FTUB Daily News for Nov-14-2011, English News - Evening

News Headlines with Brief (1) Suu Kyi says 1990 election win ‘history’ | Source: DVB 14-Nov-2011 Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the media today in a frenetic press conference at the National League for Democracy’s headquarters in Rangoon to mark a year since her release from house arrest. In her opening remarks she said that the rule of law was the most crucial challenge for democratisation in Burma, but closed with comments signalling that the party will put the disregarded 1990 election win behind them as a they forge a new path. Read More..... (2) Bomber kills Kachin orphans, refugees | Source: DVB 14-Nov-2011 At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after a bomber targeted a row of houses in the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina yesterday that were used as shelters for orphaned children. Local officials said that the blast had also killed the man thought to have been behind the attack, which occurred Sunday evening and left 25 more injured. The motive is unknown. Read More..... (3) Nine die in Mandalay bus crash | Source: DVB 14-Nov-2011 Nine people were killed and 27 injured when an express bus travelling from Rangoon to Mandalay crashed in the early hours of Sunday. The accident happened around 10 kilometres from Mandalay town. Locals believe the driver, from New Mandalar Htun bus company, had fallen asleep at the wheel. Read More..... (4) Asean Urged to Put Burma Abuses on Agenda | Source: Irrawaddy 14-Nov-2011 Ahead of the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Bali, parliamentarians of member states have called on bloc leaders to include human rights abuses and ethnic conflict in Burma on its agenda. Parliamentarians who form the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) called on Monday for Asean delegates to urgently address concerns regarding democratic reform, ethnic conflict and human rights abuses in Burma at the upcoming 19th Asean Summit in Indonesia. Read More..... (5) Mon Leaders Meet With NMSP | Source: Irrawaddy 14-Nov-2011 Five Mon community leaders met with leaders of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic armed group, at the NMSP headquarters in the town of Bee Ree River in Ye Township, Mon State on November 13, according to Mon sources. The five community leaders were sent by Ohn Myint, the chief minister of Mon State, who wrote a letter to the NMSP outlining the issues he wanted discussed. Read More..... (6) Despite Disagreement, NLD Stalwart Stands Behind Suu Kyi | Source: Irrawaddy 14-Nov-2011 Win Tin, one of the most influential members of Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has vowed to throw his support behind party leader Aung San Suu Kyi when the NLD makes a decision later this week about whether to run in upcoming by-elections. “I am for the re-registration of our party, but I would say it's too early for us to participate in the formal political framework under a military constitution,” said 82-year-old Win Tin, who was one of the co-founders of the NLD along with Suu Kyi. Read More..... (7) Grenade attack on orphanage in Kachin kills 10, wounds 27 | Source: Mizzima 14-Nov-2011 A hand grenade thrown into an orphanage in Myitkyina in the north of Burma killed 10 people and seriously injured 27 on Sunday evening, according to residents. At around 9 p.m., two people riding a motorcycle threw a parcel that contained a grenade into an orphanage owned by Dayaung Tangoon near the AG Church in Thida Ward in the capital of Kachin State. Ten people including Dayaung Tangoon’s teenage son, Sai Kwan, one daughter and a 1-year-old grandchild were killed by the explosion. Read More..... (8) KNU appoints new peace negotiation team to meet with government | Source: Mizzima 14-Nov-2011 A seven-member, high-level delegation of the Karen National Union will talk about a cease-fire and peace with the government, said KNU sources. The KNU held an emergency conference and formed a new negotiation team last week consisting of Vice Chairman Padoh David Tharkabaw, General-Secretary Naw Ziporah Sein, Commander in Chief Colonel Mutu Saepho, In-charge of Justice Department Padoh David Taw, Saw Roger Khin of the health department, Padoh Arh Toe of the forestry department and Pa-an district chairman Padoh Aung Maw Aye. Read More..... (9) Sino border town under curfew | Source: Shan 14-Nov-2011 Namkham, one of Shan State's northernmost townships bordering China, has been under virtual curfew after a bomb explosion occurred near the police station last week, killing one police officer and injuring four, according to sources from the border. It was announced through loudspeakers by headmen of the villages and quarters that no one was allowed to be outside after 21:00 until 6:00 (local time). Otherwise authorities will not take responsibility for anyone caught outside after the curfew. It was reportedly enforced by high ranking