• WILL APRC COME TO BURMA?
• DEEP SOUTH FOR THAILAND, WILD WEST FOR BURMA?
• DRUG SOLUTION IN BURMA NEEDS MILITARY’S COOPERATION!
• FIRST WOMAN MINISTER IN BURMA!
• FDI LAW PASSED!

Cartoon
Easier way to call anesthesiologists: numb-ers

Think Piece
The military, Aung San Suu Kyi, the 88 generation students and the politicians, we all share the same opinion about national identity.

Myo Yan Naung Thein, director of Bayda Institute, closely linked with the NLD, reported by Bangkok Post, 2 September 2012

The Thai deputy premier said Asean already described itself as drug-free region which mean the drug problem is controllable and does not affect society.

Chiangrai Times, 1 September 2012

To build peace, you must be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Paul Sein Twa, Karean Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), speaking in Chiangmai, 1 September 2012, SHAN

In 1820, British ethnologist Walter Hamilton referred to the “Rooinga” as “the Mahommedans who have been long settled in the country.”

“The US government contained (the Japanese during World War II) in camps and after the war they were sent to Japan or they could apply for citizenship. We can solve this problem that way. We must not violate their human rights,” said NLD co-founder U Win Tin.

Bangkok Post, 2 September 2012

If you break little promises, you’ll break big ones.

The Road, Cormae McCarthy (2007)

The new government’s approach to drug lords and trafficking is discouraging.

Bangkok Post editorial on Myanmar, 5 September 2012

How nationalism can be manipulated

• It gives a very convenient exit for people with other agendas to justify their positions
• It has been used by China’s communist leaders to cover up domestic problems – such as the economic slowdown the country is facing, not to mention problems with a growing rich poor divide and official corruption
• The same could be said, to an extent, in Japan and South Korea, where some politicians seem to be using the island disputes to further their agendas ahead of elections or to divert attention from thornier topics

Peter Enav, AP, reporting on island disputes in the Pacific, 4 September 2012

Article 324 of the 2008 constitution states that the Constitutional Tribunal’s decisions are “final and conclusive.” As such, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Assembly) has already violated a constitutional decree and placed the Hluttaw above the law. Why are the MPs attempting to dismiss the members of the constitutional tribunal rather than amend the constitution? The current dispute may lead to a serious constitutional crisis.

Aung Htoo, human rights lawyer, Democratic Voice of Burma, 7 September 2012

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The World
2 Sepbember 2012
A Romney presidency would likely bring a more aggressive stance toward China, particularly in the South China Sea, support of Asean and a stronger alliance with India. (Bangkok Post)

5 September 2012
Formation of Asean Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) announced by former Thai FM Surakiart Sathirathai at meeting held today in Bangkok. It will adopt non-interference and silent and quiet diplomacy. This method will also be exercised with the consent of all parties involved in a conflict. 16 founders include former leaders of Malaysia, East Timor and Pakistan: Badawi, Ramos-Honta and Shaukat Aziz. (Bangkok Post)

6 September 2012
Waterboarding is a torture on a hooded detainee’s nose and mouth until he feels he is drowning. (AP)

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International Relations
5 September 2012
Visiting Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Gen Ma Xiaotian meets Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. He arrived in Burma yesterday at the invitation of Gen Soe Win, army commander-in-chief. (Xinhua)

6 September 2012
Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) fact-finding team arrives in Burma for a 10-day visit. (AP)

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Thai-Burma Relations
2 September 2012
Among those removed from the Burmese blacklist are 64 Thai nationals, including two Bangkok Post journalists. (Bangkok Post)

5 September 2012
Thailand’s violence is now ranked the third most serious in the world after Iraq and Afghanistan, noted Duncan McMargo, a professor from Leeds University, England. (Bangkok Post)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
3 September 2012
42 minors, between 10-18, allowed to quit military services in Rangoon. The ceremony is attended by UNICEF, UNHCR, ICO and Save the Children, among others. (New Light)

4 September 2012

President Thein Sein submits Lt-Gen Way Lwin to replace Lt-Gen Hla Min as defense minister to the parliament. The latter will be reassigned to the military. (Mizzima)

6 September 2012
All 9 judges on Constitution Tribunal resign after two-thirds of the lower house voted earlier in the day for their impeachment. The move is led by President Thein Sein’s own party members including Shwe Mann. (AP)

7 September 2012
Presient Thein Sein appoints first woman minister: Myat Myat Ohn Khin for social welfare, relief and settlement. (AP)

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Ethnic Affairs
1 September 2012
Karen National Union (KNU) delegation led by General Secretary Zippora Sein leaves for Pa-an to meet with government counterpart on 3-4 September. (Statement)

