16-19 January 2013
Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) holds annual meeting. Renews decision to uphold ceasefire agreement with Naypyitaw. It had fought 68 clashes during the last fiscal year that ended in October, despite the agreement. (SHAN)

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Economy/ Business
9 January 2013
Farmers in Pegu Region and parts of Irrawaddy delta say they are being forced to sell their rice crops at low prices to pay off high interest loans incurred as a result of flooding last year. 100 baskets sell of 400,000 kyat ($ 460) in the market, but we have to sell for 300,000-350,000 kyat to repay our debts, says a farmer. (Irrawaddy)

12 January 2013
7 Burmese banks launch partnership with Western Union to provide money transfer services to Burmese nationals living abroad: Kanbawza, First Privale, Myanmar Oriental, Cooperative, United Amara, Myanmar Apiex and Myanmar Livestock and Fisheries Development. (Irrawaddy)

12 January 2013
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation announces this week it will increase loans to farmers by K 200,000 ($ 230) per acre from K 800,000. (Irrawaddy)

14 January 2013

Peter Chou, CEO of Taiwanese HTC Corp, has announced launch of first mobile devices designed to be used with Burmese text. (Mizzima)

18 January 2013
Myanmar opens up 18 oil blocks for bids, a move likely to see a surge in interest from Western firms. (AFP)

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Human Rights
8 January 2013
Outraged aid organizations call for severe punishment for a 28-year old neighbor who raped a 12 year old girl suffering from cerebral palsy. (Irrawaddy)

9 January 2013

Monthly magazine “Hnyo” license revoked, saying it violated regulations by publishing sexual material. Content appears tame by standards of similar publications in neighboring Thailand. (AP)

14 January 2013
The Voice chief editor Kyaw Win Swe confirms the ministry of mines has agreed to drop its lawsuit on an article published by the journal last year. A win-win solution, he says. (Mizzima)

18 January 2013
4 activists against Letpadaung project sentenced to 1 month imprisonment. They are allowed to go free as they have already spent 33 days behind bars. (DVB)

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Drugs
6 January 2013

Four Lahu tribesmen suspected of drug smuggling killed in a clash with Thai army rangers near Ban Armae, Tambon Mae Salong Nok, Mae Faluang district. 230,000 tablets frund in a backpack. They are believed to be members of Lt-Col Yishay’s militia unit. (Bangkok Post) Other sources believe otherwise – Editor

8 January 2013
Almost every household in Pekhon, Shan State, grows opium poppy because “nobody is helping us.” They haven’t been taught how to substitute their poppy fields with other crops. They also have to pay annual tax of K 20-30 million ($ 23,000-35,000) to authorities and armed groups. (Irrawaddy)

12 January 2013
Burma Police Force’s website says police in Panglawng/Pinlaung confiscated 912 kg of raw opium and 14.2 kg of brown opium along with chemicals and equipment in a cave. (DVB)

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War
6 January 2013
Kachin rebels accuses government troops of launching 2 artillery attacks against Laiza. A senior government official denies the accusation. (AP)

6 January 2013
Aung San Suu Kyi says she will need an official invitation to join peace negotiation, aimed at quelling the raging civil war. It is in response to appeal by a peace broker Yup Zau Khawng yesterday for her involvement. (AFP)

8 January 2012
88 Generation Students leader Mya Aye who visited Laiza last week says the KIA is holding more than 30 prisoners of war whom it wants to return to the Burma Army.
Maj Min Htay of ABSDF meanwhile reports the Army gave close air support to its ground troops, 28 December-3January, but no air support from 4-6 January. However 3 helicopter gunships resumed attacks on 7 January. (Mizzima)

9 January 2013
Burma Army seizes KIA outpost 7 km west of Laiza, second KIA position to fall since 3 January. (Irrawaddy) Spokesman Yet Htut says operations are intended to clear the hills the KIA is using to attack Burmese camps. There is no intention to attack or occupy Laiza. (WSJ)

10 January 2013

In response to KIA spokesman James Lumdau’s accusation that the Burma Army has been launching chemical warfare for 3 days government counterpart Ye Htut says “our military never uses chemical weapons.” (AFP)

11 January 2013
President Thein Sein praises the Tatmadaw for its “sacrifice in blood and sweat” adding it had done everything possible “to make positive contributions to the peace process… The door is always open for the KIO/KIA to discuss ceasefire terms.” (Agencies)

12 January 2013
Kachin rebels announce they shot down a helicopter today, but Naypitaw spokesman says engine failure was to blame. (AP)

14 January 2013

British foreign minister Alistair Burt says fighting in Kachin “could present a threat to wider reforms” and calls for “immediate cessation of hostilities.” (DVB)

14 January 2013
A photographer Ryan Roco says about 200 strong Chinese security force arrive at the Sino-Burmese border. Global Times reported earlier on 12 January that the Yunnan military command had established an office in Nabang, a township on the border. (New York Times)

14 January 2013

UNFC joint secretary # 2 Hkun Okker says it is meeting Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator U Aung Min by the end of the month to demand a stop to the fighting in Kachin. “If the fighting doesn’t stop, we will take action according to what we have prepared.” (KIC)

16 January 2013
Aung San Suu Kyi says fighting in Kachin should “stop immediately.” Not being in the Ethnic Committee, she has limited power to address the issue directly, she says. (Irrawaddy)

17 January 2013

Hong Lei, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, says Beijing has lodged protest to Burma after a shell landed in Chinese territory, He calls for a ceasefire. (Xinhua/ New York Times)

18 January 2013
Announcement made on television says government is exercising a unilateral ceasefires against the Kachin. It is to go into effect tomorrow, 06:00. It applies to the area around Lajayang. A military officer said 218 government troops have been killed and 764 injured since 15 November. (New York Times)

18 January 2013
3 Kachin Posts fall to government troops. (Irrawaddy)

18 January 2013
Parliament lower house approves motion calling for halt to fighting in Kachin State. (AFP)

18 January 2013
President Thein Sein issues ceasefire order to Lajayang area of Kachin. (Agencies)

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