With the start of the monsoon rains expected in May, increased priority has been given to consolidating ongoing recovery programmes, with a special focus on the provision of transitional emergency shelter through cash grants, for 10,000 households.

Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis Emergency Appeal No. MDRMM002 Operations Update No. 24

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Date: 06 Feb 2009
Period covered by this update: 20 December 2008 to 3 February 2009.

Appeal target: CHF 73,987,907 million (USD 72.5 million or EUR 45.9 million)

Appeal coverage: 81%

Appeal history:

– 8 July 2008: A revised Emergency Appeal was launched for CHF 73.9 million (USD 72.5 million or EUR 45.9 million) to assist 100,000 households for 36 months.

– 16 May 2008: An Emergency Appeal was launched for CHF 52,857,809 (USD 50.8 million or EUR 32.7 million) to assist 100,000 households for 36 months.

– 6 May 2008: A preliminary Emergency Appeal was launched for CHF 6,290,909 (USD 5.9 million or EUR 3.86 million) to assist 30,000 households for six months.

– 5 May 2008: CHF 200,000 (USD 190,000 or EUR 123,000) was allocated from the International Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

Summary:

– With the start of the monsoon rains expected in May, increased priority has been given to consolidating ongoing recovery programmes, with a special focus on the provision of transitional emergency shelter through cash grants, for 10,000 households. Contingency plans are also being prepared in case there is a need to initiate a relief distribution programme to cover emerging needs for the most vulnerable groups during the rainy season.

– Following requests from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), the International Federation has agreed to support the reconstruction of up to 24 primary schools, located in seven townships affected by the cyclone. (See shelter section below for details on the overall shelter programme)

– Recovery activities will be focused on 160 village tracts in 13 townships.

– The International Federation’s cash-for-work programme that began in November, and the cash-for-assets programme that will begin in February, are expected to help mitigate the effects of increasing indebtedness among vulnerable communities in the delta area.

– Disaster management/disaster preparedness disaster risk reduction work is being consolidated for a possible second phase response to vulnerable communities affected by Cyclone Nargis, as well as in preparation for any future emergency, continue http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-7NZDDP?OpenDocument
Than Shwe give them the money…

UN Envoy Returns Home Frustrated

By Nehginpao Kipgen

Just a day before he began his seventh visit to the military-ruled Burma, since his assignment as the U.N. secretary-general’s special advisor in 2006, I authored an analytical piece entitled “Go Gambari, But Don’t Expect Much” discussing the possible outcome of the mission.

As expected, the envoy was allowed to meet the National League for Democracy (NLD) general secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and a number of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister Thein Sein, among others.

The military chief Than Shwe refused to meet the visiting envoy again. Gambari met Aung San Suu Kyi but to listen to her frustration. Suu Kyi said, “she was ready and willing to meet anyone, but could not accept having meetings without achieving any outcome.”

Prior to his 4-day trip which began on 31 January, confirmed by the U.N. only a day earlier, Gambari outlined his objectives: to urge the junta to free political prisoners, discuss the country’s ailing economy and revive a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi.

The fundamental demands from Suu Kyi and NLD were that: the government release all political prisoners, review the new constitution passed by a referendum in May 2007, and recognize the results of 1990 election that the NLD won by a landslide.

The basic demands of the U.N. and NLD fall on the same line. They both asked the military junta to release all political prisoners and start a serious dialogue with the opposition.

However, the U.N. appears to be shying away from some other key demands of the NLD, such as reviewing the military-drafted constitution and recognizing the 1990 general election results. In this regard, the U.N. seems to leave the matter to the Burmese themselves.

The NLD is not wrong at all on reiterating its consistent demands. If the international community were to let the military proceed with its seven-step “road map,” it will lead to a general election in 2010 which will eventually install a new military-dominated “disciplined democracy” leaving the 1990 election result a bygone history.

The special envoy’s visit was also a preliminary survey whether the U.N. chief should go himself. Ban Ki-moon asked his advisor “to continue his consultations with the government and other relevant parties and looks forward to meaningful discussions with all concerned on all the points raised during his last visit.”

The nature of Burma’s military regime is a one-man show. It is Than Shwe who steers the wheel. The U.N. must understand that Than Shwe will not be easily moved by visits and appeals. He worries three things to happen: popular uprising supported by elements in the military; a powerful binding resolution from the U.N. Security Council, and a unilateral military action from the big powers.

After a series of setbacks, the U.N. needs to equip itself with new strategies. Neither engagement nor sanctions alone will yield a democratic society in the Union of Burma. It needs a coordinated and collective international action that sends a clear message to the intransigent military generals.

A “carrot and stick” strategy should be used by working together with key international players – one similar to the North Korean six-party talks’ model. The office of the secretary-general should also push the Obama administration to confirm a special envoy for Burma, which the Bush administration initiated in 2008.

Gambari returns home frustrated, and with little progress to report. However even if Ban Ki-moon were to go today, he could not be much better yielding with the kind of support he has from the U.N. Security Council and the international community.

Hearing the voice of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party’s political stand was one notable development of the just concluded U.N. mission.

Nehginpao Kipgen is the General Secretary of US-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com) and a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma (1947-2004). http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/15501

British MPs Call for End to Religious Persecution in Burma

Chinland Guardian

London, UK 5 February 2009: A group of British Parliamentarians led by John Bercow of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Burma is initiating an Early Day Motion on Burma to express deep concerns at recent clampdown by Burmese authorities on Christians in the former capital Rangoon. The motion, which is still open for signature, has already received 25 signatures from the British MPs.

