Weekly Diary, No. 202 (10 – 16 June 2006)

Weekly Diary, No. 202 (10 – 16 June 2006)

§        NLD CALLS FOR ALATAS OR RAMOS TO THE RESCUE!
§        CHINESE RAILWAY TO BURMA!

§        YABA IN US!

§        SPDC HAD A NEAR MISS!

Think Piece

It is essential not to presume that apart from us no other group (in Shan State) is patriotic.

Gen Gawnzoeng (1926-1991) Shan leader

12 June 2006

China is a key arms supplier to Sudan, Burma and Iran. As such it has continued to remain a major stumbling block to efforts to compose sanctions on them, according to a new report released by Amnesty International, China: Sustaining Conflict and Human Rights Abuses.

(IPS)

14 June 2006

Abu Bakar Bashir

Radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, 67, jailed for links to 2002 Bali bombings, walks free. He has called Osama bin Laden a true Islamic warrior. (Reuters)

14 June 2006

Spain today holds together 17 autonomous communities, a rather friendly name. Autonomy ought to be seen as a means to peace and happiness rather than as a (taboo) security issue. It must also be remembered that Spain had lost over 600,000 lives before deciding to embark on a multi-ethnic democracy. (Bangkok Post)

U Lwin

9 June 2006

National League for Democracy (NLD) has sent a letter to Kofi Annan rejecting the UN proposal that it rejoins the National Convention process. We want dialogue, says spokesman U Lwin, and a suitable statesman like Ali Alatas or Fidel Ramos to negotiate between the ruling junta and the opposition, not bureaucrats. (DPA)

14 June 2006

The NLD issues statement calling on the international community to find a suitable negotiator to forge reconciliation between it and the ruling junta.(DPA)

15 June 2006

The junta narrowly misses immediate action from the ILO, but warned it must prove it will abide by the moratorium ceasing all legal proceedings against forced labor complainants. Breach of moratorium or non-establishment of credible mechanism by which forced labor complaints can be dealt with will lead to reconsideration of referral to the ICJ. The conclusions are the result of a compromise, says Janek Kucziewski of ICFTU. (Irrawaddy)

16 June 2006

Burma Lawyers Council (BLC) requests UN chief to propose that the Security Council refers the Depayin Massacre to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a crucial step for the rule of law and peace. (Open letter)

9 June 2006

Shan State Army, KNPP(Karenni National Progress Party) and Wa National Army hold ceremony to pay their respects to HM King Bhumibol on the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne. (Chiangmai News)

12 June 2006

9 Thais arrested and jailed by Tachilek authorities since 2 May on underground lottery charge released. (Manager Online)

12 June 2006

Maehongson authorities are planning to relocate 3 separate Padaung(Long-Neck) villages together in one single village near the Burma border in order to attract more tourists:

(Chiangmai News)

13 June 2006

Thai King honored by guest royals as a source of inspiration for other monarchs and of confidence for the Thai people. The King rises to the occasion whenever there is crisis in the country. "You are our friend and our most respected colleague," says the Sultan of Brunei on behalf of other royals during the banquet in their honor. (Bangkok Post)

15 June 2006

A day after the royal celebrations are over, militants set off 50 bombs in the 3 southernmost provinces, killing at least 3 and injuring scores of state workers and civilians. (Bangkok Post)

7 June 2006

The passport of Salai Tun Than who has been planning a solo protest in Burma on 19 June, declared null and void by Burma authorities. (BBC)

9 June 2006

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says Aung San Suu Kyi has been hospitalized. (AFP)

10 June 2006

NLD spokesman Nyan Win says Aung San Suu Kyi was taken to hospital for treatment for diarrhea yesterday but she is now back at her house. Maj –Gen Khin Yi police chief, speaking to reporters during a tour in Karen State, says as her illness was not serious she was not hospitalized. (AP)

11 June 2006

Arakan Communist Party (ACP) is facing economic hardships since Khin Nyunt's ouster. It had surrendered on March 1997. (Narinjara)

11 June 2006

James Mawdsley

Chronicling solo protests

8 June 2006

China and Burma sign one more general loan agreement worth $ 200 million. (Xinhua)

11 June 2006

China will be building 340 km ($ 1.2 billion) railroad between Dali and Ruili, opposite Burma's Muse, soon. It is part of the 2,600 km Pan Asia Raiload project that shall begin in Singapore through Malaysia, Thailand and Burma to Yunnan. (Manager Online)

8 June 2006

Military authorities in Myaungmya, an Irrawaddy delta township, have confiscated more than 1,000 acres of farmlands for cashew nut and rubber plantation project. Those who could afford bought back the lands, however lands of those who could not afford to buy back were sold to rich Chinese. (DVB)

11 June 2006

Burmese agents are persuading Bangladesh-native Arakanese to move to Burma promising 2 cows, 1 acre of paddy field, 1 house and 5 bags of rice per family. (Good Morning Arakan-GMA News)

9 June 2006

As a result of the ban on cross-border timber trade, the Kachin Independence Organization's finances will be dramatically reduced-precisely the intention of the SPDC. (Mizzima) 

12 June 2006

LiHui, Chinese assistant FM, says drugs not only threaten regional peace and stability but also serve as a major source of money for terrorism and extremism activities. (Xinhua)

12 June 2006

The use of methamphetamine on the Navajo Reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, continue to be a scourge. (A P)

13 June 2006

President Hamid Karzai, in a meeting with officials from the region, appeals to Afghanistan's neighbors to "help us in the struggle (against opium production) and take our hand." 90% of the opium consumed in Europe are produced in Afghanistan. Tajikistan's president Emomali Rakhmonov said in May farmers had not been given enough aid to move away from the crop. (AFP)

No war news does not mean No War.

Lamung Tujai

15 June 2006

Lamung Tujai, 76, Chairman of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) since 20 February 2001, passes away. He is the last of the Old hands, since Zau Bawm, 65, died earlier. Gauri Zau Seng is likely to succeed him. (Agencies)