officials from Naypyitaw. But there has been no information how long the curfew will last, said a local source. Read More..... Suu Kyi says 1990 election win ‘history’ http://www.dvb.no/news/suu-kyi-says-1990-election-win-%E2%80%98history%E2%80%99/18716 14-Nov-2011 Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the media today in a frenetic press conference at the National League for Democracy’s headquarters in Rangoon to mark a year since her release from house arrest. In her opening remarks she said that the rule of law was the most crucial challenge for democratisation in Burma, but closed with comments signalling that the party will put the disregarded 1990 election win behind them as a they forge a new path. The 66-year-old described the year since her release as “eventful, energising and encouraging,” before adding that the “door to democracy in the country is not open until we have the rule of law”, which is the most ”important” issue. Her party needs to have “faith and [be] daring” as they move forward. “We are looking for the opening to the road democracy. We have not come to the end of our road,” she said, before adding that “there is never an end to political endeavour.” The Nobel laureate refused to answer questions on the party’s registration, but did confirm that the party would vote on the issue on 18 November. The NLD is expected to register as a political party after registration and electoral laws were amended in favour of their ostensible role in parliament. She hinted that the NLD had requested such amendments to the government. She continued that without the rule of law, “we can’t guarantee that there won’t be political prisoners in the future”. Touching on the NLD’s figure for political prisoners, which she described as a “controversial” issue, Suu Kyi claimed that there are only 525 jailed activists. Groups such as the exiled Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma (AAPPB) asserts a higher figure of around 1,700. The government had their “own list,” Suu Kyi said, despite them not publicly acknowledging the existence of political prisoners. The government claims instead that only “common criminals” are behind bars. Party spokesperson Nyan Win stated that the NLD believed that around 100 of their members were behind bars. During the year since her release, Suu Kyi had attempted to build a “network of democracy” with a variety of social services. She added that some 18 free schools for the most deprived had been developed, which she believed were well received by parents and pupils alike. The Nobel laureate said that she and her party remained “very concerned” about the situation in the ethnic areas, particularly in Kachin state. She said her offer to mediate peace talks between ethnic armed groups and the government still stood, as it has since her release. When asked by DVB, Suu Kyi refused to be drawn on issue of whether she supported a commission of inquiry into such matters, instead delegating responsibility to the UN’s special rapporteur for human rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana. “It is the responsibility of Mr Quintana, and we believe he should be given every assistance necessary to carry out his duties. If he believes the commission of inquiry is necessary then we should back him up.” In the past the lawyer has voiced support for the inquiry, but more recently has welcomed legislative reforms in Naypyidaw. Suu Kyi added however that any commission of inquiry was not a “tribunal”; rather it would be a “fact-finding mission”. Answering questions from Chinese journalists, she said that the two neighbours should look for “harmony”, as they had done for time immemorial, but asked China to consider the interests of Burma’s people. Marking something of a break with the past, Suu Kyi stated that the party should also accept that the 1990 election results were “history” – this after the speaker of the National Parliament, Khin Aung Myint, said that he “recognised the result”. This had been one of the party’s demands in their 2009 Shwegondaing proclamation, which set out the conditions for their re-entry into parliamentary politics. Bomber kills Kachin orphans, refugees http://www.dvb.no/news/bomber-kills-kachin-orphans-refugees/18693 14-Nov-2011 At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after a bomber targeted a row of houses in the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina yesterday that were used as shelters for orphaned children. Local officials said that the blast had also killed the man thought to have been behind the attack, which occurred Sunday evening and left 25 more injured. The motive is unknown. A member of staff at Myitkyina hospital told DVB that 10 bodies were brought in. The incident came the day after a series of blasts rocked three sites in the town, although no casualties were reported from these. Two women are believed to have been among the dead on Sunday, the majority of whom were children. The