Two Thai border patrol troops were injured yesterday as a clash broke out between them and a pro-Burmese government group, while a mortar fired by the Burmese army landed on Thai soil, injuring a civilian.

Thai soldiers shot by pro-junta group
Apr 28, 2009 (DVB)–Two Thai border patrol troops were injured yesterday as a clash broke out between them and a pro-Burmese government group, while a mortar fired by the Burmese army landed on Thai soil, injuring a civilian.

The Burma-Thai border near to Karen state has seen intense clashes over the past month between government troops, supported by the DKBA, and the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of opposition group Karen National Union.
The government is attempting to take a strategically important KNLA base known as Battalion 201.
A resident from Padee village in Phop Phra district, Tak province, said DKBA fighters who crossed the border into Thailand yesterday morning opened fire on Thai border patrol troops.
Two Thai soldiers were injured; one on his arm and the other one on his chest.
During the clash the Burmese army pounded artillery shells onto Thai soil from across the border. The target is unknown.
The resident said that four rounds of artillery landed in Padee village, destroying two houses and injuring a villager.
The DKBA was using Thai soil to approach Battalion 201 base from behind, the resident said, adding that Padee villagers were too afraid to stay in the village and had been evacuated by the Thai army.
A resident in Thai border town of Mae Sot said the two injured soldiers were seen arriving to Mae Sot hospital, transferred from Phop Phra hospital.
The fight ended after DKBA fighters withdrew back into Burma, shortly after the Thai soldiers returned fire at them.

the thugs go on Thai soil, that,s against International Law(always do,but why Thai Goverment don,t stop the DKBA KILLERS?)

Yadanabon FC, the soccer team that represents Mandalay city will introduce with the residents on May 21 in Ba Htoo stadium in Mandalay as an introduction to the people.

by Mizzima News
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:22

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Yadanabon FC, the soccer team that represents Mandalay city will introduce with the residents on May 21 in Ba Htoo stadium in Mandalay as an introduction to the people.

The Yadanabon FC will hold its introductory interaction with the people of Mandalay on May 12. Burma’s popular music band Iron Cross will perform as part of a special entertainment programme on the day.

An official of the club said, the live music show, where Burma’s top rock singer Layphyu will feature, will be held without any charges.

The Yadanabon FC will join the newly formed Myanmar National League, representing Mandalay city.

The League, organised by the Myanmar Football Association, will kick-off its first season on May 16.

MALAYSIA: Burmese Refugees “Treated Like a Commodity”

WASHINGTON, Apr 23 (IPS) – The mistreatment of Burmese migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia is the focus of a report released Thursday by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

After receiving disturbing reports of trafficking in 2007, committee staff conducted a year-long review of the allegations. The report, “Trafficking and Extortion of Burmese Migrants in Malaysia and Southern Thailand,” is based on first person accounts of extortion and trafficking in Malaysia and along the Malaysia-Thailand border. Committee information comes from experiences of Burmese refugees resettled in the United States and other countries.

Many Burmese migrants, escaping extensive human rights abuses perpetrated by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the Burmese military junta, travel to Malaysia to register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for resettlement to a third country, according to the report.

Once in Malaysia, Burmese migrants are often arrested by Malaysian authorities, whether or not they have registered with the UNHCR and have identification papers. Burmese migrants are reportedly taken by Malaysian government personnel from detention facilities to the Malaysia-Thailand border for deportation.
continue http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46610

Extension of EU sanctions against the junta is a welcome move, but the offer of talks should stand if there is progress inside the country

A good chance for Burma to respond
By The Nation
Published on April 28, 2009

Extension of EU sanctions against the junta is a welcome move, but the offer of talks should stand if there is progress inside the country

The European Community decided yesterday to renew economic sanctions against Burma for another year. This is a good decision from the EU and was made in good faith when the group’s foreign ministers met in Luxembourg. After all, the EU – albeit a strong and unyielding critic of the military regime – is still one of the biggest donors for humanitarian assistance to the Burmese people, especially since Cyclone Nargis hit the country last May. The EU position should eliminate any lingering doubts among the junta leaders in Burma that the EU will give in to their stubbornness.

