Norway accused of funding abuse in Burma
State pension fund invested billions in energy projects, report says
By Andrew Buncombe, Asia Correspondent
Wednesday, 15 December 2010SHARE PRINTEMAILTEXT SIZE NORMALLARGEEXTRA LARGE
EARTHRIGHTS INTERNATIONAL
Forced labour on the Yadana pipeline in the 1990s
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The Norwegian government has been accused of complicity in illegal land seizures, forced labour and killings, by investing national funds in international companies that operate inside Burma on projects where widespread abuses are alleged to have taken place.
A state-controlled pension fund that is a repository for some of Norway's own oil wealth has invested up to $4.7bn in 15 oil and gas companies operating inside the South-east Asian country.
The companies are accused of participating in projects where various human rights violations have taken place. Activists claim the pension fund is in breach of its own guidelines for responsible investment. The allegations come just days after Norway hosted the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Land confiscation, forced labour and other abuses are happening in connection with several gas and oil pipeline projects in Burma, according to Naing Htoo of EarthRights International, which is today publishing a report detailing the alleged abuses being committed by the Burmese government. "There's every indication abuses connected to these projects will continue, and, in some cases, worsen," he said.
A number of those companies in which the Norwegian fund has investments have previously been accused in relation to controversial projects in Burma which has been controlled by a military junta since 1962. Among them are Total Oil of France, in which the Norwegian fund has an investment of $2.6bn, and the US-based Chevron Corp, in which the fund has $900m invested.
EarthRights International insists that widespread violations continue to be committed by the Burmese army in support of many oil and gas projects that earn the regime millions of dollars. The group says that troops providing security for the Yadana and Yetagun pipelines have carried out extra-judicial killings.
"The Burmese regime has long demonstrated itself as an unsuitable business partner," said Steve Gumaer, of the Norway-based aid group Partners Relief and Development. "Business ventures conducted through official channels in Burma directly support the regime's abuse of the ethnic populations and pro-democracy citizens in Burma today."
He added: "It is said that villages in north-eastern Burma have benefited by this sort of 'economic engagement'. I have seen the devastating results; instead of schools, health and hygiene programmes, are the ashes of villages that have been burnt down. I have talked to women who were raped, men who were forced to serve as porters."
The Norwegian fund has a total of $3.6bn invested in companies involved in these projects that transport offshore gas from the Andaman Sea. Total, Chevron and other companies have denied claims that their operations inside Burma encourage abuses such as forced labour and land seizure.
The report also claims the Norwegian fund has investments in companies that are involved in projects in the Shwe gas fields, which have also been linked to abuses such as forced labour.
The Norwegian fund, established in 1990, is the second largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, with assets estimated at $512bn and investments in 8,000 companies. It is forecast to double in size by 2020. Because of previous allegations over unethical investments, the fund, controlled by the Norwegian central bank on behalf of the ministry of finance, is overseen by an ethical advisory council.
In 2007, the Norwegian authorities said they were withdrawing the fund's investments from Vedanta Resources, the British company that was seeking to mine bauxite on a mountain in eastern India many considered sacred .
In 2005, the council was asked to consider the fund's investment in Total and whether it breached guidelines. The council said it believed it likely that Total was aware of human rights violations on projects in Burma between 1995 and 1998, but this "did not provide a basis for exclusion from the fund, as it is only the risk for present or future violations of the guidelines which can prompt exclusion".
When allegations of forced labour were earlier levelled at Total in summer 2009, the company issued a statement saying, "local inhabitants around the Yadana pipeline say they are happy to have us there; they are, above all, grateful that there is no forced labour around our pipeline".
Last night, Norway's foreign ministry said it had not been made aware of EarthRights International's report. "The Norwegian government is worried about the situation for human rights in Burma," a spokesman said. The fund,he added, was "a financial investor with investments in more than 8,000 companies. It is therefore difficult for the Ministry to make comments related to a specific company in the fund's portfolio."
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Farmers lose out in Karen conflict
By HTET AUNG KYAW 13 December 2010
Farmers in eastern Karen state’s Myawaddy township are complaining that heavy fighting over the past month has forced them to abandon crops and amass debts.
One village close to the border town, Hpalu, has seen regular fighting in recent weeks. While that appears to have eased over the weekend, the area remains volatile. One farmer told DVB that he had been unable to harvest acres of beans, corn and paddy around Hpalu.
As a result, many had been borrowing money from local business people, but remained reliant on a good harvest to repay the loans.
