WAR:clash between the Burmese military troops and the Karenni soldiers near Daw Ta Naw village

2.May 2011 Ktimes

Artillery firing after a clash between the Burmese military troops and the Karenni soldiers near Daw Ta Naw village in Shadaw District, in Karenni State injured two civilians.According to a local source, on 9 March, around 6:30 am in the morning, troops of the Burmese infantry Battalion 332 based in Shadaw District clashed with the Karenni soldiers under the command of Colonel Hseh Noe and Colonel Ku Reh. After the battle, The Burmese army fired seven artilleries into Daw Ta Naw village.

“After the fighting, the Burmese troops fired seven artilleries into the village. Two of the artilleries didn’t explode. Two villagers were hit from the mortars. One was wounded in the leg. The other one was hit but he ran to hide in the jungle.” told a source who witnessed on the fighting.

Enter to Shadaw

“After the Burmese troops fired the artilleries, they entered our village and fired our houses with their guns.  But no one was hit as we all had already fled from our village and hidden in the jungle.” said a villager who went to hide in the jungle.

The victims who were hit by the artillery shelling kept their names anonymous while reporting about the case.

“The Burmese army always warns the villagers that if there is a fighting broke out between the troops and the Karenni armed group, the villagers will have to take responsibility.” said the vice-chair of Karenni Interior Ministry, Bama Naing

“Whenever there is a fighting, the SPDC will use the villagers as scapegoats and torture them. This is their usual strategy in the warfare. They (the military army) target the villagers because they know that some of the villagers have relatives in the Karenni army. They give the villagers problem in order to cut support for the Karenni soldiers.” added Bama Naing.

The fighting on 9 March lasted about half an hour but no side was reported of causality.

The fighting on 7 March between the troops of Burmese infantry Battalion 332 and the unit of Karenni army under the command of Colonel Hseh Noe left four Burmese troops injured including one sergeant.

AMNESTY:No one release today

Heard the news… there will be amnesty, but they will release the ones who has filled the date to release. No one release today. Heard that Ko Zar ga nar will be release soon, let’s wait and see. Tomorrow will be Exciting !!!

Burma: Happy to hear that some prisoners will be released tomorrow. I am happy for anyone who will be released either normal or political prisoners.

by BDC

Former military officer arrested under Burmese Electronics Act

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Nay Myo Zin, a leading volunteer of a blood donation group in Rangoon and a former military officer, has been arrested under the Burmese Electronics Act for writing an e-mail to a friend in a foreign country about ‘national reconciliation’, according to family members.

Nay Myo Zin, a former captain and an active volunteer in a blood donor group, has been arrested and jailed in Insein Prison. Photo : Youth Network For People(BG)

His mother, Khin Thi, told Mizzima that during the family’s visit with him in Insein Prison in Rangoon, ‘He told us that he was charged under the Electronics Act because he wrote to a friend that he was ready to cooperate in trying for national reconciliation’.

Nay Myo Zin was arrested on April 2 by the Special Police Branch at his home in South Dagon Township without an arrest warrant, sources said. He was detained in the Aungthabyay Interrogation Centre in Mayangone Township and was not allowed to contact his family until 31 days after his arrest.

Finally, his father, mother and wife were alllowed to visit him in Insein Prison. His mother said that Nay Myo Zin was in good health and a hearing would be held on May 5.

‘He seemed calm. But, I couldn’t guess what he felt in his heart. He told me he didn’t need to worry because he didn’t do anything bad’, his mother said.

Section 376, Chapter VIII of the Constitution says no person should be held in custody for more than 24 hours without being taken before a magistrate.

The Asian Human Rights Commission issued a statement in late April that urged the Burmese authorities to handle the case in accordance with the Constitution.

Nay Myo Zin’s younger brother told Mizzima that the Special Police Branch seized Nay Myo Zin’s laptop, mobile phone and about US $50 when he was arrested, and have not returned the belongings to his family.

His colleagues from the blood donation group, which regularly donated blood to government hospitals, held a prayer vigil at the Shwedagon Pagoda for his release. They made blood donations in hospitals in Rangoon in honour Nay Myo Zin.

Presently, the National League for Democracy is trying to provide legal advice and help to hire a lawyer, a colleague from the South Dagon blood donation group told Mizzima.

Nay Myo Zin, 35, an active charity worker, resigned from the army as a captain in 2005.

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http://www.scribd.com/doc/54044821/BURMA-Former-army-officer-illegally-detained-for-three-weeks-at-risk-of-torture

Column marking student boycott reopened in Shwedagon Pagoda

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Burma’s new government has reopened a commemorative column that marks the spot where Burmese

university students planned the boycott of the Rangoon University Act in 1920 while under British colonial rule.

Located in the southwest corner of Shwedagon Pagoda, the stone post was closed by the junta about five years ago. The column was erected at a location where 11 university students held a secret meeting to boycott the university act.

The column was reopened on April 17, the Burmese New Year.

The eleven university students who organized the boycott were Ba Khin, Boe Kun, Ba Oo, Aung Din, Tun Win, Pe Thein, Ba Shin (Thandwe), Ba Shin (Tavoy), K Nyi Pate, Hla Tint and Maung Aye.

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TRICKY……

Aiya School-Mae Sod -Thailand

May Day 2011 Maesot SAW

WAR:Karen State Refugees Flee Latest Clash

A clash between Burmese government troops and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Kyarinn Seikgyi Township, Karen State has sent nearly 500 residents fleeing to Umpiem Township in Tak Province, Thailand.

“The skirmish began on Sunday morning and has lasted for nearly three days. Villagers from Karen State fled to Thailand,” said Captain Kyaw Moe from KNLA Brigade 103.

The governor of Thailand’s Tak Province, Samart Loifah, instructed township authorities to provide humanitarian assistance, said an official from the Umpiem Township administration.

Security forces have been increased along the border in Thailand due to the clash.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and NGO’s are trying to assist the refugees.

“When the clashes are over, the refugees have to go back. The Burmese army will take intensive offensive action against the Karen armed group this summer. In the future there will be more clashes,” said a village head from Umpiem Township.

Land Confiscation in Kachin State-video by Kachin News TV

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Thai coal mining in Burma begins despite of local concerns

WEDNESDAY, 04 MAY 2011 16:47 HSENG KHIO FAH

Saraburi Coal Mining, a subsidiary of Ital-Thai that received a 30 year concession by Burmese authorities to export coal from Shan State East’s Mongkok sub-township, Monghsat township, 70km north of Thailand’s Chiangrai border, has begun working on the construction of  its project, destroying paddy fields, farms and lands of local villagers, according to local reports.

“They [the company workers] started clearing the space to construct the buildings and extract mine in mid April. They destroyed all the areas in the project site. Areas that were not designated in their lists were also destroyed as well,” a source said.

According to farmers, the coal company paid them Baht 20,000 ($ 666.6) per acre rate for compensation.

“But the Burmese authorities just paid us only Kyat 20,000 ($20) per acre,” said another resident whose farms were also destroyed.

“With that little money how can we survive in the long time? Some company workers even suggested us to relocate to Thailand if we don’t have a place to stay and survive in our home area,” she added. “There are lots of jobs for the likes of us there, they said.”