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The Mizzima News: October 2, 2007
The Mizzima News: October 2, 2007 Specialising in Burma-related news and issues
www.mizzima.com,www.mizzima.tv
INSIDE BURMA
- Situation in Rangoon
- Situation across Burma
INTERNATIONAL
- International Response
- Gambari concludes Burma visit, meets Suu Kyi again
SOLIDARITY
- Thousands rally in Northeast India in solidarity with monks in Burma
- BJP joins Congress in deploring Burma violence
- Gujral, Fernandes condemn Burmese junta for brutal crackdown
EP-ED
- Give the Nobel Peace Prize to Burma's Sangha
NEWS IN BURMESE
- Security tighten in Mandalay and Rangoon
- International Solidarity with The Peoples of Burma (Photos)
- NC supporting ceremony in Tongtwingyi (Interview)
- Air Pagan ticket price hike
- Light off protest staged in north Ukkalapa
- Authorities force people to attend Nc supporting ceremony in Indaw
- Military Alliance-MA to do military exercise
MIZZIMA TV
LINK TO MIZZIMA RADIO & PHOTO SITES
- News inside Burma
Protest in Yangon
- October 02, 2007
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com)
(Burmese Standard time)
2:00 pm
Lights out protests in parts of Rangoon
Despite the Burmese military junta having imposed night curfews, residents
in parts of Rangoon protested by putting their lights off for at least 15
minutes last night.
Residents in North Okklapah said, many of the residents in ward (2)
switched-off their lights at 8 p.m. (local time) for 15 minutes as token of
dissent.
"As there is tight security preventing us from marching on the streets, we
are doing this as a symbol that we the people of Burma are being kept
helplessly in the dark," a local resident of ward (2) of North Okklapah
township told Mizzima.
While many residents remained in the dark for 15 minutes, a few others put
on at least one light in fear of reprisal from the authorities. The
residents also said that security forces could be seen patrolling the
township.
"Last night at about 11 p.m. (local time), five vehicles came to our ward.
In the first truck there were soldiers with red arm bands, the next had
police, the third vehicle was full of security forces, the fourth was
covered with shields and soldiers pointing their guns outside and the last
was a light vehicle and carried members of USDA and Swan Arrshin. They did
nothing but made rounds even in the lanes," a local resident told Mizzima.
2:00 p.m
Situation in Rangoon
Interview with a local resident of Rangoon
Rampant searches
"Though everything seems normal today, there are rampant searches and
interrogations. Both police and soldiers can still be seen in the city.
Security forces are conducting rampant searches and interrogations at bus
stands particularly in Sule, Hledan and Myaynikone areas. Civilians are made
to show their purses, handbags, and cameras are being seized. And if they
see anything suspicious they will make arrests."
"The barbed wire barricades in Sule area have been removed this morning. But
there are still about 250 to 300 soldiers and riot police."
Situation in Shwedagon
"There are about 15 soldiers guarding the western gate of Shwedagon, and no
one is entering from the west gate. And there are about 15 military trucks
near the northern gate near the Arrzanikone. While some soldiers are
sitting, some remain standing and some are sleeping."
City patrolling
"Three military trucks are constantly patrolling the city. There are about
100 riot policemen, and members of Swan Arrshin. They will rush to places
where they hear there is a commotion."
Security
"Security remains tight in most of the monasteries in various townships of
Rangoon. In Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery there are three military trucks, two
Dyna light trucks with soldiers and police."
Bribing for release
"Apart from those arrested during the recent demonstrations, people arrested
on the streets could be released if their families could afford to pay
bribes. The authorities ask for their phone numbers, addresses and send
message to their families to bring 200,000 kyat to to have their relatives
freed."
12:00 p.m
Gambari to meet Than Shwe, likely to meet press
UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived Burma on Saturday evening,
will meet Burma's military junta supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe today, a UN
spokesperson said.
Gambari, who met Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday
for more than an hour, "has been told by the authorities that he will be
able to meet Than Shwe on Tuesday," a UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said during
a press briefing on Monday.
Meanwhile, a Rangoon based Burmese journalist said they have been informed
that the visiting UN envoy will hold a press conference this afternoon.
"We were told that Gambari would hold a press conference today. And we have
submitted our names to be included in the media list to the authorities,"
the journalist, who did not want to be named, told Mizzima.
