News & Articles on Burma

Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Asia Times Online: Dec 14, 2011
Towards the end of war in Myanmar
By David Henry Poveter
When United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton completed her visit to Myanmar on December 2, the diplomatic exchange offered a glimpse of hope for the traditionally military-run country's reform prospects. The high-level visit was widely viewed as diplomatic acknowledgement of the immense changes that President Thein Sein has undertaken since taking office in March. With the international community focused on his government's reform pledges, will Thein Sein move next to bring a conclusive end to six decades of civil war with ethnic minority groups?

Ethnic minority ceasefire groups, some fighting on and off against the government for over six decades, mostly refused to lay down their arms and become part of government commanded "Border Guard Forces" (BGF) as mandated in the 2008 constitution. Despite the ceasefires, instability and violence continued in many border and remote areas because there was no mechanism to involve ethnic groups in the political process. Under the BGF scheme, these groups would have been forced to give up their hopes for autonomy without any government guarantee for political inclusion.

Ethnic minority groups may now be characterized into three distinct groups: those that accepted the BGF scheme; those who had a ceasefire with the government but refused to become BGF; and those that remained at war with the government without a ceasefire. Of the last two groups, the former include Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Shan State Army-North, and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) all declined the BGF scheme. The latter group of those at war includes the Shan State Army-South, the Karen Nation Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Chin National Front (CNF).

There are certain indications that the government has learned from its past mistakes and is now focusing more genuinely on national reconciliation with ethnic groups, as professed in the last step of the previous junta's Seven Step Roadmap to Democracy. The authorities have withdrawn the earlier BGF concept and opened new political dialogue with many ethnic groups. Over the weekend of November 19-20, Rail Transportation Minister and Thein Sein close ally Aung Min met with the presidents of ethnic groups in a bid to break the deadlock and open dialogue towards peace negotiations.

Aung Min reportedly ensured ethnic group leaders of socio-economic development in their respective, often impoverished regions, a role for their group's in the newly established parliament, and that the new constitution could be amended to meet their agreed demands. After the meetings, Aung Min indicated plans to convene a "tri-partite dialogue" that will include the government, the political opposition and ethnic groups. This followed on Thein Sein's comments about the possibility of charter change made at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit earlier this year.

"There may be points that are not suitable or acceptable to them [ethnic groups] and need to be amended," Thein Sein said at the summit. "Once the constitution is acceptable to them, weapons will no longer be an issue."

Tentative truces
Ethnic groups have so far responded positively to the overtures. The SSA-S, one of Myanmar's largest armed rebel groups that never agreed to a ceasefire, recently agreed to lay down its arms. The CNF reached a similar agreement with the government that apparently will be made official in January. The KNU approved a ceasefire "in principle", which still needs to be ratified by its central committee, while the KNPP recently agreed to enter into peace talks with the Kayah State government.

The KIO remains pitched in fierce fighting with government forces in areas near the Chinese border, but has reportedly agreed to meet government negotiators for informal discussions. The NMSP and the SSA-N remain hold-outs, with no progress reported in tentative talks. However some analysts predict these groups, too, will eventually follow suit in light of the goodwill the government has demonstrated in pursuit of peace towards other major ethnic groups.

Official overtures to ethnic groups have not come empty-handed. According to the Shan Herald, a news agency run by ethnic Shan exiles in Thailand, soon after the ethnic Wa signed a new ceasefire agreement with Naypyidaw in early September new business and investment poured into the region, with new hotels and stores reportedly under construction. One Shan quoted in the report said the traffic in the famously remote and underdeveloped region during the Shan New Year "Reminds me of Bangkok during the rush hour".

Some analysts believe that Thein Sein's surprise decision to suspend the China-backed Myitsone dam project in the Kachin State demonstrates a new government sensitivity to grassroots sentiments. The International Crisis Group, for one, recently reported that "the authorities allowed an unusually free debate on the issue to take place in public". Public criticism of the government was met with heavy consequences under the outgoing ruling junta, but a recent loosening of media censorship and new law allowing for public protests point towards a more democratic future in Myanmar.

During Clinton's visit, Myanmar officials asked that a World Bank assessment team be allowed to visit the country and for US technical advise for economic reforms. After decades of failed economic policies that have impoverished the population and sparked anti-government protests, including the 2007 "Saffron" revolution that ended in bloodshed, Thein Sein's request for external assistance represents a hopeful new direction for the country.

