February 19, 2008
Military Regime announced on February 9, 2008, that it is going to hold a referendum in May 2008 on the state constitution, made by SPDC, which would enshrines the legitimate power of Military to play a major role in party politic and to lead the country in the future.
Why SPDC tries so hard, after it had cracked down the uprising of Buddhist monks, to make such announcement; it is vividly clear that it wants to thwart the pressure of the Democratic Forces around the world and the will of Burmese people which demands an immediate change towards to a Democratic Society by through meaningful dialogue between SPDC and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Mon National Council sees this Constitutional Referendum as a dirty trick played by SPDC which desperately tries to push Burmese people into a dilemma position where there is no choice for Burmese people except to dance along with the dirty tune played by it.
If Burmese people are going to cast their votes against the constitution which is made by SPDC , SPDC is quite happy with the result because it enables SPDC to take time, may be ten years or more, to reconvene the so called National Convention for rewriting a new constitution while SPDC is still on the throne of power, or if the Burmese people choose to cast their votes in favor of the constitution the outcome of that would mean that the Burmese people are willingly accepting and recognizing the legitimate power of Military to play a major role in their party politic and to lead their country in the future.
Mon National Council strongly condemns this constitutional referendum as a dirty trick of SPDC and MNC also would like to advise Mon People as well as all nationalities of Burma to demonstrate their objection by all means towards such kind of constitutional referendum immediately before SPDC could really carry out its dirty plan which would shove the nation into a catastrophe and at the same time to put more pressure upon the SPDC to respect the will of Burmese People which demand a meaningful tripartite dialogue.
Mon National Council strongly urges SPDC to abandon its dirty trick at once and to go into meaningful dialogue with sincere intention without any delay with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and democratic forces in order to make a real change and a concrete step which could lead to a democratic society.
Down with the SPDC’s dirty trick!
Min Aung Myint
Secretary (Human Rights Affairs)
Mon National Council
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Ethnic ceasefire group condemns junta's constitutional process
By Loa Htaw, IMNA
February 19, 2008 - Burmese ethnic ceasefire group, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has condemned the Burmese (Myanmar) military government's constitutional process where the regime announced holding of referendum in May and elections in 2010.
The NMSP said they condemn the process after the regime announced the referendum and election timetable on February 9.
"We do not support the constitution where people's representatives have not been involved and which does not guarantee ethnic rights and a federal government," said NMSP spoke person Nai Ong Manye.
Australia based Mon National Council (MNC) also announced today that it strongly condemns the constitutional referendum.
The MNC advised Mon people as well as all nationalities of Burma to demonstrate their objection by all means against such a constitutional referendum immediately before the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) could really carry out its dirty plan which would shove the nation into a catastrophe. And at the same time to put more pressure on the SPDC to respect the will of Burmese people who demand a meaningful tripartite dialogue, the statement said.
The MNC sees the constitutional referendum as a dirty trick played by SPDC which is desperately trying to push Burmese people into a dilemma where there is no choice for them except to dance to the dirty tune played by it, the statement added.
Recently, the Mon political party in Burma, the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) which contested the Burma 1990 election also requested Mon people to ignore the Burmese junta's constitutional referendum and election.
MNDF leaders said the ensuing referendum and election is just to prolong and extend the junta's life and to keep clinging to power.
The NMSP believes Burma's political problems can only be solved through a tripartite dialogue which includes the Burmese military government, the ethnic and opposition political parties, said Nai Ong Manye.
The NMSP reached a ceasefire with the Burmese government in 1995 to solve political problems across the table.
"We do not want the ceasefire to break and keep requesting the government to hold tripartite dialogue," he said.
In 2004 the party attended the National Convention (NC) along with other ethnic ceasefire groups and requested the government to change its laws included in the draft constitution of the NC and to guarantee clauses based on a federal system.
However the government rejected the demands and since than the NMSP stopped sending representatives to the NC and only attended as observers. "It means we do not support the NC, constitution and referendum," said Nai Ong Manye.