- News inside Burma
Situation across Burma
- October 02, 2007
(Burmese Standard Time)
5:45 p.m
Chairman of Pegu NLD arrested for the second time
U Myat Hla, Chairman of the Pegu unit of the National League for Democracy,
was taken in for the second time at about 10 a.m (local time) by Ward Peace
and Development Council officials and a police officer.
"When they came to call him, they said after interrogating him we will send
him back," U Myat Hla's daughter told Mizzima.
"The first time, he was interrogated by about seven to eight different
groups. They accused NLD members for throwing water bottles into the Kyakhat
monastery. My father denied it," added the daughter.
U Myat Hla was first rounded up for interrogation on September 28 but he was
released late at night the same day. The telephone line, which was cut off
on September 28, was reconnected this morning at about 10 a.m (local time).
5:30 p.m
Protest plans in Taung Dwingyi foiled
A plan by novice monks to protest in Taung Dwingyi town, Mandalay Division
today was foiled after a few senior monks and authorities imposed severe
restrictions on them.
Interview with a local resident
"The main reason for the failure of today's planned protest was because a
few senior monks do not have the courage to defy the authorities. The
student monks are very enthusiastic and started gathering at Phayagyi
pagoda. But these few senior monks did not join us in the last protests
also. Some of them are also fake monks. We were also ready for the protest
and waited for the monks to march."
"But members of Swan Arrshin and USDA got the information since this
morning, so they went to the monks in Thudawsin and Kandawmin monasteries
and pressured them not to protest. But the young monks did not want to give
up and said they are aware of what's going on in the country and are unhappy
with the treatment meted out to monks and are determined to fight back. We
were all ready and the whole town was ready to stage a protest. "
"But because some of senior monks do not have the courage to march many
young monks thought it might be bad to flout the advice of seniors. So they
did not go for protests. In the town USDA members, police and township peace
and development council officials have started to block the roads. Despite
that about 20 monks still gathered at Shwe Inndawgyi pagoda and even began
to shout slogans. But some of the senior monks went and called them back. So
the plan was foiled as we have to rely on the monks to lead the protest."
"There are a lot of security everywhere at the foothills of the Pagoda, and
at the west gate. We can see about 15 security personnel near the pagoda."
4:00 p.m
Northwestern Military Commander visits Pakhokku
The Northwestern military commander, General Thar Aye arrived in Pakhokku
town in Magwe division, central Burma today with two military trucks full of
over 100 soldiers armed with shields and weapons.
While the reason for the commander's visit remains unknown, locals said the
District Peace and Development Council office was cordoned off with armed
soldiers .
The soldiers entering the the town were conducting extensive checks on
licenses at the Tamartan check point, located about half a mile from the
town. The checks were conducted by regiment 258 posted at the checkpoint,
locals added.
3:00 p.m
Situation in Mandalay
Interview with a local resident
Monks return home
"Today, the situation is quiet, monks stand in the bus stands waiting to go
home. There were more monks earlier, Almost all are leaving for their home
towns. Or esle if the authorities continue raids, there will be more
bloodshed. For the time being they are all going back. What is happening is
that the monks who had led the protests are being arrested one by one."
Security
"Security is tight in Mandalay. Soldiers and security forces ar everywhere.
There is lot of security near the Municipal Corporation Office. And also
near the Bah Htoo ground. There are at least 50 security personnel in one
group. They are deploying security personnel in various ways. Armed security
personnel are deployed everywhere."
A few roads reopen
"Some of the roads sealed off by the authorities have begun to reopen.
Before, the 33 street, 34 streets were also blocked but now they have opened
it again. But the 35th street remained closed.Guarding of monasteries is
continuing. But things are more relaxed for the security forcwes.
Helicopters continued to fly over the city till Sunday."
A few colleges closed
"We heard yesterday was that GTC (Government Technical College) has been
closed for a month. And the distance education has been pushed back six
months."
- INTERNATIONAL
International Response
- October 02, 2007
(Burmese Standard Time)
4:00 p.m
China orders monasteries not to shelter Burmese monks
Chinese authorities have issued an order to Chinese monks and monasteries on
the Sino-Burmese border areas not to shelter Burmese monks, if they flee
from Burma. The Chinese authorities also instructed Chinese monks not to
cross over to neighbouring Burma.
