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The Mizzima News: October 4, 2007

Specialising in Burma-related news and issues
www.mizzima.com,www.mizzima.tv

SOLIDARITY
Media body supports Burmese cause

Nava Thakuria
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com )

October 4, 2007 - Guwahati - The Journalists' Forum, Assam on Thursday urged the Government of India to mount diplomatic pressure on the Burmese military junta to refrain from resorting to repressive measures against protesters carrying on the movement for democracy in the country.

In a citizens' meeting at the Guwahati Press Club with JFA President Rupam Baruah in chair, the newsmen's body asked the Union Government not to remain a silent spectator to the happenings in the neighbouring country and do what is in its power to facilitate a peaceful transition to democracy.

Extending its whole-hearted support to the movement, the Forum demanded that Aung San Suu Kyi, globally feted pro-democracy leader and Noble Peace Laureate, be immediately released from prolonged detention. It deplored the brutal killing of protesting citizens and a foreign journalist.

The meeting expressed solidarity with the proposed Global Action Day for Free Burma to be observed on October 6.

The meeting was addressed among others by Dr Amalendu Guha, Hemanta Barman, Dr Abdul Mannan, Nilamoni Sen Deka, Hiten Mahanta, Nava Thakuria, Jayanta Gogoi, Jawaharlal Saha and Satish Tahbildar

News inside Burma
Security forces search for protesters photographs in hand

Ko Dee
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

October 3, 2007 - Security envelopes Rangoon with riot police and soldiers scouring the city with photographs in their hand to arrest participants in last weeks protests, which posed a direct threat to nearly half a century of military rule in Burma.

While security forces had earlier conducted random searches on the streets among passers by, local residents said, authorities have stepped up the hunt by distributing pictures of protesters and arresting them on sight.

"They [authorities] distributed pictures of those who had participated in the protests to different township authorities and they in turn raided houses of people who had taken part and arrested them," a local resident, who requested anonymity, told Mizzima.

"We heard that photos [of protestors] have arrived in our local township peace and development council office. But so far we have not heard any body being arrested. If they have to arrest, it would have to be all the people in the township because every one of us participated in the protest. So, may be they cannot arrest all," another resident of Rangoon's North Okklapah Township said.

Most of the pictures of protesters were taken by a police informer, Tin Maung Latt, who under the protection of the riot police and soldiers took photographs during the protests last week, a Rangoon based journalist said.

Security forces continue to be stationed on major road junctions and popular places such as the Sule pagoda. And several soldiers in military trucks also continue to patrol the city both day and night to check any unrest, residents said.


INSIDE BURMA
Random search and arrest on suspicion in Rangoon

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

October 4, 2007 - Burmese security forces in Rangoon continue rampant crackdown interrogating and arresting people on suspicion.

While the crackdown continues, several security personnel are taking advantage of the situation by resorting to extortion from local vendors or shops, and warn them not to speak about it to overseas media groups.

Sources said soldiers and security personnel continue to be deployed at major road junctions and key places in Rangoon such as Sule pagoda area and Shwedagon pagoda, but in a much relaxed atmosphere as if a war has been won.

However, it is risky for anybody seen with cameras, as soldiers continue random search and interrogations among pedestrians.

Arrest on suspicion

"Yesterday, security forces at Hlaing Tharyar flyover stopped all the vehicles passing and conducted random searches. They arrested several people who they were suspicious of. And even those who had all their documents had to give in to demands for money. They demanded money in various categories -- for vendors they would demand about 4000 to 5000 kyat and up to 10,000 kyat depending on the people's occupation and made them sign an agreement not to leak the information to overseas media groups. The people not only hate them but loathe the sight of them. They just want to stay out of trouble," a local resident told Mizzima.

"In downtown areas like Kyauktada and Sule areas in the townships, there are groups of at least five or six people searching vehicles including buses with photographs of those who participated in the protest. They announced that even those who sheltered the protesters will be taken action against," the resident added.

Fake monks in Ngwe Kyar Yan

"In Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery, the authorities had earlier placed about five fake monks and they remain as spies. But now it seems they have moved out because almost all the locality people knew about it. Currently, there are only about five monks remaining in the monastery. There are no more security personnel guarding the monastery now, but every half an hour fiv military trucks come to check the situation. That they do in almost the whole city," a local resident told Mizzima.