The government announced holding of a referendum and elections proving that they do not care for the people, opposition leaders, ethnic leaders and the international community, he said.
Both MNDF and NMSP represent Mon people in Burma. The MNDF contest the elections in 1990 and it was banned by the SLORC in 1992 while NMSP agreed to a ceasefire in 1995.
February 19, 2008 - Burmese ethnic ceasefire group, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has condemned the Burmese (Myanmar) military government's constitutional process where the regime announced holding of referendum in May and elections in 2010.
The NMSP said they condemn the process after the regime announced the referendum and election timetable on February 9.
"We do not support the constitution where people's representatives have not been involved and which does not guarantee ethnic rights and a federal government," said NMSP spoke person Nai Ong Manye.
Australia based Mon National Council (MNC) also announced today that it strongly condemns the constitutional referendum.
The MNC advised Mon people as well as all nationalities of Burma to demonstrate their objection by all means against such a constitutional referendum immediately before the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) could really carry out its dirty plan which would shove the nation into a catastrophe. And at the same time to put more pressure on the SPDC to respect the will of Burmese people who demand a meaningful tripartite dialogue, the statement said.
The MNC sees the constitutional referendum as a dirty trick played by SPDC which is desperately trying to push Burmese people into a dilemma where there is no choice for them except to dance to the dirty tune played by it, the statement added.
Recently, the Mon political party in Burma, the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) which contested the Burma 1990 election also requested Mon people to ignore the Burmese junta's constitutional referendum and election.
MNDF leaders said the ensuing referendum and election is just to prolong and extend the junta's life and to keep clinging to power.
The NMSP believes Burma's political problems can only be solved through a tripartite dialogue which includes the Burmese military government, the ethnic and opposition political parties, said Nai Ong Manye.
The NMSP reached a ceasefire with the Burmese government in 1995 to solve political problems across the table.
"We do not want the ceasefire to break and keep requesting the government to hold tripartite dialogue," he said.
In 2004 the party attended the National Convention (NC) along with other ethnic ceasefire groups and requested the government to change its laws included in the draft constitution of the NC and to guarantee clauses based on a federal system.
However the government rejected the demands and since than the NMSP stopped sending representatives to the NC and only attended as observers. "It means we do not support the NC, constitution and referendum," said Nai Ong Manye.
The government announced holding of a referendum and elections proving that they do not care for the people, opposition leaders, ethnic leaders and the international community, he said.
Both MNDF and NMSP represent Mon people in Burma. The MNDF contest the elections in 1990 and it was banned by the SLORC in 1992 while NMSP agreed to a ceasefire in 1995.
Being refugees in Malaysia increasingly unsafe
February 19, 2008 - The life of Burmese refugees in Malaysia is becoming increasingly unsafe threatened as they are by the RELA, the so called people's volunteer corps officially recognized by the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs, said Mr. Tangbau Kam Li, a leader of the Kuala Lampur based Kachin Development Organization (KDO).
Two Kachin women were arrested by RELA, in Kotaraya in central Kuala Lumpur city on February 17, 2008 while they were waiting for a bus to go back home.
Mrs. Kai Htang (43), recognized by United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) as a refugee along with her four year old daughter with polio, and Mrs. Htu Mai (45) with her one and-a-half year old daughter are now detained along with their daughters in Semenyih detention camp. There is no further information regarding the two Kachin women and their two children, said Kam Li.
Even though Malaysia is a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), women and children continue to be arrested and detained in the detention camps in the country, Kam Li added.
Source: Kachin News
Two Kachin women were arrested by RELA, in Kotaraya in central Kuala Lumpur city on February 17, 2008 while they were waiting for a bus to go back home.
Mrs. Kai Htang (43), recognized by United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) as a refugee along with her four year old daughter with polio, and Mrs. Htu Mai (45) with her one and-a-half year old daughter are now detained along with their daughters in Semenyih detention camp. There is no further information regarding the two Kachin women and their two children, said Kam Li.