2:00 p.m
Burmese monks and students in New Delhi held a protest rally condemning the
Burmese military junta for its brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in
Burma.
Led by 53 Burmese monks, who had come to India for studies, the All Burmese
Students League, the protest, was joined by Buddhist monks from India,
Tibet, Bangladesh and Mongolia. They chanted of Metta Sutta (Buddhist words
on loving kindness).
Over 200 Burmese activists based in New Delhi also joined the protest, which
lasted for over two hours, in the heart of the Indian capital.
- INTERNATIONAL
Gambari concludes Burma visit, meets Suu Kyi again
- Mungpi
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com )
October 2, 2007 - UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, today rounded off his
mission to Burma after meeting the junta supremo Senior General Than Shwe.
He had a second round of talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the
National League for Democracy, the UN office in Rangoon said.
The UN Secretary -General's Special Envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, today met Than
Shwe and other military leaders including Vice Snr Gen. Maung Aye, Gen Thura
Shwe Mann and the acting Prime Minister Thein Sein, at Burma's new jungle
capital - Naypyitaw for over an hour.
After meeting junta leaders, the Nigerian diplomat flew to Rangoon and met
detained Noble Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for a second round of
talks, an official at the UN office in Rangoon told Mizzima.
While, the details of both the meetings still remain unspecified, the UN
envoy is believed to have conveyed messages to both the groups.
Earlier on Sunday, Gambari met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for 90 minutes at the
government guest house in Rangoon, after meeting several low ranking junta
officials in Naypyitaw.
"The UN envoy left this evening," said the UN staff in Rangoon.
Gambari, who visited Burma amidst a bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters
by the junta's security forces, will now return to New York and report to
the UN Secretary- General, the UN statement said.
While Gambari was able to meet both the ruling junta as well as detained
Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, critics said the effectiveness
of his visit will depend upon the results thrown up.
- SOLIDARITY
Thousands rally in Northeast India in solidarity with monks in Burma
- Mungpi
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 2, 2007 - Thousands of Indians in the northeastern state of Mizoram
today hit the streets in a show of solidarity for the Burmese people's
struggle for change and freedom from bondage under the military
dictatorship. They urged India to intervene in the current imbroglio.
Nearly 2,000 people including leaders of political parties on Tuesday
marched on the streets of Aizawl, capital of Mizoram and urged the Indian
government to immediately intervene in the ongoing crisis and pressure the
ruling junta to work towards peace and democracy in the country.
The procession in Mizoram, bordering Burma, which hosts over 60,000 Burmese
refugees and migrants, is the largest brought out so far by activists and
campaigners to express solidarity with the Burmese people, who have been
under military yoke for nearly half a century.
"We are demanding restoration of democracy and freedom for people in Burma,"
Muanpuia, a leading activist, told Mizzima.
The protest, joined by leaders of local political party units, including the
Bharatiya Janata Party, Mizoram Congress Party and Zoram National Party,
comes amidst mounting international outcry over the Burmese junta's heavy
handed crackdown on Buddhist monk-led protests in Burma.
"We want the Indian government to do more for Burma," added Muanpuia.
Burmese soldiers and security forces last week, in a bid to weaken the
monk-led protests that posed a direct challenge to 45 years of military rule
in the country, began midnight raids in key monasteries and arrested over
200 monks.
The Burmese Army on Wednesday began opening fire on protesters in Rangoon in
what is a near repetition of the brutal suppression of the 1988 student led
pro-democracy uprising in the country.
According to the Burmese junta's state-run media 10 people were killed
during the crackdown. But activists said the death toll is much higher. It
could be several hundreds and the figures are being suppressed.
Meanwhile, 53 Burmese monks, who have come to India for studies, today
staged a similar protest in New Delhi condemning the junta for its brutal
treatment of monks, who are highly revered and seen as moral guardians in
the pre-dominantly Buddhist country.
The protest in New Delhi was joined by several other Burmese activists as
well as monks from India, Tibet , Bangladesh and Mongolia.
- SOLIDARITY
BJP joins Congress in deploring Burma violence
- Syed Ali Mujtaba
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com )
October 2, 2007 - After the Congress, India's main opposition party the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deplored the military junta's repressive
action in Burma. The BJP has urged the United Progressive Alliance ( UPA)
government at the Centre to support the pro-democracy forces in the
neighbouring country.
