Weekly Diary, No.630 (6-12 May 2013)
- ANOTHER BLATANT CEASEFIRE VIOLATION!
- THE LADY: CHAPTER 12 MUST BE AMENDED FIRST!
- GOVT PEACE NEGOTIATORS VISIT SHAN STATE!
- DALAI LAMA LAMENTS KILLING IN THE NAME OF BUDDHISM!
- INDONESIAN TERRORISTS MEAN BUSINESS!
Cartoon
Tips for all: You know he’s right, do you?
Think Piece
In countries in West Asia and North Africa that underwent sudden change, or countries where democracy was imposed, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, the maintenance of order has also been a problem. After the success of sudden “revolutions”, these countries have fallen into various degrees of chaos due to the loss of order. It is difficult to cultivate good governance and democratic progress in a disorderly social environment.
This is precisely what Brzezinski, the famous American strategist, has described- a choice between top-down, controlled development with stability and chaotic freedom that completely destroys the economy. Many westerners, including Brzezinski, now see the danger of the latter.
People’s Daily, 3 May 2013
The World
9 May 2013
Democratization and Civilian Control in Asia co-author Aurel Croissant, speaking in Bangkok, says high risk countries for coups are: Equador, Bolivia and Syria. Thailand ranks # 5. Three factors that make a country vulnerable to coups are:
- Lack of a strong civil society
- Legitimacy questions about the government
- “A lot of coups in the past”
International Relations
2 May 2013
Two apprehended in Jakarta with a backpack containing 5 bombs. Police still hunting for a 23 year old bomb-maker known as ‘SI’ in connection with a plan to bomb Myanmar embassy. (Jakarta Post)
8 May 2013
Indonesian police has shootout in Bandung, West Java, with 4 suspects plotting to bomb Myanmar embassy. (Bangkok Post)
9 May 2013
Indonesian anti-terrorism unit kills 7 and arrests 6 others that may have links to a foiled plot to bomb Burmese embassy. (AP)
9 May 2013
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) grants low interest loans totaling $ 36 million following a meeting with President Thein Sein in Naypyitaw. (New Light of Myanmar)
Thai-Burma Relations
2 May 2013
Ministry of Electric Power and Thailand’s Green Earth Power (GEA) sign agreement to conduct survey for potential construction location of the world’s third largest solar power plant in Magwe’s Minbu township. The plant will generate 210 MW power and $ 275 million will be spent for the project. (Eleven Media Group)
7 May 2013
Singkhorn checkpoint in Prachuab Khirikhan opened. It connects Thailand with Mergui. (Bangkok Post)
7 May 2013
Former PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh meets Vice President Sai Mawk Kham, Deput FM Thant Kyaw and Deputy Commerce Minister Pwint Sann and “exchanged talks about investment plans in order to develop Burma’s rural areas.” (Irrawaddy)
9 May 2013
Passports for children of registered Burmese workers will be issued at 11 centers across Thailand to all children under 18, labor affairs director Naing Tun from the Burmese embassy in Bangkok says. Dependent passports will cost 175 baht ($ 6) and visa fee 500 baht ($ 16.7). There are an estimated 3,000 children. (DVB)
Politics/ Inside Burma
7 May 2013
U Soe Thein replaced by U Win Shein, finance minister, as Myanmar Investment Commission chairman. (Eleven Media Group)
10 May 2013
Speaking at the conclusion of a 3-day talks in Rangoon, Aung San Suu Kyi says “we have to change the process of amendment” first to amend “the most difficult constitution in the world.” (Irrawaddy)
Ethnic Affairs
6 May 2013
DKBA representative Maj Maung Lay visits Naypyitaw and holds talks with U Aung Min, who agrees to visit the contested area on a date yet to be fixed. (Irrawaddy)
3 May 2013
An ethnic coordination committee formed by the NLD at the end of April to smooth out relations with non-Burman ethnic peoples. It is chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi. Members include U Min Oo, Tun Tun Hein and Nang Khin Htwe Myint. (Mizzima)
Shans/ Shan State
5 May 2013
Meeting President Thein Sein in Naypyitaw, together with 17 other political parties, continued offensives against SSA North can displace people thereby jeopardizing the 2014 census taking, says Hkun Htun Oo. “Many can become stateless,” he adds. (DVB)
9 May 2013
Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) Vice Chairman U Thein Zaw, visits Mongla. He discusses regional development and 2014 census taking, say Mongla officials. (SHAN)