house had belonged to martial arts instructor Deyawng Tangwe, who used his house and two others next door as shelters for orphans and refugees who had fled fighting in Kachin state. A doctor on duty at Myitkyina hospital said it had received three bodies yesterday evening but refused to comment further. On Thursday evening a bomber struck a police station in the Shan state town of Namkham, killing a deputy commander and injuring three more, including two civilians. “A man came on a motorbike and dropped a bag outside our station around 8:40pm,” an officer at the station told DVB. “Some people saw that and informed the station so our supervisor [Zaw Htoo Gun Seng] went out to check it and the bomb exploded before he got to it.” He said that although darkness prevented police from chasing the culprit, “one thing for sure is that the attack was definitely carried out by an insurgent group”. No one has so far claimed responsibility. The injured three were initially taken to Namhkam Hospital, but a coordinator there said they would be transferred on account of the seriousness of their wounds. Houses near the police station were also damaged by the explosion, which officials believed was detonated by a remote device. The bomb was homemade, they said. Namhkam township has been in the midst of fighting between Kachin Independence Army, which has forces in northern Shan state, and Burmese troops. Police speculated that the attack could be related to the fighting. Nine die in Mandalay bus crash http://www.dvb.no/news/nine-die-in-mandalay-bus-crash/18688 14-Nov-2011 Nine people were killed and 27 injured when an express bus travelling from Rangoon to Mandalay crashed in the early hours of Sunday. The accident happened around 10 kilometres from Mandalay town. Locals believe the driver, from New Mandalar Htun bus company, had fallen asleep at the wheel. According to a local news reporter, an eight-year-old girl was among those killed, while an official at Mandalay General Hospital told DVB that the 27 injured had been taken there for treatment. Police in Mandalay, who are preparing to charge the driver, confirmed that nine people were killed. “We still don’t know full details of the incident yet, although we learnt that the bus was going over the speed limit,” said a police official. Asean Urged to Put Burma Abuses on Agenda http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22449 14-Nov-2011 Ahead of the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Bali, parliamentarians of member states have called on bloc leaders to include human rights abuses and ethnic conflict in Burma on its agenda. Parliamentarians who form the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) called on Monday for Asean delegates to urgently address concerns regarding democratic reform, ethnic conflict and human rights abuses in Burma at the upcoming 19th Asean Summit in Indonesia. Speaking with The Irrawaddy on Monday, AIPMC Executive Director Agung Putri Astrid said that the slow process of democratic reform in Burma should be seriously considered during the summit. “Political reform is very slow in Burma. We don’t see comprehensive reform and are concerned with the process. So Asean is responsible for monitoring human rights abuses in Myanmar,” she added. While Naypyidaw claims that it wants to talk to opposition leaders and achieve national reconciliation, little effort has been made to involve ethnic minorities. Agung Putri Astrid said that AIPMC was trying to remind Asean leaders to include peace in Burma on the summit agenda as the bloc has not so far approached Burma’s ethnic issues. A statement from AIPMC said the association welcomed recent changes in Burma, but remains concerned about ongoing military conflicts with ethnic groups and the relatively slow pace of political reform. It is vital, therefore, that delegates from members states ensure these issues are officially placed on the agenda at the 2011 Asean Summit. Despite recent limited improvements, Burma President Thein Sein has demonstrated a lack of willingness to undertake genuine reforms, such as releasing political prisoners or ending armed conflict with ethnic groups, said the statement. A recent survey by the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) humanitarian agency found that more people in southeast Burma had been forcibly displaced from their homes during the past year than any other since data was first collected in 2002. In relation to human rights protection, the AIPMC asked that Asean be firm and resolute in calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Burma, especially in ethnic areas. In Karen, Kachin and Shan states, there remain grave concerns that war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to be perpetrated, as mentioned in the recent report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana. Burma is hoping to get approved for the 2014 Asean chair at the Bali summit with recent limited reforms