Indonesian anti-terror police exchanged fire Wednesday with four men holed up in a house suspected of involvement in a plot to bomb the Myanmar embassy.
Armed police commandos patrol on motorcycle around the Jakarta convention centre on May 5, 2011. Indonesian anti-terror police exchanged fire Wednesday with four men holed up in a house suspected of involvement in a plot to bomb the Myanmar embassy.
The shoot-out came after the elite unit swooped on a hideout in Bandung, West Java, at 11:30 am (0430 GMT), with the suspects at one point throwing a pipe-bomb, police said.
The officers, wearing combat gear, returned fire and hurled tear gas into the building in a bid to flush out the suspects, while hundreds of local police formed a cordon and a large crowd gathered to watch, an AFP reporter said.
After several hours, police were seen dragging a man to a nearby vehicle. A police spokesman confirmed the 25-year-old arrested was one of the suspects, but the standoff continued.
The Media Legal Defence Initiative, International Federation for Human Rights and Media Defence – Southeast Asia have filed submissions with the Thai court of appeal urging it to grant bail to Thai magazine editor, Somyot Phruksakasemsuk.
The Media Legal Defence Initiative, International Federation for Human Rights and Media Defence – Southeast Asia today filed an amicus curiae submission in the appeal of magazine editor Somyot Phruksakasemsuk, addressing the Thai courts’ refusal to grant bail pending his trial and appeal.
On 23 January 2013, Somyot was convicted to ten years imprisonment for two violations of Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law which prohibits any criticism of the monarchy. As editor of the Voice of Taksin (“Voice of the Oppressed”) magazine, he had allowed publication of two satirical articles that were deemed to be “insulting” to the monarchy. In April, he filed an appeal against the decision of the first instance court and also filed his 14th request for bail. The appeals court rejected Somyot’s bail request due to the “severity of his crime”, which had “affected the morality and feelings of the people”.
The intervention by MLDI, FIDH and MD-SEA argues that the grounds on which the court refused bail to Somyot violateThailand’s obligations under international human rights law. “Somyot’s continued detention is illegitimate since it results from his exercise of the right to freedom of expression,” said MLDI’s Senior Legal Counsel Nani Jansen. “We hope that the Court of Appeals will take Thailand’s obligations under international law into consideration in its review of a new bail application, as well as the appeal in general.”
Please click here for the submission by MLDI, FIDH and MD-SEA.
Achieving and maintaining sustainable peace is much more important than the development project. We stand with DKBA and we would like to urge the government of Burma to find the solution peacefully through dialogue. [Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)]
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Colonel Saw San Aung from DKBA said at the conference that DKBA has received a directive on May 2 from the government military to move away from the Hatkyi dam project area by midnight on May 4, and that it will resist any offensive from the government army as it will not move away in any way.
Tension has mounted during these days between the government army and DKBA in Karen state as a consequence of the government’s order to DKBA to move out of the Hatkyi dam project area by May 4.
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CREDIT EMG
Peace Council of the Karen National Union (KNU), a Karen ethnic organization with an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), said it will resist any offensive from the government troops as a consequence of the Hatkyi dam project.
Speaking at a press conference in Myawady Township on Monday, Colonel Saw El Kaw Htoo from the council said KNU will not stand any offensive from the government army to shoo the DKBA troops away.
Colonel Saw San Aung from DKBA said at the conference that DKBA has received a directive on May 2 from the government military to move away from the Hatkyi dam project area by midnight on May 4, and that it will resist any offensive from the government army as it will not move away in any way.
Tension has mounted during these days between the government army and DKBA in Karen state as a consequence of the government’s order to DKBA to move out of the Hatkyi dam project area by May 4.
The bout of tension came after clashes occurred between a border guard force formed with DKBA members and Major General Saw La Pwe-led DKBA (Breakaway) on April 27 and 28.
“The clashes broke out on 27th and 28th last month. The seized weapons were acquired back after negotiations for two days. But after that, the government army ordered troop withdrawals,” the DKBA official said.
Both parties said they arranged the conference to let the President and responsible government officials know more about what is going on at the bottom in the state.
Recap on those “poor innocent” (and illegal) Rohingya Muslims in Burma/Myanmar who Obama and the EU want to be protected from “persecution”. That’s like protecting the Taliban from the “persecution” of the U.S. and British Armed Forces.
