092. polaris burmese library - singapore - collection - volume 92

270
jynf ol vl xk taygif ;cH pm;ae&aom qif ;&J'k uQ rsd K;pH k rS vG wf ajrmuf atmif ppf tm%m&S if pepf ud k t&if OD ;qH k ;wd k uf zsuf jypf &rnf / vrf;jyMu,fjrefrmpmMunfYwdkuf ( pifumyl ) vufa&G;pifaqmif;yg;rsm; twGJ 92 1 ppftmPm&Sifpepfwdkufzsufa&; jidrf;csrf;a&; 'dDrdkua&pDa&; vlYtcGifhta&; aqmif;yg;rsm; twGJ 92 txl ;aqmif ;yg; တ႐ုတ္-မန္မာ ဆက္ဆံေရး 1988 Photos ကာင္းသားသမိုင္းေရးသူ ကိုေအာင္ထြန္း ပန္လတ္လာ င္ငံေရးအကဥ္းသား ၁၂၈ ဦးသာ တ္ၿငိမ္းခမ္းသာခင့္ရ

Upload: witmone

Post on 12-Nov-2014

297 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 1::-.+.-::.:--.-:-:.:. :- :. -:-::- --:: -:-aqmif;yg;rsm; twGJ txl;aqmif;yg;- 1988 Photos .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 2.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 3::-.+.-::.:--.-:-:.:. :- :. -:-::- --:: -:-aqmif;yg;rsm; twGJ txl;aqmif;yg;- 1988 Photos ~~.-.._._-._....-._-_ -- ---.. , --.-.-_--. ..----...--POLARIS BURMESE LIBRARY ( SINGAPORE ).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 4.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 5Breaking News For immediate release20 September 2009 11:00 Thailand Standard TimeAt least 110 political prisoners released(Mae Sot Thailand )The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners ( Burma ) (AAPP) can confirm that so far110 political prisoners have been released from 23 different prisons in Burma .The 110 released include 38 members of the National League for Democracy, including 3MPs; 20 women; 11 former political prisoners; 4 monks; 4 journalists; 10 members of theHuman Rights Defenders and Promoters Network; 6 members of the 88 GenerationStudents; and 1 lawyer.On the evening of September 17, 2009 in Rangoon , state-run MRTV carried a newsbulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be released on humanitarian grounds.The list of political prisoners released will be continually updated at our web sitewww.aappb.org as AAPP receives more information. In alphabetical order:1. Angaelay ( Mandalay prison) - student2. Aung Gyi (Insein prison) - student3. Aung Gyi @ Aung Thwin (Shwebo prison) journalist, former political prisoner, 88Generation Students4. Aung Ko Oo (Tharawaddy prison) - student5. Aung Lwin (Thandwe prison)6. Aung Myint (Myaungmya prison) - NLD member; Human Rights Defenders andPromoters member7. Aung Myo (Shwebo prison) NLD Township Organiser8. Aung Naing (Insein prison) NLD member9. Aung Swe (Shwebo prison) - NLD member10. Aung Tun (Tharawaddy prison) student; member of the All Burma Federation ofStudent Unions11. Aye Min (a) Aye Min Min (Tharawaddy prison) private tutor12. Aye Myint Mar (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front(Western)13. Ba Chit (Tharawaddy prison) Ex-captain in the army14. Ba Min (Kale prison) NLD member15. Bo Bo (Myingyan prison)16. Bo Gyi (Pegu prison)17. Chan Aung (Monywa prison) - NLD township organiser18. Chit Thein Tun (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)19. Cho Mar Htwe, (Female) ( Moulmein prison) NLD member.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 620. Eimt Khaing Oo, Female (Insein prison) journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer21. Hla Shein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters22. Hlaing Aye (Kale prison) - NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner23. Hnin Hnin (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front(Western)24. Htay Naing Lin (Monywa prison) - Human Rights Defenders and PromotersNetwork25. Htay Win (Thayet prison) NLD Township Organizer26. Khaing Kaung Zan, (Thayet prison) Arakan League for Democracy in exilemember27. Khin Khin Lay (a) Khin Lay, (Female) (Pegu prison) NLD member28. Khin Maung Chit (Meiktila prison) - NLD Local Secretary29. Khin Maung Thein (Shwebo prison) NLD member30. Khin Moe Aye (a) Moe Moe (Female), (Myingyan prison) 88 Generation Studentsmember; former political prisoner31. Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Insein prison) journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer32. Kyaw Lwin, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters33. Kyaw Maung (Myitkyina prison) NLD MP34. Kyaw Thu Htike (Taunggyi prison)35. Kyaw Win (Tharawaddy prison) All Burma Students Democratic Front36. Kyi Kyi Min, (Female) (Insein prison) NLD member37. Kyi Lin (Myintkyina prison) NLD member38. Ma Ei (female) (Paungde prison)39. Ma Htay (a) San San Myint, (Female) (Insein prison)40. Ma Mi Mi Swe (female) (Henzada prison)41. Maung Maung Htwe (Shwebo prison)42. Maw Si (Shwebo prison) NLD Youth member43. Mi Mi Sein, (Female) (Insein prison) NLD Township Joint-Secretary44. Michael Win Kyaw (Kale prison) 88 Generation Students member; formerpolitical prisoner45. Min Min (a) La Min Tun, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders andPromoters46. Min Min Soe (Myingyan prison) 88 Generation Students member47. Moe Hlaing ( Moulmein prison)48. Moe Kyaw Thu (a) Bo Bo ( Mandalay prison)49. Moe Lwin ( Moulmein prison) individual activist50. Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (Insein prison) - Member of NLD and poet51. Mya Sein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters52. Myint Oo (a) Ni Ni ( Mandalay prison) NLD Township organizer; former politicalprisoner53. Myint Oo (Thayet prison) NLD Township Joint Secretary54. Myo Min Lwin ( Moulmein prison)55. Myo Yan Naung Thein (Thandwe prison) 88 Generation Students member, formerpolitical prisoner56. Nay Win (Myintkyina prison) NLD Township Organizer57. Nine Nine (Insein prison) NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner58. Nu Nu Swe @ Pauk Pauk (female) (Myaungmya prison)59. Nyi Nyi Min (Buthidaung prison) NLD member60. Nyo Mya (Kale prison) NLD member61. Pe Tin (Pegu prison) NLD member62. Pyae Phyo Aung (a) Hnan Mue (Pa-An prison)63. San Pwint (Kale prison) NLD member; teacher64. San Ya (Tharawaddy prison) NLD member.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 765. Sandar Min (a) Shwee, (Myaungmya prison) 88 Generation Students, FormerPolitical Prisoner66. Sandar, (Female) (Myingyan prison) NLD member67. Saw Myo Min Hlaing @ James (Thaton prison) - Private Tutor68. Saw Taw Kyi (Thayet prison) Karen National Union member69. Shin Sandaw Batha, Monk (Insein prison) All Burma Monks Alliance70. Shwe Thar (a) Tin Win (Tharawaddy prison) Karen National Union member71. Soe Han (Lashio prison) lawyer; Chair of the National League for Democracys(NLD) legal advisory body72. Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw (Myitkyina prison)73. Than Min (a) Tin Tun Aung, (Taungoo prison) NLD member74. Than Than Htay, (Female) (Insein prison) student75. Than Than Sint, (Female) (Insein prison)76. Than Tun (Shwebo prison)77. Than Zaw Oo (Tharawaddy prison) NLD member78. Thar Cho, (Thayet prison) NLD Township Organizer79. Thein Zaw (Tharawaddy prison)80. Thet Oo (Taungoo prison) Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member81. Thet Zin (a) Maung Zin (Kale prison) journalist; former political prisoner; memberof the All Burma Federation of Student Unions and the Democratic Party for a NewSociety82. Thin Min Soe, (Female) (Insein prison) labour activist83. Thura Win @ Thura Lin (Buthidaung) Student84. Tin Mar Swe (female) ( Mandalay prison)85. Tin Maung Nyunt (Shwebo prison) NLD Township Organiser86. Tin Mya (Insein prison) - National League for Democracy Township chairperson,Former Political Prisoner87. Tin Myint (Insein prison) NLD member88. Tin Myint (Tharawaddy prison)89. Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo (Insein prison) Generation Wave; former politicalprisoner90. Tin Tin Myint, (Female) (Insein prison) third year chemistry student91. Tin Tun (a) Kyaw Swa (Tharawaddy prison) UN Development Program staff(New Era journal distributor)92. Tun Hla (Tharawaddy prison)93. Tun Oo (a) Ngar Kalar (Taungoo prison)94. Tun Tun Nyein, (Thayet prison) NLD Youth member95. Tun Tun Oo (a) Nanda Malar (Taungoo prison) monk96. Tun Tun Oo (Thandwe prison)97. U Han Sein (Tharawaddy prison) NLD member98. U Myint, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters99. U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Taungoo prison) monk; Human Rights Defenders andPromoters member100. U Peter (Loikaw prison)101. U Win, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters102. U Zawana (a) Soe Myint (Taungoo prison) - monk103. Win Myint (Insein prison)104. Wunna Soe (Pa-An prison) Democratic Party for a New Society member105. Yan Aung Shwe (Thayet prison) All Burma Students Democratic Frontmember106. Yan Naing Min (a) Nan Wai ( Mandalay prison) student107. Zaw Htet Aung (Kale prison) - student108. Zaw Lin Tun (a) Phu Zaw (Monywa prison) - All Burma StudentsDemocratic Front (Western).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 8109. Zaw Tun (Taungoo prison)110. Zin Mar Aung (female) ( Mandalay prison) student; NLD member-ENDS-For media interviews please contact:Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary +66(0)89-899- 7161Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint-Secretary +66(0)81-324- 8935Thanks N Regards,U Aung Myo TheinAssistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)Contact: [email protected], [email protected]: http://www.aappb. org, http://www.fbppn. net Submitted by Karen Information Center on September 19, 2009 5:57 amNoComment ().~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 9 ( ) () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 10 / () () Weekly Eleven () (,) .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 11Tuesday, September 15, 2009 () -() .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 12 ....... .......() " " " " " " " " .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 13() "" " " " ".~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 14 (Fashion Image) ()" Ralph Waldo Emerson " .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 15 "- " - "" () ()() (-) - "" "" "" "" " ".~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 16(--){ () " () (-)" }Sunday, September 13, 2009 - '' .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 17 ....... Good Second Hand ( ) ..... ( .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 18 ) Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - http://mayaonlinemagazine.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_16.html .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 19 Ph.D , ..... .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 20 ..... ........ ....~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 21 AAPP - (NLD ) () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 22 (NLD ) () Stateless boy is 3rd in paperairplane contest12-year-old has brought attention to the plight of immigrantsin ThailandThe Associated Pressupdated 7:41 a.m. ET Sept. 20, 2009TOKYO - A boy with no official nationality who lives in Thailand capturedthird place in a Japanese paper airplane contest Sunday after his tearfulpleas to be allowed to attend prompted authorities to grant him a raretemporary passport for the event.Mong Thongdee, 12, won a national paper airplane championship inThailand in August 2008 after he threw a plane that flew for 12 seconds,and was later chosen to attend the Japanese contest in Chiba, nearTokyo. But Mong, who lives in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, is theson of Myanmar migrants who are stateless and so have no legal right totravel abroad.His first application to leave Thailand was denied, but after nationalmedia coverage of him quietly sobbing after the refusal captured thehearts of many Thais he was granted a temporary passport.Mong appeared Sunday in a white T-shirt decorated with the Thai flag,whipping his carefully folded airplanes high into the air during thecompetition in front of hundreds of spectators.He placed third in the division for elementary school students with a timeof 10.53 seconds. In an earlier exhibition, Mong's airplane stayed in theair for 16.45 seconds..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 23GratefulAfter the event he said he wanted his family back home to know he gotthird place, and that he was grateful to the people who supported him.On Saturday, his three-person Thai team won the group competition.Contestants quickly fold their planes at the event, then throw them intothe air.Koji Sasahara / APMong Thongdee, a 12 -year-old stateless who was born in Thailandto Myanmar migrants, competes during the team indoor flightduration competition at the All-Japan Origami Airplane Contest inMakuhari, near Tokyo, on SaturdayMong's ethnic Shan parents have only temporary permission to live andwork in Thailand, so although he was born in the country he has onlytemporary resident status. Under normal circumstances, if he left and.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 24tried to return, his status would be revoked and he would be barred re-entry to the country where he was born.When his initial application for temporary exit papers was denied, thestory dominated the front pages of Thai newspapers, and a nationallawyers' council petitioned the court on his behalf.His tale has led to fresh attention for those in his situation in Thailand,who have less access to education and health care. Mong is on a list ofpeople who will be considered for repatriation to Myanmar in February2010.Mong lands gold in team eventWriter: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOLPublished: 20/09/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: NewsMong Thongdee, a stateless child from Chiang Mai province representingThailand in an international paper airplane flying contest in Japan, yesterdayemerged the champion in the team event.The 12-year-old boy was part of a three-man team which included two adultsat the All-Japan Origami Airplane competition being held at the MakuhariComplex in Chiba, Japan, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi.Mong's paper plane stayed in the air for 11 seconds, which was good enoughfor victory, but not good enough to break the record of 12.50 seconds set lastyear.Mong was wearing a yellow shirt and a pair of jeans when he made his throw.After the team victory, in which only the best throw is counted out of the threethrows, he smiled and shook hands with members of the rival teams.Mong said he wanted to thank all the people who supported him and said hewould tell his parents he was proud to have represented Thailand and won.He will be competing Sunday in the individual event.Mong is a Prathom 4 (grade 4) student at the Ban Huay Sai School in ChiangMai province..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 25Mong almost didn't make it to Japan for the competition as he is a statelessperson in Thailand - his parents are Burmese - and he has no ID card and didn'tqualify for a Thai passport.But after the story of his plight first broke in the Bangkok Post Sunday, seniorgovernment officials stepped in.Mong was then given the all-clear to travel to Japan after PM Abhisit Vejjajivastepped in. A certificate and temporary passport were issued to the boy,allowing him to travel to Japan.Beyond the concept of country ishumanityWriter: Thongbai ThongpaoPublished: 6/09/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: NewsThe star of all media this past week was indisputably Mong Thongdee, a 12-year-old stateless boy from Chiang Rai. Blessed with a talent for making paperplanes, Mong has participated in the paper plane contest held nationwide forfour years. He was invited to join the international competition in Chiba,Japan, on Sept 19 and 20.The problem was that he could miss that chance of a lifetime although he hasevery right to participate under the United Nations' Universal Declarations forHuman Rights and is protected by the UN Convention on the Rights of theChild, both of which Thailand ratified.Although this case ended happily later in the week when Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva intervened personally on Mong's behalf, it uncovered a flawin our bureaucracy and the attitude of certain officials.Thailand can do much better.Although Mong was born in the Kingdom to registered migrant workers, he isnot allowed Thai citizenship according to the Nationality Act. His sponsorsbrought him to meet the minister of the interior to seek his permission forMong to join the contest.Instead of figuring out a way to help him, the minister ruled out such apossibility and warned him that if Mong ever left Thailand, he could not returnto the country.The Ministry of Interior (MOI) stuck to this principle although Mong'ssupporters cited provisions under the two UN conventions, as well as accepted.