"The BJP demands that New Delhi persuade the junta in Burma to hold talks
with the Buddhist monks staging street protests for the last two weeks,"
said BJP leader V K Malhotra in New Delhi on Monday.
"It is a different issue what our relationship with Burma is. Having a
healthy relationship with Burma does not mean we cannot seek to stop the
bloodshed of innocent people in Burma," Malhotra said.
Meanwhile, the Congress party had earlier deplored the violence unleashed on
innocent monks and civilians in Burma.
Party spokesperson M. Veerappa Moily on Saturday said the violence by the
junta has saddened all those who have faith in peace, democracy and human
rights.
"The evolving situation in Burma is a cause for deep concern. It is
important that an 'inclusive approach' is followed by the authorities for
negotiating all issues. Unilateral resort to violent means is wrong and must
be avoided," he said.
When asked if the Congress led UPA government has the same stand on the
issue, he said these are the views of the Congress party, which always
believed in human rights and democracy. "The stand of the government is left
to the wisdom of the UPA," he said.
- SOLIDARITY
Gujral, Fernandes condemn Burmese junta for brutal crackdown
- Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com)
October 1, 2007 - Former Indian Prime Minister I.K Gujral and former Defense
Minister and Member of Parliament George Fernandes today joined over 1000
Indians and Burmese activists in a protest rally denouncing the Burmese
junta for its brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in Burma.
Speaking to the protesters in New Delhi, former Indian Prime Minister called
on India to immediately intervene in Burma's political crisis and promote
democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
George Fernandes a strong supporter of Burma's democracy movement, also
condemned India for its silence over the ongoing protests and brutal
crackdown by the ruling junta.
The protesters, which initially set out in two groups, joined at the heart
of Delhi near Jantar Mantar park, and jointly held the demonstration for
nearly two hours.
Attended by over 300 Indian supporters, the protest is so far the biggest in
the Indian capital in recent days that joins a worldwide condemnation
against the Burmese military junta's brutal crackdown on Monks and
civilians.
Meanwhile, the situation in Rangoon remained calm with several soldiers and
security forces posted in major road junctions and street corners. The heart
of the city, Sule Pagoda, remained cordon-off with barb wired barricades and
soldiers standing as guards.
The junta on September 26 began opening fire on Monks-led protestors, who
have been agitating since August 19, and killed several protestors including
a Japanese photo journalist, Kenji Nagai.
The Burmese state media announced that 10 people have been killed during the
crackdown, but activists said the number is far larger and estimates at
least 200 deaths.
India, which had the history of being the first country to have voiced
concern in Burma's last uprising in 1988 when the military brutally
crackdown on protestors, has remained silent and issued only a carefully
crafted words of statement.
- OP-ED
Give the Nobel Peace Prize to Burma's Sangha
- By Arnold Corso
October 2, 2007 - As the Nobel Committee narrows the list of potential Nobel
Peace Prize recipients over the next few weeks, most commentators have
predicted that the Nobel Committee will award the prize to Al Gore. As an
aspiring environmental lawyer, I admire Mr. Gore's contributions to the
global warming debate, and certainly hope the world takes climate change
seriously. However, decidedly lopsided war has broken out on the streets of
Rangoon, but only one side, the military, is armed with weapons, guns, tear
gas, and tanks. The other army consists of monks from the Buddhist monastic
order or sangha, who have attempted to use their spiritual authority to
protect civilian demonstrators and bear the brunt of the military
government's harsh crackdown. For this supreme act of peaceful courage, I
would like to nominate the Burmese sangha, the spiritual force behind
Burma's democracy movement, for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
The statutes establishing the Nobel Peace Prize entrust the Nobel Committee
to award it to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for
fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing
armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." However,
since World War II, most of the world's bloodshed has transpired as a result
of fighting not between governments but between governments and their
citizens. The current peacemakers are not merely diplomats who draw treaties
at negotiating tables but also religious leaders, activists, and ordinary
citizens who use their authority and influence to promote peaceful change in
their countries. The Nobel Committee has recognized this by giving the award
to individuals who have sought to promote democracy and human rights within
their countries. The Nobel Peace Prize was crucial in elevating the moral
authority of peacemakers struggling against apartheid in South Africa,
segregation in America, Communism in Eastern Europe, and military rule in
East Timor. It could now protect those monks risking their lives to protest
Burma's cruel military regime.