"The soldiers are making rounds in the city and are mainly from division 22, 66 and 77. The officers come in small vehicles in the middle of the convoy. They make rounds of the city and come to every locality every half an hour," added the local resident.

"There are no soldiers guarding the markets but these five trucks came in a hurry, it seems like they were informed that the people have started gathering," the local said.

Monks continues to disappear

"Monks have been ordered to go back to their native places. And from the Aung Mingalar Monastery in Ahlone Township, local residents arrange a vehicle for the monks returning to Meik town. There were about all together 60 monks but when they reach the outskirts of Rangoon, soldiers forcibly disperse the group into tens. Monks are repressed even worse than the civilians. Some of the monks have reportedly gone missing and have not reached home," a resident told Mizzima.

"One of our monks was also included among those arrested but he was among those released yesterday. He does not want to stay here any more and wants to go back home. The monk was badly hurt in the face. There are a lot of monks beaten up inside the interrogation camps," added the resident.

Schools reopen but students scared to attend

Schools in Rangoon have started to reopen, however, parents are scared of another unrest and crackdowns and have not sent their children to schools.

"But the school authorities have not complained about the student's absence because of the ongoing situation. In normal times the school authorities are strict about attendance," the local added.

No NC support gathering and aass rally in Rangoon

While the authorities in various parts of Burma are conducting mass rallies and gatherings in support of the recently concluded National Convention, authorities in Rangoon have failed to organize anti-protest demonstrations or gathering in support to the NC.

"So far there is no announcement of such public gathering in Rangoon. I think they would not force the people to attend compulsorily like they did in other parts of Burma. They might just call members of Swan Arrshin and USDA and government servants if they are to organize. But so far there are no notices or announcement. And that is because may be they fear that if they organize such mass meetings, the people would turn the gathering in to public demonstrations," a local resident of Rangoon told Mizzima.

"If the authorities call such mass meetings, the people would not object but may not go. Because currently people want to avoid any confrontation with them, and would just comply with whatever they say though they are not happy," added the resident.

News inside Burma
People forced to attend rallies in central Burma in support of NC

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

October 4, 2007 - With people's blood on its hands, the Burmese military junta, which has ruthlessly put down protests, is now desperate to showcase to the world that its has the support of countrymen on the outcome of its National Convention.

Villagers in Shwebo Township of Sagaing division in central Burma were forcibly made to attend a junta-organized rally this morning.

After residents in Shwebo town refused to join, authorities including members of the junta-backed Swan Arrshin and Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) forced villagers in the township to attend by threatening to impose monetary fines on those refusing to support the rally.

"I didn't even know there was a rally and gathering till I heard shouting of slogans. We residents of the town did not want to attend but were forced to join. It seems the authorities promised to give money and even provide lunch," a local Shwebo resident told Mizzima.

Similarly, in Mattaya Township in Mandalay division villagers were forcibly made to attend the government-organized mass rally on October 2.

Local authorities and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) threatened to fine those failing to attend. Over 3,000 villagers were mobilized to attend the rally supporting the NC in Mattaya town.

"They [authorities] warned us that if we don't attend we will be responsible for the consequences. Daily wage earners were in a spot because they said those not attending will be fined 5000 kyat. So, they attended," a local resident in Mattaya said.

Villagers and township officials marched through the town to the Township Peace and Development Council office on Mya Nanda Road and chanted slogans. They returned to the town's football ground, where the crowd gathered to lend support of the junta's seven-point roadmap to democracy.

"Officials from in the front shouted the slogans and made the public repeat it, but the people in the back shouted whatever they wanted to," the local resident said.

The crowds were also made to hold up posters and banners that said "NLD… destructive elements", "Spread… Buddhism."

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor

Friends of Mizzima
October 4, 2007

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have been following the brave struggle of the people of Burma and would like to become a friend of Mizzima.

