The Hong Kong-based Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) said Burma’s military rulers are using the institutionalized justice system to deny fundamental rights to people and urged the United Nations to probe it.

Military regime overrides judiciary: ALRC
by Salai Pi Pi
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 21:04

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Hong Kong-based Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) said Burma’s military rulers are using the institutionalized justice system to deny fundamental rights to people and urged the United Nations to probe it.

In a statement to the UN Human Rights Council, the ALRC said the Burmese ‘injustice system’ is a case of institutionalized denial of the fundamental rights of the people and the junta is further laying the foundations to legalize the abuses with their planned 2010 elections, which will infuse life into the 2008 constitution.

Basil Fernando, executive director of the ALRC said the international community, particularly the UN, should probe into the legal system and highlight the points in the 2008 constitution that will allow the junta to use the justice system for abuses, instead of going in for rhetorical outcry over individual abuses.

“The UN and others should take up this issue, because the entire population is without rights and without any protection of the law, so rigorously, that they should take action against the military regime,” Fernando told Mizzima on Wednesday.

But he said, in order to do so, the UN should undertake a careful study of the nature of abuses and look at them in an institutionalized context.

“There is not enough understanding of what is happening in Burma. There is not enough outside pressure on the Burmese military regime,” he added.

The junta’s Southeast Command Commander Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win met NMSP Vice-Chairman Nai Rao Sa, Joint Secretary Nai Chan Twe and Central Executive Committee member Nai Dala Ny at Command headquarters on August 28.

Fresh parleys between junta and NMSP over BGF
by Phanida
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 22:12

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – There was renewed parleys between Burmese military junta representatives and Mon leaders relating to the pressure being mounted on the ceasefire ‘New Mon State Party’ (NMSP) troops to transform to the Border Guard Force.

The junta’s Southeast Command Commander Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win met NMSP Vice-Chairman Nai Rao Sa, Joint Secretary Nai Chan Twe and Central Executive Committee member Nai Dala Ny at Command headquarters on August 28.

“During the last meeting we told them that it was difficult for us to accept their proposal of transforming our troops into the BGF,” an official from the NMSP headquarters said on condition of anonymity.

He added that they are not aware of the junta’s response since their leaders are yet come back to the headquarters.

The NMSP sent the resolution of its six-day central committee meeting held between July 27 and August 1 at the party headquarters in Ye Chaung Phya in Ye Township to Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win on August 5. Now they are meeting again and holding discussions on the contentious issue.

The NMSP has informed the military regime that they cannot accept separation of their party and the army or disbanding their army and transforming it into the BGF without guarantee of the right to self-determination for Mon people.

It further said it would maintain the current ceasefire with the junta and would demand of the next government to resolve the political issue through dialogue.

In China, Misuse of UNDP for Chief Malik’s Family Foundation, Staff Complain

UNITED NATIONS, September 1 — In China, the UN Development Program’s resident coordinator Khalid Malik’s wife Carter runs a non governmental organization which uses the UN connection to raise funds. According to whistleblowing UNDP staff who have contacted Inner City Press, Malik urges donations to his wife’s NGO, and some think they are giving to the UN when they give to his wife’s NGO. One example of the (intentional) confusion is contained in a Chinese newspaper article, which Inner City Press is putting online here. It is explained below by Inner City Press’ sources in UNDP in China.

The UNDP staff in China have complained in many forums about Malik, without any improvements. Their staff evaluations have gotten worse each year, including alleging increases in sexual harassment. It is understood that complaints have been filed with UNDP against Malik personally. Here is an account from inside the UNDP in China:

Subject: Nepotism in UNDP China…..poor leadership, bad global staff survey results for fours years….poor staff perception, Mr. Khalid Malik regime continues…..China is awaiting for him to leaving including the government partners…. continue

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Burmese troops move into Wa region

Sept 2, 2009 (DVB)–An increase in Burmese troops in a region controlled by Burma’s largest ceasefire group has been witnessed amid reports that a wanted ethnic leader has fled to the region.

Tension remains high in Burma’s northeastern Shan state following fighting between Burmese troops and an ethnic ceasefire group, the Myanmar Peace and Democracy Front (MPDF).
The MPDF, an alliance of four ceasefire groups from the Kokang special region of Shan state, was reportedly joined by around 500 troops from the 30,000-strong United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burma’s largest ceasefire group.
A Wa official told DVB today that numbers of Burmese army troops were increasing in the Wa region of Shan state.
A UWSA commander, Jia Goh Eng, added that “there might be some activity by the government army in the Wa region – but it’s a complicated matter to talk about.”
Some of the 37,000 refugees who fled north across the border into China to escape fighting have started returning home, many fearing the looting of their houses and shops.
The fighting broke a 20-year ceasefire agreement between both the Kokang group and the UWSA, who are thought to receive arms and economic support from China.

Eye-witnesses said that in recent days troops from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were seen entering territory belonging to the Karen National Union (KNU) in Mon state.

DKBA expands troops in eastern Burma
Sept 2, 2009 (DVB)–A Karen splinter group allied with the Burmese junta appears to be strengthening its presence in eastern Burma, raising fears of fresh clashes with the opposition Karen National Union.

