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Yet again Burma Army’s security forces based in areas surrounding main base of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’’s First Brigade is soaring after the newly promoted regional commander of the Northeastern Region Command, issued orders to tighten security and to secure all pathways to the SSA bases, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border.

However, the reason for Burma Army’s reinforcement is not clear, said a source.

The instructions passed on 7 September, when Brig-Gen Aung Kyaw Zaw, the new commander of the Northeastern Region Command (he succeeded former commander Aung Than Htut in late August) and Tangyan area commander Colonel Khaing Zaw, visited their strongest base, Loi Panglong, northwest of the Wa headquarters Panghsang, and west of Manghseng.

“They later went to inspect Takawng-at Bridge on the Salween, west of Tangyan,” the source said.

Afterwards, the two continued inspection battalions and hospital in Mongkao, Shan State North’s Tangyan township, facing the SSA ‘North’’s Brigade No 1 and ordered all local militia units to safeguard all roads and bridges to the SSA and areas along the Salween River in cooperation with Burma Army troops.

Ja Hey’s unit was assigned to provide security at Nampang bridge, located between the Wa’s capital Panghsang and the Burma Army controlled town of Tangyan, 115 miles west of Panghsang. Another militia unit of Ja Nu was ordered to safeguard the motor road between Namlao and Mongkao, said a villager in Mongkao.

Since the units’ arrivals, reports of abuses by the units have been reported in nearby villages everyday, a local villager from Wankawngmu said.

“We were ordered to provide them rice and meat everyday,” she said.

Every people travelling in the areas have also been checked and people who were suspected as SSA fighters were detained by the Burma Army, another a businessman from Lashio said. “There were 5 people so far arrested by the Burma Army soldiers on the way to Mongyai (west of Tangyan).”

Mongyai is located in the north of the First Brigade main bases.

Tensions along the border with ceasefire groups are tense during these days despite Naypyitaw’s first priority is to hold the general elections before year’s end and China’s request to maintain regional stability.

Currently, Chairman of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Senior General Than Shwe is in Beijing. Meeting him yesterday, China’s President Hu Jintao says he “understands and supports Myanmar government’s efforts to promote ethnic reconciliation.” Than Shwe, in turn, was reported as saying, “Maintaining peace and stability on the border is of utmost importance to both countries,” according to Reuters.

By Tun Tun
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Sittwe: Students have been banned from holding cameras in Sittwe University compound by university authorities in order to prevent them from sending photos to exile media and democratic activist in exile, said a student.

“We have been unable to take cameras to Sittwe University at present. The authority has seized the cameras from students if they take them to the university. Many students have lost their cameras after bringing them to the university. The ban is intended to prevent students sending photos of the university to exiled media and activists,” the student said.

The prohibition came about after some photos related to Sittwe University were published on a website and journal of exiled media during the student protest that took place in Sittwe last month.

“There is no public notice at Sittwe University that cameras are not allowed, but authorities have been seizing cameras whenever they see students with them. But authorities told us the cameras will be returned to students after the school term is complete,” the student added.

At least ten cameras have been taken by university authorities.

Another student from Government Technical College said that the college authority also does not allow students to bring cameras to the GTC. If the authority sees a camera in a student’s hand, they will seize it.

Despite the ban, students have still been holding cameras and MP3 devices secretly inside the GTC compound, he said.

Speaking to Narinjara over the phone, a senior student at Sittwe University said, “Many student protests have taken place in the last few years at Sittwe University and the Government Technical College. News of the protests were picked up by exiled media, and exiled radio shows also aired reports of the protests. Because of that, the authority is worried about the spread of news from the schools and has imposed many restrictions at the university and college.”

Before the 1988 democracy uprising in Burma, there was a student protest at Sittwe University against the government. The democracy uprising broke out shortly after in Rangoon.

At the Government Technical College, a large demonstration took place last month to protest the increase of school bus fares. About 300 students participated and marched to the Rakhine State Administration Office.

narinjara news

New Delhi/Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Eleven activists and students from Rangoon, on their way today to attend the funeral of the Pegu youths, were stopped at a police checkpoint about 15 kilometres south of Pegu Division’s capital.

The checkpoint was set up amid tight security in and around Pegu city as authorities sought to ward off potential unrest at today’s funeral of the two youths – Aung Thu Hein, 23, and Soe Paing Zaw, 18 – shot dead by army officers. Residents have expressed outrage over the killings.

Mizzima spoke with two of the activists detained at Inndakaw Township, which lies on National Highway 1 between Rangoon and Pegu.

Zeya Lin (Youth Who Want Burma to be Developed)

“On our way to the funeral, all 11 of us were taken to the Inndakaw Police Station. It lasted about an hour … They interrogated each of us one by one without sufficient reason. We were released after the funeral was over. They shouldn’t do that. Our objective was to attend the funeral, but because of the authorities, we were too late … Anyway, we were able to visit the homes of the victims.”

Phoe Phyu (lawyer, human rights activist)

How did they obstruct you?

“When we arrived in front of Inndakaw Police Station, we were told to get out of the car. They [police] checked our identification cards and seized the car keys and then they interrogated us one by one. By that means, they wasted about one hour. I want to say that we are Burmese citizens and we hold identification cards. So, why can’t we travel freely anywhere inside Burma? This is the first point.”

“The second point is that they interrogated each of us without reason as we hadn’t broken any regulations. Although the elections draw near [November 7], there are still oppression and interrogations without reason. So, it is controversial point whether people will be able to vote freely in the forthcoming elections.”

Please explain the case of the youths shot dead by Burmese Army officers from a legal point of view.

