Weekly Diary, No.604 (27 September-2 October 2012)
- 15 YEAR ANTI-DRUGS PLAN EXTENDED TO 20 YEARS!
- PRESIDENT, THE LADY AND THE STOUT RETURN HOME
- HOW FAILURE TO ADOPT ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW CAN HURT A NATION!
- MORE SHAN BASES ASKED TO WITHDRAW!
- SNR-GEN WELL, LIAISE WITH GOVT!
Cartoon
Tips for all leaders: So let us see you set good examples!
Think Piece
We have 35 ambassadors and 65 ministers, all Burmese. Even previous governments had non-Burmans as ambassadors and ministers.
MP Zo Zam, Chin National Party, to President Thein Sein, during the meeting on 18 July 2012, SHAN
By analyzing that poverty is much more characterized by feelings of volatility, vulnerability and powerlessness rather than whether we have 50 baht or 100 baht a day, Duncan Green argued for redistribution of power rather than traditional aid to break the cycle of poverty and inequality.
Development is about redistributing power, assets, opportunities and rights. The most important kind of redistribution is empowerment.
Duncan Green, author of From Poverty to Power, second edition, Bangkok Post, 1 October 2012
The PSRDC (Press Scrutiny and Registration Division) will continue to exercise absolute control over who gets registration licenses and who doesn’t. It will also have the power to cancel licenses. Until Burma has independent (media outlets) that are no longer at the mercy of the PSRD, press reforms in the country will remain superficial at best.
The Irrawaddy, 4 October 2012
The recent high profile trial of a Shan drug lord, Naw Kham, in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, demonstrates how seriously the Chinese authorities take this threat, and how influential they have become in the region. But in forcing these issues, the Chinese missed the bigger picture of how resentments were building towards their presence in, and economic exploitation of, Myanmar.
The Economist, 6 October 2012
The World
29 September 2012
Buddhist temples attacked in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, over a Facebook photo deemed offensive to Islam. It was allegedly posted by a young Buddhist man. (AFP)
3 October 2012
Since Saturday, 29 September, violence in Bangladesh has caused damage to 16 Buddhist temples and dozens of home. The publication of a photo showing the desecration of the Koran holy book on a social network cited as a factor in the attacks. (Mizzima)
5 October 2012
According to a study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 10 countries with the highest proportion of adults with college degrees are Canada, Israel, Japan, the United States, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Finland, Australia and Ireland. (Bangkok Post)
International Relations
26 September 2012
President Thein Sein meets former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in New York, accompanied by ambassador Derek Mitchell. (Mizzima)
2 October 2012
Chris Milligan, director for (USAID) mission in Rangoon says it wants to start its projects in Burma “as quickly as possible.” (Mizzima)
4 October 2012
On 26 September, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) signed an agreement with Myanmar authorities for clearance of mines. (NPA)
4 October 2012
Aung San Suu Kyi returns home after 17 day US trip. (Irrawaddy)
Thai-Burma Relations
2 October 2012
Yaung Chi Oo, Mae Sot-based advocacy group, says factory owners have colluded with local Thai authorities to detain and return worker who attempt to travel to other parts of the country. They are paid between 60-100 baht ($ 1.95-$ 3.25) they are entitled to under Thai law. (Irrawaddy)
2 October 2012
Businesses in Thailand warned after the Thai government failed to pass an anti-money laundering bill before the next review of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in February. IMF will take action by moving forward with one of 3 methods:
- Countries will have to ask information about who the receiver of the money is before sending
- The IMF might ask Thailand to set up an automatic data base
- Countries may not be able to do business with Thailand before the FATF meets in June 2013
4 October 2012
Thai military-police patrol catches 4 Burmese soldiers at Myawaddy-Maesot border. They have been looking for jobs. Thai authorities contact Burma Army to take them back to base. (Bangkok Post)
Politics/ Inside Burma
29 September 2012
President Thein Sein says he will have to accept Aung San Suu Kyi, “if the people accept her.” He adds that he “alone cannot change the constitution. This depends on the wish of the people and also the wishes of the members of parliament.” (BBC/AFP)
