Burma likely to announce ‘Election Law’ on Independence Day

New Delhi (Mizzima) – As a step forward along the roadmap to democracy, Burma’s military junta will soon announce an Election Law that will set guidelines and criteria for the formation of political parties to contest the upcoming 2010 general election, sources said.

According to Larry Jagan, a journalist based in Bangkok and a Burma affairs expert, the junta is likely to announce the Election Law in early January 2009 and most likely on Burma’s Independence Day of January 4th.

Burma’s military government had previously announced early this year that it wiould hold a general election in 2010 to elect representatives to a new government which is to include some civilian representatives.

In preparation for the election, sources close to the military said the junta has already prepared a set of rules and regulations for the formation of political parties, the document now pending to be made public as the country’s paramount military figure, Senior General Than Shwe, is yet to have given his final approval.

“According to what I know [from my sources] the election law will be announced on January 4th,” Jagan, a veteran journalist who has covered Burma for years, told Mizzima.continue
http://mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1476-burma-likely-to-announce-election-law-on-independence-day.html

LET;S START MOVEMENT OUTSIDE BURMA ! PLEASE JOIN THE ACTIONS;don,t forget Burma!

Burma: Cyclone Fact Sheet #2 (FY) 2009 Source: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)

OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Note: The last fact sheet was dated November 17, 2008.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

The Tripartite Core Group (TCG), composed of representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Government of Burma, and the U.N., is finalizing the first Periodic Review, a quarterly comprehensive assessment of the response to Cyclone Nargis. The Review is scheduled for release in Burma in late December and will focus on progress to date and ongoing humanitarian needs.

The TCG plans to launch the Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) in January 2009. The PONREPP is designed to meet medium-term recovery needs in livelihoods, shelter, education and training, disaster risk reduction, environment, protection, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors.

As of December 12, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the U.N. Revised Appeal for $477 million is currently funded at 64 percent, or $304 million.

On December 10, U.S. First Lady Laura Bush announced that the U.S. Government (USG), through USAID, will provide an additional $5 million in disaster assistance to communities devastated by Cyclone Nargis. The funding will support efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address clean water, shelter, and other critical needs in affected areas.

In FY 2008 and to date in FY 2009, the USG has provided or committed to provide nearly $74 million in cylone assistance to Burma, including almost $30 million in USAID/OFDA funding to support relief and early recovery activities among cyclone-affected populations.
ESTIMATED NUMBERS AT A GLANCE SOURCE
Total Dead 84,537 GOB – June 24, 2008
Total Missing 53,836 GOB – June 24, 2008
Total Number Affected 2.4 million OCHA – October 24, 2008

TOTAL FY 2008 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING USAID/OFDA

USAID/OFDA Assistance to Burma – $28,596,342

USAID/FFP(1) Assistance to Burma – $28,063,200

DOD(2) Assistance to Burma – $12,273,152

Additional USAID/OFDA Assistance Pledged to Burma – $5,000,000

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Burma – $73,932,694

CURRENT SITUATION

Seven months after Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Burma, humanitarian agencies assisted an estimated 2.4 million beneficiaries, primarily within the most-affected areas of Ayeyarwady and Rangoon divisions.

According to OCHA, to reflect the changing needs of the population, donors and NGOs are shifting from emergency activities to recovery efforts, including livelihood promotion interventions.

USAID/OFDA partners continue to implement livelihood recovery programs, including microfinance assistance and agricultural inputs, in Ayeyarwady and Rangoon divisions.

USAID/OFDA deployed an Emergency Disaster Response Coordinator (ERDC) is in Rangoon to conduct humanitarian assessments, monitor USG-funded programs, and coordinate with humanitarian organizations.
full report http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&shortid=YSAR-7MGN9Q&file=Full_Report.pdf
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/YSAR-7MGN9Q?OpenDocument

This post is related to Bertil Lintner”Burma,s Nuclear Temptation

RUSSIA-BURMA NUCLEAR INTELLIGENCE REPORT

By Roland Watson
June 26, 2008

We have new, disturbing, and detailed intelligence about the assistance Russia is providing Burma’s dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), on its nuclear program and more generally its military modernization. This new information both confirms earlier intelligence that we have published, and expands what is known about the overall program.

Nuclear reactor and uranium mining

It has been widely reported that Russia is going to provide Burma a nuclear reactor, for so-called “research” purposes. We have received information that the SPDC has now purchased the 10 MW reactor. It is not new, but is reportedly in good condition. It is being dismantled, transported to Burma, and rebuilt. While we cannot confirm that it has arrived, our sources say that installation is due to be completed by December this year. (We have previously reported that North Korean technicians will assist with the construction.)

RUSSIA-BURMA NUCLEAR INTELLIGENCE REPORT #2

By Roland Watson
August 7, 2008

By Roland Watson
August 7, 2008

We have received additional intelligence that expands our last report, and which also provides confirmation for earlier reports. This intelligence comes from new sources. In summary, as we continue to receive information, the details of the SPDC’s nuclear program are becoming more and more concrete.

