Activists inside Celebrated HR Day & UN Passed New Targeted Sanction!

Under the watchful eyes of the authorities, Burmese activists inside Burma yesterday took a few public actions celebrating the international human rights day and showing their commitment and spirit for the freedom for people of Burma.

1) A group of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) held a human rights day commemoration on Dec 10 in Rangoon at the residence of the group's leader Myint Aye, who was released from detention on 13 Nov after being detained in late August 2007. The event was attended by over 90 people, including members of HRDP and NLD and their supporters, as well as about 5 spies sent by the Burmese junta. Two riot police trucks and some security people were deployed outside the residence, but the event ended without any disturbance.

2) On the same day, a new activists group called "Generation Wave" took to the streets since 8 am in the morning yesterday and distributed piles of small leaflets in three different public areas in Rangoon where the authorities carried out bloody massacres on September 26 and 27.

3) Meanwhile, remaining members of the ‘88 Generation Students group and All Burma Federation of Students Union (ABFSU) from their hiding places issued statements in which they provided email addresses to Burmese citizens where they could send in their complaints of rights violations which will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. They also urged the international community to act on the situation in Burma and use all leverages to influence or force the Burmese junta to move forward for positive changes in the country.

Yesterday on Dec 11, the UN Human Rights Council heard the report on the Burmese regime’s crackdown on the September demonstrations, which was written by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Professor Pinheiro, who visited Burma from November 11 to 15. The 77-page report is the fullest account of the crackdowns on August-September uprising, and challenges many of the regime’s central statements on the events, reported by Irrawaddy.

Pinheiro said his inquiries convinced him that at least 31 people died in the crackdown, three times the official death toll. He said the authorities confirmed to him that 15 people had died while he found evidence of a further 16 deaths. However, he noted that the state-run media stuck to a death toll of 10.

In a reply to Pinheiro’s report, the junta stuck by its official death toll of 10, and challenges many of the envoy’s findings, declaring they “would only serve to damage the image and cooperation of the government of Myanmar,” and accused that Pinheiro’s report lacked “credibility and authenticity,” as it was based on “the distorted information received from unreliable sources.”

Accounting for the discrepancy in the death tolls, the report cites "very disturbing" accounts of a large number of bodies, including monks, wrapped in plastic and rice bags, burned at a Rangoon crematorium during the nights of September 27-30, suggesting the authorities were trying to hide the true number of those killed.

The report also cites at least 74 cases of "enforced disappearance," where authorities are either unable or unwilling to account for the whereabouts of individuals and up to 4,000 people were arrested, compared to the official count of 2,927, while between 500 and 1,000 were "still detained at the time of writing," including 106 women, of whom six were Buddhist nuns. It also lists that the authorities used live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, smoke grenades, wooden sticks, rubber batons and slingshots in the crackdowns.

Mr. Pinheiro urged the regime to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the killings, severe beatings, hostage taking, torture and disappearances and recommended it to invite an international commission of inquiry or fact-finding mission to conduct a more comprehensive inquiry and he called for the release of all political detainees, an amnesty for those already sentenced and for charges to be dropped against those still awaiting trial.

In its response, the regime said it’s not necessary to invite an international commission of inquiry or fact-finding mission to Burma as the matter is solely within Burma’s domestic jurisdiction and said an “investigation body” was established on October 31 to look into offences against fundamental human rights during the September demonstrations (Irrawaddy).

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I. Burmese Democracy Movement’s Response:

A five-member delegation of Burmese leaders from the exiled democracy movement, representing a variety of ethnicities and including exiled leaders from the National League for Democracy, is in the US to seek more support and to counter the junta’s propaganda that only the military can keep the country united.

As some of you might have heard of, there has been this speculation of “Balkanization scenario” spreading among the international policy makers that Burma would get into a civil war if there is a power vacuum and the regime is removed from the power equation. That the pro-democracy leaders would not be able to keep the nation united and that Burma would disintegrate into various ethnic regions once the present regime lost power.

This delegation in responding to these charges, stated that it was, in fact, the military junta which was following a policy of “divide and destroy the country on ethnic grounds.”

Referring to the SPDC’s propaganda that without the regime the ethnic communities would seek independence, Rimond Htoo, representing the ethnic Karenni community, affirmed that the Karenni originally wanted independence from Burma, but it is not the case now and that ethnic communities are not trying to cause the country to disintegrate as is being propagated by the military junta. He said the ethnic communities first took up arms for protection against the junta which had unleashed a reign of terror and that the policy of the Ethnic Nationality Council (ENC) is to remove the regime and establish a genuine democracy in the country, and said Karenni ethnic community will work together to achieve federal democracy.

Representing the Arakan Liberation Party, Khaing Soe Naing Aung listed various agreements reached by the ethnic communities for a united and federal Burma and said, “We want a democratic federal system and we are all working towards this,” reported by Irrawaddy.

II. SPDC’s Response:

1) USDA Summoned to Prepare for More Uprising (Dec 11): Leaders of the Union Solitary and Development Association (USDA), the militia wing of the Burmese regime which carried out violent attacks and crackdowns on demonstrators, have been told by officials of the Rangoon Regional Command and Ministry of Home Affairs to be prepared for more pro-democracy uprisings, reported by Irrawaddy.

Meanwhile, only about 10 percent of the usual number of monks registered for the official annual examinations held by the state, a sign of the havoc and ill-will that now exists between the Sangha and the junta. The Alliance of All Burmese Monks, the underground network that led the September demonstrations, called on monks to boycott the examinations to show the opposition to the military government.

