Weekly Diary, No.627 (6-16 April 2013)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Posted by SHAN

Wednesday, 17 April 2013 16:25

TWO CLASHES DURING BURMESE NEW YEAR!
UNFC VISIT JAPAN!
SHANS PROTEST AGAINST OIL-GAS PIPELINES!
G 8 WANTS VIOLENCE ENDED, RIGHTS RESPECTED, PEACE PURNED!
WHO ATTACKED DRUGLORD’S BASE?

Cartoon
Tips for MPs: Hope it never comes to this in Naypyitaw!

Think Piece
Ethnic cleansing is never done by spontaneous violence of a mob or by grassroots communities that allegedly hate each other. It is usually the work of well-trained paramilitary groups organized by elements of the security apparatus:
With democratization, tense ethnic relations are usually the first skeleton out of the closet. Nationalism, sometimes in its extreme form, became the last defense of the previous authoritarian structures.
Former authoritarian parties basically have two choices:

To abandon their leading role, clean their own ranks and put forward more competent members. They have a good chance of returning to power, after new parties prove to be less than capable and soon disappoint their voters
To cling to power at all cost and use nationalism to unite people behind the ruling party; use paramilitaries to do the dirty work and the government stays “clean” until a certain point when problems become real and happening on a massive scale

The Vicious Cycle of Extreme Nationalism, by Igor Blazevic, 8 April 2013

The Chinese were implying that the meeting should be held only at Ruili and nowhere else and that they would not send their representatives if it is held elsewhere. They said even if it takes place in Ruili, they would not allow representatives from other countries and government.

Hkun Okker, UNFC, to DVB, 9 April 2013

I made more than 5 million kyat ($5,700) annually from growing tea, so this compensation (4 million kyat) is not enough for my family.

Shan farmer to Irrawaddy, on oil and gas pipeline compensation, 10 April 2013

To China, Burma was “a beggar with a golden bowl,” asking for aid despite extensive natural resources.
Burma was always neutral, but in “China’s shadow.”
Major Chinese investments are permanent structures coordinated with China’s national developmental plan and investment. Burma thus has a distinctly advantageous position: China needs it more than it needs China.

David I.Steinberg, Professor of Asian Studies, Georgetown University, Irrawaddy, 10 April 2013

Anti-Muslim violence in Burma
Ashin Wirathu traced his anti-Muslim activism to 1996, when a Muslim who had converted to Buddhism gave him a supposed “secret message”: to marry Buddhist women and taking over the economy.
Many believe he enjoys the financial support of powerful people. The fact is that authorities have allowed him to go around the country preaching his hatred.

Bangkok Post, 14 April 2013

Is this the military’s aim?
Ashin Pum Na Wontha (Punnawumsa?), 56 year old monk of Peace Cultivation Network, believes the military does not want to recover full power, as it had following the 1962 coup, but to “go back to 1958” when it established a caretaker government that lasted 18 months. At that time it was able to present itself as the defender of democracy and stability in the country.

Bangkok Post, 14 April 2013

The World
10 April 2013
A total of 21 nations recorded by Amnesty International as carrying out executions in 2012. At least 682 executions known to have been carried out worldwide. The top 5 countries using death penalty: China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States, with Yemen close behind. (AFP)

International Relations
5-7 April 2013
President Thein Sein visits Hainan to attend this year’s Boao Forum for government and business leaders:

5 April   President Xi Jinping informs him the Sino Burmese friendship should not “be disturbed by external forces” and that China is willing to “continue to play a constructive role” in solving ethnic conflict on its border
6 April   He discusses investments and tourism with Hainan provincial party secretary Luo Baoming
7 April   He gives inaugural speech focusing on food and energy shortages in the region and the positive role that Burma could play

(Irrawaddy)

11 April 2013
Six companies from South Korea, Japan and Malaysia are in Burma to assist the ministry of immigration and population with the installation of a data center, a precursor to ultimately issuing the smart ID cards in the country. (Irrawaddy)

11 April 2013
G 8 Foreign Ministers call on Naypyitaw “to take further steps to end all violence, to respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities and to pursue inclusive peace negotiations.” (Mizzima)

13 April 2013

Aung San Suu Kyi visits Japan. (Agencies)

Thai-Burma Relations
4 April 2013
Thai cabinet agrees to extend nationality verification process (NVP) for migrant workers and their children under 15 for another 120 days. (Bangkok Post)

11 April 2013
Maung Kyaw Nu, Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT), condemns the burning of the picture of Gen Aung San during a rally in front of Burmese embassy in Bangkok two days earlier. (Irrawaddy)

Politics/ Inside Burma
30 March-10 April 2013
Pilot census conducted by 100 teachers in 20 townships. Official one will take place on the same dates with 100,000 enumerators. (Mizzima)

9 April 2013
Pho Than Chaung, spokesman for the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) operating in exile out of Kunming, denies the party had played a role in last month’s rioting as claimed by USDP hardliner Aung Thaung. The latter was speaking to US ambassador Derek Mitchell, reported Myanmar Herald Weekly. (DVB)