understood to have been undertaken in order to achieve this goal. Eva Kusuma Sundari, the AIPMC president and a member of the Indonesian Parliament, said in the group statement, “Gross human rights violations against ordinary people in ethnic areas continue despite lip service towards reform from Naypyidaw.” “If anything, life under this regime is worse for many ethnic minorities and vulnerable people than it was before,” he added. Projects such as the Yadana and Shwe Gas pipelines, undertaken by the government of Burma and fiscally supported by other states including China, have led to serious environmental concerns and human rights violations. These include land confiscations, displacement, torture, rape and other forms of systematic violence. An estimated 50,000 people have been displaced due to the Shwe Gas pipeline project, according to the Shwe Gas Movement campaign group. “Reconciliation is a prerequisite of any political initiative for peace in Myanmar and should serve as a critical indicator of how meaningful any democratization process is,” Sundari added. Mon Leaders Meet With NMSP http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22451 14-Nov-2011 Five Mon community leaders met with leaders of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic armed group, at the NMSP headquarters in the town of Bee Ree River in Ye Township, Mon State on November 13, according to Mon sources. The five community leaders were sent by Ohn Myint, the chief minister of Mon State, who wrote a letter to the NMSP outlining the issues he wanted discussed. The members of the Mon community delegation were former NMSP executive and central committee members Nai Tin Aung and Nai Soe Myint, Mon National Democratic Front members Nai Thet Lwin and Dr. Min Kyi Winn, and a respected Mon Buddhist Monk, Nai Ketumalar. “Ohn Myint wants to have peace talks with the NMSP, so we came here to discuss it,” said Nai Ketumalar. “We still have a little more to talk about today. The NMSP have not made a decision. They say they are going to observe the situation more.” “Our party will accept peace talks if the offer meets our party’s position,” said Col Nyan Tun, the NMSP deputy liaison officer. Some Mon community leaders said that the NMSP should enter into peace talks in order to prepare for its participation in mainstream Mon politics if Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy decide to register and compete in future elections. Dr. Min Soe Lin, who is a senior member of Mon National Democratic Front, said, “I do not want to tell them not to have peace talks because I think they know the problem they will have. But I want to tell them to do something when they come to town. Please do not act like in the past, when many of their members resigned from the party.” On Oct. 6, three NMSP leaders met with a delegation from the Mon State government in Ye Township that was led by Col Htay Myint Aung, the Mon State minister for security and border affairs. The NMSP entered into a ceasefire agreement with the government in 1995, but the ceasefire collapse in 2010 when the government attempted to force the NMSP to become part of its Border Guard Force under Burmese military control. Meanwhile, on Nov. 10, the Karen National Union set up an eight-member peace commission to hold talks with the Burmese government. Despite Disagreement, NLD Stalwart Stands Behind Suu Kyi http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22452 14-Nov-2011 Win Tin, one of the most influential members of Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has vowed to throw his support behind party leader Aung San Suu Kyi when the NLD makes a decision later this week about whether to run in upcoming by-elections. “I am for the re-registration of our party, but I would say it's too early for us to participate in the formal political framework under a military constitution,” said 82-year-old Win Tin, who was one of the co-founders of the NLD along with Suu Kyi. His comments came a day after NLD spokesman Nyan Win broke the news on Sunday that the party, which was officially disbanded in September 2010 because of its boycott of last year's election, might re-register under a recently amended electoral law. He also said it was likely that Suu Kyi, who was previously barred from running for office, would contest one of around 50 Parliamentary seats up for grabs in a by-election expected to be held later this month. Since his release from prison in 2009 after more than 19 years behind bars as a political prisoner, Win Tin has played a key role in the NLD's affairs, including its decision to boycott the Nov 7, 2010, Parliamentary election, which were held a week before Suu Kyi herself was released from house arrest. “The reasons why we boycotted the election last year is because we don't accept the current constitution drafted by the military. There is no change in this constitution yet,” Win Tin told The Irrawaddy by phone on Monday. In contrast