Month: September 2010

Statements of ABFSU and the umbrella group to Student arrest

On By Burma Myanmar newsIn BurmaLeave a comment

Student unions condemn ‘unlawful’ arrest of activists urging poll boycott
Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The All Burma Federation of Student Unions yesterday condemned the unlawful arrest of six student activists who urged the public to boycott the junta’s election on November 7, according to statement from the umbrella group.

Six university students from North Okkalapa Township, aged between 19 and 24, distributed the leaflets calling for a boycott of the vote were arrested this month. The All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABSFU) said that the students’ activity was lawful and in accordance with basic human rights.

Chapter 1, article 3 of the National Parliament Electoral Law stated that “an element of one’s electoral right is the right to vote or the right to choose not to vote” and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by many countries including Burma, said: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”, the statement pointed out.

So in accord with the junta’s existing laws and basic human rights, the people have right to opt out of voting and the federation condemned the junta’s unlawful act of detaining the student activists for distributing the leaflets, it said.

The statement also demanded the students’ immediate release.

List of detained student activists, all from North Okkalapa
1. Tha Htoo Aung, 20, final-year engineering student, J Ward. Father’s Name: Khin Maung Oo.
2. Zin Min Htet, second-year distance education history student, K Ward. Father’s Name: Ohn Khine.
3. Kyaw Thi Ha, aka Kyaw Kyaw, 24, geography student, K Ward. Father’s Name: Nyi Nyi Lwin.
4. Zarni Lin, aka Lin Lin, 21, student from Hmawbi Technological University, K Ward. Father’s Name: Khin Zaw.
5. Kyaw Thu Soe, aka Arnold, 19, first-year Dagon University distance education student of geography, K Ward. Father’s Name: Aye Shwe.
6. Ye Lin Phyo, aka Ko Phyo, 21, first-year Dagon University distance education economics student, J Ward. Father’s Name: Thaung Myint.

Two million workers to be legalized

On By Burma Myanmar newsIn BurmaLeave a comment
Two million workers to be legalized PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 24 September 2010 00:00
INN, a local Thai online newspaper, recently posted news about living and working documents being provided for 2 million migrant workers. The newspaper also quoted a speech given by the Thailand labor minister, Nai Chalom Chaidion.

The speech was given yesterday at a meeting hosted by the Labor Ministry department and emphasized that illegal migrants working in Thailand should register.

Legalization of migrant employees will start next month. To ensure a fast national identification process, arrangements were quickly made to send authorized staffs to Ranong, where temporary passport are currently being made.

Among the three border places, Ranong alone is able to process 1000 people daily. The other two border areas process only about 300 people daily.

The newspaper also reports that the minister called for new laborers in order to avoid labor shortage in basic jobs in Thailand.

http://www.ghre.org/en/

Third clash between junta, ex-ceasefire Shans

On By Burma Myanmar newsIn BurmaLeave a comment
THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010 14:57 S.H.A.N
A handful of Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ fighters guarding inmates, mostly drug addicts, outside a village between Mongyai and Hsipaw townships, Shan State North, was attacked by an unidentified Burma Army patrol this morning, according to a rebel source.

The Burma Army took positions on two hills overlooking the ‘treatment center’, where inmates were required to work in the surrounding pineapple orchard, at 06:00. The 8-men at once released their charge, about 20 of them, and retreated. “Nobody was hurt,” he said. “We don’t know how the attackers fare.”

http://www.shanland.org/

The latest clash, the third in 15 days, has been confirmed by the anti-Naypyitaw SSA South leader, Lt-Gen Yawdserk.

The site is located outside Kung Niu, a village half way between Hsengkeow and Mongyai, a distance of 27 miles from each other.

According to a Wa source on the border, the Burmese commander in Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, recently told them, the time for negotiations was over since 1 September. “You have only three choices: move back to the Sino-Burma border where you came from, surrender or fight,” the unidentified commander was quoted as saying:

A Wa fighter traveling alone in a passenger car was taken in custody in Mongton township last week. “He was said to have been beaten and killed,” he said.