2) Army Prepared for Dry Season Offensive against Karen People (Dec 11): Burma Army is destroying paddy fields and food stores in a dry season offensive against Karen National Union (KNU) and villagers living in Karen State and Pegu Division, according to Karen sources in a bid to cut off the villagers’ food supplies and to force villagers to move into the army-designated relocation sites to control them, but the villagers are refusing to move because they believe the army will use them as forced labor.

Dry season is the time when Karen villagers collect their paddy and store it until the following year. However it coincides with the reinforcement of Burmese troops for the military’s annual ground offensive against the Karen National Union.

Some villagers sneak off to the jungle and grow paddy and stock food in secret locations; however, if the soldiers find the food stores they destroy them, prevent the villagers from buying food and pressure them to move into the designated sites. Now it’s very difficult for the villagers to find food.

The Free Burma Rangers relief team reported on November 22 that since the army commenced operations to relocate villagers in 2006 the Burmese troops had killed more than 370 villagers, including women and children. Over 30,000 people have been displaced, most of whom are hiding in the jungle.

According to a KNU statement released yesterday, the Burmese junta has positioned 83 new battalions in the KNU areas. There is now a total of 187 battalions of Burmese soldiers ready to step up offensive operations which comes with the dry season and brings more suffering to the local ethnic populations.

III. .International Responses:

1) UNSG said World’s Patience Running Out (Dec 11): The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a news conference in Bangkok yesterday that the international community is running out of patience and that the junta must embrace democracy and stop inflicting suffering on its own people.

The UN Chief emphasized that the return to status quo is not acceptable, and is politically unsustainable and reiterated the UN's call for the junta to hold reconciliation talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He also appealed to the Asean to play a key role in coaxing toward democratic reforms, saying that ASEAN has a special political responsibility in promoting further democratization."

The SG arrived in Thailand yesterday on a week-long sojourn in Southeast Asia as the official purpose of his visit to the region is to attend the Conference on Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia, and he is expected to highlight the issue of Burma during his bilateral meetings and his public appearances. At the end of this trip on Dec 15, the Secretary General will fly to Japan for a meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister.

Coalition of Thai and Burmese activists petitioned to the Secretary General and also held a rally and chanted slogans outside the UN regional office before the arrival of Secretary General in Bangkok yesterday.

2) US Congress Approves the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007 (Dec 11): The US House of Representatives on Dec 11 unanimously passed tough legislation authored by Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to squeeze the Burmese regime. The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act (H.R. 3890) will block the importation of blood rubies from Burma into the United States and prevent American taxpayer money from subsidizing business activities in Burma by U.S. companies – most notably, Chevron.

H.R. 3890 will halt the Burmese practice of avoiding U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones through third countries before they are sold here. The bill bans the importation of Burmese jade and rubies into the United States, freezes the assets of Burmese political and military leaders, prevents Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder the funds of those leaders or their immediate families, and prohibits Burmese officials involved in the violent suppression of protesters from receiving visas to the United States. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved the legislation in October.

By blocking the import of Burmese gems into the United States and expanding financial sanctions, the legislation will take hundreds of millions out of the pockets of the regime each year. The measure is supported by the 11,000-store Jewelers of America, and major retailers such as Tiffany's and Bulgari have voluntarily implemented a ban on Burmese gems. It will also cut off tax deductions for Chevron's major gas investment in Burma, closing a large loophole and increasing pressure on America's allies to demand that firms based within their borders also divest themselves of Burma holdings.

3) First Lady’s Call on the Junta (Dec 10): The First Lady Laura Bush yesterday called on the Burmese junta to step aside if it cannot help bring about a democratic transition in Burma and said the international community must do more to bring about change in Burma.

The first lady held a video teleconference connecting the White House with officials at two locations in Thailand and spoke with Dr. Cynthia Maung, the founder of a medical clinic on the border of Thailand and Burma, and the US Ambassador in Bangkok. Dr. Cynthia Maung also expressed concern and discussed with the First Lady on the situation of refugee from Burma in Thai Burma border, the condition of children and landmine victims.

4) Child Protection for Burma by UN WG (Dec 10): The UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict will soon recommend measures to protect children affected by armed conflicts in Burma and Burundi. The set of recommendations by the working group, expected to be submitted soon to the Security Council, follows a detailed discussion on the situation of children in Burma and Burundi last week.

The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, expressed concern over the use of child soldiers in Burma and Burundi, despite repeated appeals made by the international community including the United Nations. Coomaraswamy, who visited Burma earlier this year, said the efforts of the Working Group and the monitoring and reporting mechanism established by the council had led to commitments by some parties to stop the recruitment and use of children in Burma.

5) UN Budget for Special Envoy Approved (Dec 10): The budget of about $865,000 to begin January 1, 2008 was approved by the General Assembly last week, following a proposal made by the UN Secretary-General, for his Special Envoy on Burma, Mr. Gambari, to continue working toward democracy building between the military junta and pro-democracy leaders and monitoring of the situation in the country.

The resolution, passed by the UNGA last month, expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Burma, called on secretary-general to pursue his discussions on human rights and the restoration of democracy in Burma.

6) Canada’s Miss Universe 2005 not visiting to Burma (Dec 11): Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova is not visiting to Burma, confirmed by New York-based Miss Universe Organization (MUO) saying that “The press has been misinformed.” The article "Miss Universe Coming to Burma" appeared last week on Burmese version of ‘Myanmar Time’ weekly journal in Burma, quoting a source from a sponsored company that is holding the third beauty contest known as “Ancient Beauty” on Dec. 16 and 17, 2007. The news raised a wave of concerns in Canada, as she is a Canadian and was also crowned with Miss Canada 2005. Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) issued an action alert on this matter on Dec. 7 and contacted Miss Universe Canada and Miss Universe Organization; a number of public messages poured in, expressing concerns on her reported role in the contest.