1. RUSSIA-BURMA NUCLEAR INTELLIGENCE REPORT
2. Myanmar (Burma): The biggest Corruption in Burma History: Sr. General Than Shwe’s Second Daughter has made 200 Million dollars by selling Burma’s land to Chinese tycoons
3. How Generals and their children raping Burma,
Burmese Generals and their children’s involvement in Burma’s economy
4. Senior General Than Shwe and family’s position
5. Vice Senior General Maung Aye and family’s position
6. General Thura Shwe Mann and Family’s position
7. PM, Lt-Gen Thein Sein and Family’s position
8. Sec 1, Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo
9. The powerful men blocking vital Burma aid
RUSSIA-BURMA NUCLEAR INTELLIGENCE REPORT
By Roland Watson
June 26, 2008
We have new, disturbing, and detailed intelligence about the assistance Russia is providing Burma’s dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), on its nuclear program and more generally its military modernization. This new information both confirms earlier intelligence that we have published, and expands what is known about the overall program.
Nuclear reactor and uranium mining
It has been widely reported that Russia is going to provide Burma a nuclear reactor, for so-called “research” purposes. We have received information that the SPDC has now purchased the 10 MW reactor. It is not new, but is reportedly in good condition. It is being dismantled, transported to Burma, and rebuilt. While we cannot confirm that it has arrived, our sources say that installation is due to be completed by December this year. (We have previously reported that North Korean technicians will assist with the construction. )
The reactor will be built at a site some ten kilometers from Kyauk Pa Toe (aka Kyauk Pha Htoe), in Tha Beik Kyin township, approximately one hundred kilometers north of Mandalay near the Irrawaddy River.
In return for the reactor and other services, a Russian government mining company has received concessions to mine gold, titanium and uranium. There are two gold mining sites: in Kyauk Pa Toe; and in the mountains to the right of the Thazi-Shwe Nyaung railway line from Mandalay Division to Southern Shan State in the Pyin Nyaung area.
Titanium is also being mined, or derived from the same ore, at Kyauk Pa Toe.
Uranium is being mined at three locations: in the Pegu-Yoma mountain range in Pauk Kaung Township of Prome District (aka Pyi); in the Paing Ngort area in Mo Meik Township in Shan State; and at Kyauk Pa Toe.
The reactor site has been chosen because of its proximity to the Tha Beik Kyin and Mo Meik uranium mines. It is likely that the gold mining operation at the former will be used as cover, to conceal the nuclear facilities.
We have previously reported, from different sources, that the SPDC has a yellowcake mill somewhere in the Tha Beik Kyin area. Now we know the exact location (or at least enough information to find it with satellite imagery).
The reactor has been publicized as being for research purposes, meaning research on nuclear power generation. We believe that the SPDC has no real interest in generating electricity, or at best that this is a secondary consideration, and that the primary purpose is atomic weapons development. Our sources say that the SPDC expects to have full nuclear capability within ten years.
Russia is presumably supplying the reactor fuel as well. While Burma has uranium ore, and mills to convert it to yellowcake, this must be enriched to create the fuel, typically using cascades of gas centrifuges. We have received one report that the SPDC has begun a centrifuge program, at the South Nawin Dam, but this is unconfirmed. Barring this operation, the source of the fuel therefore must be Russia.
Note: Locating the reactor at Kyauk Pa Toe really only makes sense if there are plans to build an enrichment facility there. This way you would have the full industrial cycle in close proximity: mine, mill, enrichment, and reactor.
What is perhaps most disturbing about Russia’s program with the SPDC is that it is identical to the Soviet Union’s assistance that propelled North Korea to become a nuclear power. Why, with the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War, is Russia still helping rogue regimes proliferate? The surface answer of course is money, in this case in the form of natural resources, but the deeper question remains. Russia is considered to be a democracy. What would the people of the country think of their leaders giving such help to the likes of the SPDC and Than Shwe?
In 1965, the Soviet Union gave North Korea a 2 MW reactor, which was upgraded in 1973 to 8 MW. It also supplied fuel through at least this period. North Korea then went on to construct a much larger reactor, and in the 1980s began weapons development. This included building separation facilities to obtain plutonium, and high explosives detonation tests. (We have received reports that the SPDC has already conducted such tests, in the Setkhya Mountains, aka Sa Kyin Mountains, southeast of Mandalay.) At some point North Korea also began its own uranium enrichment program, to produce weapons grade material, and the U.S. confronted the country about this in 2002. This means that the North has two different sources of fissile material for weapons, reactor plutonium and enriched uranium.
The North detonated a small atomic weapon, with a yield of less than one kiloton, in October 2006, using some of its plutonium. It is now reportedly about to disclose its nuclear assets, and also destroy its plutonium producing reactor, but the sticking point has been the enriched uranium. The North appears unwilling to discuss this (and at this point to disclose its weapons cache), which means that even with the destruction of the reactor and the plutonium stockpile (for the latter the size of which is subject to serious dispute), the North would retain the ability to produce weapons with the uranium. At the moment the U.S. appears willing to accept partial disclosure, i.e., of only the plutonium.
In addition to Russia, North Korean technicians have been helping Burma with its nuclear ambitions (and other weapons programs), and we have received information that the SPDC has given the North refined uranium in return, which may be destined for the enrichment program.
This is all very disturbing, all the more so because of the apparent weakness of the Bush Administration, which has been unwilling to press the North, and which refuses even to mention Burma (its nuclear program). It took North Korea forty years before it detonated a weapon. It will likely take the SPDC only a fraction of this period. Once the Burmese junta has atomic weapons, its rule will be entrenched, and its neighbors, foremost Thailand, will be seriously endangered.
Precision-guided munitions
We have also previously reported that Burma has a wide variety of missile installations, including large quantities of land-based SAMs; ship-launched missiles, both surface to air and surface to surface; weapons for its MIG 29s; and even short range ballistic missiles. We have now received information that while Burma formerly bought anti-aircraft weapons from the Ukraine, in 2007 it purchased four shiploads of such weapons from Russia. We have also learned that the SPDC has multi-tube mechanized rocket launchers from North Korea. (Note: these may be for use with the ballistic missiles, and if so they confirm our earlier intelligence. )
Moreover, Burma is researching the production of guided missiles, and with Russian assistance intends to build a rocket factory in Thazi Township. This will mark the latest step in a well-recognized proliferation of Russian precision-guided munitions in the Asia Pacific region. This class of weapons includes surface to air, to attack jets, and surface to surface to attack land-based targets and also ships. Cruise missiles fall within the category. We do not know which specific PGMs the factory intends to produce, only that they will be medium range guided rockets and that production is scheduled to begin within five years.