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 26principles of common humanity. The ministry stood its ground and said even ifMong were allowed to leave the country and won the contest, it would not bein the name of Thailand because he is not a national.But a high official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) pointed out thatin the past an exception was not unheard of, and that the MOI had allowedaliens to leave the country on a case-by-case basis by coordinating with otherministries, including the MOFA. In those cases, the MOFA considered issuingappropriate types of passports and the aliens could return to the Kingdom.She added that the MOFA could issue a yellow passport with a validity of oneyear and a re-entry visa if the MOI asks it to accommodate the request.Listening to her, I felt relieved. With the help of civil officials like herThailand could become willing to make exceptions to the rules whenwarranted, and avoid being dubbed as a violator of human rights, and Thailandhas long held to a clear principle of enforcing the law to the letter, but if thereis no applicable provisions for a particular situation, the closest possibleprovisions shall apply mutatis mutandis _ with the necessary changes havingbeen made.I remember that during the dictatorial rule of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat(1959-1963), the abbreviated charter in effect in those days, with a mere 20sections, still had this exception spelled out in the last section: ''In a case whereno provision under this charter applies, the case will be deliberated based onthe customs of constitutional democracy.'' The provision is similar to Section 4of the Civil and Commercial Code.Those detained without limits under the anti-communist law in those dayscited this provision as grounds to appeal their detention to the Criminal Court.They claimed their detention violated principles of human rights and customsof democracy. The court ruled in their favour.The world today has changed a lot since those days, especially in terms ofhuman rights, whose principles have become a compulsory subject forundergraduate law students at every university. In my view, the MOFA hasgreater experience and understanding of human rights issues than the MOI,and the MOI should strive to keep up with global developments. Even theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Thailand is thechair this year, has voted to set up a human-rights organisation. This behoovesThai MPs and senators to study and catch up with the latest global trends.Thailand is not Burma, where a person can be detained at will without limits orcredible charges, to the condemnation and exasperation of the worldcommunity. The MOI has to catch up with the world instead of acting like acold-hearted dinosaur, as it did with Mong..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 27The number of registered migrant workers in Thailand is almost two million,and there are another two million unregistered ones, according the LabourMinistry. The children of registered and unregistered foreign labourers areconsidered ''stateless''.However, the two UN conventions cited above endorse the rights of childrento citizenship and education, whether their parents are in the countrylegitimately or not.Of course, national security is a big concern. But let's not forget that beyondthe concept of country is humanity. We cannot deny anyone their basic rightsand treat them as if they are not human. Both the international conventions andthe Buddhist religion teach us the same thing _ to have compassion for ourfellow human beings. This philosophy has won us so many friends worldwide,and it is this principle that we must always uphold.Thai-born Burmese boy, Mong Thongdee,fulfilled his dreamto represent Thailandin Origami Airplane Contest in Japanhttp://www.thaiembassy.sg/press_media/news-highlights/thai-born-burmese-boy-mong-thongdee-fulfilled-his-dream-to-represent-thaThe Thai Foreign Ministry, on Friday 4 September 2009, granted atravel document for a Thai-born Burmese boy Mong Thongdee,enabling him to represent Thailand in Origami Airplane contest inJapan.Ms. Madurapochana Ittarong, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy DirectorGeneral of Consular Affairs, granted him a 90-day travel document foralien, allowing him to make a single round trip between Thailand andJapan. The Foreign Ministry issued him with the document after theInterior Ministry's Permanent Secretary Wichai Srikwan had made therequest.The 12-year-old Mong was born to a couple of Burmese migrantworkers in Chiang Mai province. He received Thai education fromprimary school in the province but did not obtain Thai citizenship dueto his alien parents.His origami plane could fly for 12.5 minutes in the air, top of the Thailocal contest. Japan Origami Plane organizer invited him to join thecontest in Japan but the Interior Ministry at first did not allow him toget a passport because he is not a Thai citizen. He obtained the traveldocument after many attempts including asking Prime Minister AbhisitVejjajiva to relax the regulations for him..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 28Mong is the third non-Thai national who carried Thai travel documentto go abroad and has the right to return to Thailand.Paper airplane, or paper tiger?Meet Mong Thongdee, a 12-year-old "security threat" inThailand.By Patrick Winn - GlobalPostPublished: September 12, 2009 08:28 ET-A +ABANGKOK Maybe the Thai government shouldnt have deemed 12-year-old Mong Thongdee a security threat.That was the declaration that in the publics eye, at least seemed topit stodgy officials against adolescent dreams.For weeks, the media here has been smitten with Mong, a Thai-bornfourth-grader with a passion for flight. Since first grade, Ive lovedobserving planes in the sky, he told GlobalPost in a phone interview.One day, I started building little planes out of plastic and, later on, outof paper.Mongs designs have proved agile. After one of his planes stayed aloftfor 12.5 seconds, he qualified for an expenses-paid, global paperairplane competition held Sept. 19-20 in Chiba, Japan. Mongs flighttime has bested all others in his age bracket.But Mong, born to Burmese construction workers in the Thai city ofChiang Mai, is essentially a citizen of nowhere. Thai law insists that, byparentage, Mong belongs to Burma a neighboring country that doesnot even recognize his birth. Though Mong calls Thailand home, hesalways been a temporary resident at risk of deportation.For stateless kids like Mong, a passport much less citizenship islargely out of the question. Only through talent, tears and the prime.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 29ministers intervention has he secured temporary papers allowing aone-time-only trip to Japan.After Thailands Interior Ministry ruled that Mongs travel requestcountered a law protecting national security, Thai TV outletsbroadcast footage of him sobbing and begging for help. He was sohurt, said Yoon Thongdee, the boys father. He cried for a whole day.As the contests registration deadline drew close last week, PremierAbhisit Vejjajiva decided to intervene. Mongs next major TVappearance was taped inside parliament. There, the premier and the 12-year-old a visitors pass clipped to his pastel blue school uniform played with paper planes in front of cameras. The bureaucratic barrierssuddenly melted away.Mong now appears Japan-bound via a special temporary passport. Eachnight, he folds planes and does push-ups to grow strong enough for thecompetition, his father said.Ive been making my muscles strong, Mong said. The prime ministertold me to bring that championship back to Thailand and fight, fight!