Even though Malaysia is a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), women and children continue to be arrested and detained in the detention camps in the country, Kam Li added.
Source: Kachin News
Boycott the junta, Monk killers
Original post : Ko Htike's Blog
Translated by Nay Chi U
An Appeal By The Public Movement Organizing Committee
Reference : 2/2008 SCMM
Date : 18-02-2008
To The General Public
Under the military rulers we, the general public are getting poorer everyday and the poverty net that surrounds us is just bigger and wider. By contrast, a handful of the military generals, and their families and friends, are getting extremely wealthy, that they can hardly find enough banks to keep all the money they have extorted from the people of Burma.
While repeatedly shouting out loud that they are encouraging a market economy system, the military group are in practice using the Burmese economy as their own market and selling of the counties’ resources for their own benefit. As a result the public, from individual road sellers to small and medium business owners and all other employed workers have to struggle to survive while it is impossible to live and work in a straightforward way as they are forced to pay huge taxes, forced donations and contributions, fines and penalty payments.
Our country’s important businesses and all natural resources are under the control of the military group, where they can sign contracts, permit or license at will, allowing them to steal the nations wealth that is they almost choke on it. Meanwhile we, the public, have to work from dawn till dusk, simply to survive.
Our country’s health, education and social services are also some of the worst in the world. Virtually none of the money stolen from the public, and none of the vast income from the sale of our country’s natural resources are spent on public services. The money goes either to the small ruling junta, family and followers, or to buy more lethal weapons which they can use to intimidate, repress and kill its own monks and citizens. Any public services built with the minimal funds used are for cosmetic effect only, for duping the international media, but what benefit do we actually get? Aren’t we all paying ourselves for health, education, social and all other services? We are like captive zoo animals, used by the junta to gain international aid, through our poverty and suffering, from which the corrupt authorities cut all the flesh for their own consumption, and laugh in the face of the public as they throw them the bones.
Whenever the country’s suffering and poverty is referred to the junta always blame it on the international economic sanctions. The international community has repeatedly offered immediate help and support if they start to make changes in the political and economical situation of the country which the junta repeatedly refuses at the cost of continued public starvation.
Their one real policy is to maintain their control over everything in the country. In such a situation, every investment, all support and aid, pumps money into the junta’s own bank accounts, while the public remains poor.
Intimidation and bullying of vulnerable civilians has become a casual regular practice all the way down from the central to the lower level authorities, where we are being controlled by fear– ludicrously unreasonable laws, arbitrary orders and the grossly punitive prison sentences.
If we continue to put up with the abuse, bullying and repression, our off-springs will also become the slaves to the junta’s obnoxious offspring. We must work to improve our own children’s future. Our reply to the junta must be directed at replacing their violent and grossly evil selfishness with fairness and peace. We must defend ourselves from the lethal power of the juntas’ endless weaponry through the power of the people.
We must now boycott the junta’s own businesses.
That way
• We are systematically helping to reclaim our own rights and economy which has been stolen from us.
• We are protecting and defending our own rights and benefits,
• We are peacefully and lawfully answering the bullies instead of just tamely complying and suffering,
• We are staging the silent mass protest and demonstration, which reflects public solidarity,
• We are helping to stop the arrest, torture and killing of the monks, nuns, students, civilians and ethnic groups.
……..We must all participate …….
• This is an obligation for all of us Burmese who are denied all human rights,
• This is to secure the continued existence of our society into the future,
• This is our National movement.
To start to resolve all the issues and problems which beset our country, including poverty, the SPDC military junta must engage in meetings with public leaders including the ethnic groups and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This is the only way that the country will be able to find peace and in time, to develop.
We will be maintaining these economic sanctions and boycotts until genuine discussions begin to find a clear resolution to our daily struggle with the problems of basic subsistence, maintaining health and gaining an education.
In solidarity and union, we will march forward together until we achieve these absolutely essential goals.