It is clear that the SPDC is intent on developing a strong defense against an international intervention, including foreign jets, helicopters and ships. Perhaps one reason why the U.S. and the French balked at dropping relief supplies following Cyclone Nargis was the risk of missile attack on their helicopters and ships.
Military modernization
We have previously noted that the Burma Army is weapons-deficient. It is clear that the extensive procurement program underway with Russia, as well as China, North Korea and others, is intended to rectify this. During the era of Ne Win and the BSPP (Burma Socialist Program Party), the junta established six weapons production facilities. There are now twenty-two, and clearly more are planned.
Coupled with the materiel acquisitions is a major educational program. There are more than 5,000 State Scholars in Russia, all of whom passed their Defense Services Academy class, a nine-month program in the Russian language, and an entrance exam in their specialty. (This is an increase from the 3,000 we previously reported.) They are candidates for either a masters (2 years) or doctorate (4 years – we previously reported 3 years for this degree). They study in Moscow or St. Petersburg, in the former in a suburb at the Moscow Air Institute. There are additional State Scholars from Burma in China, North Korea, Pakistan and India.
One of the more recent groups of scholars, Batch Seven, included 1,100 DSA officers. Their majors are as follows:
250 Nuclear science
100 Tunneling science
200 Rockets
100 Electronics
200 Computer science
100 Aircraft construction
150 Artillery
The students also learn other military subjects, including: tanks; maintenance; anti-aircraft training; ammunition production; fighter pilot training; naval craft construction; naval craft captaincy; and anti-terrorist training.
While it is clear that the overall modernization program will improve the SPDC’s preparedness against attack, the junta still has a significant problem with soldier morale. Many of the state scholars, who are an elite in the Tatmadaw, are not motivated and would seek asylum given the chance. Their stipends barely cover their expenses. The Russian language and their training programs are difficult. They are overworked and separated from the civilian population. Their visas prohibit them from buying air, train or long-distance bus tickets. When they return to Burma, some are used as Russian language teachers or as instructors at the SPDC’s Central Research and Training Unit, but many are sent to the front lines.
As an example, in January this year one scholar fled to the border of Finland, but was arrested by Russian intelligence agents when he used his cell phone to call his contact on the other side. There is widespread dissatisfaction at all levels within the SPDC, except perhaps the very top – although there is reportedly a split there as well, between Than Shwe and Maung Aye. While the new weapons systems improve the junta’s defense against an intervention, they still need operators. The SPDC is poised to fall, through an internal coup, and it is subject to a renewed popular uprising as well.
Acquiring a nuclear weapon would alter this equation somewhat, but really only by creating a new defense against an intervention, and this is as yet some years away, unless the SPDC acquires a warhead directly from North Korea. Still, any such development has to be prevented, which raises the question, yet again: what is the U.S. doing? Under geopolitical realism, the only concerns are national interests. On a superficial level, for the U.S. and Burma, these are limited to Chevron’s investment in Burma’s natural gas production and pipelines. A secondary interest is the concern of U.S. citizens of Burmese origin, but since this group is small it can effectively be ignored. It would seem, therefore, that all the Administration bluster notwithstanding, its only real policy objective for Burma is to protect Chevron, which corporation to bolster its case also makes large campaign donations.
The real direct national interest of the United States is to deny Burma nuclear weapons. It is not only North Korea, Iran and Syria that America (and the world) must contain. Having a nuclear-armed SPDC is an unacceptable risk. This trumps the need to assist a domestic corporation. Further, since Chevron is also a major cash source for the junta, which uses money as well as the direct transfer of natural resources to pay its weapons suppliers, it demands that the company be forced to divest.
http://www.dictator watch.org/ articles/ russianintel. html
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Sr. General Than Shwe’s Second Daughter has made 200 Million dollars by selling Burma’s land to Chinese tycoons
Myanmar (Burma): The biggest Corruption in Burma History: Sr. General Than Shwe’s Second Daughter has made 200 Million dollars by selling Burma’s land to Chinese tycoons
This post was written by mm.burma on 23 March, 2007 (00:18)
Sr. General Than Shwe’s Second Daughter has made 200 Million dollars by selling Burma’s land to Chinese tycoons
Burma has been under a military dictatorship for about 40 years. This makes it one of the poorest nations in Asia. The average household income is only 10 USD per month. Along with the dictatorship CORRUPTION has rooted itself everywhere, earlier this year General Soe WIn – Prime Minister of military junta government declared the CLEAN GOVERNMENT policy and started cleaning with Burma’s most corrupted civil service department ” Custom Department” followed by actions on “Traffic Police Department” of Burma, also believed to be one of the most corrupted department in Burma. And it is also rumored that the third target will probably be the “Justice Department”
BUT “were the DIRTY hands can CLEAN?”
First week of January, 2007. The second daughter of Sr. General Than Shwe (head of Junta) have made deal with Wang Xiaohua, Chairman and Zeng Guang’an, President of Guangxi Liugong Industrial Investment Co. Ltd of Guangxi Liugong Group- CHINA, over Nanning Overseas Chinese Investment Zone (China-ASEAN economic park).
Nanning Oversea Chinese Investment Zone is established to attract the investments from ten ASEAN countries including Burma, to attract the ASEAN countries, Chinese Government offered 40 Acres of 30 years granted lands (Free of Charge) to all Asean Countries and 400 millions dollars soft loan for each land to carry out the development.
The deal was simple, Than Shwe’s daughter transfer the 30 years ownership of the (40 Acres) land which is belongs to Burma to Guangxi Liugong Group, Liugong Group claimed 400 million dollars soft loan from China bank and share or bribe 50% which is 200 million dollar to Than Shwe’s daughter.