10 May 2013
U Thein Zaw visits Panghsang. Details not yet disclosed. Met by Vice Chairman Xiao Minliang. (SHAN)
Human Rights
2 May 2013
Two Buddhists arrested after 30 people attacked Muslim area in Hpakant township, Kachin State. (AFP)
3 May 2013
Mandalay chief minister Ye Myint tells Naypyitaw more than 4,000 villages face water scarcity. (Irrawaddy)
4 May 2013
Residents in Rangoon’s Mingala Taung Nyunt have formed watch volunteers, who man corners from 22:00-06:00, armed with mobile phones. Improvised road blocks of desks, street carts and barbed wire barricades dot these corners. It is not just for Buddhists or Muslims, but for everybody in the township, says an organizer. (Bangkok Post)
5 May 2013
Dr Thein Lwin, education spokesman for NLD, is working with NGOs and academics on a proposal for a new national education policy. He says the government has not been receptive so far. (New York Times)
6 May 2013
In a speech broadcast late today, President Thein Stin vows “to take all necessary action to ensure basic human rights of Muslims in Rakhine State and the accommodate the needs and expectations of the Rakhine people.” (AP)
7 May 2013
The Irrawaddy, first published in 1993, hits Burma’s newsstands today. (Irrawaddy)
7 May 2013
Nay Myo Zin, 38, who was released in January 2012 by amnesty told he will have to serve 6 years for defaming the police, according to his wife Zin Myo Maw. (DVB/AFP)
7 May 2013
The Dalai Lama, speaking at the University of Maryland, condemns Buddhist monk attacks in Burma. “Killing people in the name of religion is really very sad, unthinkable,” he says. “Please think of the face of Buddha.” (Global Post)
9 May 2013
At least 10 Arakanese found guilty of involvement in sectarian violence against Muslims sentenced 9 months to 3 years imprisonment by Sittwe court. (Narinjara)
10 May 2013
Soe Min Tun, deputy director general of the Department for the Promotion and Propagation of Sasana, Ministry of Religious Affairs, says it will provide 3 billion kyat ($ 3.3 million) for teachers’ salaries in the 2013-14 academic year for monastic schools across the country. (Irrawaddy)
10 May 2013
SSA spokesman Lao Hseng says despite the violation of ceasefire by the government the group will try to maintain it until the government revokes it. (DVB)
Environment
7 May 2013
5.4 magnitude quake in Mongphyak at 03:37. No damage reported. (SHAN)
9 May 2013
President Thein Sein wins praise for Myitsone, but dams on the Salween are proceeding in secret, reports International Rivers Network. (Irrawaddy)
9 May 2013
Kevin Woods, Transnational Institute (TNI) says land Investment Committee led by MP Tin Htut and Land Allotment and Utilization Scrutiny Committee led by Win Tun Min, Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, twined down request to meet with 40 ethnic activist groups calling for address to a surge in land grabbing. (Irrawaddy)
Drugs
6 May 2013
Due to “threats posed by ATS” and to achieve a reduction in poppy cultivation, the CCDAC has extended its drug elimination to 2019, says deputy police chief Zaw Win at the opening of 6 nation talks in Rangoon. They include China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. (South China Morning Post)
7 May 2013
Ethnic militias involvement in drug tirade not discussed at the 6 nation forum. Police discuss individual producers and sellers but not focus on the names of the groups, says Zaw Lin Htun, deputy police chief of anti-narcotics task force. He mentions agreement with the SSA to eliminate drugs. (Irrawaddy)
9 May 2013
6 nations meeting in Naypyitaw vow greater cooperation in the fight against drugs. Consumption and production continues to grow rapidly, according to joint statement. (Bangkok Post)
War
9 May 2013
Increasing tension between Shan State Army (SSA) South and the Burma Army:
1 May clash in Kengtawng after Burma Army came “to inspect gold mining and logging operations”
3 May Burma Army sets fire to SSA camp in Teung Kha, Namkham township (IB 45 and IB 90 say they were looking for 4 missing civilians)
6 May SSA demands full and thorough investigation into the incident
(DVB)
9 May 2013
Burma Army attacks and occupies Shan State Army (SSA) South’s base on the Sino-Burmese border in Namkham township. (SHAN) 9 Burmese soldiers killed and 8 seriously wounded, according to Namkham hospital sources. (Irrawaddy)
Tags: Weekly Diary