Nuclear program objective

In May 2001, at the National Defence College (Rangoon), SPDC Science and Technology Minister U Thaung said that Burma would make an effort to possess nuclear weapons by 2020. Once achieved, this would make the regime the strongest military power in Southeast Asia; the country would be transformed into the “Fourth Burman Empire”; and, it would be able to threaten Thailand militarily.

This statement reveals the SPDC to be a grave threat to international security and peace. The regime’s announcement that its new 10 MW reactor is intended for peaceful research purposes is a lie.

all reports on http://dictatorwatch.org/

all about Jade from Burma

Blood Jade: Burmese Gemstones and the Beijing Games

Stop the Global Trade in Burmese Blood Jade
The authors of this report call on individuals – global consumers, visitors to China, Olympic spectators, and Olympic athletes – to boycott the sale of Burma’s blood jade. The Beijing Organizing Committee of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and the government of the People’s Republic of China should take immediate action to curb the global trade in blood jade, beginning by ending their promotion of jade products from Burma. read full report
http://www.aksyu.com/

No let up in jade mining despite market condition and US sanctions

There is no let up in jade mining activities in Hpakant (Phakant) in Burma’s northern Kachin state despite the jade markets being in the doldrums in the country and abroad in the wake of the current world economic meltdown and US sanctions on importing Burmese gems, said local sources.
Daily mining activities with hundreds of modern sophisticated machines continue and the mining activities have been resumed last month after a break in the monsoons, local jade traders in Hpakant said.continue
http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=652:no-let-up-in-jade-mining-despite-market-condition-and-us-sanctions&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Chinese jade exhibition upsets Kachin jade merchants

Kachin jade merchants are in flap over a border jade exhibition held by China. China show cased Burma’s Hpakant jade at an exhibition in Jiegao near the Sino-Burma border in the country’s southwest Yunnan province. This has upset ethnic Kachin merchants who rely on selling lower quality jade on illegal border jade markets on the border, said jade merchants.continue
http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=663:chinese-jade-exhibition-upsets-kachin-jade-merchants&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Kachins lose wherewithal under KIO-junta (opinion)

People in Kachin State have been largely dependent on precious and priceless natural resources like gems and the state’s rich biodiversity. The dependence was on splendid and valuable stones and precious metal such as jade and gold in large quantities and this was the main trading business in the past.However, now the Burmese military regime has resorted to a cunning strategy for the rapid absorption of the massive resources by granting mining permission to Burmese, Chinese and Indian businessmen who have large amounts of money.

Kachin people who have a limited amount of money cannot compete with the rich Chinese and Indians, capable of investing big amounts of money. To make matters worse Kachin businessmen are losing out or are incapable of holding on to their own land which yields business.
http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=665:kachins-lose-wherewithal-under-kio-junta-opinion&catid=46:articleopinion&Itemid=66

Jiegao Border Jade Exhibition Yunnan province, China
December 3-7, 2008
(Raw and finished jade products from Hpakant in Kachin state in northern Burma were shown in the five days exhibition.)

http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=668:hpakant-jade-exhibition-in-chinas-jiegao&catid=53:photo-news

Former SPDC soldier re-captured after escaping arrest for rape of 10-year-old girl

A former corporal in the Burmese army who raped a ten-year-old girl has been re-captured after escaping, say sources in Ye Township. The victim was staying in his home to attend tutoring sessions with his wife.

About fifty children from the second through fifth standards in Han Gan village regularly came to the home to be tutored by the man’s wife. Students in Burma are frequently tutored by their teachers outside of school hours, and often sleep at their teacher’s homes. continue http://www.monnews-imna.com/newsupdate.php?ID=1269

Teenaged Kachin schoolgirl gang raped and killed by sadistic Burmese soldiers

In a gruesome incident a Kachin schoolgirl, Nhkum Hkawn Din (15), daughter of Nhkum Yawng Shawng and Maran Nu Bren was gang raped and killed on July 27 (Sunday) by Burmese Army soldiers in Bhamo District in Kachin State, northern Burma, locals said. Her body bore stab wounds in seven places and her eyes had been gouged out. It was a calculated act of perversion by the soldiers.