Thousands of refugees have moved back and forth across the border with Thailand since 8 November after fighting erupted between the Burmese army and a breakaway faction of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
Many of the refugees returned days after fleeing, despite warnings that the area was not safe. Numbers of those who returned had said they were keen to tend to their crops, given that it is harvesting season in eastern Burma.
Meanwhile, lawyer Aye Myint, who heads the Guiding Star legal advocacy group in Burma, said that there had been an increase in extortion of farmers by local officials since the 7 November elections.
Burma already has high rates of illegal land confiscation by authorities, an issue which is monitored by the UN’s International Labour Organisation. One of the main catalysts of the recent increase, Aye Myint believes, is fear among low-level officials that they will lose their positions in a post-election reshuffle and thus are looking to secure land for financial stability.
Aye Myint said he had received 15 complaints from farmers over the past weekend, seven of which were over land disputes.
One Karen woman in Wakhema township complained to him that her land had been seized by village authorities, but when she refused to leave and continued to work the land was placed in detention.
Two monks that had assisted the lady were also put in jail, he added, while the village-level officials moved in on the land and harvested some of the crops.
http://english.dvb.no/
Farmers in eastern Karen state’s Myawaddy township are complaining that heavy fighting over the past month has forced them to abandon crops and amass debts.
One village close to the border town, Hpalu, has seen regular fighting in recent weeks. While that appears to have eased over the weekend, the area remains volatile. One farmer told DVB that he had been unable to harvest acres of beans, corn and paddy around Hpalu.
As a result, many had been borrowing money from local business people, but remained reliant on a good harvest to repay the loans.
Thousands of refugees have moved back and forth across the border with Thailand since 8 November after fighting erupted between the Burmese army and a breakaway faction of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
Many of the refugees returned days after fleeing, despite warnings that the area was not safe. Numbers of those who returned had said they were keen to tend to their crops, given that it is harvesting season in eastern Burma.
Meanwhile, lawyer Aye Myint, who heads the Guiding Star legal advocacy group in Burma, said that there had been an increase in extortion of farmers by local officials since the 7 November elections.
Burma already has high rates of illegal land confiscation by authorities, an issue which is monitored by the UN’s International Labour Organisation. One of the main catalysts of the recent increase, Aye Myint believes, is fear among low-level officials that they will lose their positions in a post-election reshuffle and thus are looking to secure land for financial stability.
Aye Myint said he had received 15 complaints from farmers over the past weekend, seven of which were over land disputes.
One Karen woman in Wakhema township complained to him that her land had been seized by village authorities, but when she refused to leave and continued to work the land was placed in detention.
Two monks that had assisted the lady were also put in jail, he added, while the village-level officials moved in on the land and harvested some of the crops.
http://english.dvb.no/
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Myanmar Music Video: Hay Man Oo Mar Shock Shi Tae
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she would like to communicate with people around the world. She also has said that she would like to build the democracy networking web since she releases from detention. She also emphasis that youths are the strength for the future nation building and working for democratisation of Burma. In order to play a role in our parts, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is producing the campaign video "Hay Man Oo Mar SHOCK Shi Tae" in order to educate, empower and encourage the new generation to work for the betterment of Burma. Since Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) believes the butterfly effect and we would be very happy if the video could be a useful tool triggering the domino effect resulting in emerging the peaceful, progress and prosperous nation. Thank you very much. For more information please visit Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) at http://www.bdcburma.org/Index.asp
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs: Joseph Y. Yun
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Y. Yun
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Term of Appointment: 8/10/2010 to present
Joseph Y. Yun is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, responsible for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN affairs. He previously held the positions of Director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Seoul. Mr. Yun’s other overseas postings include Thailand, France, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Mr. Yun joined the Foreign Service in 1985; he is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Yun was a senior economist for Data Resources, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts. Mr. Yun holds degrees from the London School of Economics and University of Wales.
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/ot/2010/146957.htm
BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Y. Yun
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Term of Appointment: 8/10/2010 to present
Joseph Y. Yun is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, responsible for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN affairs. He previously held the positions of Director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Seoul. Mr. Yun’s other overseas postings include Thailand, France, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Mr. Yun joined the Foreign Service in 1985; he is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Yun was a senior economist for Data Resources, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts. Mr. Yun holds degrees from the London School of Economics and University of Wales.
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/ot/2010/146957.htm
Student army to join Karen fighting
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 6 December 2010
Troops from the ABSDF during a training exercise in March 2008 (Source: ABSDF website)
A Burmese student army that rose to prominence following the 1988 uprising is preparing to fight alongside Karen troops in the volatile eastern state.
The decision was confirmed today by a senior official in the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) who asked to remain anonymous. The group, which at its peak had more than 10,000 troops, will join sides with a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) as fighting against Burmese forces continues close to the Thai border.
