DKBA ramps up civilian abuses and set sights on Brigade 6

News – Independent Mon News Agency
REPORT BY MON SON
FRIDAY, 24 JULY 2009 12:08

Karen people are fleeing in droves to Thailand as the Democratic Karen Buddhist Association (DKBA) commits ongoing human rights abuses.

The Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) recently reported on the tense situation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Thailand-based Karen Refugee Committee (KRC).

According to the report, about 200 Karen people have reached the Tha Song Yang district, Tak province in the last 24 hours alone, mainly taking temporary shelter at the Mae U Su site.

The report also detailed DKBA abuses such as forced recruitment, portering and the extortion of money, food, and livestock. Such abuses have become push factors for Karen migration and the creation of many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

This month the DKBA and the Burmese army have launched a joint offensive against the Karen National Union (KNU), the main political party of the Karen people. Brigade 7 area has already fallen and the combined forces are now targeting Brigade 6, which includes 18 villages between Three Pagodas Pass Township and Kyainnseikyi Township.

The general secretary of the KRC said, “The number of Karen people arriving in Thailand has increased to 500 people [in the Tha Song Yang district]. Since [fighting began] between the KNU and the DKBA, Karen people have fled to Thailand. Karen people are seeking shelter from the NGOs and the Thai government.”

According to a July 19th story by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, the Burmese military’s Southeast Command (SEC) has begun using a variety of internal tactics in Karen State, including using DKBA name registries to require two baskets of rice per household, with a 10,000 kyat penalty for failing to provide this.

Border Situation Update July 23rd 2009

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According to the Burmese migrant residents in the area, such robbery cases take place often in Parweek rubber plantations and the robbers regularly terrorize Burmese migrant workers with guns

Rubber Plantation Robbery

A robbery took place at a rubber plantation in Parweek village, Takuapa in Phang Nga province, Southern Thailand on Saturday 18th July at around 10:30am. Rubber sheets to the value of 2500 baht were taken.
Than Naing Oo, a plantation worker and victim of the robbery said “Last Saturday the robber came to the plantation and asked for my boss. I replied that he would be at home on the edge of the entry road. Then he said he would like to talk to my boss, but when I looked at the car there was no number plate even though the car was brand new. It was a black car. I told him that if he wanted to see my boss, he should go and see him. Then he drove off but a few minutes later he came back and pulled out a gun. He shouted at us not to run but all of us fled out the back door. He shot once but no one was hurt. I hid behind the bamboo bushes and he went into the house and just took 21 sheets of rubbers. He didn’t see that we had our mobile phones”.
According to the Burmese migrant residents in the area, such robbery cases take place often in Parweek rubber plantations and the robbers regularly terrorize Burmese migrant workers with guns.
Than Naing Oo continued; “This kind of robbery happens once or twice a year. The two rubber plantations in front of have been robbed before, but this time it was us who were robbed. Because of what’s happened no one dares stay here but we have no choice and of course we have some debt to pay back. When the robbery happened I immediately called my boss and he informed police. The police came and took some photos but it was too late. They couldn’t do anything as the robber had already left”.
A robbery also happened at the same plantation just 6 months earlier. A robber came on motorbike and there was an attempted robbery but a Burmese migrant worker resisted with a knife and the robber ran away leaving his motorbike. The worker and his wife didn’t dare stay there so finally they left the plantation to work somewhere else.
http://www.ghre.org/en/

Battalion commanders under the Mongnawng based Military Operations Command (MOC) #2 in Shan State South were reported to have met recently to launch a military offensive against the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ after dozens of its soldiers and weapons were lost to the SSA on 15 July

Commanders meet to discuss operation against rebels
FRIDAY, 24 JULY 2009 10:12 HSENG KHIO FAH
Battalion commanders under the Mongnawng based Military Operations Command (MOC) #2 in Shan State South were reported to have met recently to launch a military offensive against the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ after dozens of its soldiers and weapons were lost to the SSA on 15 July, local sources said.