Beyond the passport drama, Mongs case is also casting attentiontoward Thailands stateless youth dilemma. The country now holds atleast 2 million stateless people, many of them of Burmese origin, saidAmanda Bissex, chief of Unicef Thailands Child Protection Section.Compared to neighboring Laos, Cambodia and especially Burma,Thailand is flush with opportunity. Low-wage factory, construction andhousekeeping jobs entice hundreds to cross the kingdoms junglyborders each day. Mongs parents, who belong to the regions ethnicShan group, began as orange pickers and now hold construction jobs.The government has long struggled to balance the benefits of cheap,foreign-born labor with a perceived threat posed by a statelessunderclass. Migrants with jobs can register with the government toavoid deportation but theyre not given access to many publicservices, such as health care, Bissex said.Thai law doesnt endow migrants children with citizenship, even if thekids have never set foot in their parents homeland.Those who obey the law and register with the Thai government cantleave the boundaries of their local district, akin to an American county..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 30If caught outside that zone, they can be deported immediately, saidHartairat Thaianurak of the non-profit Migrant Assistance Program inChiang Mai.The Thai government likes to claim this only for national stability,Hartairat said. But I think that if we have all these kids with nostability in their lives, then well never find the answer to this problem.These kids speak Thai and eat Thai food. Theyve inherited Thai cultureand theyll keep carrying it on for at least a couple generations.The government has recently loosened restrictions on statelesschildren, Bissex said, encouraging more migrants living illegally tocome out of the shadows and register their newborns. Once registered,children can at least attend Thai school, as does Mong.Though Thailands Interior Ministry has yielded to Mongs plea fortemporary travel papers, the paper airplane saga wont help him securecitizenship, officials have said. His familys residence status will comeunder review again early next year.If they offered, Id definitely take it, said Mong, who one day hopes toattend college and become a pilot.But the paper plane whiz, preparing to represent Thailand at the JapanOrigami Airplane Association challenge, has more immediate concerns.Even though its only autumn in Japan, Mong heard that its prettycompared to Chiang Mai the only town he knows.Ive need to go shopping, he said. I dont have any winter clothes.Source URL (retrieved on September 20, 2009 13:41 ):http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/thailand/090911/thailands-adorable-security-threat.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 31Mong Thongdee is a hapless messenger. Manythousands of children of Burmese parentage likehim need to be given proper education andhealthcare.On the face of it, the extraordinary tale of Mong Thongdee, a 12-year-old boy of Shan parentage, should have no farreachingramifications. Stateless but gifted, Mong was initially denied foreigntravel rights by Thailands Interior Ministry for his lack of Thaicitizenship.Mong Thongdee thanks Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva forstepping in to help him attend a paper airplane competition inJapan.STATELESS BOY IN JAPANMong Thongdee comes third in contestPublished on September 21, 2009http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/21/national/national_30112653.phpMong Thongdee, whose passport saga was in the media limelight earlierthis month, has won the third prize at the Origami Airplane Contest inJapan.Born in Thailand to a Burmese couple, Mong has no nationality..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 32Although he is allowed to attend a Thai school, it has been very difficult forthe 12yearold boy to get a passport.Mong was invited to participate in the paper airplane competition in Japanafter he became the champion of a contest in Thailand.However, he almost lost the opportunity to fly to Japan because the authoritieshere were initially very reluctant to issue him the muchneeded document onthe grounds that he was not a Thai national.It was only after his case was highlighted by the media did Mong finally obtaina Thai passport.During the competition in Japan, Mong won the third prize in the individualcategory and the first prize in the threemember team category..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 33MONG THONGDEE, A TWELVE-YEAR-OLDSTATELESS ...AP - Hier, 11h07Mong Thongdee, a twelve-year-old stateless who was born in Thailand toMyanmar migrants, center, is greeted by his Japanese opponents, left andright, before the team indoor flight duration competition at the All-JapanOrigami Airplane Contest in Makuhari, near Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009.Mong, 2008 Thai origami airplane champion and one of nearly half a millionstateless people in Thailand who legally cannot leave and return to thecountry, was granted a temporary passport exceptionally to take part in thecontest in Japan with paper planes that can fly for 12 seconds at a time. (APPhoto/Koji Sasahara).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 34Copyright 2009 APAP Photo 49 minutes agoThai entrant Mong Thongdee prepares to release his paper plane during theindividual indoor flight duration competition at the All-Japan OrigamiAirplane Contest in Makuhari, near Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. Mong, atwelve-year-old stateless who was born in Thailand to Myanmar migrants,placed third in the division for elementary school students of the competitionof the competition, with a time of 10.53 seconds. He was 2008 Thai origamiairplane champion and one of nearly half a million stateless people in Thailandwho legally cannot leave and return to the country, was granted a temporarypassport exceptionally to take part in the overseas contest..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 35OpinionCHANG NOIA paper dart that illustrated a hugewaste of human potentialPublished on September 7, 2009LAST WEEK the prime minister had to intervene personally to enablethe Thailand-born son of a Burmese migrant labourer to travel to Japanfor a paper dart contest. Now, paper dart construction is not out there onthe frontiers of human achievement. The prime minister has a few otherthings to do like saving the economy and restoring peace in society. Hisintervention was an attempt to pre-empt another international PRdisaster. The Ministry of Interior's block on Mong Thongdee's overseastravel on grounds of law and precedent looked so mean and petty.But the prime minister's intervention does nothing to solve the massiveproblem which Mong Thongdee briefly came to represent on the front pages.Thailand is now home to a massive number of people who do not havecitizenship. Because the numbers are so large, the problems they suffer popup with predictable regularity. Two weeks before Mong Thongdee's brieffame, two young Rohingyas died of hopelessness. Before that came protestsover the Labour Ministry's decision to stop registering the children of migrantlabourers. Every month or so there is another episode in the saga over Hmongrepatriation. And so on.There are now around 3.5 million people living in Thailand withoutcitizenship. The figure is an estimate. There may be more. Nobody is reallysure. The number has grown very rapidly over the past ten years. Theproblem is not new, and not different. All over the world, states arestruggling to manage migrants. But the problem changes with scale, and inThailand the scale is now significant. That 3.5 million is over 5 per cent ofthe population. In the modern world, citizenship is vital. People without itlack rights and get exploited. People who get exploited become unhappy. Acountry playing host to a lot of unhappy people starts to become nervous.That is what is now happening.Many of the 3.5 million are here because Thailand has been a welcominghost for the unfortunate. For over half a century, it quietly provided sanctuary.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 36for those fleeing war and disorder in neighbouring countries. There areChinese nationalists left over from the second world war, many groupsdisplaced by the Indochina War, and ethnic minorities persecuted by theBurmese government. Many have applied for Thai citizenship, but theprocess has tended to be glacially slow. There are still around 350,000without full nationality, including around 80,000 children.There are others who are stateless and rootless because they slipped past thebureaucratic process of registration. Many are hill peoples who havedifficulty proving their origins. There are now good laws and procedures forovercoming this problem, but the implementation is sometimes hobbled byinefficiency and prejudice. The total number is not known. But there are atleast 190,000 stateless people among students and schoolchildren alone.Next there are the refugees from recent wars and disorders. Thailand refusesto sign the UN Convention on Refugees and to call these people "refugees."It prefers to label them as "displaced persons" and their facilities as "shelters"rather than camps. But this sensitivity does nothing to change the reality.International agencies estimate there are around 400,000 refugees andasylum-seekers in total. Less than half of these are in shelters. Many morefade into the larger society and survive on their wits.The largest group are migrant labourers, mostly from Burma, but alsoCambodia, Laos, and China. In the late 1980s, the political crisis in Burmacoincided with an economic take-off in Thailand. Many Burmese wantedsomewhere else to go. Many Thai businesses wanted more people to employ.From 1996 there has been a system to register labour migrants, but it operatesonly on an annual basis and keeps changing. Now, people come across theborder illegally, but then must get a job and register, or risk being deported asillegal migrants. Last year around 1.6 million were registered. At leastanother million are probably here without registration. Their fortunes are verymixed. They welcome the jobs. They may get well treated by Thai authoritieswhich have a policy of providing access to such services as health andeducation. But they know they are being exploited with low pay, and they canbe very vulnerable to corruption and maltreatment, especially at the hands ofthe police.The motives that have created this large social phenomenon are a complexmixture of humanitarian kindness and ruthless exploitation. The policies formanaging this phenomenon are a complex mix of well-meaning pragmatismand concerns over security. Mong Thongdee's teacher was his biggest friendand advocate. The foreign ministry was flexible. But the interior ministrybelieves that denial of rights is a tool to deter an even larger in-migration.Mong Thongdee's case symbolizes the waste of human potential created.Maybe missing a chance to make a competitive paper dart does not seem.