The Public Movement Organizing Committee
1 All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA)
2 United Groups of Ethnic Youths
3 All Burma Federation of Students Union
4 8888 Generation Students
5 Peace loving Muslim Organization
6 Generation Wave (New Blood Youth Organization)
7 Lawyers Union
8 Poets Union
9 New Generation Journalists Union
10 Public Activities Development Committee (Mandalay)
11 Public Activities Development Committee (Rangoon)
12 Writers and Artists Group
Translated by Nay Chi U
An Appeal By The Public Movement Organizing Committee
Reference : 2/2008 SCMM
Date : 18-02-2008
To The General Public
Under the military rulers we, the general public are getting poorer everyday and the poverty net that surrounds us is just bigger and wider. By contrast, a handful of the military generals, and their families and friends, are getting extremely wealthy, that they can hardly find enough banks to keep all the money they have extorted from the people of Burma.
While repeatedly shouting out loud that they are encouraging a market economy system, the military group are in practice using the Burmese economy as their own market and selling of the counties’ resources for their own benefit. As a result the public, from individual road sellers to small and medium business owners and all other employed workers have to struggle to survive while it is impossible to live and work in a straightforward way as they are forced to pay huge taxes, forced donations and contributions, fines and penalty payments.
Our country’s important businesses and all natural resources are under the control of the military group, where they can sign contracts, permit or license at will, allowing them to steal the nations wealth that is they almost choke on it. Meanwhile we, the public, have to work from dawn till dusk, simply to survive.
Our country’s health, education and social services are also some of the worst in the world. Virtually none of the money stolen from the public, and none of the vast income from the sale of our country’s natural resources are spent on public services. The money goes either to the small ruling junta, family and followers, or to buy more lethal weapons which they can use to intimidate, repress and kill its own monks and citizens. Any public services built with the minimal funds used are for cosmetic effect only, for duping the international media, but what benefit do we actually get? Aren’t we all paying ourselves for health, education, social and all other services? We are like captive zoo animals, used by the junta to gain international aid, through our poverty and suffering, from which the corrupt authorities cut all the flesh for their own consumption, and laugh in the face of the public as they throw them the bones.
Whenever the country’s suffering and poverty is referred to the junta always blame it on the international economic sanctions. The international community has repeatedly offered immediate help and support if they start to make changes in the political and economical situation of the country which the junta repeatedly refuses at the cost of continued public starvation.
Their one real policy is to maintain their control over everything in the country. In such a situation, every investment, all support and aid, pumps money into the junta’s own bank accounts, while the public remains poor.
Intimidation and bullying of vulnerable civilians has become a casual regular practice all the way down from the central to the lower level authorities, where we are being controlled by fear– ludicrously unreasonable laws, arbitrary orders and the grossly punitive prison sentences.
If we continue to put up with the abuse, bullying and repression, our off-springs will also become the slaves to the junta’s obnoxious offspring. We must work to improve our own children’s future. Our reply to the junta must be directed at replacing their violent and grossly evil selfishness with fairness and peace. We must defend ourselves from the lethal power of the juntas’ endless weaponry through the power of the people.
We must now boycott the junta’s own businesses.
That way
• We are systematically helping to reclaim our own rights and economy which has been stolen from us.
• We are protecting and defending our own rights and benefits,
• We are peacefully and lawfully answering the bullies instead of just tamely complying and suffering,
• We are staging the silent mass protest and demonstration, which reflects public solidarity,
• We are helping to stop the arrest, torture and killing of the monks, nuns, students, civilians and ethnic groups.
……..We must all participate …….
• This is an obligation for all of us Burmese who are denied all human rights,
• This is to secure the continued existence of our society into the future,
• This is our National movement.
To start to resolve all the issues and problems which beset our country, including poverty, the SPDC military junta must engage in meetings with public leaders including the ethnic groups and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This is the only way that the country will be able to find peace and in time, to develop.
We will be maintaining these economic sanctions and boycotts until genuine discussions begin to find a clear resolution to our daily struggle with the problems of basic subsistence, maintaining health and gaining an education.
In solidarity and union, we will march forward together until we achieve these absolutely essential goals.
