Sri Lanka To Ban Time Magazine: “The Face Of Buddhist Terror”

Time magazine, carrying a cover story comparing the Myanmar Buddhist Monk Wirathu and his organization `Buddhist 969` to the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), has been banned in Sri Lanka, reports say.

The cover story on the July 1st issue of Time Magazine is entitled ‘The Face of Buddhist Terror and features Myanmar’s extremist monk Wirathu, who has been accused of stoking anti-Muslim sentiments with his 969 movement, launched in February, which calls on Buddhists to boycott Muslim shops and businesses.

There have been at least three anti-Muslim riots this year in central and northern Myanmar, leaving thousands homeless.

In June 2012, Buddhist communities in the Rakhine State attacked Rohingya Muslims, leaving 167 people dead and 125,000 people homeless.

The Bodu Bala Sena Group has lobbied the Media Ministry and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to ensure the offending issue never reaches the news stands in Sri Lanka, reports media.

However, President of Myanmar has denied allegations against the monk Wirathu, stating that the monk Ashin Wirathu is making a great effort to secure peace and prosperity in Myanmar.

The Myanmar President condemns the content in Time Magazine, denoting that it is an attempt to endanger the efforts made to develop trust between the two parties.

[Read More : http://www.srilankamirror.lk/news/8553-time-magazine-banned-in-sri-lanka]

The Face Of Buddhist Terror: Sri Lanka To Ban Time Magazine

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Buddhist-Awakening/181136368704494

Dengue spreads quickly in north, south of Thailand

CHIANG RAI, June 29 – Thailand’s dengue fever situation this year is becoming more serious, with the tropical disease spreading quickly in the country’s north and south.

Dr Sura Kunkongkapan, Director of Mae Sai Hospital in Chiang Rai province, said the number of dengue patients in the country has spread quickly and more seriously compared to recent years, despite the fact that the rainy season has only just begun.

Around 40 patients per day on average received treatment at the hospital, 30 of whom are Thai and the rest Myanmar nationals from Tha Chi Lek province in Myanmar.

In Chiang Rai, there have been over 2,500 patients diagnosed with dengue fever from January 1-June 28 in 18 districts, three of whom have died. Mae Sai district has seen the highest number of patients at more than 700 people, followed by Mae Chan, Wiang Pa Pao, the provincial seat and Thoeng, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the southern province of Trang, Dr Rak Booncharoen, deputy mayor of Trang Munilicapality, led officials from local Public Health and Environment Division to fumigate 27 communities in order to destroy mosquito breeding grounds, as well as provide knowledge and distribute larvicidal sand granules to local communities for dengue prevention.

Dr Rak said the dengue situation in Trang Municipality is still controllable. However, there is so far one high risk community of 700 households where around 30 patients have already been diagnosed with dengue, while over 500 persons in 10 districts have been infected with the fever, the highest statistics recorded in the province. Nontheless, there has not yet been any casualties reported in Trang. (MCOT online news)

No agreement between the KNPP and the Government on military school yet

Thursday, 27 June 2013  Written by  PNA phophtawnews

KNPP

The government has not replied yet on the demand of the KNPP (Karenni National Progressive Party) for moving the government’s (no. 14) military training school in Hpruso Township in Kayah to other place, according to KNPP’s vice president, Khu Oo Reh.

“This land is confiscated land by the government. The government said that this land is vacant land. Therefore there is no more land for villagers to do growing. That is why we have to demand to the government moving out from this land. But the government gave a reason that they have already built their building and it used a lot of budget that was not possible to remove,” he said.

Therefore the KNPP gave a suggestion again to change this building for the mass benefit (profession school) or other educated school. But the government has not given any response yet.

The government confiscated a lot of land acres to build this military training school. The people did a referendum, prayer and demonstration in order to oppose in building of the military training school.

“This military training school is located in the middle of people’s growing area. It becomes to give back compensation to the land owner when the people knew significantly about the government used their power that is not unfair. Therefore the government gave compensation (50,000 kyats) for one acre. The people didn’t agree with that amount money,” Khu Oo Reh said.

However the authorities in these areas tried to pay the compensation, but it was very few of money if calculation with current price.

The government confiscated the land areas more than they need for building the military training school that was not unfairly, he said.

The government peace making group and the KNPP have already met officially at union level (2 times), state level (1 time) and off the record meeting (3 times).

There were three times the KNPP presented about the issue of military training school in every meeting with the government but until now the responding from the government has not come yet.

Finally, in the meeting of 2nd union level on 19th and 20th of June, they still have not got agreement for resettlement of troops and military affair.

The KNPP signed ceasefire agreement with the government on 7th of March, 2012. However they got totally over 20 points of agreement but there have no for resettlement of troops until now.

Hundreds of civilians flee as Burmese army continues to battle KIA

By KLN

Published on June 28, 2013

A series of battles took place in the last week of June in northern Shan State between troops under Kachin Independence Army and Burmese Army. Despite their agreement to undertake efforts to de-escalate tension on May 30, government troops continue to encroach on territories held by indigenous ethnic armies in northern Shan State.

A battle took place between Kachin people militia (MHH) troops under KIA’s 36^th Battalion and a combined force of Burmese army’s 128^th Light Infantry Regiment and 507^th Light Infantry Battalion near Kong Sa village in northern Shan State on June 27 at 7 am.

A Kong Sa villager said Burmese government troops fired several rounds of 60 mm mortar shells on civilian homes in his village during the battle. About 1000 civilians have fled to Chinese side of the border as mortar shells landed in residential area.

Another battle took place between Kachin people militia (MHH) troops under KIA’s 36^th Battalion and Burmese army troops under 128^th LIR near Hpai Kawng village on June 26 at 8 pm. The battle lasted for about an hour and no casualties have been reported from either side.

A local source says Burmese army soldiers are staying inside civilians’ homes in Hpai Kawng village and often fire at Kachin troops from those occupied homes. Hpai Kawng villagers are currently living in open rice fields as Burmese army troops from 240^th LIR burned down Hpai Kawng IDP camp which has about 50 temporary tents on Nov 28, 2012.

A civilian house hit by 60 mm mortar shells from government troops

Burma army and KIA battle for second straight day in Shan state

KNG 26.JUNE 2013

Units from the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) continued to clash Thursday morning, as fighting in the Pangsai (Kyukok) area of northern Shan state carried over for the second straight day.

KNG NEWS

The fighting broke out at 9 am local time near Seng Htu Hkyet (Jang Hpang Kawng) in the same area where clashes took place yesterday, said Zau Seng, a commander from the Pangsai-based 5th Section unit of the Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH or People’s Army in Kachin), a militia affiliated with the KIA’s civilian wing the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The MHH are a civilian force made up of local Kachin volunteers who frequently fight alongside regular KIA forces.

The latest clashes involved troops from the Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 507 and a combined group of troops from KIA Battalion 36 and their allies with the 5th Section of the MHH battalion, according to Zau Seng.

“The fighting began after a column of Burmese troops intruded into Seng Htu Hkyet where we have been planning to set up our base,” said Zau Seng. It is not yet known whether there were any casualties from either side.