Eye-witnesses said that in recent days troops from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were seen entering territory belonging to the Karen National Union (KNU) in Mon state.
Fighting between the Burmese army, backed by the DKBA, and the KNU in June forced around 4000 Karen civilians into neighbouring Thailand.
An official from the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), said that DKBA troops had entered the KNLA-controlled Mae Kathar village on 30 August, and remained yesterday.
“They have positioned themselves up in three outposts on a hill east of the village and it doesn’t look like they are going to leave,” he said.
There is speculation that the DKBA intends to create and control a trading zone in eastern Burma, and hence is increasing troop numbers in the region.
“The DKBA wanted to gain control of Mae Kathar because it is at a junction of trade routes for honey, timber and ore from mines surrounding the area so they can collect a lot of tax money,” the KNLA official said.

Press release:Renewed fighting and refugee influx a wake-up call to Chinese dam-builders Burma Army clashes with Kokang at site of planned Upper Salween Dam

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 11:56
Press Release By Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation
Shan activists are calling on China to immediately halt all investment in dams on the Salween River following the recent heavy fighting between the Burmese military regime and the Kokang ceasefire army near the site of the Upper Salween Dam planned by Chinese companies in northern Shan State.

Heavy clashes have taken place just east of the town of Kunlong, about 15 kms from the planned dam site. Fighting broke out on August 27, 2009, after the regime deployed thousands of troops to seize control of the Kokang territory, shattering the 20-year ceasefire and causing over 30,000 refugees to flee to China. Kokang forces have sought to repel the Burma Army troops.

Plans to build the Upper Salween Dam, also known as the Kunlong Dam, were announced in April 2007 by two Chinese companies, Hanergy Holding Group (formerly Farsighted Investment Group) and Gold Water Resources Company. Since then a team of Chinese and Burmese technicians have been conducting feasibility studies for the 2,400 MW dam, 25 kms from the Chinese border.

The Kunlong Dam is one of five mega dams being planned on the Salween in Burma by the SPDC and Chinese and Thai companies, to produce electricity to be sold to China and Thailand. The Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation, together with the Salween Watch coalition of environmental groups from Thailand and Burma, has been monitoring the controversial dam plans for ten years and advocating for their immediate halt.

“The renewed fighting and the flood of refugees into Yunnan should be a wake-up call to China about the risks of investing in Burma,” said Sapawa spokesperson Sai Khur Hseng. “Not only is there no free and informed consent to these dam projects, but they are being built over the dead bodies of our people.”

The other mega dam being planned in Shan State is the giant 7,110 MW Ta Sang dam, 100 km from the Thai border. In early August, the regime renewed a scorched earth campaign in townships close to the Ta Sang dam site, torturing and killing civilians and driving 10,000 villagers from their homes.

salween watch

Thailand South-Three Burmese migrants suffocated

According to the August 30th issue of the local Thai-Rak newspaper, The Kyone Phaw rescue team found the corpses of three unidentified Burmese migrants who were probably suffocated at Annong Kyawklip Monastery (Wat), Mu-5, Tar Monakha village, Chumphon Township in southern Thailand.
On 28th August at around 09:00 villagers near the Monastery (Wat) saw the corpses about 30m from the main entrance road. The village leader, Nai Phanein Kaemani informed local police who sent a rescue truck to Chumphon hospital, according to the newspaper.
Special crime unit Police officer, Tuchat Tililucphone said; “Maybe Burmese, no ID card or legal document was seen, not even wearing shoes. Drivers are worried they will be linked to the dead in such trafficking cases, so they get rid of the corpses,” according to the media.
The newspaper reported that, according to hospital records, the three Burmese migrants had suffocated 10 hours before they were found.
There was the possibility of a dumped container, according to villagers and police were investigating the container owner and talking with Burmese migrant workers around the Chumphon area.
Because of economic instability and the lack of employment opportunities in Burma, many Burmese come to neighbouring Thailand any way they can, and unfortunately these sorts of incidents occur.
On 10th April, 2008, an unfortunate incident took place where more than one hundred Burmese migrants were trafficked from Ranong to Phuket and due to the failure of air conditioning 54 people suffocated.
http://www.ghre.org/en/

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Top Chinese And Burmese Military Officers In One-Day Meet

Written by KNG
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 15:41
Military brass from China and Burma went into a huddle on Monday (August 31) regarding the junta’s military offensive against the ethnic Kokang ceasefire group also known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Burma’s northeast Shan State, said border sources.

The day-long meeting was held in Lashio (also spelled Lashu in Kachin) in northeast Shan State. Eight Chinese military officers led by Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held discussions with four Burmese senior military officers including Lt-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander of No. 2 Bureau of Special Operation (BSO), said sources, who monitored the meeting.

The BSO-2 is based in Loikaw in Karenni (Kayah) State and it is responsible for three military commands in Shan State — the Lashio-based Northeast Command (NEC), Kengtong-based Triangle Areas Command (TAC) and Taunggyi-based Eastern Command (EC).

The high level military meeting between the two countries was held a week after the junta took control of the Kokang’s capital Laogai with the help of Burmese troops wearing police uniforms without a single shot being fired on August 24.

The junta says that it captured Kokang’s capital because the ceasefire group was into illegal heroin and weapon smuggling activities in Laogai breaking the 20-year-old ceasefire agreement between them, said the junta-run media.