The Public Movement Organizing Committee
1 All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA)
2 United Groups of Ethnic Youths
3 All Burma Federation of Students Union
4 8888 Generation Students
5 Peace loving Muslim Organization
6 Generation Wave (New Blood Youth Organization)
7 Lawyers Union
8 Poets Union
9 New Generation Journalists Union
10 Public Activities Development Committee (Mandalay)
11 Public Activities Development Committee (Rangoon)
12 Writers and Artists Group
Businesses Owned And Run By The Military Junta
BOYCOTT THE JUNTA, MONK KILLERS
Original post : Ko Htike's Blog
Translated by Nay Chi U
A list of businesses owned and run by military junta’s top generals, their families and sycophants.
Reference : 2/2008, Appendix A
Date : 18 01 2008
1) Aung Barlay Lottery, owned by the Junta
2) Htoo Trading Company’s Businesses, owned by Tay Za, Than Shwe’s Finance Adviser
3) Hlyat Tapyet Journal, owned by Myat Khine
4) Mandalay Nan Myint Journal, owned by USDA , Mandalay
5) London Cigarette, owned by U Pine Co Ltd
6) Myanmar Beer & Dagon Beer, owned by U Pine Co Ltd
7) Samsung Electronic, AA Pharmac and Sunday Mart all owned by General Ye Myint’s son Aung Zaw Ye Myint and family
8) Queen Star Computer Company, owned by General Maung Aye’s daughter Nanda Aye
9) J Doughnut, owned by Supreme General Than Shwe’s son Kyaing Than Shwe and group
10) Shwe Man Thu and Taw Win, Long Distance Coaches and Cars, owned by U Pine, Bandoo La Company
11) Korea Daewoo Products, owned by Daewoo Company which buit a Weapons Factory for the junta
12) Luxury Products from China (China is selling weapons and other intelligence technique to junta, interfering in the UN Security Council’s decision to help the people of Burma and politically supporting the military junta that brutally crushes any democratic and human rights movement.)
Notification To General Public
A) The citizens of Burma have been intimidated and repressed by the junta’s generals and their sycophants, who have total control of the country’s economic and humanitarian situation. To help restore some power to the public and help restore democracy to our country, we must start by boycotting the businesses owned and run by the military junta group and its followers.
B) Please be a responsible citizen and inform the public of any other businesses owned and run by the military group to the nearest media so that we are all aware.
The Public Movement Organizing Committee
Original post : Ko Htike's Blog
Translated by Nay Chi U
A list of businesses owned and run by military junta’s top generals, their families and sycophants.
Reference : 2/2008, Appendix A
Date : 18 01 2008
1) Aung Barlay Lottery, owned by the Junta
2) Htoo Trading Company’s Businesses, owned by Tay Za, Than Shwe’s Finance Adviser
3) Hlyat Tapyet Journal, owned by Myat Khine
4) Mandalay Nan Myint Journal, owned by USDA , Mandalay
5) London Cigarette, owned by U Pine Co Ltd
6) Myanmar Beer & Dagon Beer, owned by U Pine Co Ltd
7) Samsung Electronic, AA Pharmac and Sunday Mart all owned by General Ye Myint’s son Aung Zaw Ye Myint and family
8) Queen Star Computer Company, owned by General Maung Aye’s daughter Nanda Aye
9) J Doughnut, owned by Supreme General Than Shwe’s son Kyaing Than Shwe and group
10) Shwe Man Thu and Taw Win, Long Distance Coaches and Cars, owned by U Pine, Bandoo La Company
11) Korea Daewoo Products, owned by Daewoo Company which buit a Weapons Factory for the junta
12) Luxury Products from China (China is selling weapons and other intelligence technique to junta, interfering in the UN Security Council’s decision to help the people of Burma and politically supporting the military junta that brutally crushes any democratic and human rights movement.)
Notification To General Public
A) The citizens of Burma have been intimidated and repressed by the junta’s generals and their sycophants, who have total control of the country’s economic and humanitarian situation. To help restore some power to the public and help restore democracy to our country, we must start by boycotting the businesses owned and run by the military junta group and its followers.
