Monday, May 25, 2009

Local journalists invited to Su Kyi trial again

Local journalists invited to Su Kyi trial again

Burma’s military regime allows the local journalists for hearing the trial of opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi back behind closed doors , after allowing diplomats and journalists to attend the hearing for just one day.
The junta had opened up the proceedings at the notorious Insein Prison near Yangon on last Wednesday, in an apparent concession to fierce international criticism of the charges against the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
“The local journalists have invited recently for press conference and to hear the trail . We also have received the ph call from scrutiny board in this evening (Monday)” said local journalist to yangontoday. After Only for one day were diplomats and press allowed and this is the second time for press.
Diplomats said on last Wednesday that they had been informed they would only be allowed in for one day, but the situation for the media was unclear until the official confirmation on Thursday

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Burmese people Are Anxious About their detained leader

Burmese people from around the world anxious about their leader Aung San Su Kyi was taken from her house by military regime at yesterday and facing court trial in famous Insein prison.
We people from Singapore heard this news yesterday and we worry about her safety. We email about it to all Burmese we know. Military regime going to charge our detained leader for American swimmer who sneaked two nights in her compound, where she is being held under house arrest, Yin Yin who is working in Singapore said.
Military junta prepares to charged Su Kyi as Myanmar law Article 22 carries a sentence of between three and five years. They send her to jail from her house after one week they arrested US citizen John William Yettaw who swam across Lake Inya.
They are crazy people, this man get in the house because of lack of their security. Aung san Su Kyi is a detainee. They had responsibilities for her safety. She did not invite him.I am really angry on it when I heard that they are going to charge her. Oh, there are no justifications in Burma. A medical doctor who lives in New York said.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s current under house arrest is due to expire on 27 May, as stated by the Burmese military regime. Some political activists said Myanmar authority is taking the advantage for American swimmer case to extend detention of opposition leader until 2010.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 11, 2009
BANGKOK – The two of us were detained in Mandalay on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, and
deported to Bangkok the following night. The arrest came within hours after we had finished a series of
feature writing and photography workshops, organized by the American Center in Yangon and
approved by the country’s Scrutiny Board (censors).
All of the 20+ government authorities we encountered during the ordeal said they were acting on orders
from Naypyidaw. They did not give a reason for the arrest. Many said they did not know why we were
arrested. They asked us nothing, told us nothing, searched nothing, took nothing. We were not
mistreated or manhandled.
We were arrested at our hotel after dinner on May 6. Immigration authorities came to the hotel lobby
and ordered us to pack for an evening train to Yangon. They said they had received the arrest order
from Naypyidaw half an hour after our last class and lecture had ended.
We spent the following 16 hours under the escort of two officials who shared our cabin. When we
arrived in Yangon, we were taken to the airport, then Immigration offices downtown, then back to the
airport for several hours before an evening flight to Bangkok.
We had been in Burma to teach and lecture about creative nonfiction feature writing and photography.
The programs were follow-ups to similar work we did in January, all of which had been approved and
acknowledged by the Scrutiny Board and the Special Branch (police). In fact, Special Branch officers
briefly visited Jerry on the first day of his class in Yangon, on April 27. All of our classes and lectures
proceeded without incident or further visits from the authorities.
We have no idea why we were arrested, though we have since heard many rumors. Perhaps it was
fallout after another American – whom we do not know nor have any connection to – allegedly swam
across a lake to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon. We have heard people say we are CIA agents
in disguise as teachers – that is not true. We have heard people say we met with monks in monasteries
and other politically sensitive sources – that is not true. We have heard rumors that we met with the
Moustache Brothers comedy troupe in Mandalay – that is not true. In fact, we met very few people
outside of the classroom, mostly because we wanted to avoid any run-ins with the government for just
this reason.
Other rumors allege that we were working on sensitive stories. That is not true. The only story we had
in mind was a small piece on laphet thote, (pickled tea leaf salad) explaining the flavors, history and
cultural significance of the dish. This would have run on the food page of a travel magazine. In
Mandalay, a colleague introduced us to the owner of a longstanding laphet thote business. That man
invited us to see his place, which we did. He then invited us to visit a trade center where people buy
and sell beans and pulses, key ingredients for laphet thote. He was very excited about the invitation; we
thought little of it. We accepted and planned to meet on Thursday morning, – but we never had that
chance. This might be all, or part, of the reason we were deported.
What happened to us does not compare to what happens to Burmese who run afoul of their own
government. We were spooked, and the train trip was uncomfortable and unnecessary (we already had
plane tickets back to Yangon that could have been switched to Thursday morning). But we were fairly
certain we were not going to jail for years – or decades.
We are heartbroken to think we might not be able to return to Burma. But that is trivial to how we
worry about the safety of the people who helped us on these trips. We worked hard to avoid
government scrutiny, or any “journalistic” appearance. In the end, we cannot say why we were arrested.
That mystery rests with the Burmese government.
Jerry Redfern
Karen Coates
Bangkok
May 11, 2009
theramblingspoon@gmail.com
redcoates@hotmail.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Euro Burma‘s official visits Myanmar