A delegation from the ABSDF met with DKBA commander Na Kham Mwe shortly after 8 November, the official said, when the group took key government positions in Karen state’s Myawaddy. “We are ready to cooperate with Na Kham Mwe’s group which is fighting the [Burmese army],” he added.
Than Khe, chairperson of the ABSDF, said that the group, whose numbers have now significantly diminished since the mid-1990s, approved with Na Kham Mwe’s decision to defect from the pro-junta DKBA faction which has now become a government-backed Border Guard Force (BFG).
“We can support this motive because the timing is very good,” he told DVB. “At the same time the objective is also very meaningful: it shows the people that we do not accept the 2010 elections. We show our solidarity and support to him and those men who were fighting in Myawaddy.”
The ABSDF has been linked with the Karen struggle ever since its formation in the late 1980s, when thousands of students fled to the jungle and were sheltered by the Karen National Union (KNU) and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
When the DKBA split from the KNLA in the mid-1990s and allied itself with the junta, the ABSDF was “caught in the middle”, according to its former foreign affairs spokesperson, Aung Naing Oo.
As a result of the new dominance of the pro-junta faction, and due to splits within the ABSDF, its fighting capabilities diminished. But the breakaway faction of the DKBA has given added hope that an inter-ethnic and organisational alliance is possible.
“This is part of the national reconciliation process,” said Than Khe. “Without working practically we cannot get the understanding needed for reconciliation.”
The junta’s quest to transform all 17 ceasefire groups into border militias has stumbled: few have accepted the demands, and tensions are now high in the border regions where the Kachin Independence Army and the United Wa State Army are preparing for possible attacks.
“We can co-operate with any groups who have the basic principle of restoring democracy and the federal union to Burma and freeing the people from dictatorship,” added Than Khe.
http://english.dvb.no/
Published: 6 December 2010
Troops from the ABSDF during a training exercise in March 2008 (Source: ABSDF website)
A Burmese student army that rose to prominence following the 1988 uprising is preparing to fight alongside Karen troops in the volatile eastern state.
The decision was confirmed today by a senior official in the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) who asked to remain anonymous. The group, which at its peak had more than 10,000 troops, will join sides with a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) as fighting against Burmese forces continues close to the Thai border.
A delegation from the ABSDF met with DKBA commander Na Kham Mwe shortly after 8 November, the official said, when the group took key government positions in Karen state’s Myawaddy. “We are ready to cooperate with Na Kham Mwe’s group which is fighting the [Burmese army],” he added.
Than Khe, chairperson of the ABSDF, said that the group, whose numbers have now significantly diminished since the mid-1990s, approved with Na Kham Mwe’s decision to defect from the pro-junta DKBA faction which has now become a government-backed Border Guard Force (BFG).
“We can support this motive because the timing is very good,” he told DVB. “At the same time the objective is also very meaningful: it shows the people that we do not accept the 2010 elections. We show our solidarity and support to him and those men who were fighting in Myawaddy.”
The ABSDF has been linked with the Karen struggle ever since its formation in the late 1980s, when thousands of students fled to the jungle and were sheltered by the Karen National Union (KNU) and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
When the DKBA split from the KNLA in the mid-1990s and allied itself with the junta, the ABSDF was “caught in the middle”, according to its former foreign affairs spokesperson, Aung Naing Oo.
As a result of the new dominance of the pro-junta faction, and due to splits within the ABSDF, its fighting capabilities diminished. But the breakaway faction of the DKBA has given added hope that an inter-ethnic and organisational alliance is possible.
“This is part of the national reconciliation process,” said Than Khe. “Without working practically we cannot get the understanding needed for reconciliation.”
The junta’s quest to transform all 17 ceasefire groups into border militias has stumbled: few have accepted the demands, and tensions are now high in the border regions where the Kachin Independence Army and the United Wa State Army are preparing for possible attacks.