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 37such a great loss. But multiply it by 3.5 million times and it becomessomething else.But the miseries imposed on the outsiders is only part of the complexity. Afew months ago, Chang Noi visited a province where the migrant labourpopulation has ballooned to four hundred thousand. Leaders of the local hostcommunity spoke about the pressure on local services of health, education,and waste disposal. They feared problems of crime and disease. But they didnot blame the labourers themselves who they saw as helpless victims. Ratherthey pointed at the entrepreneurs that profited from cheap labour, the sharksthat provided slum housing, and the police and petty officials who skimmed aprofit. They were also afraid. One suddenly said: What if the migrants oneday surrounded the provincial office, the banks, the police stations, and justtook over? The scenario may not be so realistic, but the fear underlying it isreal.Mong Thongdee's brief fame is just a glimpse of a much bigger issue. Howwill Thailand manage 3.5 million people who suffer as outsiders, and arebeginning to make insiders feel insecure too?Print Article>> Back to the articleSep 4, 2009Passport for stateless boyBANGKOK- A STATELESS boy who was born in Thailand toMyanmar migrants will be issued a temporary Thai passport sohe can represent the kingdom at an origami competition inJapan with paper planes that can fly for 12 minutes.Mong Thongdee, 12, caught the hearts of many Thais with hisdistraught plea - broadcast nationwide - to be allowed tocompete, and unwittingly drew attention to the plight ofnearly half a million stateless people in Thailand who legallycannot leave and return to the country.Late Thursday, Mong was ushered into Parliament for ameeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who promisedthe paper-folding champion that he would be grantedtemporary travel papers.Mong, who lives in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, won anational origami airplane championship in August 2008 with a.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 38plane that flew for 12 minutes. He was later selected to attendthe Origami Airplane contest in Chiba, Japan, on Sept. 19-20.His request to leave the country was initially denied by theInterior Ministry, which cited a law saying that attempts bypeople of Mong's status to leave and re-enter Thailand couldpresent 'a threat to national security.'Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul told local media theboy would have to represent Myanmar instead, even thoughhe is not eligible for citizenship there either.Mong's ethnic Shan parents have only temporary permissionto live and work in Thailand, so although he was born in thecountry he has only temporary resident status. Under normalcircumstances, if he left and then tried to return, his statuswould be revoked and he would be barred entry to the land ofhis birth.The crushing rejection on Wednesday of his initial applicationfor temporary exit papers dominated Thai newspaper frontpages. The Lawyers Council of Thailand issued a complaint onMong's behalf, and TV stations showed images of him sobbingquietly after hearing the verdict. 'I really want to go because Ihave been practicing hard but I know the adults say I can't gobecause I have no citizenship,' he told reporters.Wongsak Sawaspanich, a ministry official in charge of thecase, said Thursday's decision to issue the papers was madeon 'legal and humanitarian grounds' and rebuffed reporters'speculation that the ministry had caved in to public pressure.After meeting with Mong, Mr Abhisit acknowledged theproblem of stateless people and pledged to task the NationalSecurity Council with alleviating their plight and improve theiraccess to education and health care. AP.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 39News @ AsiaOneThaiborn son of Burmese workerscan fly to JapanThe government has agreed to issue a temporary passport toa Thaiborn son of Burmese workers. -The Nation/ANNFri, Sep 04, 2009The Nation/Asia News NetworkThe government has agreed to issue a temporary passport toa Thaiborn son of Burmese workers so the "stateless" boycan test his skills in a paper aeroplane contest in Japan.Mong Thongdee, 12, was expected to receive the passport bylate yesterday.He has been invited to join the Origami Airplane Contest inJapan on September 19 and 20.Mong has been in the public eye this week as he called onvarious authorities to request a passport or travel documentsto go to Japan.After appearing to get bad news from the Interior Ministry onWednesday, he was understandably delighted yesterdaywhen the prime minister answered his prayers."Thank you Mr Prime Minister. I love you so much. You're sokind," Mong said when he met Abhisit yesterday.During the meeting, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya assuredAbhisit the boy would soon get a passport.Mong was invited to take part in the Japanese competitionafter winning a paper aeroplane contest organised by anewspaper in Chiang Mai.On Wednesday, the boy was tearful when the ProvincialAdministration Department suggested it could not support his.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 40request for a passport. They said the process wascomplicated because Mong was not a Thai national - hisparents are workers from Burma.The Foreign Affairs Ministry had maintained, however, itwould give the boy a temporary travel document if theInterior Ministry gave Mong the okay.The Provincial Administration Department's initial responseupset the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which filed a caseyesterday against Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakulin the Administrative Court.Chaovarat was accused of violating Mong's rights and manylaws. Many academics also commented that Chaovarat couldand should allow Mong to get a temporary passport.Mong's chances brightened when news emerged yesterdaythat Wongsak Sawasdipanich, head of the ProvincialAdministration Department, convened an urgent meeting todiscuss the boy's case.Representatives from various authorities including theNational Security Council attended the meeting.Following the meeting, Wongsak said: "We will send a letterto the Foreign Affairs Ministry to say that we will have noobjection if Mong is going to attend the Origami AirplaneContest in Japan."Wongsak said the decision was based on laws, conventions,human rights and national security considerations.He said it had nothing to do with growing pressure on theInterior Ministry.Chaovarat said: "I personally agree that Mong should get atemporary passport but I have to first ensure that all legalaspects are considered."The Lawyers' Council agreed to withdraw the complaintagainst Chaovarat after hearing the news.Kasit explained that giving a temporary passport was notgranting Thai citizenship. "They are two separate issues," he.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 41said.Mong was born to a couple, who migrated from Burma'sShan State. However, the parents have not been officiallyrecognised as Burmese citizens.The boy is thus considered stateless. So far, Mong has livedin Thailand since he was born.He is now a Grade4 student in Chiang Mai.--The Nation/ANN[an error occurred while processing this directive]Copyright 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rightsreserved.Privacy Statement Conditions of Access AdvertiseThe big issue: Come fly with mePublished: 6/09/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: News http://bangkokpost.net/news/local/23342/the-big-issue-come-fly-with-meIt has been quite a week for young Mong Thongdee, the 12-year-old Burmeseboy and paper plane genius. Mong's story began here, in last week's SundayPost. It ended, in one way, in the office of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.If you just returned from a lengthy trip, a quick recap: Mong is the son ofBurmese workers. He is not a Thai citizen, nor, as some phuyai put itscornfully this week, is he ''a security risk''.He is, however, quite the paper aviator. He won a Thai contest for the mostairworthy paper plane, and the sponsors want him in Chiba, Japan, for theworld championship.Suddenly, there were two kinds of people in Thailand: Those who figured thatgiving the youngster temporary travel papers to Japan and back would help tobring down this fragile nation ... and everyone else.Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul was the grumpy leader of the smallerfaction. There was no way Mong was going to get Thai permission to go toJapan - ''Let him get Burmese papers,'' he said (and, presumably eat cake)..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 42Mong's plight struck a chord. Hundreds of letters, emails and readers'comments plumped for Mong as his quest for travel documents unravelled,made him cry and then, suddenly and happily, put him on top of the world.A personal push by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva convinced his foreignminister, interior minister and chief of immigration that Mong - born inThailand, educated in Thailand, by all appearances a Thai - was not actually aclever Manchurian Candidate type, poised to bring down the entire nation.Obviously a bright boy when it comes to paper-folding, Mong was not shy inhis meeting with the prime minister. ''I'd like to thank Thais for their support,''he said at the media event. ''I also would like them to get behind my effort towin the prize.''Mong will get his temporary travel documents, it now appears, and compete inJapan. And he will be representing Thailand. So if he manages the alwaysunlikely but always possible win, there will be plenty of politicians whosuddenly forget they were Scrooge last week, trying to share his glory.Mr Abhisit and Chiang Rai Senator Tuenjai Deetes were the only politicalfigures willing to help Mong. His teacher Duangrit Ketima also deserves creditfor continuing to push against the bureaucrats and spoilsports to get Mong tothe Japanese competition.But here's a key point: Does anyone think Mong would have received histicket to Japan without a boost from the Bangkok Post Sunday? 