And what is more absurd – and which is why we will NEVER again make a single donation to any human rights charity, – is that The Human Rights Watch is accusing Burma, yes Burma, for attempted genocide of the Rohingyas! We couldn’t make this up. Why don’t they accuse the Jews for genocide of Nazi’s while they are at it?
Can you imagine if illegal terrorists did another 9/11, Boston bombing, Madrid bombing, London bombing, child-sex grooming, Scandinavian rape waves and what not in the U.S. or across Europe and the government would be blocked to take action to end it all? Can you imagine if world ‘leaders’ would object to any military action to protect the people of the countries and even put sanctions on you for protecting yourself? That is exactly what has been done to Burma. That is the reality of Burma today.
Fact is the Rohingya’s need to leave on a one-way banana boat back to their country of origin: Bangladesh. And if they don’t, well, the Burmese Army has all the right in the world to take the harsh actions they have and nuke every one of them until the disease of Islam leaves their land. At present the emir of Qatar has funded and shipped 3,500 terrorists from Tunisia to Burma to slaughter more Buddhists in revenge for Burma’s attempt to protect itself from becoming Islamisized, and be forcefully converted by endless brutality and violence.
The nation’s Buddhist majority — comprising 60 percent of the population —is benefiting from the country’s progression toward democracy while the nation’s illegal Muslim “refugee” population is constantly trying to drag them back to the middle ages.
A bit of context: A recent Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees report estimates that 800,000 Rohingya still reside in Burma, with an additional 400,000 “refugees” in neighboring Bangladesh, and 200,000+ across Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia.
To avoid a permanent hold in the country the Rohingya are denied Burmese citizenship, under the country’s 1982 Citizenship Act. The government limit their access to many rights in the country to block them from gaining influence and islamize the nation and encourage them to return to their countries of origin – or get refugee in another Islamic country instead.
Speaking of his refugee policy, Burmese President Thein Sein noted, “We will send them away if any third country would accept them.”
The persecution of Buddhists started in Bangladesh a long time ago, and has merely been exported to Burma. The exact same method used in Palestine by illegal Muslims occupying land is used by Muslims in countries across the globe: illegal mass immigration leading to rapid population growth, which in turn lead to the usual Quranic growing violence, persecution of locals, rape, threats, efforts to islamize society.
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A gang of illegal Bangladeshi Muslim settlers rob, rape and murder a Arakanese Buddhist girl in Myanmar, and when police arrest the Muslim culprits, they launch “Jihad riots” after Friday prayer, attacking, killing, burning….
7 person killed, and 494 houses, 19 shops and a guest house were burned down. Dusk-to-dawn curfew has been applied and public gatherings of more than five people banned. It also says that on June 3, a mob, angered by girl’s rape and murder, attacked a bus carrying Muslims from a religious gathering, killing 10 of them. This lead to latest riotings, killings, burnings and destructions by Muslims.
1. The Chinese embassy in Myanmar has issued a press release dated May 7, expressing deep dissatisfaction over the news about ‘the Wa’s objection to China’s selling armed helicopters to the United Wa State Army’ featured in the sample newspaper of the Daily Eleven on May 1.
2. The points included in the press release are a one-sided accusation against our newspaper without thorough reading. Our news was written based on multiple sources and the Wa side also denied it. Our newspaper did not mention any hints or opinions to prove that the news was correct. The Chinese embassy’s accusation that the news could mislead the readers from Myanmar and abroad is totally wrong.
3. It comes as a great surprise to learn that the Chinese embassy issued its press release only a week after our trial-run newspaper was published on May 1.
4. The fact that China’s complete control over the Kunming-Kyaukphyu railroad project or Kyaukphyu port can harm state sovereignty as mentioned in today’s issue of our newspaper is the real opinion of the Daily Eleven. We welcome the Chinese government’s policy of respecting Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
5. The Chinese government should respect the rights and freedom of the Myanmar people if it respects state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese embassy’s press release showing deep dissatisfaction over the news is tantamount to disturbing the Myanmar people’s rights and freedom.
6. The Daily Eleven therefore strongly objects to the Chinese embassy’s press release saying words of disturbing freedom of press, which is the right of the Myanmar people.
Former political prisoners have raised questions over the president’s granting of amnesties after a political activist was sentenced to six years in jail again though he had been released by a presidential pardon.
Political activists also comment that the government’s attempt to revive Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in granting pardons and amnesties during Thein Sein’s presidency can harm national reconciliation.