Since the 2010 elections - against widespread skepticism about the prospects for change - Thein Sein's government has taken major, bold steps towards achieving national reconciliation. Recognizing the need to establish a political dialogue with ethnic minority groups, canceling the controversial BGF scheme and investing in socio-economic infrastructure in ethnic minority areas points towards a new democratic direction and an eventual end to war in Myanmar.

David Henry Poveter, a pseudonym, is an independent strategic analyst. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ML14Ae02.html
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KIA's mine trap at abandoned base kills dozens of Burmese soldiers
Category: News
Created on Monday, 12 December 2011 23:59
Published Date
Written by KNG

This past Saturday morning dozens of Burmese soldiers were killed and a large number injured when a series of land mines were remotely denoted in an area the Burmese army recently captured near the China border, Kachin Independence Army (KIA) sources claim.

A KIA officer, who participated in the attack, told the Kachin News Group that approximately 30 large landmines were planted at the KIA's Battalion 3 headquarters on Wuhtau Bum Mountain just before the KIA abandoned the base Friday afternoon.

The next morning, the land mines were remotely detonated just after an estimated 300 Burmese soldiers arrived at the former KIA stronghold. Though it is unclear how many soldiers were killed by the massive explosion, a KIA officer based at the group's Laiza headquarters told the Kachin News Group that the KIA estimates the attack killed at least 200 Burmese soldiers, while injuring perhaps as many as 100 more.

The Burmese army rarely discloses causality figures; many observers believe however that the intense fighting which has occurred between the KIA and the Burmese army during the last few weeks has resulted in the army enduring its largest losses in more than two decades. Burmese army defectors say that wounded soldiers receive extremely poor medical treatment if they are treated at all, causing many soldiers to die from injuries that should be treatable.

The KIA's Battalion 3 located between Myitkyina-Kambaiti Road and Dabak River has been the site of fierce fighting during the past few weeks. The Burmese army wants to capture the area to cut the KIO's rebel territory in two and isolate the KIA's Laiza based headquarters from other strategic KIO strongholds.

Observers estimate that fighting in the Battalion 3 area in Waingmaw Township has forced more than 4,500 civilians to take refuge behind KIO lines. Many of these people have fled to temporary camps located near the China border between Kambaiti and the Dabak Hka River. http://kachinnews.com/news/2185-kias-mine-trap-at-abandoned-base-kills-dozens-of-burmese-soldiers.html
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Mongla seizes precursors from Thailand
Tuesday, 13 December 2011 10:43 S.H.A.N.

Tipped and joined by Chinese drug busters, officials from the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), better known as the Mongla group, had netted 12 tons of precursor chemicals used for manufacturing narcotic drugs on 30 November, according to local sources.

Sao Sai Leun
ASTV Manager Online, the Thai media group that has for years been reporting on events in the Golden Triangle, reported on 8 December a huge amount of drugs were discovered on the cargo ship Keo Pasert (a name of Lao origin) at Hsop Lwe, the NDAA port on the Mekong. The captain was said to be a Shan named Hsengzai.

The source, close to the Mongla leadership, confirmed they were not drugs but precursors. No further details were given.

According a Shan trader, 5 crewmen all from Tachilek's Paliao-Kenglarb area, and the seized precursor chemicals were taken to China.

Asked why Mongla sources, while prompt in sharing other information, were slow about data on drugs, the source close to Mongla said, "The information (leading to the Hsop Lwe seizure) was supplied by the Chinese. We don't think it's fair to take credit for helping them."

Map of Special Region #4 Mongla

Another source however commented that the Mongla leadership might have been reluctant to offend its allies: Wa and Kokang whose territories adjoin Mongla.

In October, when SHAN told Sao Hseng La, General Secretary, that the 920,000 speed pills seized in Chiang Saen were reported by the Thai press as coming from Mongla, he replied "I cannot speak for other groups. But I can assure you that the NDAA has nothing to do with the affair."

Mongla and its top leader Sai Leun aka Sai Lin aka Lin Mingxian, 65, had been on the United States' blacklist until 1997 when it was dropped from the list. The group says its revenues come mainly from mining and casinos businesses.