30 September 2012
Meeting Myanmar Newsweek, Khin Pyone Shwe, daughter of Serior Gen Than Shwe, says he is in good health. Government sources say he spends his time reading. His home in Naypyitaw is under constant guard by army officers and soldiers. He had a dozen aides, including a chief of staff and an officer who acts as his liaison with the government. (Irrawaddy)
1 October 2012
President Thein Sein welcomed by as many as 2,000 people including businessmen, members of political parties, garment factory workers and students. Maj Zaw Htay, director of President’s office, says his trip was “a success”. (Irrawaddy)
Ethnic Affairs
1 October 2012
President’s Office Minister Soe Thein, speaking to RFA, says ethnic states will receive a greater share of revenue and more autonomy. The change will require amending the current revenue-share law to increase the states’ portion. (Mizzima)
3 October 2012
Karen State chief minister Zaw Min has agreed to allow children of migrant workers to take matriculation exams following talks last week. (DVB)
4 October 2012
Karen National Union (KNU) dismisses Mutu Say Poe as commander-in-chief. Brig Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, Brigade 5 commander, has been appointed acting commander in chief. Also dismissed are David Taw and Roger Khin. Observers say the split may result in a north south divide: Brigade 1,3,4,6 and 7 led by Mutu and Brigade 2 and 5 under Baw Kyaw Heh. (Irrawaddy)
4 October 2012
A dozen ethnic MPs visiting Chiangmai note Thein Sein has not appointed a single member of an ethnic group to any senior union-level positions. (Irrawaddy)
4 October 2012
Rangoon-based Karen People’s Party sends open letter to KNU urging all concerned to “work together in unity”. (Irrawaddy)
Shans/ Shan State
4 October 2012
Hkun Htun returns to Burma. (SHAN)
5 October 2012
Shan State Army (SSA) North “requested” to withdraw from Ta Hsarm Pu crossing on the Pang. (SHAN)
Economy/ Business
2 October 2012
Burma’s first investment bank, Mandalay Capital, has been opened by Alisher Alihas, a Uzbekistan man. (Businessweek.com/Mizzima)
3 October 2012
New Light of Myanmar says 7 more industrial zones are being planned:
- Tatkon, Naypyitaw
- Yadanabon, Mandalay
- Hpa-an
- Myawaddy
- Three Pagodas
- Ponnagyun, Rakhine
- Nam Oon, Shan State
Human Rights
1 October 2012
Newly released report by Child Soldiers International says recruitment of boys under 18 by the army continues to take place in violation of domestic law.
2011 – 243 complaints reported
2012 – 24 complaints verified during the first 3 months
(Mizzima)
1 October 2012
Myanmar-China Pipeline Watch Committee (MCPWC), an alliance of 12 CSOs in Burma, calls for suspension of Shwe Gas pipelines until the project has been properly assessed and existing problems have been solved. (Irrawaddy)
1 October 2012
The Irrawaddy editor Aung Zaw says lots of self-imposed censorship remains:
- No reports on the whereabouts of Gen Than Shwe and other former officials
- Violence in Arakan and fighting against ethnic groups “reported without impartiality. Exiled Media provided more balanced views, much to the chagrin of local journalists”
Drugs
30 September 2012
Nang Nyunt Aye, Naw Kham’s sister, said she had talked to him on 27-28 September:
- He insisted he was not guilty, but he had to take responsibility as leader of the gang
- He was angry as he made a lot of money for many people but nobody visits him or help him now that he is in trouble
- He said after he extorted money from businesses, he had to share the spoils with other gang members and the Burmese militia
- Regional security officers say he benefited from the protection and blessings of both villagers and Myanmar military. One of his family members admitted that he had close ties with many of the region’s authorities
- Nang Nyunt Aye blames Naw Kham’s closest aide for leading the authorities to where her brother was hiding
- A regional security officer acknowledged his arrest could open a political can of warms. “They will want names of those running with him, they want the bigger players behind him”
- He had grown up disadvantaged, left school at 9 and barely literate, says his sister (BP) N.B. He finished 10th grade, according to former boss
5 October 2012
Home minister Ko Ko announces the 15 year masterplan to eliminate drugs that began in 1999 has been extended to 2019 instead of 2014 as originally targeted. (New Light of Myanmar)
War
3 October 2012
Heavy fighting in Namhsan township, between joint KIA-TNLA force and the Burma Army. (Irrawaddy/SHAN)
Tags: Weekly Diary
