NNLD statement on 2010 elctions 3.december

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Impasse Between KIO And Junta On BGF

Written by KNG
Tuesday, 08 December 2009

There is an impasse between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Burmese junta on the Border Guard Force (BGF) issue since October, the deadline set by the regime for transforming all ethnic ceasefire groups to the BGF. There has been no high level meeting between the two sides since then, said KIO sources.

KIO officials in Laiza headquarters near the China border in Kachin State said no meeting has been held because no fresh proposals have come from either side since October.

The two sides met eight times on transforming KIA to the junta-proposed BGF in Kachin State’s capital Myitkyina between April and September. All the meetings failed to yield results.

The KIO’s final demand was sent to Burmese military supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe, which said that the KIO would surrender all weapons if the junta accepts the basic principles of the Panglong Agreement, the historic agreement signed on February 12, 1947 for jointly forming the Union of Burma with multi-ethnic nationalities by Burman leader Gen Aung San and ethnic leaders— Kachin, Chin and Shan, and implement it by means of the agreement.

Statement from the 14th Bi-annual Meeting by Burma News International (BNI):

Media Alert – Media Alert
TUESDAY, 08 DECEMBER 2009 12:47

The following is a statement from the Burma News International (BNI):

Statement from the 14th Bi-annual Meeting

The 14th bi-annual meeting of Burma News International (BNI) was successfully held from 15-17 November 2009, near the Thai-Burma border. Representatives from the following member news organizations attended:
Independent Mon News Agency
Kachin News Group
Kaladan Press Network
Kantarawaddy Times
Kaowao News Group
Karen Information Center
Khonumthung
Mizzima News
Narinjara
Network Media Group
Shan Herald Agency for News
The meeting focused on reports presented by member news groups and discussion of plans for the upcoming year.

One of the resolutions passed by the bi-annual meeting concerns the Burmese general elections, scheduled for 2010, by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling military leaders.

BNI members agree that freedom of information and transparency are crucial components of free and fair elections, as promised by the military government. Journalists must be allowed access to information and the freedom to report it to the public without interference. Otherwise, the planned elections will not be considered free and fair and should be rejected by the international community.

Therefore, BNI presents the following demands:
The unconditional and prompt release of all journalists under detention
The freedom to gather, print and disseminate information be granted to journalists, both local and foreign
Suspension of news censorship
All BNI members and partners are resolved to do their duty as responsible journalists, with or without SPDC approval.

For more information, please contact:

1. U Khuen Sai- (0) 81 531 2837
2. Nai Kasauh Mon- (0) 81 365 9140
3. Nan Paw Gay- (0) 81 209 9772

One killed, two injured in landmine explosion-KIC NEWS

News – KIC
REPORT BY NAN HTOO SAN
TUESDAY, 08 DECEMBER 2009 08:30

A villager was killed and two people were injured when a landmine exploded under a passing vehicle in Taung Oo on December 3. The Burmese Army has been requisitioning vehicles in the region for transporting the army’s rations since early this month.

On December 3, MOC 5 commander Col. Khin Maung Hsint summoned vehicle owners in Baw Gali and Ray Thogyi village. He ordered them to transport the army’s rations from Baw Gali to Maung Taigyi camp. When the convoy of vehicles reached between Ray Thogyi and Khu Laugun a gun battle ensued between the KNLA and the Burmese Army. During the skirmish, a vehicle hit a landmine. The explosion killed a villager and two others were injured, a Taung Oo local said.

“On that day, eight vehicles were requisitioned for transportation of rations. The gun fight occurred even as the convoy was travelling. Naw Cherry’s vehicle was totally damaged in the explosion. One person was killed on the spot. The driver and another villager were injured,” a Taung Oo local Saw El War told KIC.

The Burmese Army requisitioned six vehicles from Baw Gali and Ray Thogyi village again on December 4 for transporting rations to Muang Tai camp. When the convoy was moving, a vehicle fell into a ravine. The vehicle was damaged and the driver injured.

Battalions under the MOC 5, based in Taung Oo region, have been summoning villagers, and requisitioning vehicles and motorcycles to transport rations to military camps since late November.According to locals, Burmese Army escorted convoys and KNLA get involved in gun fights almost every day in the area. As such locals are injured and killed in the armed conflicts.

HRW: Junta needs to do more on child soldiers

by Mungpi
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 21:41

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday that the training course conducted by the Burmese military junta to prevent recruitment of children into the military is “one good step in the big problem” but insufficient to tackle the issue.

HRW’s comment came as Burma’s military rulers on Tuesday said it has started the third training course for officers on preventing the use of child soldiers.

The junta’s mouthpiece, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, on Tuesday reported that the training course on prevention of recruiting child soldiers was attended by 33 officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The newspaper said the training, which started on Monday, was jointly conducted by the junta’s Work Committee for the Prevention of Recruiting of Minors in Military Services, headed by Maj-Gen Ngwe Thein, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

David Mathieson, HRW’s Burma researcher, said “this is a good first step but is one step in a very big problem.”

FREE BURMA PROJECT-X MAS PARTY

Thanks to Moses chairman Burma Project

2100 by 2010: Burma’s Forgotten Political Prisoners

In the past two years the Burma’s military government has intensified arrests and intimidation of political activists and government critics. Human Rights Watch is pressing for the release of some 2,100 political prisoners in Burma by 2010.
To learn more or take action: http://www.hrw.org/free-burmas-prisoners

Dr Cynthia Mg 50th Birth Day 6Dec2009

Burmese Army Collects Opium Plantation Taxes in Shan State

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 12:14

The active Burmese Army’ Battalions that operate in Larng Khur township, southern Shan State have forced local villagers to pay the opium plantation taxes otherwise they would be punished, said a local source.

On November 19, 2009 at 8 pm Capt. Kyaw Win Myint led 20 soldiers from IB 525 and IB 99 ordered the villagers from Hway Nein tract and Nam Mai Kai tract, Larng Khur township to pay the opium plantation taxes and 1,400,000 kyat was given by the villagers.

550,000 kyat was given by Wan Hway Nein village, Wan Pone Lao village and Wan Lao Yao from Hway Nein tract while 850,000 kyat was given by Wan Pan Soon village, Wan Nam Tae village, Wan Pan Zan village and Wan Nam Mai Kai village from Nam Mai Kai tract.

Burmese Army also ordered villagers that they had to pay all the taxes within that night.

Taifreedom

Chin State – a mountain of trouble by IRIN

RONG LONG, 7 December 2009 (IRIN) – In the remote western Chin state, Ngite Pan, 46, ekes out an existence, feeding herself and her 15-year-old daughter by planting millet. Occasionally, she sells a traditional intoxicating brew called Khaung-Yay, also made from millet, which earns her about US$4 a month.

It is the widow’s only source of income, and most of this money is spent on buying rice to supplement the millet – but it is not enough.

“Our main problem is getting enough food. There are many days in a year when we have to skip a meal,” Ngite Pan said from her bamboo home in the isolated mountain village of Rong Long in the south. “We see no way out to escape these hardships.”