B) Please be a responsible citizen and inform the public of any other businesses owned and run by the military group to the nearest media so that we are all aware.
The Public Movement Organizing Committee
NLD rejects Burmese junta's referendum and election plan
Maung Dee
February 18, 2008 - The National League for Democracy Burma's main opposition political party today, in an official statement, rejected the junta's referendum and election plans, saying it will not lead to democratic reforms but is just another tactic to prolong military rule in Burma.
NLD spokesperson U Thein Nyunt said, "We do not believe that there will be a free and fair referendum and election, because the junta has a tradition of breaking its promises including its promise on the 1990 election. So, we think this is only a violation of human rights and democracy."
The NLD's statement, read out to Mizzima over telephone, is the first official response on the ruling junta's plan. The junta on February 9 announced that it will hold a referendum in May and followed by a general election in 2010.
Holding a referendum on the draft constitution, which is written without the participation of peoples' representatives, only shows it is not heading for democratic reforms but will shower bigger political and social problems in the country, the statement said.
Besides, holding another election without rectifying the 1990 election results only proves that the junta disregards the peoples' popular desire and will do it again, the statement said.
"The NLD, therefore, does not believe that the ensuing referendum will be justly conducted," added the statement.
"If the government genuinely wants to resolve the political crisis in Burma, they should respect the will of the people and the constitution must reflect the peoples will," Thein Nyunt said.
Burma has been ruled by military dictators for nearly half a century, since general Ne Win seized power in a military coup in 1962. Burma once rich in mineral resources and known as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia has gone through severe economic deterioration under the military dictator's economic mismanagement.
The plummeting economic situation forces a majority of the Burmese people to live under the poverty line. The dire living condition of the people brought hundreds, if not thousands, to march on the streets in September last year, when the junta suddenly hiked fuel prices in August, which hit the people hard.
But, the military regime, which has a tradition of coming down heavily on any anti-government protests, brutally cracked down on the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 31 people and arresting thousands, according to the United Nations.
As a cover up to the crackdown, the junta appointed a liaison officer, Aung Kyi, to mediate between detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and junta supremo Than Shwe. It is being viewed as a move to fool the international community as well as the Burmese people that the junta is kick starting a process of political reform.
However, after the fifth round of talks, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her discussions with Aung Kyi yielded no hope for the reconciliation process and that she is dissatisfied with the talks.
Not long after the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement, the junta on February 9 declared that it will hold a referendum on the constitution, which took 14 years to lay down the guidelines in a national convention, and to hold election in 2010.
Critics, however, slam the junta's announcement as yet another tactic to prolong its rule in the country.
"In order to aim for democratic reforms, the junta must first respect the peoples' will and reflect them in the constitution," Thein Nyunt said.
Source: Mizzima News
February 18, 2008 - The National League for Democracy Burma's main opposition political party today, in an official statement, rejected the junta's referendum and election plans, saying it will not lead to democratic reforms but is just another tactic to prolong military rule in Burma.
NLD spokesperson U Thein Nyunt said, "We do not believe that there will be a free and fair referendum and election, because the junta has a tradition of breaking its promises including its promise on the 1990 election. So, we think this is only a violation of human rights and democracy."
The NLD's statement, read out to Mizzima over telephone, is the first official response on the ruling junta's plan. The junta on February 9 announced that it will hold a referendum in May and followed by a general election in 2010.
Holding a referendum on the draft constitution, which is written without the participation of peoples' representatives, only shows it is not heading for democratic reforms but will shower bigger political and social problems in the country, the statement said.
Besides, holding another election without rectifying the 1990 election results only proves that the junta disregards the peoples' popular desire and will do it again, the statement said.
"The NLD, therefore, does not believe that the ensuing referendum will be justly conducted," added the statement.
"If the government genuinely wants to resolve the political crisis in Burma, they should respect the will of the people and the constitution must reflect the peoples will," Thein Nyunt said.