But to legalized the deal Than Shwe’s daughter forced to brought in the local GO-NGO (Government Organized- Non Government Organization) name UMF-CCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of – Chambers of Commerce and Industry) into the deal, she ordered UMF-CCI to formed joint company with Liugong Group of China which is later named Golden Land East Asia Development Co. Ltd. Then the legalization process was done within one week (which usually took about year for normal business companies)
This information was disclosed by senior officials from Ministry of Trade who is loyal to his country (who must remained extremely anonymous), he said “who do they think they are ? (Than shew family) to do whatever they want with the properties that belongs to the state not to them”
Burma, also known as Myanmar, is ruled by a military junta which suppresses almost all dissent and wields absolute power in the face of international condemnation and sanctions. The Junta is lead by Senior General Than Shwe who is chief of army and also heads the SPDC, the body of 12 senior generals that oversees the running of the country and makes the key decisions. The generals and the army stand accused of gross human rights abuses, including the forcible relocation of civilians and the widespread use of forced labour, which includes children. The Junta has been widely accused by NGOs for its corruption which is ranked top five in the world.
[Note by Editor - I left most of this post in it’s original form. Most of us live in a world that makes it hard to understand the hardships faced by people living under represive regimes]
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/burmesemus lim/message/ 3731?threaded= 1&var=1&l=1
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Burmese Generals and their children’s involvement in Burma’s economy.
It is shocking to find out how corrupt the generals are. Generals and their relatives pretty much control Burma’s economy. Please keep in mind that an average Burmese makes about $ 10-30/month. An average physician makes about $ 100/month. ( 1300 kyat= 1 $). General Than Shwe’s official salary is about $ 400/month. How do they accumulate so much wealth when an average citizen can’t afford to eat 3 meals a day?
Boycott their businesses ! By doing business with them, you are enriching generals and prolonging the suffering of Burmese people.
1. Ye Ta Khun Construction Group
Address. Tamwe Towhship, Yuzana Plaza-West
Owner. Aung Zaw Ye Myint ( 28 year old), son of General Ye Myint, Divorced.
He was married to Aye Mya Tha, daughter of another general who is a minister of rail transportation. His ex-wife got most of 120 million kyats ( US $ 100,000) wedding gifts.
2. Sun Tac
Owner. Sit Taing Aung, son of U Aung Phone (minister of forestry).
3. Sunday Mart
Owner. Aye Mya Tha, daughter of rail transportation minister and ex-wife of Aung Zaw Ye Myint.
4. Rose Hill Hospital
Owner- son of U Thaung, minister of science.
5. Happy Noodle
Owner. ex daughter in law of Kyaw Ba, a former general and ex-minister. Her son, U Aye Tun is married to Sao Thanda Noi , who is a step daughter of Tun Naing , working in Air Bagan. Tun Naing’s father is Senior General Than Shwe.
6. MICT
Aung Soe Tha, son of minister U Soe Tha, partly owns the company.
7. MMS Company ( owns supermarkets and hotels )
Kyaw Myo Nyunt owns shares of this company. He is a 32 year old son of retired general Nyunt Tin (former minister of Agriculture and Irrigation). He is married to the daughter of Daw Mya Mya Win. Daw Mya Mya Win is a well known former democracy activist in Japan. She later changed her mind and supports the military regime now.
(See more information about Kyaw Myo Nyunt below.)
8. J&J
Tun Naing , son of general Than Shwe gets a cut of profit.
9. Heritage Golf Club
Win Htwe Hlaing (23 year old), son of General Win Hlaing is a part-owner of the club.
10. Htoo Trading
Owner- Tay Za, the businessman of Burma.
11. Bagan Airway (Boycott!)
Owner. Tay Za
12. Pacific High Tech
Part-owner. Min Thet Oo, son of general Ohn Myint (minister of mines). His nick name is Ko Min. He owns shares in a lot of other businesses.
13. Taw Win Electric
Owner. Zin Myint Maung aka Soe Soe, daughter of general Mying Maung. Her ex-partner was Wanna, son of general Win Myint. He died in a car accident.
14. Multiple Clinics
We are still trying to get more information. It is owned by Htin Kyaw (40 year old, wife Htwe Htwe Soe Min). His father was an ex-major General in infamous Military Intelligence service. He used to work at Burmese embassy in Japan. They live in Inya Road.
15. Phyu Diamond Shop
Owner. Phyu Phyu Oo, the second daughter of late general Tin Oo. She dated Kyaw Myo Nyunt son of General Tin Nyunt. Kyaw Myo Nyunt helps her open this business. Ex-general Khin Nyunt tried to arrest her at the airport while she was smuggling gem stones out of the country.
16. Asia World (One of the few big conglomerates in Burma)
Owner. Steven Law, son of Law Hsing Han, a well known drug war lord. 45 year old. Mixed Chinese-KoKant national. A graduate of University of Economics, Rangoon. He owns business through the country. He owns construction companies. He has his own harbor in KyiMyinDaing township. Owns a large tract of land near Hledan junction. Owns Mandalay-Lasho highway, a private toll road. He likes to be called, “Sayagyi” (Master). He is one of the planner behind the forced relocation of 1000 families living near Rangoon-Insein road. Their houses were razed to build new apartment buildings. He also built a huge mansion for himself on that confiscated land. You can see his house on google earth.
18. Eden Group. Marina Residence (Kaba Aye Road)
Owner. U Chit Khine (former NLD), a close associate of General Maung Aye.
19. MNT ( Myan New Technology)
Owner. Yin Win Thu, 30 years old. She lives on Swit Kyw Sat Road, 6 ½ mile. She is known to have a close association with Nandar Aye, daughter of General Maung Aye. Nandar Aye is also a partner in her business. They have monopoly of supplying computers to schools and universities in Burma. They also have a monology on CNG ( liquified natural gas) business.
http://komoethee. blogspot. com/2007/ 10/how-generals- and-their- children- raping.html
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No.1
SENIOR GENERAL THAN SHWE
Born: 1933
Background: Former postal clerk.
Interests: Specialist in psychological warfare, likes kung fu movies, consults blind peasant for astrological advice to make decisions.
Lifestyle: Daughter married in £26million bash in 2006.
