Weekly Diary, No. 333 (27 December 2008 – 9 January 2009)

• HAMBURGER CRISIS HITS BURMA!
• BAD NEWS FOR MIGRANT WORKERS!
• ANOTHER RIVAL GOVERNMENT?
• WA PUSHES FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT!

Cartoon
Tips for the Senior General
 

Think Piece
What you want is to protect efficiently your own state but not to aim at self-aggrandizement.
_{Lao Tzu, Tao Teching, Capter 30}

The World
27 December 2008
Israel “in response to almost daily rocket and mortar fire that intensified” after Hamas ended a six month ceasefire a week ago, begins strikes in Gaza Strip. (Reuters) The campaign is leading to a rise in oil prices – Editor

International Relations
30 December 2008
19 North Korean defectors arrested in Tachilek on 2 December will stand trial on charges of illegal entry, says a junta official. (Agencies)
 
1 January 2009
_{Eric Stover}
Eric Stover, an American professor, and his wife Pamela Blotner, an artist, who arrive at Mingladon airport told that she is on the junta blacklist. They return to Bangkok. (RFA Burmese service)
 
2 January 2009
_{Sheikh Hasina}
Sheikh Hasina, who won a resounding victory on 29 December elections, says Bangladesh will seek release of Aung San Suu Kyi and friendly relations with all neighboring countries. (Mizzima)
 
4 January 2009
The 19 North Koreans, arrested by Burmese authorities on 2 December, sent to Thailand and were arrested by the Thai authorities. The South Korean embassy in Bangkok would have to notify that their asylum applications are accepted, says Thai immigration. (Korea Times)
 
7 January 2009
_{Stephen Hadley}
Bush’s national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, hopes “the new administration will continue pushing the cause of human rights and freedom in Burma.” (Irrawaddy)
 
23 January 2009
Nigeria’s UN representative Joy Ogwise hands her counterpart from Burma Kyaw Tint Swe a check for $ 500,000 in response to UN plea for Nargis funds. (Inner City Press)

Thai-Burma Relations
31 December 2008
Arakanese exiles in Thailand marks 224th anniversary of the fall of Arakan independence. (All Arakan Students and Youths Congress)
 
5 January 2009
_{FM Kasit Piromya}
A complete overhaul of Thailand’s Burma policy is out of the question. But FM Kasit Piromya said from now on Thailand will deal with Burma in a straightforward manner without any deals based on “four-eye meetings,” the trademark of Thaksin’s personalized diplomacy. (The Nation)
 
9 January 2009
Pichai Ekapitakdamrong from the labor ministry, speaking in Maesod says in accordance with the MoU signed with Burma, Thailand will not renew the work permits of 500,000 Burmese migrants in 2010. (Manager Online)

Politics/ Inside Burma
1 January 2009
_{Dr Sein Win}
The emergence of a de facto parliament and a National Unity Government (NUG) is its goal, declares National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB). The NUG will work with the Dr Sein Win-led NCGUB. Sein Win however declares he does not know the details of the statement. A meeting of MPs and a prime minister election are due in mid-January. (Statement/DVB)
 
1 January 2009
Dr Tin Myo Win visits Suu Kyi briefly. A regular visit, says an official. (DPA)
 
4 January 2009
Committee Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP) calls for national reconciliation. Members are from NLD, SNLD (Shan), ALD (Arakan), MNLD (Mon), NDPHR, NDP, ZNC (Zomi) and UNLD. (DVB)
 
4 January 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi exhorts her supporters with a quotation from her father. A red banner with yellow lettering on her porch says, “Act decisively for the good of the nation and the people.” (DVB)
 
5 January 2009
Kathy Aung, a woman activist who was arrested in September, sentenced by the prison court in Mandalay to 26 years in prison on 24 November. She was charged with attendance of Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) training. (DVB)
 
5 January 2009
License of 11 journals and 20 magazines terminated after failing to renew it. (Mizzima)
 
6 January 2009
Aye Lwin, a former 88 Generation Students leading member turned pro-junta, says his group will form two parties to contest the upcoming 2010 elections. (Mizzima)
 