So far, I have tried to show my support by doing the following:

  • Sent an email to the representative of my electoral ward, Ms. Gesine Multhaupt, demanding clear requests not only towards the junta of Burma but also towards China, including severe consequences in case of ongoing Chinese passiveness

  • Sent a related email to Mr. Martin Schulz, member of the European Parliament

  • Sent a related message to the German Chancellor, Ms. Angela Merkel via the website of the chancellery

  • Sent urgent request to release peaceful protesters to Burma's Foreign Minister as suggested by Amnesty International (I am a sustaining member of AI)

  • Signed Avaaz' urgent petition to stop the crackdown on peaceful protesters

  • Posted regular bulletins on MySpace.com, requesting people to take action

Contact details:

Thomas Loewe
Kornblumenstr. 21
26215 Wiefelstede
Germany

Regards
Thomas Loewe

Commentary
Aung San Suu Kyi's peace give it a chance

By May Ng

October 04, 2007 - The latest events in Burma may seem to be a repeat of the 1988 failed uprising, but there is a powerful difference this time.

The world's reaction to Burma is impressive and the impact of the internet will most likely help decide the final outcome of the 2007 political movement in Burma.

But for the native Burmese the experience during the past few weeks has been unprecedented and profound.

The most precious prize from the past few weeks is a sense of brotherhood among all who have suffered under the military junta in Burma. For every Burmese there has always been a sense of being wronged; a lifelong grievance that became evident during the height of the demonstration last week.

While the world was able to witness the political drama in Burma with awe and then disgust, the same medium did something for Burma that nothing else was able to do before. It united the Burmese.

The religious fervour and spectacle aside, nothing could have healed deep ancient wounds existed in this dramatic land. Even though the military is now hounding all of its perceived enemies out of their holes and creating hell, Burma has hope if the military can be made to stop from killing and let the will of the people triumph.

Myanmar Tatmadaw was founded by the majority ethnic Burman, mobilized during anti-colonial campaign against the British in 1920's. Mary Callaham said in Making Enemies that this campaign was not aimed against the British colonial officials or Indian mercenaries, but instead targeted the indigenous people who collaborated with the British, took English names, wore English clothes, ate English food, and served the interests of the British. And this permanent chasm was created by the divide and rule policy of the colonial masters that turned the Burman Tatmadaw and the armed ethnic rebels into bitter enemies, since the independence.

But after a half century later, according to Bertil Lintner, a former correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review, the military junta has managed to strike cease-fire agreements with most of the country's rebel groups, which, has meant the enemy now is the Burmese population at large. And the military is far better equipped now than at any time in Burma's modern history, mainly due to its massive procurement of arms from China.

Linter also said that after the 1962 military coup, Burmese army seized not only political but also economic power and the old mercantile elite, largely of Indian and Chinese origin, left the country — as did many of Burma's intellectuals. Its prosperity also fled along with its best and brightest, and bitterness toward government spread to the Indian, Chinese and the intellectuals as well.

Violence that the world is witnessing in Burma has historical significance and it is necessary for all including international actors to see the causes of it and the reasons for hope.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners of Burma 's November 2004 publication called 'A Land Where Buddhist Monks Are Disrobed and Detained in Dungeons" underscores the profound sacrifices made by the monks in Burma now, and in the past.

While Burma has been hobbling along with untold grievances in everyone's heart, the monks have always occupied a sacred place in people's mind irrespective of race or religion.

Last week's spectacular show, first of patriotism and piety and of generosity by the monks made most Burmese realized what they never did before, the possibility of common trust among themselves through the peaceful monks.

Kang Zhengguo an exiled classical Chinese scholar wrote in his memoir, "Confessions," that People exist in isolated worlds, and it is impossible to suffer in another person's place. Even when someone is dying, life goes on for the rest of us. Joseph Conrad the son of another poet dissident from Poland also wrote that, "It is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence that makes 'its truth' 'its meaning' 'its subtle and penetrating essence'. We live, as we dream alone."

But something that took place in Burma last week indicated that while we may still dream at night 'alone' we are no longer 'alone' as we live because of the internet age.

As their voices have been heard and their faces have been seen Aung San Suu
Kyi and the people of Burma will no longer be alone. Avaaz.org , whose mission is to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decisions will make sure that Burmese people will have a voice over their own fate from now on.

As of today over half a million people have already signed their names on www.avaaz.org to empower the people in Burma. Avaaz.org . aims to stop China, from shielding Myanmar military from United Nations Security Council action and, from continuing economic and military support for the brutal military.

