Weekly Diary, No. 259 (21 – 27 July 2007)

Weekly Diary, No. 259 (21 – 27 July 2007)
 
·         WA UNDER PRESSURE!
·         GAMBARI GOES ON EUROPEAN TOUR!
·         KACHINS SHOW THEIR METTLE!
·         MYANMAR TIMES DARES TO CALL THAN SHWE A KILLER!
 
 
Think Piece
Dress a goat in silk, and it is still a goat.

Celtic, Sayings and Words of Wisdom in English, Chulalongkorn University Press (2005)
 
The World
21 July 2007

The much awaited Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and final book about a boy wizard, goes on sale in bookstores around the world. (Reuters)
 
25 July 2007
_{Pratibha Patil}
India's first woman president, Pratibha Patil, 72, sworn in. She replaces outgoing Abdul Kalam. (Agencies)

 
International Relations
18 July 2007
_{Ban Ki-mon}
Ban Ki-mon, UN chief, urges Burma to make its national reconciliation process "transparent and participatory" as the National Convention begins its final session near Rangoon. (Irrawaddy)
 
18 July 2007
_{Kyaw Hsan}
Information minister Kyaw Hsan says Burma is ready to cooperate with the US. "It is better to meet than not meeting at all." He headed a delegation to Beijing last June to meet deputy assistant secretary of state Eric John. (AP)
 
20 July 2007
_{Walter Koenig}
Walter Koenig, 70, best known for his role as Pavel Chekov on the television series Star Trek, visits Mae Tao Clinic in Maesod. His visit, organized by US Campaign for Burma, follows an earlier trip in June by another actor Eric Szmanda from the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. (Irrawaddy)
 
23 July 2007
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will expand its HIV prevention project in Burma to cover 2 dozen more townships in the country, reports Myanmar Time. (Xinhua)
 
23 July 2007
Asean Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) marks Burma's tenth anniversary of membership in Asean today by criticizing Asean for failing to persuade the military to implement political reforms. (DVB)

23 July 2007
_{Ibrahim Gambari}
US Special Representative for Burma Ibrahim Gambari lands in Moscow to commence his European leg of talks concerning Burma. (Mizzima)

23 July 2007
US House of Representatives votes to renew a ban on imports from Burma. (AFP)
 
25 July 2007
British MPs call for direct grants to community-based organizations (CBOs). Their report singles out exiled trade union movement and women's groups as particularly worthy of support. (Irrawaddy)
 
26 July 2007
The Philippines appeal for Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi by November, when Asean marks its founding anniversary. (AP)
 
26 July 2007
_{Cecilia Sarkozy}
France and its First Lady Cecilia Sarkozy, 49, are setting sights on liberating Aung San Suu Kyi. She had high profile role in 24 July's release by Libya of 5 Bulgarian nurses and a Palestian doctor. (AP)

 
Thai-Burma Relations
20 July 2007
Township Border Committee meeting (TBC 27) in Maesod agrees to cooperate against drugs and solve trade issues, says Col Padung Yingpaiboonsuk following meeting with  Lt-Col Win Ko Ko. They have agreed to establish a cooperation center. (Irrawaddy)

 
Politics/ Inside Burma
20 July 2007
A riot breaks out between Muslims and Buddhists in Rangoon's Dawpon township. Police impose curfew and arrest 2 Muslim and 6 Buddhist men for their involvement. (DVB)
 
24 July 2007
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), whose delegates are attending the National Convention, has presented a 19-point demands to the conference, which include:
·         The Tatmadaw should be renamed The Union Armed Forces
·         Allow teaching of ethnic languages in school in ethnic states
(DVB) Other points include:
 
·         Need to review the 7 regions and 7 states stance
·         State chief ministers must represent national groups of each state
·         Ceasefire groups should be reorganized as state security forces and be administered directly by the state chief minister
·         Fair sharing of proceeds from natural resources between union and state concerned
·         The right for states to draft their own constitutions
 
(SHAN)

 
Shans/ Shan State
17 July 2007
Wa troops on the Thai-Burma border ordered by Col Than Tin Oo, Commander at Pongpakhem, to withdraw from their bases within 5 days, according to sources; by the end of July, according to others. (SHAN)
 
23 July 2007
The United Wa State Army's representative is in Kengtung to negotiate with the regional commander, according to an official source in Panghsang. (RFA)
 
25 July 2007

_{Chairman of PPLO, Khun Okker 
Thurein (SNPLO) Photo: Kantarawaddy Times}
Two PaO-based groups, PaO People's Liberation Organization (PPLO) and Shan State Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) agree to oppose the military dictatorship and to work for PaO unity. (Statement) PaOs are the largest non-Shan ethnic group in Shan State – Editor
 
26 July 2007
_{Arms of SNPLO}
Junta holds "unconditional exchange of arms for peace" ceremony at Hsihseng township for 137 Shan Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) led by Chit Maung. The group surrendered on 5 July. (New Light of Myanmar)