An official from Brussels based Euro Burma‘s office arrived in Yangon of Myanmar to meet with government and other organizations.
It was the first visit of Euro Burma’s office (EBO) which was established in Brussels in 1997 to promote the development of democracy in Myanmar.
According to Yangon new sources, EBO is willing to meet the third force groups which trying to negotiate between military government and western countries.
The EBO official will live in Yangon for three weeks.
Harn Yawnghwe, son of the First Myanmar president’ Sao Shwe Htike is head of Euro Burma’s office (EBO)

Authority deports two American Journalists

Two American journalists, Karen ( Catherine) Coates and her husband Jerry Redfern have been deported from Myanmar. They were forced to leave from Myanmar at May 6.

Jerry and Karen were both conducting journalism trainings through the American Center in Yangon and at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay. It was all approved by the Scrutiny Board.

“Within hours of finishing the last of our classes on Wednesday, several Immigration cops showed up at our hotel and told us we must board a train that nigh. When we

arrived in Yangon, we were taken to the airport, then Immigration offices downtown, then back to the airport for several hours before an evening flight to Bangkok,’ Karen said in here press releases.

However, Myanmar Authority did not mention any reasons to deport those American Journalists. They deported two American journalists after they officially reveal the arrest of American swimmer who across the lake to Daw Aung San Su Kyi house

Government deported two American journalists

Myanmar military government deported two American journalists last Thursday from Mandalay after affects of American swimmer who swam across the lake to Daw Aung san Su kyi house.
Jeffery and Karen, who were training local journalist at Mandalay (second largest city of Burma)since one week ago, within hours finishing their last class immigration cops come and told them must leave form hotel tonight by train .
The source from Mandalay said they haven’t know the reason of why and guess because of affects of American swimmer across the lake to Daw Aung San Su kyi house .
After get off from the train where they waited several hours at yangon airport before getting on a plane to Bangkok, the source which close US embassy said they had been treated well .
Jerry and Karen were both conducting trainings (nonfiction photography and feature writing) through the American Center in Yangon and at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay. It was all approved by the Scrutiny Board .
While they were in Mandalay, the man invited two journalists to see a trade center where people buy and sell beans and pulses. Trade center perhaps had political significance in some way and that their plans to visit the place perhaps caused the deportation order.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Beans Traders complain as KB company 's dealying to refund their money

Beans traders have filed a complaint to Union of Myanmar Chambers of commerce about KB company's delaying to refund their money. KB company is one of those bean wholesale traders owed hundreds of millions of Kyats to the sellers and their sub-contractors who in turn bought these commodities from the producers who they owe Kyat five to 20 million. These persons lodged complaints to the concerned trading houses.

Bean traders have complained that even through KB company has got enough money to refund their money, the company not to pay money in time by giving the reason of current economic crisis.

The news sources from Bean society said that 27 beans traders have filed a complaint to UMFCCI about KB company by showing the documents which mentions that the investment of KB company's Chairman and director in Singapore and Indonesia.

U Win Aung , vice president of UMFFCI said that UMFCCI will take action on this issue and they will report this case to State Authority.

According to Ba Ying Naung whole sale market, KB company has got secret links with an India Beans wholesale business.. U Mg Mg , chairman of KB company now is in Singpore and try to continue bean trade as a new company's identification.

Myanmar Authority has founded a task force which includes U Win Myint, president of UMFCCI, U Win Aung and U Sai Ba Nyan to solve the current cheating cases in local beans market.

This task force asked beans traders who lost their money to wholesale dealers to claim their lost to ministry of commerce.The unexpected slump in prices in the global bean and pulses market, many future traders were in trouble with liquidity crunch and finally had to abscond from fraud and cheating charge.According to Commerce and Trade Department, 600 of Burmese beans traders lost 203 billion ( 150 millions US dollars )in Myanmar currency to those eight wholesale dealers.