Title: Senior General
Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces
Born: 1933
Background: Former postal clerk.
Interests: Specialist in psychological warfare, likes kung fu movies, consults blind peasant for astrological advice to make decisions.
Lifestyle: Daughter married in £26million bash in 2006.
Than Shwe, the xenophobic military strongman who has been Burmese Head of State since 1992, has the titles of Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the SPDC.
It is unknown whether he was born in 1929 or 1933, but either way he is well over the official retirement age for generals of 60, and has ambitions to remain in the presidency for life.
After working as a postal clerk, he joined the army at 20. Specialising in psychological warfare, he has been decorated 16 times.
Dogged recently by worsening health, he has cut back on public appearances after a top-secret week-long stay at Singapore’s General Hospital in December 2006. He is known to suffer from diabetes and hypertension, and is rumoured to have intestinal cancer.
Than Shwe was criticised for the excessive, expensive celebrations at his daughter’s recent wedding, seen here on YouTube.
A strong believer in astrology, he regularly consults E Thi, a blind peasant with a speech impediment, for advice.
He loathes opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and in 2004 jailed his prime minister, Khin Nyunt, and his family for supporting her greater involvement in Burma’s political process.
General Than Shwe, 74, who came to power in 1992, is said to have kingly delusions. Visitors to his home are seated in chairs shorter than his, and the family are rumoured to address each other using royal titles.
The Burmese regime has tried to cloak itself in the mantle of past glories. The generals built a parade ground at Naypyidaw, their remote new capital, dominated by statues of ancient and heroic Burmese kings.
But the senior members of the State Peace and Development Council, as the junta styles itself, are almost all battle-hardened career soldiers.
General Than Shwe’s background is in psychological warfare. He took part in operations against ethnic minority Karen rebels in the 1950s, before rising through the ranks under Ne Win, an earlier dictator.
Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, a small town about 20 miles near Mandalay. It is in the central and northern part of the country. Same as Saddam, Than Shwe’s father passed away when he was about 10 years old and became an orphan.
Interests: Specialist in psychological warfare, likes kung fu movies, consults blind peasant for astrological advice to make decisions.
Lifestyle: Daughter married in £26million bash in 2006.
Than Shwe, the xenophobic military strongman who has been Burmese Head of State since 1992, has the titles of Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the SPDC.
It is unknown whether he was born in 1929 or 1933, but either way he is well over the official retirement age for generals of 60, and has ambitions to remain in the presidency for life.
After working as a postal clerk, he joined the army at 20. Specialising in psychological warfare, he has been decorated 16 times.
Dogged recently by worsening health, he has cut back on public appearances after a top-secret week-long stay at Singapore’s General Hospital in December 2006. He is known to suffer from diabetes and hypertension, and is rumoured to have intestinal cancer.
Than Shwe was criticised for the excessive, expensive celebrations at his daughter’s recent wedding, seen here on YouTube.
A strong believer in astrology, he regularly consults E Thi, a blind peasant with a speech impediment, for advice.
He loathes opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and in 2004 jailed his prime minister, Khin Nyunt, and his family for supporting her greater involvement in Burma’s political process.
General Than Shwe, 74, who came to power in 1992, is said to have kingly delusions. Visitors to his home are seated in chairs shorter than his, and the family are rumoured to address each other using royal titles.
The Burmese regime has tried to cloak itself in the mantle of past glories. The generals built a parade ground at Naypyidaw, their remote new capital, dominated by statues of ancient and heroic Burmese kings.
But the senior members of the State Peace and Development Council, as the junta styles itself, are almost all battle-hardened career soldiers.
General Than Shwe’s background is in psychological warfare. He took part in operations against ethnic minority Karen rebels in the 1950s, before rising through the ranks under Ne Win, an earlier dictator.
Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, a small town about 20 miles near Mandalay. It is in the central and northern part of the country. Same as Saddam, Than Shwe’s father passed away when he was about 10 years old and became an orphan.Links:
http://sanooaung. wordpress. com/2007/ 11/16/than- shwe-will- follow-saddam- hu-sein/
http://www.theage. com.au/ffximage/ 2007/09/27/ rgw_burma_ shwe_wideweb
http://www.thefirst post.co.uk/ 8854,features, army-strongmen- who-call- the-shots- in-burma
burmadigest. info/…/ 04/than-shwes- monkey-hand/
http://www.guardian .co.uk/world/ 2007/oct/ 07/burma. peterbeaumont
Title: Wife of Than Shwe
State Peace and Development Council
It was Kyaing Kyaing who reportedly ordered troops to fire on the monks.
Than Shwe’s doctor moonlights as the health minister and the nation’s health is almost neglected.
The family has its own pet tycoon, a man named Te Za, with whom Than Shwe has exchanged a free run of the country’s natural resources for all the cash he needs.
When the wind died down on Saturday afternoon (after the cyclone Nargis) and the first soldiers appeared on the streets of Rangoon, residents noted that they focused their efforts on the street where Kyaing Kyaing, the wife of junta leader Than Shwe, was staying.
Rumour has it that by Saturday evening a full electricity supply had been restored to her staying residence. By Tuesday night most of the city was still in blackness.
Kyaing Kyaing, who insists on staff addressing her as ‘Queen’ is in poor health.
Than Shwe let his wife Kying Kying to marry Lu Min, sold off all the government’s GOLD (SHWE) to declare there is no more Shwe, to ward off the end of SHWE (himself). Than Shwe and top three Junta, wearing Burmese Tha Mee (ladies skirts) donated and recorded at a pagoda as donated by Daw Than Shwe, Daw Khin Nyunt and Daw Aye because of the astrologer.
Than Shwe and Kyaing Kyaing were also known to have each ridden a pig and a dog to run around the Shwe Dagon Pagoda’s concourse because their astrologer said they would have to run away like pigs and dogs.
The family has its own pet tycoon, a man named Te Za, with whom Than Shwe has exchanged a free run of the country’s natural resources for all the cash he needs.
When the wind died down on Saturday afternoon (after the cyclone Nargis) and the first soldiers appeared on the streets of Rangoon, residents noted that they focused their efforts on the street where Kyaing Kyaing, the wife of junta leader Than Shwe, was staying.