 
Economy/ Business
9 July 2007
Gas Authorities of India Limited (GAIL), in a recent letter to the Petroleum Ministry, says it has decided to withdraw from the A7 offshore exploration block. It signed an agreement with Burma in December to pick up a 30% stake in the block. (Mizzima)
 
18 July 2007
Yangon Times, quoting the ministry of finance and revenue, says Burma collected 68 billion kyat ($ 56.6) of tax from private sector in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, accounting for only 42% compared with that from the state sector and others. (Xinhua)
 
20 July 2007
Impending bus service between Mandalay and Indian border town Moreh announced by Manipuri transport minister. (Mizzima)
 
23 July 2007
According to financial figures released by China's General Administration of Customs today, an expanding trade gap exists between Burma and China from January-May 2007:                                                                                           
                                                                                                Last year
Chinese exports to Burma       -           $ 657 million               $ 454 million
Imports from Burma               -           $ 82 million                 $ 105 million
(Irrawaddy)
 
24 July 2007
Over 400 mobile phones with usages found exceeding 100,000 kyat ($80) has been ordered temporary disconnections by Burma's Telecom department. The action might be in line with the crackdown on political dissidents and drug smugglers, says a Muse resident. "In China, the telecom department is pleased, if there is more usage," he comments. (Mizzima)
 
24 July 2007
Local journal Newsweek reports Burma has introduced a new measure to prevent private companies' tax evasion by denying the biennial renewal of their business licenses on failure to settle their annual tax payment. The junta gained only $ 56 million from tax revenue in the 2006-07 fiscal year against the projected $ 300 million. (Xinhua)
 
25 July 2007
1,000 GSM phones will be distributed in Myitkyina township. The total cost comes to about kyat 3,000,000 ($2,380) for the permit, number and the handset:
·         Kyat 700,000-1,000,000 per permit
·         Kyat 1,500,000  per phone number
(Kachin News Group)
 
26 July 2007
Burma's 15 private banks are struggling to survive, after a drop in loan payments. It pays 12% interest on deposits and charges 17% on loans annually. New regulations limit the amount of money a customer can deposit to Kyat 3 million ($2,340) weekly. (Irrawaddy)

 
Human Rights
20 July 2007
Opinion forms are inserted into each of junta-run three newspapers asking for criticism and suggestions with cash prizes to be awarded to the winners: first prize, 300,000 kyat ($240); second prize 200,000 kyat ($150); third prize 100,000 kyat ($ 78) and consolation prize 50,000 kyat (39). (Irrawaddy)
 
23 July 2007
Htin Kyaw, detained on 22 May for participating in a demonstration against inflation and economic woes, still in jail after three months and all of his colleagues have been released. (DPA)
 
23 July 2007
_{Pia Bertelsen}
An advertisement placed in today's Myanmar Times by Danish-based Surrend, has a hidden message "Ewhsnahtrellik". Reading backward it says, "Killer Than Shwe". Our purpose is not to make evolutions, but to poke fun at despots, says group member Pia Bertelsen. (AP) Junta censors have reportedly banned international advertising in the country's media following the incident. (Irrawaddy)
 
23 July 2007
Education standards in the Burmese refugee community along the Thai-Burma border hit by foreign resettlement program, according to Karen Refugee Committee. Schools are losing teachers contributing to lower exam scores. Only 2,467 out of 34,000 primary and secondary school students passed the annual examinations this year. Since 2005 - May 2007, 5,500 refugees have left for third countries. (Irrawaddy)
 
24 July 2007
Six members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters, who were attacked and arrested in April in Henzada, handed 4-8 year prison terms for inciting public unrest. (Irrawaddy) The six condemned are Myint Naing, Kyaw Lwin, Hla Shein, U Myint, Myint Sein and an unidentified activist. (DVB)
 
24 July 2007
More than 30,000 Rohingyas have been registered for a Temporary Registration Certificate (TRC) between March and June, according to Jean-Francois Durieux, the UNHCR's Rangoon representative. The US is funding the cost. The status of Rohingyas is still unclear, however. Under international law, it is only a temporary document, proving residence, not citizenship, he says. (Irrawaddy)

 
Environment
25 July 2007
India has completed a biogas plant in Myingyan. It will be commissioned soon to supply power to the 200 household Kokke village. (New Kerala.com)
 
25 July 2007
Record-breaking high temperatures, touching 41.9 , has killed up to 500 people in Hungary. (Reuters)

 
Drugs
24 July 2007
_{Chiradet Khocharat}
Third Army commander Chiradet Khocharat, commenting on the Burma Army-Wa situation, says if true, Wa withdrawal will help stem the flow of drugs. Chartchai Suthiklom, advisor to the Secretary General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), also sees it as a good sign. (Bangkok Post) Unofficially, many Burma watchers are skeptical about the move. (SHAN)

 
War
18 July 2007
Aung Kyaw Zaw, former top official of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB), says the Kachin, Wa, Shan and Kokang ceasefire groups are training recruits. (The Nation)
 
21 July 2007
_{Lt-Gen Kyaw Win}
Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, commander of Shan State and Kayah state Burma Army forces, arrive in Mongton-Monghsat, coinciding with the rising tension with the Wa. (SHAN)