6 January 2009
USDA in Rangoon Division is offering loans to farmers for this year’s harvest:

• Those with 1-5 acres               K 8,000 per acre
• Those with 5-10 acres             K 5,000 per acre up to K 50,000

(DVB)

Shans/ Shan State
29 December 2008
Members of the Mangrai family, the descendents of the Kengtung House, quietly hold a religious ceremony marking their reunion in Chiangmai. (SHAN)
 
4 January 2009
Shan monastic scholar Dr Khammai Dhammasami honored by the ruling junta with the Mahasadhammajotikadhaja title. (www.myanmar.com)
 
5 January 2009
Since the New Year began, Panghsang has been issuing documents stamped “Government of Wa State, Special Autonomous Region, Union of Myanmar.” (Irrawaddy)

Economy/ Business
31 December 2008
An explosion at a jade mine in Hpakant kills two and injures 7, according to PaO National Army (PNA) that owns the mine. (Kachin News Group)
 
2 January 2009
_{Lo Hsinghan}
Asia World Company of Lo Hsinghan that has been rebuilding the Mogaung-Phakant road, 48 miles, since November is collecting tax on traffic. (Kachin News Group) The Wa’s Hongpang Company was also allowed to do the same for the Kengtung-Tachilek road, 102 miles – Editor
 
5 January 2009
Investment in the first 9 months of 2008 jumped to $ 974.9 million from $ 502.5 million in the same period in 2007, according to the Ministry of National Planning and Development. Mining accounted for more than 88% of the investment and China accounted for most of it. (Xinhua)
 
6 January 2009
Bilateral trade with Japan in the first 9 months of 2008 declined 5.6% to $ 275.98 million in 2007. (Japan Economic Newswire)
 
6 January 2009
Burma’s trade surplus dived more than 39% to $ 1.72 billion in the first nine months of 2008 from $ 2.83 billion in 2007 in the same period due to lower export of gas. (AP)
 
6 January 2009
Burma received nearly 25% fewer tourists through it main airport in 2008 from 231,587 visitors to 177,018 in 2007. (AFP)
 
7 January 2009
Border trade with 4 neighbors: Bangladesh, China, India and Thailand up to $666 million in the first 11 months of 2008 from $ 656 million in the same period in 2007. (Xinhua)

Human Rights
3 January 2009
Military Police (MP) in the Northern Region Command Kachin State, have set up checkpoints to collect taxes on highway. (SHAN)
 
5 January 2009
Karen Women’s Organization demands accountability for the rape and killing of a 7 year old girl in the village of Ma Oo Bin, Kyaukkyi township, Nyaunglebin district on 27 December by a soldier from LIB 350. (KWO)
 
5 January 2009
Kyauktada township council summons a meeting with 50 church pastors and informs them to stop conduct of worship services in residential apartments. Authorities had long stopped issuing permits to churches for the possession of land and the construction of churches, forcing several churches to conduct services in residential apartments. (Mizzima)

Environment
5 January 2009
Three battalions from Arakan: 538, 34 and 20 returned to home base from Mon State to provide security for an incipient gas pipeline. The pipe can be laid only after the route is brought under military control, according to pipeline watchdog Shwe Gas Movement. (Independent Mon News Agency)
 
7 January 2009
Rice harvest down in 2008 from 2007. Nay Aung harvested 8MT in 2007 but less than 5 MT in 2008 while overheads spiraled following 3 failed planting attempts. (IRIN)

Drugs
30 December 2008
There is connection between drugs, cross-border crimes and terrorism. (Bangkok Post)
 
7 January 2009
A warrant officer from Hmawbi-based LIB 701 arrested for drug trafficking in late December. He couldn’t support his family on his salary, says a source close to him. Salaries start at K 21,000 ($ 16) for a private. Warrant Officers make as much as K 50,000 ($ 40). (Irrawaddy)

War
3 January 2009
DKBA battalions 907 and 999 attack KNLA Battalion 103 base in Brigade 6 area. The area is rich in zinc mines, according to KNU Joint Secretary 1 Hla Ngwe. (Irrawaddy)

Obituary
5 January 2009

Dr Saw Mra Aung, 92, chairman of Arakan League for Democracy, passes away. (Mizzima)