Rumour has it that by Saturday evening a full electricity supply had been restored to her staying residence. By Tuesday night most of the city was still in blackness.
Kyaing Kyaing, who insists on staff addressing her as ‘Queen’ is in poor health.
Than Shwe let his wife Kying Kying to marry Lu Min, sold off all the government’s GOLD (SHWE) to declare there is no more Shwe, to ward off the end of SHWE (himself). Than Shwe and top three Junta, wearing Burmese Tha Mee (ladies skirts) donated and recorded at a pagoda as donated by Daw Than Shwe, Daw Khin Nyunt and Daw Aye because of the astrologer.
Than Shwe and Kyaing Kyaing were also known to have each ridden a pig and a dog to run around the Shwe Dagon Pagoda’s concourse because their astrologer said they would have to run away like pigs and dogs.
The family has its own pet tycoon, a man named Te Za, with whom Than Shwe has exchanged a free run of the country’s natural resources for all the cash he needs.
When the wind died down on Saturday afternoon (after the cyclone Nargis) and the first soldiers appeared on the streets of Rangoon, residents noted that they focused their efforts on the street where Kyaing Kyaing, the wife of junta leader Than Shwe, was staying.
Rumour has it that by Saturday evening a full electricity supply had been restored to her staying residence. By Tuesday night most of the city was still in blackness.
Kyaing Kyaing, who insists on staff addressing her as ‘Queen’ is in poor health.
Than Shwe let his wife Kying Kying to marry Lu Min, sold off all the government’s GOLD (SHWE) to declare there is no more Shwe, to ward off the end of SHWE (himself). Than Shwe and top three Junta, wearing Burmese Tha Mee (ladies skirts) donated and recorded at a pagoda as donated by Daw Than Shwe, Daw Khin Nyunt and Daw Aye because of the astrologer.
Than Shwe and Kyaing Kyaing were also known to have each ridden a pig and a dog to run around the Shwe Dagon Pagoda’s concourse because their astrologer said they would have to run away like pigs and dogs.
: picasaweb.google. com/…/1McHiCUW SOywF4vFFX3JOw
http://www.tayzathu ria.org.uk/ bd/2006/6/ 04/loomin. jpg
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Title: Daughter of Senior General Than Shwe
(a.k.a) Khin Thandar Shwe
(a.k.a) Ma Pauk
State Peace and Development Council
In an acute display of lack of self respect, Thandar Shwe, daughter of Burmese military junta supremo Snr. Gen. Than Shwe, visited the Myanmar Furniture Fair, pleaded and took away furniture worth approximately USD 10,000 without payment, sources said.
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She visited ‘Myanmar Furniture Fair 2008′ held at the Armed Forces Hall (Envoy Hall) in U Wisara Road, Rangoon on March 8.
She took away a truckload of woodcrafts and furniture in a ‘CANTER’ truck. Most of the stuff was from ‘Golden Pollen Myanmar’.
“She took away all she wanted without making any payment. The furniture companies did not dare ask for payment from her because most of these companies are running on import-export licenses issued by Myanmar Timber Corporation,” a source in the industry said.
A staff member from another company said they gave the furniture to her free of cost.
The biennial furniture fair was scheduled to be held from March 3 to 7 but was extended for another two days.
Thandar Shwe, daughter of Snr. Gen. Than Shwe and Kyaing Kyaing, was married in July 2006. In the videotape of the wedding ceremony, she was seen wearing a lot of diamonds. (tiara and choke)
The lavish wedding ceremony where USD 50 million was rumored to have been spent in one of the poorest countries in the world became infamous.
The physical possession of the video disc and video tape of the wedding ceremony carries a prison term and it was strictly banned in Burma.
Thandar Shwe, enjoyed life as Second Secretary at Burma’s Embassy in Beijing.
Her aborted recall to Rangoon in 2004 against her wishes and those of her dad is rumored to have been a factor precipitating former Foreign Minister Win Aung’s downfall.
“ORDERING A MAN TO BEAR A YOKE IN EXCHANGE FOR DIAMONDS”
By Maung Shin (translated by David Law)
According to follow-up news from military social circles, Bo Than Shwe’s daughter had been impregnated by a certain man called Ko Zaw, son of the late Secretary – 2, Gen. Tin Oo, who was assassinated in a bomb explosion at a military base.
The aforementioned Ko Zaw had already been legally married to the daughter of the former Mayor of Rangoon, Ko Lay, and he has a family of his own. The two had been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when they became entangled with each other, resulting in pregnancy.
When Bo Than Shwe found out that his daughter had been fornicating with a married man, his Royal Wrath was aroused and he ordered for a cargo truck to hit and kill the aforesaid Ko Zaw. Fortunately, although he was not killed, half of his body “died.” [translator’s note: became paralyzed.] Ko Zaw was treated at the Intensive Care Unit in Rangoon. While in hospital, Thandar Shwe, disguised, came at night to visit him.
Finally, she abandoned the aforesaid Ko Zaw following her father’s commands and married Major Zaw Pyo Win.
Major Zaw Pyo Win is a reliable subordinate of Bo Than Shwe. In addition, he is afraid to oppose Bo Than Shwe’s orders and hence he married Thandar Shwe, according to investigations.
(Author Maung Shin’s) Note: If you look at Major Zaw Pyo Win’s face from the start to the end of the wedding with Thandar Shwe, you will find no joy, contentment, affection, nor devotion.
Title:
Daughter of Senior General Than Shwe
State Peace and Development Council
According to Burma’s Foreign Ministry diplomatic list, three of Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s MOFA daughters—Khin Pyone Shwe, Aye Aye Thit Shwe and Kyi Kyi Shwe— form the core staff of the Foreign Languages Division of the Ministry’s Training, Research and Foreign Languages Department. But what can their duties be, now that Burma’s once active foreign affairs and diplomacy areas have been hijacked by men in uniform?
Sources in Rangoon say that since the military government doesn’t seem interested in talking to anyone nowadays, the Shwe sisters probably don’t have very demanding jobs, allowing them plenty of spare time to pursue their own business and spiritual interests.
Socialite:
Tay Za’s, the sycophant of Burma is reputed to have dated Khin Pyone Shwe.