Over the past week, the world watched in humility and awe as hundreds of
thousands of unarmed Buddhist monks and civilians marched peacefully
throughout the country. The monks began their protests after Burma's
military junta raised the price of fuel by 500%. On September 5, reports
indicated that military thugs had beaten and killed several monks involved
in a protest in Pakoku. In response, the All Burma Monks Alliance publicly
asked the military to apologize for the deaths or else the monks would
refuse alms from soldiers, a form of Buddhist excommunication. After the
deadline had passed, monks and democracy activists across the country
marched by the hundreds of thousands calling upon the regime to begin a
serious democratization process. However, as we have seen, rather than
respond in a civilized manner, the military and its thugs have killed dozens
of monks and arrested thousands. Descriptions of Burmese soldiers ransacking
monasteries recall fifth century barbarian hordes pillaging villages, rather
than the actions of a disciplined twenty-first century defense force. Rather
than submit, the monks have used other tools in the arsenal of peace. Monks
who have been arrested are now on hunger strikes, while those who are locked
in their monasteries chant the metta sutta to ward off evil and spread love.
As tragic as these events are, these monks have not suffered in vain. They
have successfully used their prominence in Burmese society to draw the
world's attention to Burma as never before. Concerned citizens from America
to Indonesia to Costa Rica to Germany have added their voices to those of
the Burmese people by protesting in front of Burmese and Chinese embassies.
A few years ago, a protest for Burmese human rights here in Washington would
gather only a few dozen supporters; last Friday, a crowd of over 400 people
marched for over three hours. Even our political partisanship seems unable
to resist the call of the sangha; members of Code Pink, a radical anti-Iraq
war group, joined the protests and announced their admiration for President
Bush's strong stance against Burma.
Perhaps more important, the bravery of the monks propelled Burma onto the
international agenda. The U.N. has sent its envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, to meet
with the generals as well as Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratic opposition's
political leader. Some western diplomats believe that Mr. Gambari is
prepared to spend a significant amount of time resolving the crisis.
Administration officials suggest President Bush now views democracy
promotion in Burma as a possible "legacy moment." ASEAN, normally reluctant
to criticize one of its members, recently expressed its "revulsion" at the
military's crackdown. Meanwhile, China is now presented with a choice of
either using its influence to promote change or risk tarnishing the Olympic
games next year. While we may not see immediate political change in Burma,
the monks' sacrifice has caused a spiritual change and altered the dynamics
of international discussion of Burma at the highest level.
In recent years, the committee has come under attack for straying
off-message and promoting popular causes rather than recognizing the power
of peace. As worthy as these past recipients have been, the statutes of the
Nobel Foundation clearly intend the prize to help those laboring for peace.
The pictures we saw this week of soldiers aiming tear gas and bullets at
praying monks demonstrates the thick red line between violence and peace. I
believe the Burmese sangha would comfortably fit in with the most celebrated
prior prize recipients, including Elie Wiesel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the
Dali Lama, Martin Luther King, and, of course, Aung San Suu Kyi. What better
way to celebrate the original intent of the Nobel Peace Prize than to give
this year's prize to the side in Burma's civil war that has tried to use
peace and metta to fight for their basic rights?
Arnold Corso is a student of Southeast Asian Studies at a Masters Program in
the United States. He has been to Burma several times and wrote his thesis
on the role of Buddhist monks in environmental conservation in Southeast
Asia.
- NEWS IN BURMESE
Security tighten in Mandalay and Rangoon
-
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/breaking_news.php
-
International Solidarity with The Peoples of Burma (Photos)
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/Intl_Demo.php
-
-
NC supporting ceremony in Tongtwingyi (Interview)
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=635&cat=7017
-
Air Pagan ticket price hike
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=634&cat=7011
-
Light off protest staged in north Ukkalapa
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=633&cat=7011
-
Authorities force people to attend Nc supporting ceremony in Indaw
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=632&cat=7011
-
Military Alliance-MA to do military exercise
- http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=631&cat=7011
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