According to Asian Human Rights Commission the numbers of persons and Buddhist monks and nuns who have been taken into custody in Burma during recent days remains unknown. This is largely because none of them have been taken in accordance with any law. There has not even been the pretence of law as normally exists in Burma .

The people around the world are trying to do what their governments and the United Nations Security Council have failed to do; to stop the military from killing and torturing hundreds of monks and innocent people in Burma. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, asks, "Now the concern is for this deafening silence. Where are the demonstrators? Where are the monks? Where are the people who were wounded and taken away? Where are those who've been arrested?"

Amnesty International said that since 1988, China has supplied the army in Myanmar with a wide range of military equipment, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery pieces such as howitzers, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns and jet aircraft according to published sources. China has not regularly reported its arms transfers to the United Nations.

Amnesty International is urging the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Myanmar, as accounts mount of killings, serious injuries and mass detentions of peaceful protestors by the Myanmar authorities.

Amnesty International is also calling on the principal suppliers of arms to Myanmar, in particular China and India, in addition to Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and ASEAN nations, to prohibit the involvement of their agencies, companies and nationals in the direct and indirect supply of military and security equipment, munitions and expertise, including transfers claimed to be 'non-lethal', to Myanmar.

"An unambiguous message must be sent urgently to Myanmar military leaders that their brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors will not be tolerated or fuelled by any member of the international community," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Up until now, the Burmese military, with its privileges and its history of atrocity, has everything to lose from more openness and transparency and nothing to gain. Foreign-based opposition groups like to talk about "dialogue" and "national reconciliation," but these buzzwords have little relevance inside Burma, where the military talks to no one but itself said Bertil Lintner.

International Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Guy Ryder said that no company can claim to have clean hands if it is doing business in or with Burma, since the Generals take their cut out of every deal. The case for full and effective sanctions is now absolutely compelling, and any company which does not withdraw voluntarily must be made to do so by governments and international and regional organizations including the United Nations and the European Union.

Unnamed reporters from Burma wrote that enormous Chinese businesses have in effect colonized the property markets in Burma's cities, stripped the forests, excavated the gems, hauled off the minerals and built roads, ports and airstrips to serve China's hunger for resources and commerce. They sell the weapons, organize the trade and provide the credit lines that keep the generals in business and the Chinese have become the new masters of Burma. Not much different from the western colonial power as described by Joseph Conrad was China's desire that-- tear treasure out of the bowels of the land, with no more moral purpose at the back of it then there is in burglars breaking into a safe.

Bertil Lintner said that new Chinese migrants stand out more in their new environment in Burma and it has caused an overall backlash against all Chinese.

Kang Zhengguo who has the last word on China said that Chinese Communists (with Myanmar military) will never stifle the internet. Its magic is more powerful than theirs.

In China's Space Odyssey, Bates Gill and Martin Kleiber said that China today matters more than ever, and disruptions emanating from it, a provocative military act, the emergence of a deadly disease, toxic environmental disasters, unsafe business practices have far more potential than before to have unforeseen strategic repercussions well beyond the country's borders.

On 25 September 2007, All Burma Monks Alliance and the '88 Generation Students had welcomed a national reconciliation with the army participation, but since the government's killing of ordinary citizens, have formed a more comprehensive Mass Movement Committee and Anti-Violence Committee underground, and this time calling for a total regime change.

And all Burmese people inside and outside of the country are finally rallying to Aung San Suu Kyi's cry. She said that since we all live in a prison state, the only difference is whether we live in a larger prison or smaller one. ASSK has said that the terrible living conditions in Burma render life not worth living. She said that since we have already paid such a high price for democracy in Burma we have no other choice but to forge ahead, at all cost.

Extraordinarily, even as military junta is looking to shed more blood, the people in Burma with their bare fists are still fighting for their freedom, but this time they are all in it together.

They just need China to get out of their way. And without a doubt, their lives are worth far more than the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.


NEWS IN BURMESE

Today Rangoon situation
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/breaking_news.php

Counter-protest in Shwe Bo
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=650&cat=7011

 
Myintkyina University closed
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=649&cat=7011

NLD members arrested in Shwe Bo
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=648&cat=7011

People forced to attend rallies in central Burma in support of NC
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/detail.php?news_id=647&cat=7011

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