No matter how often Asean members turn a blind eye, the sticky issue of Burmese refugees fleeing their homeland will continue to come up over and over again unless Burma’s internal problems are addressed head on

ust months ago there were allegations that Thai security forces pushed a number of Rohingya boat people back onto the open ocean. Some were rescued by neighbouring countries, while the fate of others is unknown, as they have yet to be accounted for and probably never will be.
The incident put Thailand in an unwanted spotlight in the eye of the international community, following criticism that a more humane approach should have been taken. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva finally came clean over the allegations but the damage had already been done.

Freedom Against Censorship Thailand CENSORED!

Mon, 27/04/2009 – 07:38
Three ISPs, including TOT ADSL, Kasetsart University and Buddy Broadband, have been blocking FACT since at least noon on April 25 and at least TOT was redirecting users via transparent proxy to a blank blockpage at Thailand’s ICT ministry.

Will FACT readers please keep us informed if and when FACTsite http://facthai.wordpress.com is blocked by other ISPs. Please let us know by email: facthai@gmail.com. Please include your mobile number so we can call you back.

We need to know if KU and Buddy and perhaps other ISPs are redirecting users by transparent proxy to http://w3.mict.go.th, as is TOT.

The fact that THREE ISPs are now blocking FACTsite indicates that the blocking order did, in fact, come from MICT and is not just an ISP decision.

Burmese Army, DKBA lose 10 soldiers

by Daniel Pedersen
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 12:08

Mae Sot (Mizzima) – The Burmese Army and its ally, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, have lost a total of 10 soldiers in their bid to capture a Karen National Liberation Army base camp south of the border town of Mae Sot.

On Monday five soldiers of Burma’s ruling military regime, the State Peace and Development Council were maimed by exploding landmines.

Two KNLA soldiers have been killed and three injured in the past 16 days, including a Colonel, Saw Jay.

Naypidaw’s forces have suffered almost 40 casualties, because of landmines and booby traps, in the past 16 days during which they laid siege to the camp, known as Wah Lay Kee.

The base is home to the sixth brigade’s 201st battalion and is about an hour’s drive south of Mae Sot.

A senior KNLA commander this morning said fighting continued throughout the day on Monday. Today much the same is expected.

The Burmese Army is now hugging the Thai border, in a bid to launch a fresh offensive against the main camp from the rear.

But the camp is so close to the Thai border it seems increasingly likely that Thailand’s sovereignty will be breached by troops of its neighbour.

The KNLA is fighting desperately to hold on to the camp.

The commander said the situation was “very difficult” and there did not seem to be much likelihood of a break in the fighting.

The past 16 days have been marked by lulls, but regular sorties against the main base camp appear part of a concerted effort to take the camp.

Wah Lay Kee was lost for a couple of days at the end of June last year, but reclaimed quickly.

NLD meeting under surveillance by junta

Junta authorities have tightened security around the National League for Democracy (NLD) office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine, even as the NLD began its plenary meet of its executive members from various states and divisions on Tuesday, 28 April 2009. Photo – Mizzima. The plenary is the fourth of the NLD, Burma’s main opposition party, in the past 20 years.

NLD meeting under surveillance by junta
by Myint Maung
Monday, 27 April 2009 22:30

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A pre-meeting for NLD’s plenary meeting, scheduled for Tuesday was held today at the NLD Head Office in Bahan Township of Rangoon amidst close scrutiny by the authorities and security personnel deployed around the office.

The security personnel were deployed today around the NLD HQ, as the pre-meeting was being held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the meeting was attended by Members of Parliament elected in 1990, Organizing Committee members of States and Divisions, Youth and Women wing leaders, totalling 148 all together.

“There are many plain-clothes security personnel in Kyaukse prayer hall in front of our Head Office, but we did not see USDA members and Swan Arrshin, who used to be deployed near our office earlier. We did not see them this time around our office. There are about 30 security personnel deployed near our office. I cannot say if there are many more in hiding,” NLD party spokesperson Nyan Win said.

Riot police and traffic police arrived near the office on motorcycles and cars and made video recordings and took photographs.