3 September 2012
KNU-UPWC peace talks # 3 in Pa-an. It is joined by 8 observers: 2 international and 6 local. (KIC)

3 September 2012

Saw Mra Raza Lin, together with Arakan State minister Col Htin Lin, opens liaison office in Kyauktaw, close to Paletwa and Indo-Burma border. (Narenjara)

4 September 2012
U Aung Min will reportedly become a member of the national defense security council and be given a measure of authority over the military. (Bangkok Post)

4 August 2012
Karen National Union (KNU) and Naypyitaw’s U Aung Min sign third agreement:

• Code of conduct (in principle) pending President’s approval
• Reposition of frontline troops (in principle) pending review by Gen Min Aung Hlaing

(Irrawaddy)

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Shans/ Shan State
6 September 2012
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) informs Union Election Commission that its membership has exceeded the necessary 1,000 figure. (SHAN)

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Economy/ Business
5 September 2012
12 private companies given permits to offer insurance services for the first time since 1963. They include Max Myanmar, Asia World and Kanbawza Bank. (Irrawaddy)

6 September 2012
Myanmar Times says from January to July, 299,529 foreign visitors passed through Yangon airport and border crossings, 37.5% up from 217,837 during the same period last year. (Mizzima)

7 September 2012
Union Parliament passes controversial Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) law, dropping clause which requires minimum investment of $ 5 million. (irrawaddy)

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Human Rights
2 September 2012
Saw Maung of Mong Wi, Namkham township, arrested and charged of assault after a retired Burmese soldier Nay Win Aung, 38, caught by villagers while entering his cornfield, was found beaten. He was forced to confess that it was him who beat up the suspected thief. (SHAN)

2 September 2012
Newly appointed information minister U Aung Kyi says newspapers will be able to publish daily from early 2013. State-owned newspapers will probably be transformed by private sector involvement in the coming months. (Mizzima)

2 September 2012
Returnees including Moe Thee Zun and Dr Naing Aung, meeting ministers U Aung Min and U Soe Thein at Rangoon’s Peace Center, agree to cooperate in establishing peace and work for development. Moe Thee Zun was sentenced to life in absentia. (Mizzima)

2 September 2012
Hundreds of Buddhist monks turn out in Mandalay to march in support of President Thein Sein’s July proposal to send Rohingyas to another country. (Mizzima) Dubbed Nazi rally by a Mandalay-born exile – Editor

3 September 2012
Workshop held by Myanmar Journalist Network (MJN) has come up with a set of recommendations including repeal of repressive laws that obstruct media freedom. (Mizzima)

3 September 2012
Wave of unrest over land confiscations spread to Sagaing’s Katha district. About 500 people call for return of farmland or 10 million kyat per acre compensation on 21 August. (Myanmar Times)

5 September 2012

Buddhist monks in Mandalay march in support for the deportation of Rohingyas. (Mizzima)

5 September 2012
Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) launches report charging the regime for putting the mainly Christian Chins under pressure to convert to Buddhism. (IRIN) Buddhism is being treated as the de facto state religion, says CHRO program director Salai Ling. (Irrawaddy)

6 September 2012
Way Lu, who has been active in helping farmers fighting to win back confiscated land in Sagaing Region, charged under Religious Offenses Act. More than 7,800 acres of land were confiscated by Wan Bao, a Chinese company and Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL) which are jointly developing a copper mining venture. (Irrawaddy)

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Environment
2 September 2012
17 children from Mali village in Shan State drowned while traveling to Guanlei port in Xixuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. They were going to school in Yunnan. (Xinhua/Irrawaddy)

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Drugs
6 September 2012

Thai deputy PM Chalerm Yubamroong blames Burma (for manufacturing pills) and Vietnam (for trafficking base chemicals such as pseudoephedrine). The United Wa State Army is the main producer, he says. He will ask China to coordinate with Burma to address the problem. He estimates that 500 million speed pills are waiting to be smuggled in from Burma. (Bangkok Post) He also blames Taiwanese and Indian manufacturers for influx of base chemicals and hits out at rights groups who oppose his idea of swift execution for convicted drug traffickers. (Daily Star Lebanon) Asked what the reaction of the Burmese representative at the meeting, Chalerm replied, “He said he was only a policeman and didn’t have any authority, that I would need to talk to the military.” (ASTV Manager Online)

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War
4 August 2012
More than 1,000 Palaungs in Kutkhai, Mantong, Namhsan and Namtu townships have been forced by fighting between the Burma Army and Kachin-Ta-ang-Shan armed groups. (DVB)