Maung Waik, one of the richest men in Burma and a powerful crony of the country’s ruling military regime attempted to strengthen his ties to the regime through marriage. According to a relative of Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the most powerful figure in the junta, Maung Waik has recently been courting the general’s daughter, Khin Pyone Shwe.
According to members of Rangoon’s business community, Maung Weik recently divorced his wife, Yin Min Khin, in the hope of marrying Than Shwe’s daughter. (see link; Maung Waik, Burmese Tycoon, Arrested..)
========
Title: Major
Husband of Thandar Shwe,
Deputy Director Export Section, Ministry of Trade
State Peace and Development Council
Photo obtained 03 November 2006 shows a video grab of Thandar Shwe, the daughter of Myanmar junta leader Than Shwe, with her groom Major Zaw Phyo Win during their wedding in Yangon in July 2006.
========
He has business but he is the poorest among all children of Than Shwe. But his properties are 12 mansions, J Donuts shops, My Milk restaurants, and many other import/export contracts. About 35% of these property belongs to him while the rest to Burmese-born Chinese. They are business partners.
His other businesses are Dim Sum foodshops, import from Thailand (Queen Orange Juice Concentrates) , nightclubs (Dream Jelly J-J), Karaoke-attached Thai restaurants and many others. No only in Burma, he also has business in China, Thailand and Indonesia.
Moreover, Tun Naing Shwe does business with his former friend, Joseph Khin Maung Thein (son of Oo Aung Thein). They own J&J company together. Joseph manages Tun Naing Shwe’s business in Thailand while his sister, Clara, manages those in China.
All these business are due to the power of his father, Than Shwe and are funded by the income exploited from Burma’s natural resources.
There is no benefit to the civilians. The businesses are run on labor of the Burmese people. Therefore, we should turn our back on the business owned by Than Shwe’s family, Tun Naing Shwe and their partners.
Tun Naing Shwe and Joseph Khin Maung Thein well known as Joseph and Tun Naing ShweTun Naing Shwe is Than Shwe’s son andKhin Maung Thein is the son of U Aung Thein
Joseph was born in Taikkyi, Burma. His wife is from Thailand
Tun Naing Shwe and Joseph were classmates since High School, the time has passed by and they are still like brothers
Tun Naing Shwe and Joseph jointly own: J&J Company which is not in the sanctions list of sanctionU Shwe a jewel smuggler by trade
Hmu Pwel Ser Wayang Pyay means a broker (not even a lawyer) for legal cases either; civil or criminal
Their business in Burma are many:
J-Donuts is a chain of shops nationwide
Many Oriental House Restaurant and Dim Sum again a nationwide chain of restaurants
Queen Orange Juice Concentrates Imported From Thailand
Dream JellyJ-J Night Club
Many Thai Restaurant –Many Karaoke Lounges –Also owns businesses in China, Thailand, and Indonesia like the J&J in Bangkok –
Joseph manages their business in Thailand and Indonesia.Joseph’s sister Carol and brother-in-law Richard manage the businesses in China.
Lun Thi, Energy Minister’s son Zin Maung Lun and Zar Chi Ko (the Energy Minister’s daughter-in- law) now live in Singapore and are moving out their properties from Burma.
Photo: May 2004
Title: Son of Senior General Than Shwe
a.k.a. Syaing San Shwe
State Peace and Development Council
Kyaing San Shwe runs construction business the Classic International Company as well as earning a fortune from illegal gambling.
============ ========= ========= =
No.2
DEP SENIOR GEN MAUNG AYE
Born: 1940
Background: Hardliner made name during a reign of terror. Close to drug barons of Golden Triangle in Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
Interests: Drinking heavily.
Lifestyle: Opulent mansions. Has prostate cancer.
A Profile of Burmese Army Commander – General Maung Aye
By Myint Thein – Senior Advisor to the Burmese Resistance
Myanmar TV can now be watched in America via satellite TV. A group of Burmese doctors who watched Genocide Than Shwe send off Khin Nyunt at the airport during last week’s State Visit to Malaysia said Than Shwe walked like a duck, a clear medical indication that he recently suffered a stroke.
Than Shwe is rapidly losing support within the Burma Army, and Khin Nyunt is the favorite candidate of foreign investors to succeed him. But Khin Nyunt has no infantry support and is likely to lose power in a post- Than Shwe era.
The person most likely to succeed Than Shwe is Army Commander General Maung Aye.
Unlike Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt, General Maung Aye comes from an educated family. His brother-in-law was the Rector of the Mandalay Medical College. Maung Aye graduated from the first class of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) in 1959. He was also an instructor at DSA and has a close relationship with officers from the DSA class 11, 12, 13 & 14. This batch of officers holds most of the important Regional Commander positions.
Much has been written about Than Shwe’s role in getting rid of Ne Win’s family. Than Shwe is a coward and did not play an important role in that incident.
Three months before the coup against the Ne Win family, General Maung Aye phoned Aye Zaw Win, General Ne Win’s son-in-law, and gave him a final warning that he will not tolerate his daughter being publicly molested by Aye Zaw Win’s son.
General Maung Aye organized the commando raid on the Ne Win residence with Navy frogmen. He personally supervised this commando raid from the shores of Inya Lake. General Maung Aye was assisted by Deputy Military Intelligence Chief Major-General Kyaw Win who knew the defenses of the Ne Win residence. Earlier in his career Kyaw Win served with the Special Forces battalion assigned to guard Ne Win’s residence. Khin Nyunt was not told about the commando raid since he was close to the Ne Win family.
The Khin Nyunt faction has depicted General Maung Aye as a hard-liner. But people who know General Maung Aye say that he is an educated person and that you can reason with him.
The next military leader of Burma is likely to be General Maung Aye and his military intelligence chief is likely to be Major-General Kyaw Win. A negotiated political settlement is possible with them because neither was involved in the 1988 Massacres.
- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantri bune.com/ oldsite/show_ news.php? id=9856
Title: Daughter of Vice-Senior General Maung Aye
Wife of Major Pyi Aung
State Peace and Development Council
She is married to the son of a powerful man, the corrupt Aung Thaung, Minister, Industry (1) who made his family to become billionaire. His son leads the family business and build up the Aung Yee Phyo Company which makes millions of US$ per year in way of performing legal and illegal business.