Former army captain Nay Myo Zin from Myanmar Social Life Development Network was ordered by a local court in Ayeyawady Region to pay a fine of 20,000 kyats for defaming the police’s reputation last Thursday. But he was sentenced to three months in jail as he refused to pay the fine.
Pantanaw Court issued a release warrant for Nay Myo Zin after his relatives paid the fine on May 7. Officials from Maubin Prison however did not release him saying that the Home Affairs Ministry ruled that he was to be imprisoned to serve the remaining six-year jail term, which was imposed against him when he was charged with an offence for his political movements.
Nay Myo Zin was one of the ex-political prisoners, who were released when President Thein Sein granted the first amnesty to 651 prisoners on January 12, 2012 under Section 401 Sub-section (1). On the same day, 88 Generation Students Group members Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Jimmy, Mya Aye, Pyone Cho and Htay Kywe and Shan National League for Democracy chairman Khun Tun Oo were also released from their prisons.
By order of the president, Myanmar has granted amnesty five times – four in 2012 and one in May, 2013.
The ex-political prisoners however comment that there no longer should be political prisoners under democratic system. Moreover, the government must consider an unconditional release of all the political prisoners, they point out.
’88 Group’s Jimmy said imprisoning Nay Myo Zin again is in a way threatening the released political prisoners.
“It’s an indirect threat to all of us (the released political prisoners). The government is trying to win international recognition by releasing political prisoners. But locally, it has done such an impropriate act,” he said.
Jimmy’s prison term was reduced from 65 years to 30 years. But he was released after he had been in prison for four years.
There are some reported cases that the government used to release some political prisoners under Section 401 but when they were arrested again they had to serve both a new prison term plus the remaining term of their former charges.
One former political prisoner Zaw Thet Htwe said: “The government released us saying it would seek cooperation in democratic reforms. We were released before our prison terms were over. In cases of arresting political activists again for law violations in ongoing democratic movements, authorities made them serve the remaining jail of the past. This means that the government is very weak in its national reconciliation efforts.”
SNLD Chairman Khun Tun Oo also said: “It is an unfair law, which has tied us since colonial days. Saying about my case, authorities put me behind bars for 93 years although I was not guilty. They take into account the remaining period of jail terms after we have been released. It is like we are walking along the blade of a sword.”
A patron of the opposition party, who was released in 2008 after serving his jail term since 1989, said such problems would remain so long as the government (including the next one) continues freeing prisoners under Section 401.
“When authorities released me, I did not sign in bail bonds. I did not listen to them reading rules and regulations. We want a ‘general amnesty’. If the government releases prisoners under that law, we will have to go to jail again like Nay Myo Zin,” said National League for Democracy patron Win Tin.
When any person has been sentenced to punishment for an offence, the President of the Union may at any time, without conditions or upon any conditions which the person sentenced accepts, suspend the execution of his sentence or remit the whole or any part of the punishment to which he has been sentenced, states Section 401 Sub-section (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Sub-section (3) also states that if any condition on which a sentence has been suspended or remitted in the opinion of the President of Union, not fulfilled, the President of the Union may cancel the suspension or remission, and there upon the person in whose favour the sentence has been suspended or remitted may, if at large, be arrested by police-officer without warrant remanded to undergo the unexpired portion of sentence.
Some political analysts comment that many politicians, including members of ’88 Group, tend to be imprisoned again as they have been released under Sub-section (3).
Nay Myo Zin, a former military captain turned social activist and opposition member, was one of 591 political prisoners released under a presidential pardon in January 2012, but his release, like that of all former political prisoners, was conditional. According to Burma’s penal code, any former political prisoner who is convicted of another crime is required to serve not only his new prison sentence, but also the remaining years of his old, canceled sentence.
Last week, Nay Myo Zin refused to pay a fine of 20,000 kyat (US $22) after being convicted in January of defaming a police officer in Irrawaddy Division. Instead, he agreed to serve a three-month prison sentence in the town of Maubin.
Despite his decision, he had hope of early release. On Tuesday, farmers in Pantanaw Township, where he was sentenced, collectively paid Nay Myo Zin’s fine in court so he could be a free man again.
But just before his release on Tuesday, the district administrator announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs would require Nay Myo Zin to serve the remaining years of his old, canceled sentence—or six more years in prison—according to Section 401 of the penal code.
democracy for burma 
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