20 September 2009 http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2009-09-20-voa4.cfm .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 43 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 44 2009-09-20http://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/Burma_boy_wins_third_place_in_Japan_paper_airplane_contest . . .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 45 NLD 2009-09-20http://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/NLD_assisting_freed_political_prisoners-09202009121911.html/story_main?textonly=1 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 46 2009-09-20 http://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/junta_amnesty_benifit_ex-integences_rather_than_political_prisoners-09202009131024.html/story_main?textonly=1 () () () () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 47- 17 2009 17 01 Chronology of China-Burmese Relations- - () - , - () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 48 - '' - - - - () , ( ) , - , - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 49 () ' ' - - Thuingaleng Muivah Thinoselie M.Keyho / .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 50 , , - (New China News Agency) - ' ' .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 51 - (SSA) SSA - ' ' - , .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 52 " " - - ( ) F-7 - - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 53 Jianghu-class - - - - - - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 54 - (The Burma Morning Post) (Universal Daily) - () . . . - - (RFA) - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 55 - - - - - - - - - - - - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 56 18 2009 17 35 () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 57 NLD 20 2009 11 35 () () () () () " () () () " .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 58 " " -" " " " 20 2009 11 26 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 59 () UNDP () -`` () () () `` Alicia Paterson Foundation APF `` () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 60 Submitted by Karen Information Center on September 12, 2009 11:31 pmNoComment () ( ) () () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 61 junior leaders course OTS Subject () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 62 () http://moemaka.blogspot.com/ (Mong Thongdee) . .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 63 ( - AP ) AP http://moemaka.blogspot.com/ (inadequate diet) .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 64 ( ) AP http://moemaka.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4791&Itemid=.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 651 (photo: AP) (Democratic Party) - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 66 Engagement - - - ( .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 67) - - - - NLD TheVirtues of Careful Engagement .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 68 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 69 #fullpost {display:none;} ( ) ` ` .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 70 First Eleven .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 71 ` .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 72 MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 16:00 http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1840:2009-09-21-09-03-22&catid=1:news&Itemid=2 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 73 ( -) . . .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 74 () 21 2009 13 38 http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/edop/songpa/3832-2009-09-21-07-32-21.html ' ' ( ) .. () " " () '' '' Marine, Oil & Gas Industry WP .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 75 .. ... .. US$2000 Global Recession () Political Freedom () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 76 ... ... () () () ... () - CD .. " " .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 77 ... Action Speaks Louder .. - ... Moral Support ..... 21 2009 UWSA () () () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 78 - (UWSA) SSA - SSA - - - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 79 Army General Arrested FollowingKokang OffensiveBy WAI MOE Monday, September 21, 2009Brig-Gen Win Maung, the commander of the Regional Operation Command basedin Laogai, was arrested in early September for his failure to detain Kokang leaderPeng Jaisheng and his brothers, according to military sources.Sources said he was arrested shortly after clashes between government troops andthe armed militia supporting Peng Jaisheng.Lt-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the chief of the Bureau of Special Operations-2 (BSO)which oversees troops in the Northeast, East and Triangle Regional MilitaryCommands, was believed to have ordered the arrest.The BSO-2 chief, the former commander of the Triangle Regional Command,supervised the operation against the Kokang militia, known as the Myanmar.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 80National Democratic Alliance Army.Brig-Gen Hla Myint of the Northeast Regional Military Command has replaced WinMaung as chief of the Regional Operation Command in Laogai, which has 10battalions.The junta expected a better preemptory strike and the arrest of Peng Jaisheng andhis close aides, a source said.Government troops seized the Kokang capital of Laogai on Aug. 24 afterdetermining that the Kokang had one of the weakest positions of ethnic groupsalong the Sino-Burmese border.The junta deployed about 20 battalions in the Kokang operation. Followingskirmishes, more than 1,500 Kokang militia crossed the border and handed overtheir arms to Chinese officials on August 29.Border sources now estimate about 60 government soldiers and police, includingone lieutenant colonel, were killed in the fighting, and more than 100 governmentpersonnel were injured.During the 20 years of ethnic cease-fire agreements, many cease-fire groups such asthe United Wa State Army (UWSA) have increased their military readiness. TheUWSA now has at least 20,000 troops including an artillery brigade and anti-aircraft weapons.Analysts note that the government has also benefited from the cease-fireagreements in many ways, such as the construction of roads into insurgent areas.An academic thesis in June 2009 from the US Naval Postgraduate School inCalifornia also noted that the governments policy on illegal drugs can beconsidered a success in terms of its counter insurgency strategy, since the drugtrade has been as a source of funds for ethnic cease-fire groups..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 81Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.orgNEWS ANALYSISRelease of Prisoners a Token GestureBy SAW YAN NAING Monday, September 21, 2009Last week, the Burmese military regime announced it was granting amnesty to 7,114prisoners. But among the thousands of hardened criminals was no more than ahandful of political prisoners127 to be precise. And among that group, no majorplayers were released.Looking back at the juntas policy of granting amnesty over the years, we can seethat politicalprisoners arealways a verysmall minorityof thosereleased.In 2004, outof 14,318prisonersfreed in anamnesty, 60were political dissidents. In 2005, however, a sizeable proportion of thosereleased341 out of 400were political prisoners.Family members of prisoners wait for their release infront of the Insein prison gate in Rangoon on September18. (Photo: Reuters).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 82After 2005, the percentages returned to normal: in 2007, only 20 political detaineesout of 8,585 convicted prisoners were released; in 2008, nine out of 9,002; and inFebruary this year, just 31 political prisoners were released along with 6,293convicted criminals.Indeed, the actual number of political prisoners released under the amnesties cannever be independently confirmedthe figure is usually exaggerated and, in somecases, according to former senior intelligence officers, the numbers are related tothe junta leaders obsession with astrology and numerology.On top of the regimes refusal to release leading political dissidents is the blatanttiming of amnesties to coincide with outside events.In February 2009, the junta announced an amnesty for prisoners just after UNHuman Rights Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana left Burma following an officialvisit.This month, the Burmese prison authorities declared that about 250 politicaldetainees would be among 7,114 freed detainees.This announcement came three days before Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein flew toNew York to attend the UN General Assembly. Another indication of the regimescurrent leaning is that it usually sends foreign ministers to New York.As the regime prepares for the election in 2010, its leaders are taking steps toconvince the UN and the international community about the merits of their roadmap to a disciplined democracy, including, of course, the democratic processthey are undertaking via the 2010 election.Bo Kyi, the joint secretary of Thailand-based Assistance Association for PoliticalPrisoners (Burma), said that the regime only released prisoners with the aim ofeasing international pressure. However, he said, key dissident leaders such as Aung.