Nandar Aye herself owns the company in the name of “Queen Star”, which import computers, its accessories and electronic appliances.
MNT ( Myan New Technology)
Owner. Yin Win Thu, 30 years old, who lives on Swit Kyw Sat Road, 6 ½ mile is known to have a close association with Nandar Aye. Nandar Aye is also a partner in her business. They have monopoly of supplying computers to schools and universities in Burma. They also have a monology on CNG ( liquified natural gas) business.
Title: Major
Husband of Nandar Aye
Son-in-law of Maung Aye
Son of Aung Thaung, the corrupt Minister of the Industry (1).
State Peace and Development Council
Tycoons with an Influential Father
Irrawaddy / By Wai Moe
Being the child of a government official guarantees good fortune in military-ruled Burma. Nay Aung and Pyi Aung are the sons of the Minister for Industry 1, Aung Thaung, and in less than 20 years they have advanced to become well-to-do tycoons, controlling two companies with export-import monopolies in oil and gas products.
Their rise to fortune ran parallel to the political advance of their father, which began in 1997. Aung Thaung’s political career has an unsavory side to it, though—he is believed to have been behind the crackdown on the start of September’s demonstrations, including the Pakkoku monks’ protests.
Apart from his father, who is one of junta leader Than Shwe’s most loyal supporters, Pyi Aung has another important patron— the junta’s No. 2, Dep Snr-Gen Maung Aye, who’s his father-in-law.
The brothers, both in their forties, manage two companies: IGE Co Ltd, also known as IGE Pte Ltd, and Aung Yee Phyoe Co Ltd. The latter company has a monopoly in agriculture products and timber trading.
IGE is the bigger company, established in 1994 and registered in Singapore since 2001. Its Burma headquarters are on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Rangoon, while its Singapore office has an expensive address on Shenton Way, an exclusive area of the city state. Nay Aung is a frequent visitor at the Singapore office.
============ ========= =======
Shwe Mann, 60, is the third-highest- ranking figure in the SPDC, and considered more likely to inherit the presidency. A career soldier who was promoted to the rank of general in 2003. He fought with distinction against the Karen Liberation Army in 1989. Loyal to Than Shwe, it was this opportunistic military man, nicknamed ‘Thura’, who was believed to have flown to Singapore to receive instructions from his hospitalised leader.
Known for a more modern outlook, he has taken a lead in economic affairs, with attempts to develop gem businesses and rice mills, allegedly to the financial advantage of his son’s company.
Despite his very public presence, little is known about Shwe Mann.
There are no records of his views about Suu Kyi, and no knowledge of his role in the suppression of the 1988 pro-democracy protests.
He has been involved in ethnic cleansing, which has destroyed 3,000 villages.
Background: Was accused of ethnic cleansing in Karen state. Considered the most likely successor to Than Shwe.
Interests: Unknown
Lifestyle: Has a mansion retreat in rolling parklands, with a lake and beach.
a.k.a.Thura
Title: General
Army Chief-of-Staff and Coordinator of Air Force, Navy and Army Operations
DOB: 11.07.1947
Shwe Mann, 60, is the third-highest- ranking figure in the SPDC, and considered more likely to inherit the presidency. A career soldier who was promoted to the rank of general in 2003. He fought with distinction against the Karen Liberation Army in 1989. Loyal to Than Shwe, it was this opportunistic military man, nicknamed ‘Thura’, who was believed to have flown to Singapore to receive instructions from his hospitalised leader.
Known for a more modern outlook, he has taken a lead in economic affairs, with attempts to develop gem businesses and rice mills, allegedly to the financial advantage of his son’s company.
Despite his very public presence, little is known about Shwe Mann.
There are no records of his views about Suu Kyi, and no knowledge of his role in the suppression of the 1988 pro-democracy protests.
He has been involved in ethnic cleansing, which has destroyed 3,000 villages.
Background: Was accused of ethnic cleansing in Karen state. Considered the most likely successor to Than Shwe.
Interests: Unknown
Lifestyle: Has a mansion retreat in rolling parklands, with a lake and beach.
Links:
http://www.sundaymi rror.co.uk/ news/2008/ 05/10/no1- no2-no3-the- evil-heart- of-burma- 89520-20412846/
http://www.shanland .org/weeklydiary /242/shwemann. jpg
http://www.google. co.uk/firefox? client=firefox- a&rls=org.mozilla: en-GB:official
Title: Son of General Thura Shwe Mann
a.k.a Shwe Mann Ko Ko
State Peace and Development Council
DOB: 19.06.1977
Interests: Ayeya Shwe War Company
It has been learnt that Sit Thwe Aung, son of Minister U Aung Phone, Ministry of Forests was stabbed in a local night club. He was stabbed at close range by an unidentified person. U Aung Phone has two sons, Sit Thwe Aung and Sit Taing Aung. They are believed to be from the Shwe Man clique.
Shwe Man’s son Aung Thet Phone and these two brothers are money hungry business entrepreneurs. These newly rich class of businessmen who became rich in this corrupt and crumbling society made money by getting import/export licenses and importing custom duty free goods.
All of them are into women, gambling and drugs.One eye witness told us that a duty conscious citizen did the stabbing because he could no longer suffer the injustices meted out to the people by the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council).
Please click here for Aung Thet Mann’s connection with Tay Za’s Financial network.
Links:
http://burmadictato rwatch-eng. blogspot. com/
http://www.irrawadd y.org/article. php?art_id= 14151&page=3
Title: Son of Shwe Mann
State Peace and Development Council
Married to: Zay Zin Latt
DOB: 29. 06. 1978
The fact that Khin Shwe’s daughter, Zay Zin Latt, is married to another of General Shwe Mann’s sons, Toe Naing Mann, some analysts believe may have helped him secure lucrative government contracts and concessions.
Outside Myanmar, Khin Shwe is known to have business relations with companies in Japan, South Korea and Thailand. He is currently chairman of the Myanmar-Japan and Myanmar-Korean Friendship Associations and also chairs the Myanmar-Thai Development Corporation.