9 April 2013
Aung San Suu Kyi meets Islamic Religious Affairs Council to hear their opinions and discuss how to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. (DVB)

14 April 2013

President Thein Sein, welcoming the Burmese New Year, calls for racial and religious harmony. (Al Jazeera)

Ethnic Affairs
31 March-7 April 2013
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)’s 23 member delegation in Japan. It is led by Chairman Lt-Gen N.Ban La. (Agencies)

1 April 2013
UNFC delegation meet Japan’s PM, deputy PM and FM. Japan says ethnic people play major role in Burma’s future. They discuss using Nippon Foundation fund for long term project to promote health care, education and socially sustainable development. (Irrawaddy)

8 April 2013
A group of 13 Kachin NGOs alleges that the 5 April peace talks was cancelled because China had objected to the presence of Western observers. The Chinese embassy’s Facebook yesterday “regrets” the report which “lack a factual basis.” (Irrawaddy)

8 April 2013
UNDP signs three-year action plan worth $ 150 million with Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. (New Light/Mizzima)

9 April 2013

The decision to postpone the next round of peace talks was mutual, says KIO General Secretary La Ja. “No one is to be blamed, it is because we are all unprepared.” (DVB)

10 April 2013
Nai Hong Sa, member of UNFC delegation to Japan, says PM Shinzo Abe promised to help Burma with the political dialogue, alleviating poverty and improving the people’s living standards. (Mizzima)

11 April 2013
In December 2012, several closed door meetings were held in Beijing where academics argued that Chinese government should close the border and collaborate only with Naypyitaw to crash the KIA. Foreign ministry officials reportedly warned such one sidedness could lead to an influx of refugees into Yunnan and possibly attacks on Chinese businesses and individuals. (The Nation)

Shans/ Shan State
5 April 2013

Shan Community Based Organizations (CBOs) hold press conference against oil-gas pipelines in Chiangmai. Statement delivered to Chinese consulate by Thai officials. (SHAN)

5 April 2013
Northern Shan Farmers Committee, representing 10,000 farmers, presents a petition to the Shan State government to relocate the oil and gas pipeline project. (SHAN/Agencies)

9 April 2013
Ta-ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) holding press conference in Rangoon claims while clearing the oil and gas pipelines coming from Arakan to Yunnan last month, there were explosions in Namkham and Namtu townships. This shows the pipeline isn’t safe, says Mai Ai Mon. (Irrawaddy)

Economy/ Business
9 April 2013
Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its Outlook 2013 released today, predicts Burma’s economy will continue to grow strongly due to ongoing policy reforms. (Mizzima)

9 April 2013
Hundreds of business people in Rangoon, at a public hearing where Aung San Suu Kyi and Shwe Mann attend, call for reform of tax system.
Some of Burma’s biggest tycoons are absent from the list of top-paying taxpayers released by the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) last year, while relatively small companies were most heavily taxed. The missing major earners include Htoo and Asia World. Two that made the list were Kanbawza Bank and Max Myanmar. (Irrawaddy)

10 April 2013
Burma launches auction of 30 offshore oil and gas exploration blocks. (AFP)

11 April 2013
Burma announces 12 international bidders for 2 mobile licenses. Announcement of winners to receive 15 year licenses will be on 27 June. (Reuters)

16 April 2013
Major Korean banks are rushing to Burma to launch businesses:

Hana 2012 October
Woori 2012 October
Shinhan 2013 April
Industrial Bank of Korea 2013 April
Korea Development Bank 2013 June

(Korea Times)

Human Rights
8 April 2013
Government’s News and Periodicals Enterprise (NPE) says it is planning to sell news and photos to private media. Responses:

The Voice and RFA say they will buy
Journalists however are calling for a boycott of any sale of news, “it is the duty of the Ministry of Information to release news”

(Mizzima/Eleven Media Group)

11 April 2013

Ta-ang Student and Youth Union (TSYU) says most of the more than 400 displaced people at Aung Mingala monastery in Tangyan are Palaung, also known as Ta-ang. It is one of the civil society organizations bringing relief to the more than 1,400 people displaced by military tensions in the township. (SHAN)

Environment
7 April 2013
UNDP says fire is top natural disaster in Burma: 45 fires in Rangoon alone in the first two months of the year. (Eleven Media/ Irrawaddy)

Drugs
8 April 2013
Rebels speaking Kachin, Palaung and Shan attack what were reported to be drug refineries owned by MP Kyaw Myint in Namkham township. No further details available. (SHAN)

War
9 April 2013

More than 1,000 people from 16 villages are taking refugee in Tangyan following Burma Army clash with Shan State Army (SSA). (Mizzima)

12 April 2013
Two small bombs explode on a road between Tangyan and Monghsu injuring unspecified number of people today, according to Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) spokesman. Meanwhile, refugee center in Tangyan is running with assistance from CSOs and World Food Program (WFP). For health care, there is a 24 hour clinic. Only 8 people returned to their villagers on 11 April. (RFA)

15-16 April 2013
Two clashes near Loizay, Tangyan township. Shan State Army (SSA) says Burma Army is shooting at them from a village, making it difficult for them to return the fire. (SHAN)

Obituary
8 April 2013