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 83San Suu Kyi, Min Ko Naing and ethnic Shan leader Khun Htun Oo remained indetention.A member of the underground All Burma Federation of Student Unions, Aung Tun,who was released after serving 11 years in prison, said that the regime only releasedpolitical prisoners whenever it was facing an international crisis.Commenting on the juntas recent amnesty, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, repeated his call for the Burmese government to take further steps toensure the release of the remaining 2,100 political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, as anecessary step toward a credible process of national reconciliation and democratictransition.As part of the recent amnesty, 127 political prisoners have been released, includingfour monks, four journalists and one lawyer. Observers note that the junta mainlyfreed those who were charged under certain criminal codes, including 5(j) of theEmergency Provisions Act, and Section 17/1 of the Illegal Organization Act.It has been confirmed by sources that Burmese intelligence officers who have beendetained since the removal of intelligence chief Gen Khin Nyunt were among thosereleased on Friday.Bodaw Than Hla, the former chief astrologer to Khin Nyunt, was released, and TheIrrawaddy also learnt that Maj Myo Nyunt Aung, a former intelligence officer, wasamong those freed from Mandalay Prison.Several former intelligence officers, most of whom were charged under Section 5(j)of the Emergency Provisions Act, were also released. But high-ranking officialscharged with treason remain imprisoned.Debbie Stothard, the coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network (Altsean) said,This is a common trick of the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council], to.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 84release political prisoners when there is a lot of international pressure. But, theproblem is that they keep re-arresting them in the future. So, we have to be veryclear that these political prisoners are released unconditionally, she said.Some observers also pointed out that the junta deliberately ignored the major issueof releasing Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic political leaders. They said that theregime wanted to keep Suu Kyi out of the picture ahead the 2010 election.Of course, for the individual political prisoners and their families, they are happythat they [the prisoners] are released. But for the future of the country, the SPDCshould release all the political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and theethnic leaders, said Stothard.A veteran journalist based in Rangoon said that the release is very welcome newsfor family members who were waiting to see their loved ones. They are unjustlycharged and detained, he said.When asked whether the move will win hearts and minds in the internationalcommunity, the senior reporter replied bluntly that only the governments in theWest, Asean and the UN will be fooled into welcoming the regimes gestures,because they are nave.While the Burmese regime holds more than 2,000 political prisoners, it shows nosign of loosening its grip. Meanwhile, a crackdown on dissidents is continuing.Last week, seven Burmese activists and five Buddhist monks were detained inMyingyan Township in Mandalay by Burmese military authorities.As Buddhist monks called for peaceful marches in the coming weeks, the regimeincreased its security around Rangoon.Many of the political prisoners who have been released vowed to continue to fightinjustice even though they were locked up for years..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 85It seems no matter how often the regime offers amnesties, Burmas jails will neverbe empty of political dissidents.Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.orgCrackdown Threats RemainBy LAWI WENG Monday, September 21, 2009Burmese opposition groups and local Burmese NGOs operating in Thailand havetemporarily closed their offices for fear of further crackdowns by Thai police,according to sources along the Thai-Burmese border.Several offices in the Thai border towns of Mae Sariang, Mae Sot and Sangkhlaburiare closed at the moment, the sources said.A member of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland said this is the first timethis year that Thai security officials have ordered their office in Sangkhlaburi inKanchanaburi Province to be closed, adding that no reasons were given for theclosure.Sources said the offices of several other Mon groups dealing with education, media,relief and youth were also ordered closed in Sangkhlaburi.The closures are thought to be temporary, but Thai security officials have given noreason for the orders, sources said.Win Min, a Chiang Mai-based analyst of Burmese affairs, said a Burmese military.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 86attach in Bangkok may have played a role in requesting Thai security officials toharass Burmese opposition groups in exile.Thai police raided several exiled Burmese opposition groups in Chiang Mai lastweek, including the Human Rights Education Institute of Burma, the BurmeseWomens Union and the National Health and Education Committee.About 10 Burmese women attending a capacity-building workshop were arrestedfor illegal entry into Thailand. They were fined and later released.After the raids, several Burmese opposition groups and NGOs based in Chiang Maiclosed offices for a few days.A Western diplomat in Bangkok said the Thais may have targeted less prominentBurmese organizations that are not strongly affiliated to internationalorganizations.Western diplomats have raised the issue of the surprise raids on Burmese groups inChiang Mai last week with Thai officials.International human rights groups and Western governments periodically expressconcern for the safety of exiled Burmese dissidents living in Thailand.Several exiled Burmese and foreign groups have opened NGOs and advocacy officesin Thailand in recent years.Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.org.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 87Mong Takes Bronze in JapanBy LAWI WENG Monday, September 21, 2009Mong Thongdee, a 12-year-old ethnic Shan boy representing Thailand in aninternational paper plane contest, took third place in the individual championshipin Japan on Sunday after winning gold for his three-man Thai team on Saturday.Mong took first place for the Thai team after his paper plane stayed in the air for 11seconds. During a warm-up, Mongrecorded a time of 16.45 seconds.Last year, Mong won the nationalorigami plane championship,organized by the National Metal andMaterials Technology Center inBangkok. His plane stayed in the airfor 12.5 seconds, qualifying him toparticipate in 4th Origami PlaneCompetition in Japan.Sai Nyunt, Mongs father, told TheIrrawaddy on Monday that thefamily is preparing to go to Bangkokto join the welcome celebrations forhis son.Mong Thongdee prepares to releasehis paper plane during the individualindoor flight duration competition atthe All-Japan Origami AirplaneContest in Makuhari, near Tokyo, onSunday. (Photo: AP).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 88I feel very happy and proud of my son. He will be a good example for otherchildren in Thailand, he said.Mong was almost denied the chance to compete in the competition in Chiba, Japan,after Thailands Ministry of the Interior refused to issue him a travel documentbecause his parents are Burmese migrants and he has no Thai ID, even though hewas born in the kingdom.After much media publicity, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped into thelimelight and offered Mong a passport after meeting him in Bangkok.Mongs photograph and personal story were published on the front page of English-language newspaper, The Bangkok Post, while several other Thai newspapers andTV channels also followed the story.The Irrawaddy and other exiled Burmese exile media have also reported aboutMong.I had to take some days off work because so many journalists called me, saidMongs mother, Nang Mo. My boss didnt like it.Mong said his real dream isnt just to be a paper plane champion, but to be anairplane engineer.He said many of his classmates have taken up paper plane flying now as well.He said that he was told by Abhisit that he would meet him again if he won firstprize in Japan.Mong is a fourth-grade student at Ban Huay Sai Primary School in Chiang Mai,northern Thailand.He was born in Fang, a rural district of Chiang Mai Province, where his parents.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 89were working as laborers in an orchard.His parents, Sai Nyunt and Nang Mo, left Kho Lan village in southern Shan State in1995 in search of a better life in Thailand.Mongs family is on a Thai government list of people to be considered forrepatriation to Burma in February 2010.Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.orgOne Disaster after AnotherBy SOE LWIN Monday, September 21, 2009PYAPON, Irrawaddy delta Ko Aung sighed heavily as he looked at the destroyedpaddy plants in his field."Its just one disaster after another," said the 35-year-old farmer from ThameinhtawVillage, Pyapon Township, slowly shaking his head.Last year, he lost all his buffaloes to Cyclone Nargis, and could only cultivate half ofhis paddy fields because he did not have enough fertilizer and agriculturalequipment..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 90But this year he hadgreater expectationsfor his harvest.I really needed myfields to grow well thisyear," said the farmer,who owns 15 acres ofrice paddies.However, after aninfestation of rats, nearly one-third of his paddy fields were destroyed and with it,much of his hope for the coming year.There are thousands of cyclone-affected farmers like Ko Aung whose fields arebeing ravaged by plagues of rats across the Irrawaddy delta, an area renowned asthe rice bowl of Burma.The deltas rich agricultural soil and crops were devastated on May 2-3 last year bya cyclone that killed nearly 140,000 people and affected more than 2 million.Now, in a bid to curb the infestation of rats in the region, the Plant ProtectionDepartment & Myanmar Agricultural Service office has introduced a 1,000 RatTails Program, instructing each affected village to kill 1,000 rats per week.Farmers must kill the rats, which they catch mainly with traps, and cut the tails off.They then submit the rats tails to the local office where they are paid 100 kyat (US$0.10) per tail.However, the scourge remains. The rats have been continuously destroying paddyplants throughout the rainy season.Normally, rats flock to rice paddies when the paddy ripens. However, this year, ratsA farmer clears his land for a new crop in LaputtaTownship in April. (Photo: Reuters).