Burma has been ruled by military dictators for nearly half a century, since general Ne Win seized power in a military coup in 1962. Burma once rich in mineral resources and known as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia has gone through severe economic deterioration under the military dictator's economic mismanagement.
The plummeting economic situation forces a majority of the Burmese people to live under the poverty line. The dire living condition of the people brought hundreds, if not thousands, to march on the streets in September last year, when the junta suddenly hiked fuel prices in August, which hit the people hard.
But, the military regime, which has a tradition of coming down heavily on any anti-government protests, brutally cracked down on the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 31 people and arresting thousands, according to the United Nations.
As a cover up to the crackdown, the junta appointed a liaison officer, Aung Kyi, to mediate between detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and junta supremo Than Shwe. It is being viewed as a move to fool the international community as well as the Burmese people that the junta is kick starting a process of political reform.
However, after the fifth round of talks, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her discussions with Aung Kyi yielded no hope for the reconciliation process and that she is dissatisfied with the talks.
Not long after the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement, the junta on February 9 declared that it will hold a referendum on the constitution, which took 14 years to lay down the guidelines in a national convention, and to hold election in 2010.
Critics, however, slam the junta's announcement as yet another tactic to prolong its rule in the country.
"In order to aim for democratic reforms, the junta must first respect the peoples' will and reflect them in the constitution," Thein Nyunt said.
Source: Mizzima News
Activists Call for Economic Boycott
Phanida
Mizzima News
February 19, 2008
Chiang Mai - The Mass Movement Committee issued a statement yesterday calling for an economic boycott against government owned economic enterprises under the slogan 'Boycott the brutal junta who killed monks'.
The list of business interests targeted for sanctions includes the government lottery, Htoo Trading Companies, London Cigarettes, Myanmar Beer, Dagon Beer and Korea's Daewoo Company.
"The junta ignored the will and desire of the people and international community by drafting their constitution unilaterally, and now they are seeking approval for this undemocratic constitution by holding a referendum. So we urge everyone to boycott all their economic enterprises along with the companies of their cronies," said Ko Soe Tun, a member of the 88 generation students.
"We will boycott only government run economic enterprises. The junta misuses all revenue from their economic enterprises, buying arms used in suppressing the people's movement and killing monks. So we appeal to everyone not to buy food from their shops and not to use the products produced by these companies," Ko Tayza of Rangoon's Mass Movement Committee said.
Key industries and lucrative businesses are commonly monopolized by the ruling junta and its cronies while much of the population of Burma confronts unbearable economic hardships.
"Our country is facing a general crisis. The people called on the government to resolve these economic, social and political crises. But these calls fell on the deaf ears of the generals. The people are struggling hard for their daily livelihood while the families of the generals are enjoying a lavish lifestyle. The people are suffering from a blatant violation of human rights and injustice," Ko Tun Myint Aung, from 88 generation students, told Mizzima.
The Mass Movement Committee's statement claims: "We will not cease our economic boycott until the junta meets our demand of resolving the crises of the country – livelihood, economics, health and education – through genuine dialogue."
"I'd like to urge all people to join the economic boycott called by the 88 generation students and Mass Movement Committee. If the junta prospers they will use their wealth in the suppression of the people's movement," commented Ashin Pyinyarwuntah of the All Burma Monks Alliance.
"Therefore I'd like to urge all the people to join hands with the Mass Movement Committee and unanimously boycott the government run economic enterprises and businesses," he continued.
The Mass Movement Committee is comprised of twelve civil societies and was formed in the wake of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution.
Mizzima News
February 19, 2008
Chiang Mai - The Mass Movement Committee issued a statement yesterday calling for an economic boycott against government owned economic enterprises under the slogan 'Boycott the brutal junta who killed monks'.
The list of business interests targeted for sanctions includes the government lottery, Htoo Trading Companies, London Cigarettes, Myanmar Beer, Dagon Beer and Korea's Daewoo Company.