Mongla, located at the upper triangle where Burma's Shan State meets China and Laos, and with an outlet to the Mekong that connects the territory to other downstream countries Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and, through them, to the outside world, is of strategic importance to all the stakeholders concerned. http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4270:mongla-seizes-precursors-from-thailand&catid=89:drugs&Itemid=286
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THE NATION
Burma allows registration of Suu Kyi's opposition party
December 13, 2011 3:48 pm

Rangoon - Burma on Tuesday allowed the registration of the opposition National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, ahead of upcoming by-elections, a news report said.

Suu Kyi, the country's renowned opposition leader, has indicated her intention to contest the polls, possibly in a constituency in the old capital Rangoon.

The Union Election Commission "allowed the formation of National League for Democracy" (NLD) as the application to register was in accordance with the law, the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

The NLD was dissolved after boycotting the November 2010 general election in protest at new rules which effectively prevented it from running with Suu Kyi as a member. It applied for re-registration on November 25.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest, confirmed two weeks ago her plan to run, in a video conference with the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

The by-elections, whose date has not been announced, are to cover 48 seats vacated by representatives who stepped down to take up cabinet positions after last year's polls, the first in two decades.

The current government consists mainly of ex military men from the former junta, but has instigated a number of changes, raising hope in the international community of further democratic reforms. //DPA http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Burma-allows-registration-of-Suu-Kyis-opposition-p-30171747.html
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Burma's Election Commission allows Suu Kyi's party to play in legal politics
By Zin Linn Dec 13, 2011 4:48PM UTC

Burmese government authorities have given green light towards Aung San Suu Kyi's party so as to re-register officially today. Although there are some hard-liners in the Thein Sein government, it starts paving the way for the key opposition party to play in the common politics.

Burma's Union Election Commission allowed formation of National League for Democracy headed by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as a political party, state-run newspapers reported today. The NLD's application for registration as political party has been submitted by 21 members including U Tin Oo. It is in harmony with law and rules as the commission is scrutinizing applications for registration and allowing formation of political parties.

The progress is expected allowing the Nobel laureate take a seat in parliament in by-elections next year. The UEC's permission of NLD's participation in parliament follows a series of reformist moves by a new government controlled by former generals.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) was deprived of its category as a lawful political party by the previous junta last year after it decided to stay away from the election in 2010, complaining the set of laws was unjust.

Last month, Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said that he welcomed the NLD's return to parliament politics. As stated by a journalist, Shwe Mann also said he welcomes her on behalf of the People's Parliament if she was planning to compete for it.

Although the international community has hailed the NLD's decision as an essential gesture of rapprochement between the government and the opposition party, some anti-military dissidents are disinclined supporting the NLD's risking political stance.

NLD's application to return to the political tussle came days before the arrival of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, scheduled to visit Burma. Clinton travels to Burma from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, during which she had met top officials of the Burmese government and opposition leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy.

The NLD determined not to register as a political party for the 2010 election because it objected to certain laws and obligations involved, including the requirement that a registered political party "preserve and protect" the 2008 Constitution.

The previous junta's political party registration law has been changed in the Parliament on 27 October mentioning that "a political party shall respect the Constitution."

Recently Parliaments passed a suggestion to make changes three clauses of the Political Parties Registration Law. The NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the party decided to get re-registered under an amended party registration law that removed clauses the NLD had pointed out as inappropriate and undemocratic.

Subsequently, on 25 November, twenty-one senior members as party founders, including Suu Kyi, Tin Oo and Win Tin made the submission in the capital, Naypyitaw. Aung San Suu Kyi herself has said she will participate in upcoming by-elections, although no fixed date has been set.

On Monday one spokesman of the NLD's said the party had chosen the image of a fighting peacock gazing at a white star as its new symbol to substitute its trademark bamboo hat, which was used by a breakaway faction that participated in the 2010 election.

The NLD led by Burma's nobel laureate won landslide in 1990 general election but it was never allowed to run the country's administrative affairs.

Currently, the momentum of civil war in Kachin State has been increasing hysterically. People throughout the country are against this war since numerous casualties from both sides were citizens of Burma. At the same time, people are exceedingly concerned about the issue of releasing political prisoners as President Thein Sein said that he did not agree with the assessment that Burma has been holding several political prisoners.

The Lady herself has spent most of the past two decades in custody and released just days after the polls.

The NLD's 18 November decision indicates that it has confidence in government's recent political reforms by the military-backed government which has been under watch for suspicion due to exile political dissident groups.