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 91have been ravaging the plants since they were seedlings.A frustrated farmer from Mayan Village in Kunyangone Townshipone of hardest-hit areas said half his paddy fields have already been destroyed by rats.Many experienced farmers say that they can each catch between 10 and 20 ratsevery week, but their crops still get eaten.Some agricultural experts believe the rat population has exploded due to a declinein the number of snakes.Farmers should have the help of snakes in controlling the number of rats, oneagricultural expert said. Having snakes in the fields to ward off rats is the naturalway, and the best for long term.In Chin State, rats destroyed more than 80 percent of crops in some villages in2006-08 after an explosion of the rat population caused by the flowering of anutritious bamboo fruit, an event that only occurs every 50 years.The rats fed on the fruit, but ravaged farmers crops once the fruit was finished.A recent report by the Chin Human Rights Organization estimates that thousandsof people in Chin State now face a famine and potential starvation due to the ratinfestation.Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.org.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 92Suu Kyi Has Low Blood PressureBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sunday, September 20, 2009RANGOON The doctor of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyisays she is suffering from low blood pressure, after examining her for the first timesince she was returned to house arrest last month.Suu Kyi's lawyer and party spokesman Nyan Win said Dr. Tin Myo Win and hisassistantwere allowedto visit herhouseSunday."The doctorsaid DawAung SanSuu Kyi'shealth isgenerallygood butshe's suffering from low blood pressure," said Nyan Win. "Daw" is a term of respectused for older women.Nyan Win said the doctor assumed that her low blood pressure was due to anBurmese activists stage a rally demanding the immediaterelease of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seenin poster at right, in front of the Burmese Embassy inSeoul, South Korea, in August. (Photo: AP).~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 93inadequate diet.A Burmese court on August 11 found Suu Kyi, 64, guilty of violating the terms of herprevious period of house arrest by sheltering an uninvited American visitor. Hersentence of three years in prison with hard labor was reduced to 18 months of newhouse arrest by military junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe.Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been detained for about 14 of the past 20years for her nonviolent political activities, but this year was the first time she facedcriminal charges. She suffered from dehydration and low blood pressure as well asmuscle cramps in May after her arrest.Sunday's visit was the first time that Suu Kyi's personal physician has been allowedto see her since she was sent back to her lakeside home after her conviction.Tin Myo Win is one of the very few people allowed access to Suu Kyi under the rigidterms of her confinement. He was detained for questioning by authorities in Mayafter the American man was arrested for sneaking into her closely guarded home.Asked if Tin Myo Win will now be allowed to give Suu Kyi medical checkups on aregular basis, Nyan Win said he hoped so, "but it's not clear yet when and how oftenthe doctor can visit her."Copyright 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group | www.irrawaddy.orgWa commander promotedMonday, 21 September 2009 17:05 S.H.A.N.Sai Hsarm, Commander of the 468th Brigade, United Wa State Army (UWSA), that isfacing the Burma Army forces south of the Wa capital Panghsang, has recently beenpromoted to become Deputy Army Chief of Staff, according to sources returning from theSino-Burma border.He is succeeded by Bao Hsarm Kad, formerly the brigades political commissar..~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 94Sai HsarmBao Hsarm KadThe 468ths task to repel the onslaught bythe Burma Army appears to be thetoughest as, unlike two other brigades, it haslittle natural barriers to oppose any attack.By contrast, the 318th, facing north, has theNamting and the 418th, facing west, has the mighty Salweento help protect against attacks.Meanwhile, the Was other famous fighter Wei Hsaitang, who was released from prison in2007, is now working under Bao Ai Roong, Commander of the 318th Brigade and the Wasupreme leader Bao Youxiangs nephew. Officially, he is just looking after Baos rubberplantations, said a source who knows him. But in reality, he could be one of Ai Roongsmilitary advisers.Wei Hsaitang went to jail in 2002 when he was convicted of a series of charges includingmanufacturing counterfeit banknotes and association with groups opposed to the militarygovernment.Shan activist among freed prisonersMonday, 21 September 2009 15:16 Hseng Khio FahOne of theSao Oo Kyadetained ethnic Shan activists, Sao Oo Kya, elder brotherof Khun Htun Oo, the leader of Shan NationalitiesLeague for Democracy (SNLD), was among the 7,114prisoners freed by the junta on Friday, according tosources.He was reported to have returned home at 10:00(Burmese standard time) on Saturday as soon as he wasfreed from Obo prison in Mandalay, said a source.He looks still well and strong although suffering fromgout and piles, he said.Sao Oo Kya was arrested on 3 August 2005 for unauthorized meetings with foreigners anddefamation of the State. He was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.However, the rest of his colleagues who were charged with treason and defamation of thestate were still in prison. The said leaders were:.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 95 Maj-Gen Hso Ten 106 years Khamti prison Khun Tun Oo (Hkun Htun Oo) 93 years Putao prison Sai Nyunt Lwin 85 year Kalay, Sagaing division Sai Hla Aung 79 years Kyaukphyu prison U Myint Than 79 years Sandoway prison U Tun Nyo 79 years Buthidaung prison U Nyi Nyi Moe 79 years Pakokku prison Sai Myo Win Tun 79 years Myingyan prisonOne of their colleagues Math Myint Than died on 2 May 2006 in Sandoway prison.Sao Oo Kya was one of the members of the Shan State Technical Consultative Councilformed by the Shan State Army (SSA) North in late 2004. The council collapsed after thearrests in February 2005.Junta holds out olive branch to SSA SouthMONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 15:14 S.H.A.N.Options for druglordIn an apparent attempt to discourage alliance between the ceasefire groups whoare at loggerheads with Naypyitaw over the proposed Border Guard Force (BGF)program, Burmas ruling military council has asked Thailand to inform the non-ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) South of its desire to open peace talks with thegroup, according to a reliable source close to the leadership.This is the third time the movement have been offered by Naypyitaw to enter intonegotiations for peace: The first meeting scheduled for 23 May 2007 did not take place as the twodisagreed on the choice of venue. The second time was in last March when Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, on hisreturn from Burma, said he had been approached by the Burmese authorities toask the rebels for talks. Nothing ever came out of it, said the source, as Bangkokwas too embroiled in its own internal problems to bother with ours.The latest offer came right at a time Naypyitaw was engaged in massive militarypreparations around the United Wa State Army (UWSA) along the Sino-Burmaborder.The SSA South has repeatedly called for a coalition against Burmas military junta.The source however declined to say whether or not it has received a response fromPanghsang, the Wa supreme headquarters.Border sources meanwhile say a recent close door meeting between the UWSAsThai-border based 171st Military Region and the Burmas Kengtung-based TriangleRegion Command had ended inconclusively. The only choice appears to be tofight, a Wa source was quoted as saying, because the Burma Army said the BGFproposal was non-revisable.According to the proposal, each BGF will have 326 officers and men with 30 of theofficers from the Burma Army and the rest from the ceasefire army concerned. Most.~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 96ceasefire groups had turned it down. The result was the brief war with one of theWas allies Kokang which ended in the defeat of Peng Jiasheng, leader of Kokangin August.The 171st, with 5 brigades, is commanded by Wei Xuegang who is in Panghsang.Its day to day affairs are looked after by his younger brother and second incommand Wei Xueying.Wei, wanted both in Thailand and the United States, on drug charges andunwanted in China presumably to avoid ensuing diplomatic scandals, appears tohave only two options: To fight To surrender and hope he is treated as former druglord Luo Xinghan, who isrunning a highly successful business in Burma, and not as his former boss andbrother-in-law Khun Sa who died under house arrest in Rangoon in 2007No one else wants freedom more than me, Khun Sa, who was also wanted inThailand and the United States, once claimed. Because if freedom is not achieved,there is no place for me to live. MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 19:46 http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1848:2009-09-21-12-49-00&catid=1:news&Itemid=2 () ( - ) .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 97 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 98 MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 20:16 http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1850:2009-09-21-13-17-50&catid=1:news&Itemid=2 () TG/305 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 99 - () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 100 (ABSDF) MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 19:14 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 101 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 102 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 103 .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 104 MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 15:57 http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1839:2009-09-21-09-00-07&catid=2:articles&Itemid=30 ( - ) ( ) - .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 105 (KNU) .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 106 ( - ) http://www.khitpyaing.org/articles/Sep09/210909.php () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 107 () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 108 () ( ) () .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 109 () Logical conclusion () () (Self confidence) (desperate) .~~~.~...~ ..~.~ ~~~ ~~~.~.~~ ...~~~~..-.._._-. _....-._-_ - - -- -.. , -- ...--.=.- ...... - . 110