to Win Tin's views, however, Suu Kyi appears to be be more optimistic about Burma's political direction under the new government of ex-army general President Thein Sein, who she described as “honest, open and straightforward” after a meeting with him in August. The NLD announced on Tuesday that it will hold a major party conference on Friday this week to decide whether to re-register as a political party and contest seats in the national Parliament, which is dominated by the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. The USDP claims to have won around 80 percent of the contested seats in the election, which was marred by heavy vote-rigging. Speaking to Burmese exiled radio stations on Sunday, NLD spokesman Nyan Win hinted that the majority of party leaders, including Suu Kyi, have already reached a decision ahead of Friday's meeting. “Those who oppose the NLD re-registering and joining the Parliament point out that the Constitution must change first before we do that. If it is the government and the Parliament that can change the Constitution, then do we have to wait for them to take these steps? Do we have to wait until they do that before we can do politics? We have to be in the Parliament,” said Nyan Win. Nyan Win acknowledged, however, that some grassroots party members are opposed to the move, which they said should not be taken until all political prisoners are released and major amendments are made to the Constitution, which grants the army the power to legally end civilian rule “in times of national emergency.” Despite such internal differences, however, Win Tin—who has worn shirts the same blue color as his former prison uniform since his release to protest the continuing detention of around 2,000 other political prisoners—said his faith in Suu Kyi's leadership remained strong, and that he would respect the majority decision of the party, which is now leaning toward party registration and joining the formal political process. “We have differences that we share with each other openly and democratically. But we will work with the unity of the party in mind. As for me, I am too old and don't have any thought about joining the election,” he said. Win Tin's remarks contradict a report in the Guardian newspaper published on Sunday that he opposed both the party registration and joining the by-elections. Grenade attack on orphanage in Kachin kills 10, wounds 27 http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/6178-grenade-attack-on-orphanage-in-kachin-kills-10-wounds-27.html Monday, 14 November 2011 15:44 Phanida Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A hand grenade thrown into an orphanage in Myitkyina in the north of Burma killed 10 people and seriously injured 27 on Sunday evening, according to residents. At around 9 p.m., two people riding a motorcycle threw a parcel that contained a grenade into an orphanage owned by Dayaung Tangoon near the AG Church in Thida Ward in the capital of Kachin State. Ten people including Dayaung Tangoon’s teenage son, Sai Kwan, one daughter and a 1-year-old grandchild were killed by the explosion. Three buildings including the orphanage burned after the attack. Residents said they have no idea who was responsible for the bombing. “At the back of Dayaung Tangoon’s orphanage, there is a path. Residents said that two people riding a motorcycle threw a parcel into the orphanage compound and shortly after that they heard the sound of the blast,” a neighbour said. Dayaung Tangoon, a member of Myanmar Martial Art Federation, was traveling when the bombing occurred. More than 30 people including orphans, refugee children and martial arts students lived in the compound. Some of the injured underwent surgery at the local hospital. Increased police patrols have basically shut down the city after 7 p.m. Residents said a series of earlier bomb explosions were probably intended as threats because they occurred in npopulated areas. The state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported on Monday that two bomb blasts hit Myitkyina on Sunday evening, and authorities successfully removed one time bomb. The newspaper said that an explosion occurred near the Sports and Physical Education Department Office in Thida Ward at 9.55 p.m., leaving a deep hole marking the explosion. Another blast followed at 10.15 p.m. near Sumprabum Road and Sethmu junction in Tatkon Ward. There were no casualties, said the newspaper. The newspaper also reported a time bomb was disabled: “Acting on a tip-off that a suspicious package was found near a lamppost by Aung San Road in Ayeya Ward in Myitkyina, authorities removed a time bomb in a plastic box with a diameter of 3 X 2 inches filled with TNT gunpowder set to detonate at 9 p.m.” On Monday, Kachin State Chief Minister La John Ngan Hsai visited the injured at Myitkyina Hospital. The Kachin Independence Organization and government troops have been fighting about 10 miles away from Myitkyina. KNU appoints