On 17 November, the NLD welcomed the approval of Burma's bid to chair Southeast Asia's regional bloc in 2014, saying it would boost political change in the inaccessible nation.

Many democracy-supporters in the country and members of the National League for Democracy back up the idea of re-entering the NLD to play in the national politics.

In its 18-November statement, the party said the "NLD has unanimously decided to re-register as a political party... and will run in the elections".http://asiancorrespondent.com/71893/burma%E2%80%99s-election-commission-allows-suu-kyi%E2%80%99s-party-to-play-in-legal-politics/
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13 December 2011
Hague To Visit Burma In January

William Hague said it was time to "redouble efforts" to support political freedom in Burma as he announced he would visit the country early in January.

The Foreign Secretary said he hoped for a "decisive change" from the past amid signs of a thaw in the previously highly-repressive nation.

This month, Burma's new nominally civilian government approved a law allowing citizens to organise peaceful protests.

Anti-government demonstrations were banned and often brutally put down by the military junta which ruled until earlier this year.

Initial reforms have been sufficient to persuade pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in forthcoming elections.

Mr Hague announced his intention to travel to Burma during talks in Washington with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who recently spent three days there.

Welcoming the visit, she said there was "a real opportunity, through sustained diplomacy, to test the new government and to work toward the resolution of outstanding problems that prevent that country from achieving its rightful place in the community of nations for the 21st century.

"There's a very clear path forward if they wish to follow it."

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has also recently visited and reported "real signs of progress". http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/13/hague-to-visit-burma-in-january_n_1145044.html?ref=uk-politics
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Prisoner amnesty 'soon': Shwe Mann
By DVB
Published: 13 December 2011

Another prisoner release in Burma is "drawing near" and will include detainees "who are keen on carrying out the welfare of the country", parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann has said in a veiled indication that political prisoners will be among those freed.

The comments appeared in the domestic Weekly Eleven news journal, and quoted a speech Shwe Mann made on Friday last week to mark the opening of a parliamentary legal affairs office in Rangoon.

He said that he was unable to state the exact date of the amnesty. "While government officials insist there are only criminals in the prisons, the opponents said their colleagues remain in the jails as political prisoners.

"In this regard, I suggested not to dispute this term, and to release those who are keen on carrying out the welfare of the country in order of precedence."

The lower house speaker also claimed he had requested a list of those due to be released, and details about why they should walk.

In an interview with the exiled Mizzima news organisation last week, Burma's deputy foreign minister, Maung Myint, said that he refuted the notion that the country holds some 1,700 prisoners on political charges.

"The position of our government is very clear. There are no political prisoners or prisoners of conscience in our country. A man may have his political belief or conscience but if he violates the existing laws in our country, he will be prosecuted in a trial court and will be given punishment. At that time, we see him as an ordinary prisoner"

President Thein Sein echoed this sentiment last month when he said that "doesn't agree with" accusations of political prisoners.

"We punished them because they violated the law," he said. "There are a lot of people in prison for breaking the law, so if we apply the term ['prisoner of conscience'] to just one group, then it will be unfair on the others."

Shwe Mann takes a less forthright stance, however, saying that the issue of political prisoners "is a controversial topic". He said he had also suggested that the government differentiate "prisoners of conscience" and "political prisoners". The term "prisoner of conscience" refers only to those prisoners held because of their beliefs, and precludes those who may have committed acts of violence or actively opposed the state.

The decision to release prisoners does not solely rest with the government, as demonstrated in mid November when a rumoured amnesty was delayed at the last minute following an intervention by the National Defence and Security Council, which Thein Sein heads but which includes powerful military figures. http://www.dvb.no/news/prisoner-amnesty-%E2%80%98soon%E2%80%99-shwe-mann/19183
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BANGKOK POST
Burma opposition legally recognised

Published: 13/12/2011 at 11:32 AM
Online news:

Burma authorities have allowed Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition to legally re-register, state media reported, clearing the way for the democracy champion's party to rejoin mainstream politics.

Burma's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, seen here delivering a speech during a ceremony to mark the 91st anniversary of National Day at the National League for Democracy party (NLD) headquarters in Yangon, in November. The authorities have allowed Suu Kyi's party to legally re-register, state media reported, clearing the way for the NLD to rejoin mainstream politics.

The move, which is expected to see the Nobel laureate stand for a seat in parliament in by-elections early next year, follows a series of reformist moves by a new military-backed government dominated by former generals.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was stripped of its status as a legal political party by the junta last year after it chose to boycott a rare election, saying the rules were unfair.