“The case is covered by the 1956 Burma Army Act and the 1960 Burma Army Act. If the case involves civilians, the case must be heard at a civil court. It should not be heard at a martial court … So this case must be heard in front of people in a civil court. However, the authorities failed to inform the people involved about legal processes. In fact, the legal processes should be transparent [There has been no official inquiry, the bodies were not released to the family, there has been no investigation nor any thorough autopsy conducted, and the bodies have been rushed to be cremated, in an apparent bid by authorities to destroy evidence]. So, people need to fight such unfairness in accordance with the laws.”

What would like to say about the shootings and the practice of law and order in Burma?

“Soldiers need to be armed on duty. At times of martial law, they might even need to use their weapons. But in this case, during a time that the country is in a state of ‘peace’, the captains shot unarmed youths as if they were at the front line [in a war]. It is quite obvious that the officers violated the law.”

How would you help the victims’ families?

“I’ll explain that this case must be transferred to the civil court in accord with the Army acts and that it must be heard in public. Moreover, students and people, who feel the same way as the family members of the victims, need to demand that this case be adjudicated fairly. We must take legal action.”

Who accompanied you to the funeral?

“They are members of the ‘Youth Who Want Burma to be Developed’ [group], students, labour rights activists who tried to form a labour union, and people who felt empathy with the families of the victims.”

Have you heard of any other instances of people being obstructed, as both of you were, when they tried to attend the funeral?
“I’ve seen that some people who went to the funeral were interrogated by the authorities. Two or three members of those groups were interrogated. I saw three of four cases of that kind. But for our group, each of us was interrogated one by one.

How do the victims’ families feel?

“We conveyed our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims … some of them felt relief but some of their siblings … are still crying.”

Myanmar's top leader Gen. Than Shwe is greeted by Myanmar officials upon arrival at the airport in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AP.

Myanmar’s military leader General Than Shwe on Wednesday held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, reportedly seeking Chinese support for coming elections.

In talks with Mr. Hu and officials of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the leader of Myanmar’s military regime also called for expanding military cooperation, with the PLA Navy recently making its first port call in Yangon.

While both sides have not released specific information about the visit, its timing, coming three months ahead of the significant November 7 elections, suggested General Shwe would seek China’s support for the elections, said analysts.

Ahead of Wednesday’s talks, Mr. Hu said the visit took place “at a very special moment”, marking the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations. “This shows that you pay a lot of attention to improving bilateral relations between China and Myanmar,” he told General Shwe. “I believe your visit will further promote bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between neighbours.”

General Shwe said “the main purpose” of his visit was “to further promote the already existing neighbourly friendship, mutual cooperation and trust between the two countries”.

Border stability

“As the election approaches and tensions remain high along the border, China has been taking a role in managing border stability,” Yun Sun, an expert on China’s relationship with Myanmar at the International Crisis Group, told The Hindu.

In August 2009, Beijing was caught off-guard by the Myanmar military government’s offensive in the Kokang region, which led to more than 30,000 refugees crossing into Yunnan. Since then, Ms. Sun said, Beijing has used “pressure and mediation” to bring the military regime and ethnic groups to the negotiating table.

General Shwe’s visit takes place only three months after Premier Wen Jiabao’s trip to Myanmar, during which he signed 15 agreements, including for a 1,100-km natural gas pipeline.

China’s desire to secure alternative sea routes through the Indian Ocean for its energy needs has also made Myanmar strategically significant for Beijing. In August, two warships of the PLA Navy made a port call at Yangon’s Thilawa port, a visit seen as Beijing affirming its support to the regime.

November’s elections, taking place after five decades of military rule in the country, have been widely criticised in the West because of government’s control over the process and in light of its past record of human rights violations.

The elections are, however, expected to significantly alter the nation’s politics, bringing in a new generation of leaders as well as introducing regional parliaments that will, according to analysts, help decentralise control.

Myanmar seeks China’s support in polls.

Zin Linn argues that “To people of Burma, China is not only a great impediment to their freedom but also a neo-colonialist under an alliance mask.“

Senior Gen. Than Shwe in the midst of swelling international pressure and ahead of the 7-November elections arrived in China on 7 September for a five-day state visit. Analysts said Burma is trying to get support politically from China as it has been planning for its first election in two decades. International observers have criticized the election as a charade as it does not include key opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

(…)

Thanking Hu for the ceremonial welcome, Than Shwe, who recently visited India as well, said that the main purpose of his visit to China is to promote existing neighborly friendship, mutual cooperation and trust between the two countries.

Than Shwe’s China-visit comes three months after Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s trip to Burma during which the two sides signed 15 agreements relating to establishment of pipelines for natural gas, hydropower station and development assistance. According to official media reports, China has made about USD 8.17 billion worth of investment in Myanmar in the recent year.

On 7 September, China’s defended the upcoming elections as Burma’s internal affair and urged other countries not to interfere. “We hope the international community can provide constructive help to the upcoming election and refrain from making any negative impact on the domestic political process and the regional peace and stability,” spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

I think this visit underscores the nature of Kim Jong-il’s recent visit to Manchuria. Beijing is shielding pariah states on its borders from international opprobrium, to gain access to natural resources and promote security and trade, and those pariah states are calling with reciprocal requests. Pyongyang asked for Beijing to anoint Kim’s putative successor and Yangon wants support for its sham elections. I’m not sure “neo-colonialist” is an accurate term, but Beijing is clearly interested in taking as much as it can, to maintain its economic growth, without sacrificing much more than its democratic reputation. Beijing doesn’t seem very interested in any direct intervention in the domestic affairs of its neighbors. What small gains the U.S. can scratch from Seoul’s belligerent blather, war games, ASEAN resolutions, and condemning land grabs on the Spratly’s is real, but paltry.

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