"The junta ignored the will and desire of the people and international community by drafting their constitution unilaterally, and now they are seeking approval for this undemocratic constitution by holding a referendum. So we urge everyone to boycott all their economic enterprises along with the companies of their cronies," said Ko Soe Tun, a member of the 88 generation students.
"We will boycott only government run economic enterprises. The junta misuses all revenue from their economic enterprises, buying arms used in suppressing the people's movement and killing monks. So we appeal to everyone not to buy food from their shops and not to use the products produced by these companies," Ko Tayza of Rangoon's Mass Movement Committee said.
Key industries and lucrative businesses are commonly monopolized by the ruling junta and its cronies while much of the population of Burma confronts unbearable economic hardships.
"Our country is facing a general crisis. The people called on the government to resolve these economic, social and political crises. But these calls fell on the deaf ears of the generals. The people are struggling hard for their daily livelihood while the families of the generals are enjoying a lavish lifestyle. The people are suffering from a blatant violation of human rights and injustice," Ko Tun Myint Aung, from 88 generation students, told Mizzima.
The Mass Movement Committee's statement claims: "We will not cease our economic boycott until the junta meets our demand of resolving the crises of the country – livelihood, economics, health and education – through genuine dialogue."
"I'd like to urge all people to join the economic boycott called by the 88 generation students and Mass Movement Committee. If the junta prospers they will use their wealth in the suppression of the people's movement," commented Ashin Pyinyarwuntah of the All Burma Monks Alliance.
"Therefore I'd like to urge all the people to join hands with the Mass Movement Committee and unanimously boycott the government run economic enterprises and businesses," he continued.
The Mass Movement Committee is comprised of twelve civil societies and was formed in the wake of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution.
SPDC likely masterminded assassination: KNU
Than Htaik Oo
Mizzima News
February 19, 2008
Chiang Mai - A Karen National Union (KNU) official says that the SPDC might be the mastermind behind the killing of its General Secretary, Pado Mahn Sha.
Two unknown gunmen shot the KNU General Secretary dead at point blank range at his residence in Mae Sot on February 14th at approximately 4:30 p.m. (Thai time). KNU Headquarters Spokesman Pado David Taw speculates that the junta could be responsible.
"According to our sources the junta might be behind this plot, hiring the hit men to kill our General Secretary," he said.
The funeral for Pado Mahn Sha was held yesterday at about 9 a.m. at a KNU controlled area inside Burma but near the Thai border. The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 people, including ethnic dignitaries and leaders from various revolutionary forces.
The funeral was pushed up one day due to the early arrival of his daughters and security reasons, KNU official David Taw revealed. The KNU had received a tip-off of the apparent firing of heavy arms in the region by the Burmese Army and the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Major Tu Tu Lay, the former Joint General Secretary (1), replaced the slain leader and Joint General Secretary (2), Pado David Tharkapaw, assumed the post of Joint General Secretary (1).
Mizzima News
February 19, 2008
Chiang Mai - A Karen National Union (KNU) official says that the SPDC might be the mastermind behind the killing of its General Secretary, Pado Mahn Sha.
Two unknown gunmen shot the KNU General Secretary dead at point blank range at his residence in Mae Sot on February 14th at approximately 4:30 p.m. (Thai time). KNU Headquarters Spokesman Pado David Taw speculates that the junta could be responsible.
"According to our sources the junta might be behind this plot, hiring the hit men to kill our General Secretary," he said.
The funeral for Pado Mahn Sha was held yesterday at about 9 a.m. at a KNU controlled area inside Burma but near the Thai border. The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 people, including ethnic dignitaries and leaders from various revolutionary forces.
The funeral was pushed up one day due to the early arrival of his daughters and security reasons, KNU official David Taw revealed. The KNU had received a tip-off of the apparent firing of heavy arms in the region by the Burmese Army and the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Major Tu Tu Lay, the former Joint General Secretary (1), replaced the slain leader and Joint General Secretary (2), Pado David Tharkapaw, assumed the post of Joint General Secretary (1).
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