On 20 July, battalions commanders based in Kehsi, Mongkeung and Laikha townships met in Mongnawng. The meeting, presided over by the MOC commander Col Kyaw Zan Myint, discussed preparations for a military offensive against the SSA, said an informed resource.

6 battalions would be employed in the planned operation after many of its soldiers from LIB#515 were killed, he said.

However, there has been no further information of supporting units in the operation and the main target.

There are 12 battalions under the MOC#2 command, Loilem based IB#9, and #12, Laikha based IB#64 and LIB#515, Namzang based IB#66 , #247 and LIB#516, Mongnai based IB#248 and LIB#518, Panglong based LIB#513, Mongkeung based LIB#514 and Mongpawn based LIB#517. At least 156 soldiers from each battalion are expected to join the operation.

During the clash on 15 July in Kehsi Township, the Burma Army lost 11, one was captured and 5 assorted weapons were seized by the attackers while 14 others escaped with serious injuries. However, of those who got away 8 more reportedly died on the way back.

Why Myanmar’s elections will work

YANGON – Any recent repeat traveller to Myanmar would have noticed the change. Compared to just a few years ago, there are more paved roads, including a modern tollway connecting the central city of Mandalay to the newly built capital of Naipyidaw. On the new roadways, travelling vehicles’ license plate numbers, make and model are captured digitally and stored to a centrally maintained computer system.

Meanwhile, mobile telecommunications have become cheaper and more widespread, with disposable SIM cards costing US$20-$50 widely available in urban areas. Internet cafes have sprung up and do booming business across the country, although technically private proprietors must keep records of all those who log-in at their shops.
Within the old capital of Yangon, modern buildings have sprung up, including serviced apartments for expatriates and high-end hotels. Shops have more goods for sale, while the average age of the reconditioned Japanese vehicles that ply the local roads is now much younger than previously.

Then there are the nouveau rich, who frequent the few modern cafes and high-end hotel bars in the big cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Many are of Chinese origin, whose children are being educated at top-notch universities overseas. Others are the offspring of top generals. There is also a new group earning an international standard of living through work at the various development organizations increasingly active in the country.

Tokyo-Fresh warrant served on trader over illegal export of machine

YOKOHAMA —
A fresh arrest warrant was served Friday on a Tokyo trader on suspicion of illegally exporting to Myanmar a machine that can be used in the development of missiles, police said. Ri Gyong Go, 41, president of Toko Boeki trading company in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, is suspected of exporting a small-sized cylindrical grinding machine in violation of the foreign exchange and foreign trade law.

He allegedly shipped the machine to Myanmar from Nagoya port on Nov. 20, 2008, without permission from the minister of economy, trade and industry, the police said. Cylindrical grinders can be used to develop missile control systems and centrifuge machines for uranium enrichment, the police said. The devices are used to grind magnets.

Japantoday

Summary Trial Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 24.July 2009

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communitynews/nanpaungklay by Kwekalu Karen News

http://www.kwekalu.net/communitynews/nanpaungklay.html

Burmese in New York City decorated Burmese Regime’s consulate office as Burma’s Martyrs Day Memorial Place

On 19th July 2009 in New York City, front yard of Burmese Regime’s consulate office was decorated as a memorial place to commemorate 62nd anniversary of Burma’s Martyrs Day by the Burmese activists in exile. Burmese in New York hanged up the photo frame of Burmese independence hero and father of their opposition leader, Bogyoke Aung San and placed flowers and wreath as paying respect ceremony. Then they staged protest and demonstration against the Burmese regime for their misruling of the country. (Photo – Emerald Soe, Burma Point)
http://moemaka.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=376:burmese-in-new-york-city-decorated-burmese-regimes-consulate-office-as-burmas-martyrs-day-memorial-place&catid=83:photos-news&Itemid=200

Junta Paper on 1990 Election Results-07-23

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ARF offers to help Burma promote democracy and Human Rights -cartoon by Harnlay