Burma, China Sign MoU on Rail Transport Project

Burma, China Sign MoU on Rail Transport Project

China and Burma reached a memorandum of understanding in Naypyidaw on Wednesday on a joint rail transport construction project extending from the Burmese border town of Muse to the port city of Kyaukphyu in Arakan State, according to a report by Xinhua on Thursday. The MoU, signed by the China Railways Engineering Corporation and the Myanmar Union Ministry of Rail Transportation, was witnessed by Burmese Vice-President Tin Aung Myint Oo, Chinese ambassador to Burma Li Junhua, Myanmar Union Minister of Rail Transportation Aung Min and the president of the China Railways Engineering Corporation, Li Changjin. According to the MoU, the first phase of the Muse-Lashio-Kyaukphyu rail project is from Muse to Lashio in Shan State, covering a distance of 126 km, with 41 big and small bridges, 36 tunnels and seven railway stations to be added along the route. The project, targeted to be completed within three years, is to be implemented in line with an ongoing China-Burma gas pipeline project from Kyaukphyu to Kunming in southwest China’s Yunnan Province via Muse.

Published on Thursday, Apr,28,2011

Irrawaddy news

Mae Sot Police to Raid Burmese Opposition?

MAE SOT — Thai police is likely to begin raiding buildings and apartments in the border town of Mae Sot that Burmese opposition groups rent for offices and residences, according to sources close to Burmese police.

The plan was agreed in a meeting on Wednesday in Myawaddy—the Burmese town across the border from Mae Sot—attended by Thai police from Mae Sot and Burmese police from Myawaddy.

“Burmese and Thai police held a special meeting yesterday. The Burmese police asked the Thai police to take action regarding anti-human trafficking, anti-drug trafficking, border affairs and Burmese dissidents in Mae Sot,” said a government servant close to the Myawaddy police.  

“The Burmese police gave detailed information, addresses and photos of offices and houses which have been rented by Burmese dissidents,” he added. 

Burmese police accused the Mae Sot-based Burmese dissidents of conducting terror-style attacks such as armed attacks and bomb blasts in Myawaddy, the source said. Therefore they asked the Thai police to take immediate action against Burmese dissidents.

Based on the bilateral agreement in the meeting yesterday, some observers in Mae Sot said that the Burmese and Thai police will likely soon speed up criminal cases on the Thai-Burmese border.

Bilateral anti-human trafficking measures and criminal cases on the border were also discussed during the meeting, which Tak Province’s Pol Maj-Gen Chamlong Nomsian attended. Thai immigration officials and border committee members also attended the meeting, said border sources.

In the past, Thai police have occasionally launched raids and cracked down on Burmese dissidents.

In October 2009, Thai security forces raided the homes of 10 leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) in Mae Sot. Also, in February 2010, Thai police in Mae Sot raided the office of Karen journalists, the Karen Information Center and the home of David Takapaw, the vice chairman of the KNU. 

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Newly-Named Tibetan Exile Leader Faces Task of Reshaping Government

Kurt Achin

New Delhi
April 27, 2011

Photo: AP

Lobsang Sengey, shows his green book as he arrives to cast his vote in Dharmsala, India (File Photo – March 20, 2011)

The global community of Tibetan exiles has elected a Harvard-educated legal scholar as its next prime minister. One of his first priorities will be to reshape the Tibetan exile governing structures so that they derive their legitimacy less from the Dalai Lama and more from democratically-elected institutions.

Tibetan exile officials made it official Wednesday: 42-year-old Lobsang Sangay will be the community’s new leader.

Mon Leader:“Civil War Will Spread Throught the Country if the Government Continues to Fight the Shan,”

April 28th, 2011

By LAWI WENG – The New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic armed group in southern Burma, has repeatedly asked the new Burmese government to stop fighting in Shan State, with the threat that a civil war will spread throughout Burma.

Mon National Liberation Army soldier providing security for Mon National Day on February 19th. (Photo: AWE MON)

An executive member of the NMSP, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We have agreed among our party leaders to open a battle front. If we open this front, the fire of the civil war will spread throughout the country.

“It [the Burmese government] cannot stop the fire after we start. This is why we are asking [them] to stop fighting in Shan State.”

The Burmese government attacked the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) in the middle of March lunching a major military offensive in the area. Fighting has continued since then.

SSA-N is a former ceasefire group, similar to the NMSP, though the SSA-N took part in a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese military junta in September 1989. SSA-N is also a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) along with the Kachin Independence Organization, the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party, and the NMSP.

“We can not watch without action while one group faces attack,” said the source from the NMSP.

The junta has targeted the different armed ethnic groups who refused to join the Burmese government ruled Border Guard Force (BGF). The Burmese army first attacked Kokang, an armed ethnic group in northern Burma, in June 2009.

According to the decision from NMSP central and executive committee meetings held at NMSP headquarters in Bee Ree, Ye Township, in the first week of April, party leaders decided to defend themselves militarily against any Burmese military offensive that arrives in NMSP’s areas of control.

NMSP leaders believe that the Burmese army will start a military offensive in their area of control some day in the imminent future due to the end of the ceasefire agreement between the former Burmese government and the NMSP.

In 1995, the NMSP agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese military junta, and for fifteen years both parties did not participate in political dialogue. The ceasefire agreement ended when the NMSP refused to become part of the BGF in April 2010.

Short URL: http://monnews.org/?p=2548

India and Burma to Hold Joint Naval Exercise

28.april narinjara

Dhaka: Two Indian naval ships will set out for Burma from the Bangladesh port of Chittagong today to take part in a joint naval exercise with Burma, said a report of an Indian official that was published in a Bangladesh newspaper.

The report said that two Indian coastguard ships, the Vajra and Razia Sultan, will leave for Burma on Thursday morning after a joint exercise is completed with Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal.

The joint naval exercise with Bangladesh will be completed today, with the ships to leave for Burma afterwards.

The two Indian ships came from Orissa State in India and arrived in Chittagong Port on Sunday to take part in a four-day naval exercise with Bangladesh.

The naval ships will stay in Burma for four days. During that time, the ships will complete the joint exercise the same as they have done in Bangladesh, the report said.

Burma and Bangladesh to Collaborate in Military in Near Future

Dhaka: Burma and Bangladesh are expected to collaborate in the military sector in the near future after the two countries signaled their intent during Burmese air chief Lieutenant General Myat Hein’s six-day visit to Bangladesh.

Burma’s Lt. General Myat Hein called on Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman yesterday, and during the meeting the Bangladesh president emphasized an exchange of military training by members of the armed forces between the two countries.

President Zillur Rahman told Lt. General Myat Hein that Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General Abdul Mubeen is expected to visit Burma last month, saying, “We are interested to promote relations between the armed forces.”

According to an official report from Bangladesh, Lt. General Myat Hein also conveyed a message to the Bangladesh president that the newly elected government of Burma is keen to rapidly improve bilateral relations and mutual cooperation with Bangladesh.

Lt. General Myat Hein also visited the National Defense College of Bangladesh yesterday and expressed his hope that Burmese forces would be sent to take training at the college in Bangladesh in the future. He also lauded the National Defense College of Bangladesh, the source said.

During the air chief’s six-day visit, the two countries have discussed not only military issues, but also other issues like road links. Bangladesh is keen to take the initiative in establishing direct rail and road connectivity with Burma.