Nhkum Hkawn Din was an eighth grade student in the government State High School in Momauk also called N’mawk. She was gang raped and killed in a paddy field near her village called Nam Sai situated between Momauk and Bhamo by Corporal Aye Thein and two other colleagues in the village-based army post headed by Sergeant Thet Htun of the Light Infantry Battalion No. 437, said villagers of Nam Sai.
CONTINUE http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=354:teenaged-kachin-schoolgirl-gang-raped-and-killed-by-sadistic-burmese-soldiers&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Burmese Army expresses regret for rape and murder of schoolgirl after arresting soldier
Burmese Army officers yesterday expressed their regret to parents of schoolgirl Nhkum Hkawn Din who was gang raped and murdered by soldiers. They offered some food and cash after arresting a soldier who was among those who committed the rape and murder, sources close to the family said. The soldier has confessed to his crime but locals believe there was more than one soldier who participated in the gruesome act. http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=364:burmese-army-expresses-regret-for-rape-and-murder-of-schoolgirl-after-arresting-soldier&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Kachins protest schoolgirl gang rape and murder (Special)

Ethnic Kachins from northern Burma in Japan today protested against the gang rape and murder of a Kachin schoolgirl on July 27 by Burmese soldiers, a protester said.The demonstrators held posters and read short statements in the space in front of the Burmese Embassy in Tokyo between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time. They were joined by about 200 Kachin protesters including some non-Kachins from Burma, Peter Brang Seng, an organizer told KNG.

Peter Brang Seng said, “We read out statements against the junta on the Kachin schoolgirl Nhkum Hkawn Din’s rape and murder by Burmese soldiers. There is lack of human rights in Kachin State and the junta’s lack of action against serious drug addiction in the State which is destroying Kachins.” CONTINUE http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=415:kachins-protest-schoolgirl-gang-rape-and-murder-special&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50
this is happen inside Burma…

Analysis Will ASEAN’s charter cure Burma’s ills?

mizzima by Salai Pi Pi
Friday, 19 December 2008
The ten country bloc known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday of this week announced that its recently drafted charter has come into force.

However, immediately following the news, critics raised several questions as to the credibility of ASEAN and its charter toward easing the political and human rights crises ravaging military ruled Burma.

Nonetheless, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN, in the association’s press release on Monday, expressed his optimism that the charter will strengthen and better formalize roles and relations within the ASEAN community.

“The ASEAN community that is being built will be more rules-based and more people-oriented,” Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said. continue
http://mizzima.com/edop/anslysis/1472-will-aseans-charter-cure-burmas-ills.html

Where is an ASEAN role? (from http://www.mizzima.com)

(Mizzima) – A cousin brother of 88 Generation Student Marki, held in prison, was sentenced to nine years in jail by Insein court for trying to smuggle out a letter from prison.

Zaw Naing Htwe, met his cousin brother Marki a.k.a. Kyaw Kyaw Htwe during a prison visit nine months ago, tried to smuggle out a letter given to him by his cousin from the prison in collusion with some prison staff.

However, he was arrested as the ‘Military Affairs Security’ (MAS) found out and was sentenced. continue
http://mizzima.com/

Weekly Business Roundup (December 19, 2008)

India-Burma Telecommunications Upgrade Nears Completion

A multimillion dollar boost to telecommunications between northeast India and Burma will be completed by next March, according to media reports.

The cross-border optical fiber link now reportedly nearing completion is intended to improve telecommunications between Moreh on the India side and Burmese business communities through the Mandalay.continue
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14819

On December 17, Zaw Naing Htwe, brother of political prisoner Kyaw Kyaw Htwe, was given a nine-year prison sentence by a court in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison for receiving a letter from his brother

according to family members. Three prison guards who helped Kyaw Kyaw Htwe to send the letter were also jailed.
Kyaw Kyaw Htwe, who is also known as Marky, is a member of the 88 Generation Students group. He was sentenced in November to 65 years imprisonment, which he is currently serving at Mergui Prison in southern Burma’s Tenasserim Division. continue http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14823

Press Release TCG Report Reviews the Current Situation for Cyclone-Affected People Yangon, Myanmar, 19 December 2008

Today, the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) released the first of three Post-Nargis ‘Periodic Reviews’. The report indicated that despite significant progress in relief and recovery assistance, the relief stage was not finished and more assistance was still needed, especially in the nutrition, food, and shelter sectors.

Periodic Review I is an analysis of data collected between 29 October 2008 and 19 November 2008 from 2,376 households in 108 communities in the Ayeyarwady and Yangon divisions. The findings are presented in seven sectors: health, nutrition, food, water supply, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, education, and livelihood. At the same time, cross-sectoral issues such as vulnerability and protection, household socio-economic status, receipt of aid, gender and environment are analysed.

Senior ASEAN member of the TCG and Thailand’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Bansarn Bunnag, said, “The comprehensive geographic and multi-sectoral coverage of the Periodic Review pioneers a new approach to post-disaster needs assessment and monitoring. The findings serve as an important tool for strategic decision making amongst stakeholders to continue providing support to the affected population.”

Thanking the international community for their help, TCG Chairman and Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Kyaw Thu, added, “The Periodic Review is an indicator of the strong commitment of the Tripartite Core Group to identify humanitarian needs and early recovery requirements.”

DON;T forget,THIS is an Report from ILLEGAL Goverment,Asean and UN!!
read full version of all 9 parts
http://www.aseansec.org/22119.pdf