“We can co-operate with any groups who have the basic principle of restoring democracy and the federal union to Burma and freeing the people from dictatorship,” added Than Khe.
http://english.dvb.no/
Monday, 6 December 2010
AR YONE OO MAR SHOCK SHI TAE DOWNLOAD LINKS
AR YONE OO MAR SHOCK SHI TAE DOWNLOAD LINKS
အမွတ္စဥ္ (1)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=33
အမွတ္စဥ္ (2)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=34
အမွတ္စဥ္ (3)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=35
အမွတ္စဥ္ (4)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=36
အမွတ္စဥ္ (5)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=37
အမွတ္စဥ္ (6)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=38
အမွတ္စဥ္ (7)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=39
အမွတ္စဥ္ (8)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=32
အမွတ္စဥ္ (9)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=40
အမွတ္စဥ္ (10)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=41
အမွတ္စဥ္ (11)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=42
အမွတ္စဥ္ (12)
http://datlone.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=78&func=fileinfo&id=43
MEDIA FIRE DOWNLOAD LINKS
Episode 1
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 2
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 3
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 4
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 5
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 6
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0c06roog6nnu746/Burmese%20Video%20%286%29_x264.mp4
Episode 7
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 8
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 9
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0c06roog6nnu746/Burmese%20Video%20%286%29_x264.mp4
Episode 10
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 11
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
Episode 12
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2e2lub3sx5daur8/Dailymotion%20-%20Ar%20Yone%20Oo%20Mar%20SHOCK%20Shi%20Tae%20%281%29%20-%20a%20Film%20%20%20TV%20video.mp4
FACEBOOK LINKS
Episode 1 :http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1634863121488
Episode 2: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637497827354
Episode 3: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637501147437
Episode 4: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637502107461
Episode 5: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637523627999
Episode 6: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637537788353
Episode 7: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637538668375
Episode 8: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637561388943
Episode 9: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637581469445
Episode 10: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637587029584
Episode 11: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637589069635
Episode 12: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1637608550122
YOUTUBE LINKS
(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4aPI_h68U
(2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP8tBVJha2s&feature=related
(3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10kFPLNqOBw&feature...=related
(4)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHIyR1OAZH8&feature=related
(5)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJwvTOqgJc&feature=related
(6)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJwvTOqgJc&feature=related
(7)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4SmHoFDnqI&feature=related
(8)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Keje6ozwY&feature=related
(9)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fye9p-yehxI&feature=related
(10)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTMcNAtwcA&feature=related
(11)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3HLqriddxI&feature=related
(12)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgiMjvUUrrk&feature=related
Download "SHOCK SHI TAE" song here!
http://www.bdcburma.org/mp_3/Shock%20master%20New.mp3 Download "SHOCK -SHI-TAE" Ring tones here! http://audiko.net/finalpage?ring=11820095&sendtomobile=GB
Imprisoned Student Leader Warns of Second Depayin
Saturday, December 4, 2010
By KO HTWE
Htay Kywe, one of the imprisoned leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, said he is worried that Aung San Suu Kyi could face another attack like the one that killed many of her supporters in May 2003, according to his brother-in-law, Phyo Min Thein.
Phyo Min Thein, who is also a prominent political activist and former member of the Union Democratic Party, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that Htay Kywe spoke of his concerns during a 45-minute family visit at Buthitaung Prison in Arakan State on Dec. 2.
In this image taken from TV from footage issued on Saturday Oct. 13, 2007 by the Democratic Voice of Burma, based in Norway, shows Htay Kywe seen in Rangoon. (Photo: AP)
He said that Htay Kywe, who is currently serving a 65-year sentence for his political activities, asked him to convey his concerns to Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest on Nov. 13.
“He said he is worried that she could face another situation similar to the one at Depayin and asked me to warn her about that,” Phyo Min Thein said.
On May 30, 2003, around 5,000 armed thugs recruited by the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) ambushed Suu Kyi’s convoy in Depayin, Sagaing Division, killing an estimated 100 people.
Htay Kywe also expressed his continuing support for Suu Kyi as the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement.
“He said that all political forces need to cooperate under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi to achieve national reconciliation,” said Phyo Min Thein, adding that they also discussed the lack of progress in reaching this goal.
According to Phyo Min Thein, Htay Kywe appeared to be thinner than usual and was suffering from a stomach ailment. He added that members of Burma's Special Branch police force monitored them throughout the visit.
Concerning prison conditions, Htay Kywe said that he is able to write and draw, but wants the authorities to move political prisoners serving their sentences in remote areas closer to their families.
The Burmese regime often forces its imprisoned opponents to serve long sentences in relatively inaccessible parts of the country, making it difficult for them to receive regular family visits.
In a recent interview with United Press International, Suu Kyi described conditions in Burma's prisons as “brutal.”
During another visit in August, Htay Kywe told family members that Burma's Nov. 7 election would be meaningless without the participation of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and called on the army, political forces, pro-democracy parties and ethnic groups to work together toward an “all-inclusive” solution to the country's political problems.
Htay Kywe was first arrested in 1991 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating Burma's draconian security laws. Initially held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison, he was transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in Pegu Division in 1995.