According to reports, authorities have ordered at least 100 local Christian churches to shut down in Rangoon with threats of imprisonment for non-compliance. Human rights campaigners see it as the latest example of a regime being hostile to minority religions in Burma, describing the move as ‘an extremely worrying development.’

The motion calls for an independent investigation by the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom and Belief, and urges the British government to raise the issue of violations of religious freedom with Burma’s ruling military junta. It also calls for the release of all political prisoners and unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of Burma.

A similar motion was tabled at the British House of Commons in January 2007 following the release of a report by UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) “Carrying the Cross: The military regime’s campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma.” The report documented widespread and systematic violations of religious freedom by the military regime against non-Buddhist religious minorities such as Christians and Muslims. http://www.chinlandguardian.com/index.php/Home/406

https://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/hrw-chin-we-are-like-forgotten-people/

Burmese border refugee sites with population figures: January 2009 update 5.02.

http://www.tbbc.org/camps/2009-01-jan-map-tbbc-unhcr.pdf

03Feb09

Update: TBBC participated in a conference on alternative fuels and energy technologies in humanitarian settings.
At the conference ‘Beyond Firewood – Exploring alternative fuels and energy technologies in humanitarian settings”, TBBC presented an overview of its supply of cooking fuels to the border camps since 1995 until today. The conference was organised by the Women’s Refugee Commission 11-12 December in New Delhi, and addressed the issue of women’s and girls’ vulnerability to gender-based violence as they collect firewood in humanitarian settings. The development of alternative sources of cooking fuel can help reduce the potential for attack, as well as it can help promote livelihood activities, a better environment and health for displaced people.

http://www.tbbc.org/

DKBA will offensive.. KWEKALU NEWS

http://www.kwekalu.net/index.html

UPDATE TINMAUNG GATE KWEKALU NEWS

MON NATIONAL LEAGUE for SOLIDARITY scribd burmese

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11760076/MNLS

Thanks to ARZARNI

ABSDF Janurary, 2009 Final scribd burmese

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11769908/Janurary-2009-Final

Thanks to ARZARNI

chairman

Pro-democracy groups have criticised the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s refusal to release political prisoners and accused them of stalling national reconciliation.

Opposition slams junta’s refusal to free prisoners
Feb 6, 2009 (DVB)–Pro-democracy groups have criticised the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s refusal to release political prisoners and accused them of stalling national reconciliation.

During the recent visit of United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the country, Burmese government ministers said prisoners already had access to an appeal process.
Regime leaders also called for sanctions to be lifted to allow Burma to develop.
Arakan League for Democracy leader Aye Thar Aung, who is also secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, said the regime was only focused on its own aims.
“The refusal shows in a way that the SPDC is not interested in national reconciliation,” Aye Thar Aung said.
Tate Naing of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said the release of political prisoners was vital for progress in Burma.
“With what is happening now in Burma, the essential thing is the release of political prisoners,” he said.
Military and political analyst Htay Aung of the Network for Democracy and Development said “We can say that the SPDC’s refusal to take basic steps shows that it has no desire for national reconciliation,” he said.
“They might also be worried that the release of political prisoners might ruin their election plans.”
Nyo Ohn Myint of the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) said the regime’s insistence that sanctions be lifted and refusal to release political prisoner meant there could be no compromise with the opposition.
“There would be no economic sanctions if all political prisoners were released; the blockade arose from their human rights violations,” Nyo Ohn Myint said.
“Therefore the SPDC needs to release all political prisoners,” he said.
“It is necessary to negotiate with groups inside the country for the release of political prisoners and to solve the problems of Burma.”
Aye Thar Aung said the opposition needed to work together to pressure for the release of political prisoners.
“To solve the problems of the country, the NLD and ethnic parties and armed groups should work together in unity,” he said.
“Instead of just making demands, it is more important to start to do what needs to be done,” he went on.
“It is necessary for the people and political parties to work together to make them release political prisoners.”

Grassroots activist Than Soe, who helped local farmers in Magwe’s Aung Lan township report land seizures, has gone into hiding after being threatened with arrest by the police.

Grassroots activist pressured by police
Feb 6, 2009 (DVB)–Grassroots activist Than Soe, who helped local farmers in Magwe’s Aung Lan township report land seizures, has gone into hiding after being threatened with arrest by the police.

Than Soe, a resident of San Kalay village in Aung Lan provided legal support to local farmers seeking justice after their farms were seized by local authorities who were seeking a monopoly on sugar cane production.
A resident of Aung Lan said Than Soe had recently been harassed by township police special information branch officers, who came to his home and threatened to arrest him for having connections with political activists.
“Aung Lan special police officer Nyi Nyi Aung kept going to his house constantly and told family members the authorities wanted to question him as they believed that he had given refuge to 88 Generation Students members hiding from government arrest,” said the Aung Lan resident.
“He said the authorities would try to catch him if he didn’t turn himself in soon.”
The resident said Than Soe had gone into hiding to avoid arrest but Nyi Nyi Aung was still showing up at his house frequently, pressuring his family to turn him in.
“Than Soe, who is a farmer himself, was enthusiastically providing assistance to his fellow farmers who were being abused and now authorities are trying to throw him into prison,” he said.