Authority seized the properties of eight wholesale dealers which included houses , estate and beans. According to ministry of commerce it worths 56 billion in Myanmar kyats.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Interview with Daughter of late Prime Minister U NU

Interview with Daughter of late Prime Minister U NU


If Myanmar could hold its Democracy election in 2010, the elected representatives of people and military side will be meeting in senate for the first time in 22 years. It may be the first time people from both side will work together for its own country. On the other hand there are many difference opinions on government approved referendum and coming election. At the same time, Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP) has announced their executive member list which includes Daw Mya than than Nu, Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe, the children of late leaders. So we explore the ideas of Daw Mya Than Than Nu, who is a daughter of late prime minister U Nu as below.




QUESTION ….. We saw your name in the list of executive members of Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP).What you would like to say about that? Do you have a plan to enter coming election as UDP member?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….It is a just their announcement. I don’t know what is their attitude on it? As far as I know, there is no connection between the exiled political parties and local activists. For me, I have no problem whoever they are. I can cooperate with everyone. Some happy when they heard UDP’s announcement. I really appreciate that their saying about to find a solution together on the issues of difficulties which Myanmar people are facing.


QUESTION …………..If so, will u take place in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu… We are still watching the situation. So Far, there are no election committee and no election law. For me, I want to contest in election. I want to show I am the same with the people. I want to take part in election as individual or as a party candidate.


QUESTION ………. There are many difference opinions on coming election. How do we approach to current situation of Myanmar?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..We have to work together. There are many people like me and some will also take place in election after their negotiation with government.
Anyhow, the best answer is working together. After the election, it won’t be a big deal whoever wins in election. The best answer is to take part in election.



QUESTION ……….Not only in you, we also heard the news about other late leader’s daughter
Will take race in election. What do you want to say about it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ……….. I don’t know their idea. They might have their own attitude.
If we need to work together, it will be good. We have known each other since our parent.Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe are not strangers for me. But I still don’t know what their own attitude is.


QUESTION ………….Can you estimate how many parties will take part in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ………..It is difficult to say that. We can estimate the number of parties when election law comes out. We can say to enter election or not if only we see the election‘s rules. Now it is difficult to estimate it.


QUESTION ………….Where were you at the time of 1990 election? What do you think about it?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….I was in India. I voted for election through embassy.


QUESTION … Now there are third force groups which try to negotiate between Government and opposition groups in here. What do you think about their role in Myanmar political society?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be great if they can do it. I don’t know exactly about NGO groups and cease fire groups who working on it. But it will be great if they can negotiate between government and oppositions. The biggest issue is conflicts between them. I welcome it if they can work together. I don’t know other people‘s idea. We should not have seen our own benefit. We should not have seen our party.
We should see about state and its people. The conflict is the biggest challenge for us.
We need negioation. Third forces group is good. Even we don’t have third force, we can cooperate each other. We are not the kids. We need to hand together.


QUESTION ………. Former military government seized the power at 1962 and imposed one party polices. But now current government is looking forward to democracy election. They also fixed time schedule. What do you want to say on it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be good if they can do it properly.
They need to allow the political parties to work freely. It won’t be good if the parties could not work properly.


QUESTION ……….. There will be activities of political parties before 2010 election. Could you tell me how much they can work?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu………… I want to tell you about my experience in India. In India, the role of election committee is amazing. The commissioner is powerful as a cabinet minister .He can decide freely. We need to have this kind of election committee in Myanmar.
The results of India elections are amazing. The results are mostly honest. I wish our election could be like India.

QUESTION ….. You lived in India for many years. Do you find any weakness of India which
is a biggest Democracy country in the world?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu. Yes, they have some weakness. But they are very strong in justice. If you find out any unfair cases in election pools, you can file to high court. They have many advantages in poll system. They use the good quality ink for voting. Each party has two weeks for election campaign. But it is enough because Parties are already founded.



QUESTION …….What do you think about recent detainees?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….. As I mention it before, oppositions need to launch their campaign freely in a certain condition. Government always says unity .If they are looking forward the real unity, they should think about it. In India, even detainees can participate in election.



QUESTION…….. There will be the first voting for people who below the age of 37. But they don’t have proper awareness for election. So, what do you think about the role of media in this election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..Medias need to be balance and fairness. We Burmese people still don’t know the result of democracy. We should not have done the wrong thing which does not mean real democracy. We need to work in a certain condition. Authority needs to allow us to work in a certain condition. Medias need to work in certain boundary.