He was released in July 2001, but was subsequently arrested on several occasions under Section 10 A of the 1975 State Protection Law, which allows the military authorities the right to detain suspects arbitrarily.
In 2005, Htay Kywe co-founded the 88 Generation Students group along with other prominent leaders of the nationwide pro-democracy uprising of August 1988, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya and Pyone Cho.
From 2005 to 2007, the group engaged in nonviolent activities, including group visits to political prisoners’ homes and holding Buddhist ceremonies at Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon to commemorate political prisoners still behind bars.
On Nov. 11, 2007, Htay Kywe and other members of the 88 Generation group were given 65-year prison sentences for their alleged involvement in massive monk-led pro-democracy protests in September of that year.
Most of the imprisoned 88 Generation leaders are serving their sentences in remote areas, including Buthitaung Prison in Arakan State, Kengtung Prison in Shan State, Loikaw Prison in Karenni State, Kawthaung Prison in Tenasserim Division, Kalaymyo Prison in Sagaing Division, and Myitkyina and Putao prisons in Kachin State.
Buthitaung Prison is notorious for its harsh treatment of political prisoners and its severely cold weather.
According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, there are 2,203 political prisoners in prisons across Burma.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20253
By KO HTWE
Htay Kywe, one of the imprisoned leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, said he is worried that Aung San Suu Kyi could face another attack like the one that killed many of her supporters in May 2003, according to his brother-in-law, Phyo Min Thein.
Phyo Min Thein, who is also a prominent political activist and former member of the Union Democratic Party, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that Htay Kywe spoke of his concerns during a 45-minute family visit at Buthitaung Prison in Arakan State on Dec. 2.
In this image taken from TV from footage issued on Saturday Oct. 13, 2007 by the Democratic Voice of Burma, based in Norway, shows Htay Kywe seen in Rangoon. (Photo: AP)
He said that Htay Kywe, who is currently serving a 65-year sentence for his political activities, asked him to convey his concerns to Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest on Nov. 13.
“He said he is worried that she could face another situation similar to the one at Depayin and asked me to warn her about that,” Phyo Min Thein said.
On May 30, 2003, around 5,000 armed thugs recruited by the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) ambushed Suu Kyi’s convoy in Depayin, Sagaing Division, killing an estimated 100 people.
Htay Kywe also expressed his continuing support for Suu Kyi as the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement.
“He said that all political forces need to cooperate under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi to achieve national reconciliation,” said Phyo Min Thein, adding that they also discussed the lack of progress in reaching this goal.
According to Phyo Min Thein, Htay Kywe appeared to be thinner than usual and was suffering from a stomach ailment. He added that members of Burma's Special Branch police force monitored them throughout the visit.
Concerning prison conditions, Htay Kywe said that he is able to write and draw, but wants the authorities to move political prisoners serving their sentences in remote areas closer to their families.
The Burmese regime often forces its imprisoned opponents to serve long sentences in relatively inaccessible parts of the country, making it difficult for them to receive regular family visits.
In a recent interview with United Press International, Suu Kyi described conditions in Burma's prisons as “brutal.”
During another visit in August, Htay Kywe told family members that Burma's Nov. 7 election would be meaningless without the participation of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and called on the army, political forces, pro-democracy parties and ethnic groups to work together toward an “all-inclusive” solution to the country's political problems.
Htay Kywe was first arrested in 1991 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating Burma's draconian security laws. Initially held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison, he was transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in Pegu Division in 1995.
He was released in July 2001, but was subsequently arrested on several occasions under Section 10 A of the 1975 State Protection Law, which allows the military authorities the right to detain suspects arbitrarily.
In 2005, Htay Kywe co-founded the 88 Generation Students group along with other prominent leaders of the nationwide pro-democracy uprising of August 1988, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya and Pyone Cho.
From 2005 to 2007, the group engaged in nonviolent activities, including group visits to political prisoners’ homes and holding Buddhist ceremonies at Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon to commemorate political prisoners still behind bars.
On Nov. 11, 2007, Htay Kywe and other members of the 88 Generation group were given 65-year prison sentences for their alleged involvement in massive monk-led pro-democracy protests in September of that year.
Most of the imprisoned 88 Generation leaders are serving their sentences in remote areas, including Buthitaung Prison in Arakan State, Kengtung Prison in Shan State, Loikaw Prison in Karenni State, Kawthaung Prison in Tenasserim Division, Kalaymyo Prison in Sagaing Division, and Myitkyina and Putao prisons in Kachin State.
Buthitaung Prison is notorious for its harsh treatment of political prisoners and its severely cold weather.
According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, there are 2,203 political prisoners in prisons across Burma.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20253
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