A brief announcement in the official New Light of Burma newspaper on Tuesday said that the country's election commission had approved the NLD's application to re-register as a political party.

The country formerly known as Burma has surprised even its critics over the past year, releasing Suu Kyi from years of house arrest, holding dialogue with the opposition and freeing some political prisoners.

Suu Kyi has said she will take part in upcoming by-elections, although no date has been set.

On Monday her party said it had chosen the image of a fighting peacock gazing at a white star as its new symbol, replacing its trademark bamboo hat, which was used by a breakaway group that participated in the 2010 election.

Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 poll but was never allowed by the generals to take power.

It refused to participate in the November 2010 vote -- the first in two decades -- mainly because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members.

Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the past two decades in detention, was under house arrest at the time and released just days after the polls. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/270557/suu-kyi-burma-opposition-wins-legal-status
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BBC ASIA-PACIFIC NEWS
12 December 2011 Last updated at 16:59 GMT
Burma orders end to fighting against Kachin rebels

Kachin people fleeing fighting near the Chinese border, Burma Local people have been forced to flee the area where clashes have occurred


The Burmese government is reported to have ordered the military to stop operations against ethnic Kachin rebels in the north.

Officials said President Thein Sein had told the army to shoot only in self-defence against forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

Fighting has continued in the region since a truce broke down in June in a strategically important area near the Chinese border.

Thousands of refugees have fled.

The nominally civilian government has taken a number of steps towards reconciliation in recent months, including easing censorship and releasing some political prisoners.

In a highly unusual move, the chief minister of Kachin state read out a communique which he said was from President Thein Sein to the army chief of staff.

He said that all military commands in the area had been sent the president's instruction to stop offensive action.

The government recently signed a deal with another rebel group in Shan state further south.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on a recent visit to Burma that Washington wanted an end to decades of fighting with rebel groups before it normalises relations.
Hydro-power projects

Burma accused the Kachin rebels of starting the latest round of fighting near the Chinese border following the collapse of a truce that was signed 17 years ago.

The government said the army needed to protect big hydro-power projects in the area which supply electricity to China.

The KIA opposes the China-backed power schemes, saying they cause environmental damage and social disruption, including the relocation of some communities.

It blamed government forces for the clashes.

The Burmese government has taken steps this year to improve relations with the United States and other Western countries.

The US has offered encouragement for the government's reform programme but says it must go further towards democracy and respect for human rights. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16147771
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Hague's call ahead of Burma visit

(UKPA) -- 8 hours ago

William Hague said it was time to "redouble efforts" to support political freedom in Burma as he announced he would visit the country early in January.

The Foreign Secretary said he hoped for a "decisive change" from the past amid signs of a thaw in the previously highly-repressive nation.

This month, Burma's new nominally civilian government approved a law allowing citizens to organise peaceful protests.

Anti-government demonstrations were banned and often brutally put down by the military junta which ruled until earlier this year.

Initial reforms have been sufficient to persuade pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in forthcoming elections.

Mr Hague announced his intention to travel to Burma during talks in Washington with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who recently spent three days there.

Welcoming the visit, she said there was "a real opportunity, through sustained diplomacy, to test the new government and to work toward the resolution of outstanding problems that prevent that country from achieving its rightful place in the community of nations for the 21st century.

"There's a very clear path forward if they wish to follow it."

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has also recently visited and reported "real signs of progress".

Copyright (c) 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5je9esnaDxrezaH30qKNP3XpoPP9w?docId=N0416531323726534664A
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Opinion: Burma must relax censorship laws
By Zin Linn Dec 12, 2011 11:44PM UTC

Burma's Information and Culture Minister Kyaw Hsan met executives of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization, members of Motion Picture Censor Board and Video Censor Board, and responsible persons of script writers, film directors, actors, supporting actors, technicians, producers, managers, editors, video (central) and background music layers at the hall of Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise (Head Office) in Bahan Township on Friday.

Also present on the occasion were Yangon Region Minister for Finance and Revenue Daw San San Nwe, departmental heads of Ministry of Information, the chairman of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association and executives, guests and media personnel.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Kyaw Hsan said that he arranged the meeting to put in order the future responsibilities of motion picture field.