new peace negotiation team to meet with government http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/6176-knu-appoints-new-peace-negotiation-team-to-meet-with-government.html Monday, 14 November 2011 12:55 Phanida Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A seven-member, high-level delegation of the Karen National Union will talk about a cease-fire and peace with the government, said KNU sources. The KNU held an emergency conference and formed a new negotiation team last week consisting of Vice Chairman Padoh David Tharkabaw, General-Secretary Naw Ziporah Sein, Commander in Chief Colonel Mutu Saepho, In-charge of Justice Department Padoh David Taw, Saw Roger Khin of the health department, Padoh Arh Toe of the forestry department and Pa-an district chairman Padoh Aung Maw Aye. The KNU has fought against the central government for more than six decades, calling for greater autonomy and equality. Some KNU leaders met with a government delegation recently. No agreement, however, was reached. After the meetings with the government delegates, the KNU held an emergency conference with its top 50 political and military leaders land appointed the new team. The Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA), which broke away from the KNU, has recently signed a peace agreement. In 1994, it had a cease-fire with the Burmese military regime, but it resumed fighting after it was pressured in 2010 to transform into a Border Guard Force (BGF) under the command of the Burmese army. The breakaway group leader Saw Lar Pwe met with local villagers to explain the new cease-fire agreement to about 70 local delegates from 37 villages in their control area. A villager said: “The government will provide us with some developmental projects such as building roads, bridges and infrastructure. The villagers have endorsed the cease-fire agreement.” The villagers said they wanted education projects. He said DKBA head Saw Lar Pwe (Col. Whiskers), deputy-chief of the DKBA forces Saw Mu Shay, chief of staff Major Saw Sein Myint and Quartermaster General Bo Steel participated at the public gathering. Maj. Saw San Aung said: “We have to make proposals. The talk isn’t a one-stop solution. We will propose developmental projects. We need clinics, schools, bridges.” The DKBA signed a new cease-fire agreement with the government on November 3, after their second meeting. U Thein Zaw, secretary-2 of USDP, and the chairman of the Lower House ethnic affairs and peace committee, Captain Maung Maung Thein, represented the central government. The agreement includes ending hostilities, opening a DKBA liaison office in the border town of Myawaddy, demarcating control areas of the forces, to inform the other side if forces travel outside of their areas and to proceed with further talks. Sino border town under curfew http://www.shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4201:sino-border-town-under-curfew&catid=86:war&Itemid=284 Monday, 14 November 2011 16:42 Hseng Khio Fah Namkham, one of Shan State's northernmost townships bordering China, has been under virtual curfew after a bomb explosion occurred near the police station last week, killing one police officer and injuring four, according to sources from the border. It was announced through loudspeakers by headmen of the villages and quarters that no one was allowed to be outside after 21:00 until 6:00 (local time). Otherwise authorities will not take responsibility for anyone caught outside after the curfew. It was reportedly enforced by high ranking officials from Naypyitaw. But there has been no information how long the curfew will last, said a local source. Meanwhile, the township is one of the places where the Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fighting taking place. As a result, any civilian seen outside after the curfew is reportedly being recruited by the Burmese Army to give porter service, she said. “The outcome is no one even the animals are seen hanging out on the street even though the time is not yet 9 p.m. The town is so quiet now. It is therefore a problem for traders and vendors who want customers,” she said. Last Thursday on 10 November, a bomb explosion took place in front of the town’s police station, killing one police officer Zau Htu Khawng Zang and seriously wounding two police corporals and two civilians. One female student caught taking photographs of the carnage was detained and later released after village authorities spoke for him, according to another source. Since security in the town has tightened and everyone crossing and passing the police station is strictly checked and asked to show ID cards by Burma Army authorities, according to local sources. Apart from townships in Shan State, many areas in Kachin State even the capital of the state Myitkyina faced similar situation. Latest report says a bom blast had taken place in Myitkyina downtown last night at around 20:00 killing at least four people and wounding dozens.