He said that a coordination meeting was held with officials of the People's Republic of China to create movies and TV series joining hands with international film community. Just now, he said, the plans are under way to produce a movie and a TV series on a basis of Myanmar-China friendly ties.

Moreover, Kyaw San also said that that the government has gradually relaxed the censor rules and laws regarding the press media and film censorship. However, news reports will maintain under pre-publication restriction that is criticized by press freedom groups as among the most restrictive in the world, although officials said that it would be eased in time.

According to the Myanmar Times, 54 publications will no longer need to submit their scripts to the censorship board before publication, after the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division lifted restrictions on business and crime publications last week.

The amendments came into effect on December 9, with journals, magazines and books in those two categories to face only post-publication scrutiny.

Six months ago, the government relaxed curbs on almost 200 publications from five genres -- entertainment, health, children's, technology and sport -- while the rest continued under the established system of pre-censorship, the Myanmar Times said.

The Printers and Publishers Registration Law was introduced shortly after the 1962 military-coup that brought Gen Ne Win and his Burma Socialist Programme Party to power forcibly. Under this law all printers and publishers are required to register and submit copies of books, magazines and periodicals to Press Scrutiny Boards (PSB) for scrutiny prior to publication or production, or in some cases after.

The director of Burma's state censorship board -- the Press Scrutiny and Registration Department -- gave a rare interview to the Washington DC based Radio Free Asia (Burmese Branch) on 8 October. Tint Swe, a retired major and head of PSRD, said that he believes press freedom will come in accordance with democratic norms within an appropriate time in Burma.

Tint Swe told Radio Free Asia that censorship should come to an end as part of democratic reforms under the new civilian government.

"There is no press censorship office in most countries in the world including our neighbors and as it is not compatible with democratic norms, press restrictions should be abolished in the near future," he said in an interview with RFA Burmese Service.

In September, Internet users in Burma could access banned media websites for the first time, including the BBC and exiled media organizations such as the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). But, on the other hand the Internet connection speed is too slow to view online files and sometimes even unable open personal mail accounts.

Journalists in Burma have received draconian jail sentences for reporting information challenging the regime. In January 2010, a female video-journalist Hla Hla Win received a 20-year sentence for violating the Electronic Act, and is now in prison serving 27 years. There are more than two dozen journalists behind bars including video reporters.

According to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, none of Burma's recent media reforms have been fortified with amendments to existing legislation. Those laws include the harsh Electronics Act, which provides for lengthy prison terms for anyone who sends unsanctioned information over the Internet.

"Burma's transition to democracy will not be legitimate without legal reform to ensure press freedom," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "Draconian laws restricting reporting must be abolished, and imprisoned journalists immediately released."

Unless the government guarantees human rights including the freedom of expression and freedom of association, the international human rights watchdog groups will not believe that Burma is on the right track of a democratic reform. http://asiancorrespondent.com/71808/burma-needs-more-to-relax-censorship-laws-on-the-media/
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Speech-impaired woman raped by Burmese soldiers
Monday, 12 December 2011 14:38 Aom Kham

According to reports from central Shan State, a dumb Shan young woman was raped by Burmese soldiers in Mong Nang tract, Mong Naung sub-township, Kehsi Township.

This event on 27 November took place when three Burmese soldiers from Mong Nang, where infantry Battalion was stationed, visited Wan Na village.

The three soldiers came into the village at 4p.m and asked for chilies. When they were given, they didn't take them. Finally, they reached Loong Naling and Pa Kham's house. "As soon as they saw the girl who was sitting outside, they went to her and raped her," said a resident of Mong Nang.

The victim, Nang Shwe Sein, is 24 years old. After the soldiers fled, her relatives and the villagers went to her house and asked her what happened.

One of her relatives said that she tried to shout when she was raped but her voice wouldn't come out. As her voice could not come out, her uncle and aunt, Loong Hsang Sai and Nang Mant couldn't hear her. "Finally, as she shouted with all her might and her voice came out. When we went stairs up to take a look, the three soldiers ran away," she said.

While they were launching an offensive on the Shan State Army, SSPP/SSA, the commander of the Burmese forces who was formerly Northeast Region Commander, permitted his soldiers to kill males and to rape females, according to the residents.

Now, reports of soldiers raping young women are still being received even though the Burmese government and ethnic armies are said to be holding peace talks. http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4267:speech-impaired-woman-raped-by-burmese-soldiers&catid=87:human-rights&Itemid=285