Title: Wife of Toe Naing Mann (General Shwe Mann’s son)
DOB: 24.03.1981
Parents: Khin Shwe (Father)
Ma Zay Zin Latt, general manager of the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel, was always fated to take over the work of her father, well-known businessman U Khin Shwe. But when she did, at the age of just eighteen, she found much of the staff less than enthusiastic about her rise to power.
“When I first managed the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal hotel, I was just a teenager and my staff was older than me, so they were not afraid of me,” she said.
“So I… started with staff I liked.”
Ma Zay Zin Latt was willing to take over the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel on her own terms, but many young people would rather make it on their own. In the absence of enthusiastic successors, U Chit Oo will continue to serve his customers, and U Khin Sein will be pacing down the halls of his factory for years to come.
Khin Shwe, her father, president of Zaygabar and one of Myanmar’s leading real estate moguls, first attracted international attention in 1997 when he hired a US public relations firm, Bain and Associates Inc, in what turned out to be a futile attempt to improve the junta’s image and standing in Washington. Bain and Associates now appears to have washed its hands of Myanmar’s junta. The firm’s homepage (http://www.bainpr. com/), perhaps for good reason, omits Zaygabar among its list of “clients with whom we’ve worked”. In Yangon, Zaygabar owns industrial parks, a golf and country club frequented by army officers, a hotel and the city’s tallest residential condominium.
Links:
http://www.atimes. com/atimes/ Southeast_ Asia/IK02Ae01. html
============ ========= ========
Title: Prime Minister from Oct’07 (as at Jun’08…)
Chairman of the National Convention
AGE: 61 years old (as @ 2008)
Married to: Daw Khin Khin Win
NOTES:
Appointed Burma’s prime minister after the death of Soe Win in October 2007, is chairman of the National Convention, the controversial body entrusted with hammering out a new constitution that is supposed to provide eventually for democratic elections.
The role of prime minister carries little weight within the junta and, since taking over, Thein Sein has been entrusted with only routine work and representing the junta in talks with Bangladesh and Cambodia.
A “mystery man” of whom little is known, Thein Sein’s political career has seen him rising quietly through the ranks under the patronage of junta leader Than Shwe, who is known to command the younger general’s total loyalty.
SPDC MEMBER since November 1997
Lieutenant-General Thein Sein (BC.11252, DSA.9).
He is also the -
* Adjutant-General, War Office
Thein Sein is the former Commander of MOC-4 (Phugyi) and the Triangle Military Region.
Links:
http://www.burmalib rary.org/ docs/BA2003- 04.htm
-===========
Title: Wife of Lt Gen Thein Sein
State Peace and Development Council
Interests:
Vice-President of Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation (MWAF-2004)
President of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association( MMCWA-May 2006)
============
Photo: Tin Aung Myint Oo (third left)
a.k.a Thiha Thura
Title: Lieutenant-General
Secretary-1 of State Peace and Development Council from Myanmar
Chairman of Myanmar Trade Council
Born: 27 May 1945
Married to: Khin Saw Hnin
Graduated: Defence Services Academy
Religion: BUDDHIST
The hardliner Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, bearer of the title Thiha Thura (”Courageous as a Lion”, became Secretary One, in November 2007, after the death of Soe Win.
Along with Shwe Mann, several regional commanders in their 50s were chosen for the most senior positions in recent years. They were Lt-Gen Aung Htwe, Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Lt-Gen Soe Win and Maj-Gen Sit Maung. Sit Maung died in a helicopter crash in 2001, while Thein Sein is now secretary one, a political position attached to the ruling council. Aung Htwe and Tin Aung Myint Oo are now heads of bureaus of special operations, while Soe Win is prime minister. This could augur well for Shwe Mann to slot into the top job. But nothing is certain in the Burmese military hierarchy.
Thein Sein was replaced as secretary-one in the 11-member SPDC by Quartermaster- General Lt. Gen. Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, 57. Thiha Thura is a title bestowed for bravery, although the circumstances under which he was awarded it are not generally known.
According to The Indian Express, an English daily newspaper, the Burmese junta’s quartermaster general, Thiha Thura Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, who oversees all military supplies to Burma ’s armed forces, met his Indian counterpart Lt-Gen Sudhir Sharma and Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Deepak Kapoor.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, reportedly requested for more supplies of infantry weapons and ammunition in return for Burma ’s help in flushing out Indian insurgents holed up along the 1,600 km porous Indo-Burma border.
The report said, the Burmese general’s “shopping list” included, “small arms like assault rifles, light machine guns and side arms.”
Links:
http://www.laphatya esaing.com/ news/
http://www.irrawadd y.org/print_ article.php? art_id=5948
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Thiha_Thura_ Tin_Aung_ Myint_Oo
http://www.tai4free dom.info/ 2007/04/28news. html
http://www.bbc. co.uk/burmese/ highlights/ story/2008/ 03/080328_ inpics_armyday. shtml
http://www.asiaobse rver.com/ component
www.daylife. com/photo/ 05gT3Bsgsx2Gc
ki-media.blogspot. com/2008/ 02/phnom- penh-and- ...
S:
Appointed Burma’s prime minister after the death of Soe Win in October 2007, is chairman of the National Convention, the controversial body entrusted with hammering out a new constitution that is supposed to provide eventually for democratic elections.
The role of prime minister carries little weight within the junta and, since taking over, Thein Sein has been entrusted with only routine work and representing the junta in talks with Bangladesh and Cambodia.
A “mystery man” of whom little is known, Thein Sein’s political career has seen him rising quietly through the ranks under the patronage of junta leader Than Shwe, who is known to command the younger general’s total loyalty.
SPDC MEMBER since November 1997
Lieutenant-General Thein Sein (BC.11252, DSA.9).
He is also the -
* Adjutant-General, War Office
Thein Sein is the former Commander of MOC-4 (Phugyi) and the Triangle Military Region.
Links:
http://www.burmalib rary.org/ docs/BA2003- 04.htm
============ ========= =========
These are the three powerful men blocking vital aid for millions of cyclone victims in Burma.
As the death toll heads towards 100,000 and up to two million face starvation and disease, the leaders of the military junta carry on with their life of luxury, refusing to let foreign aid teams into the country.
The generals, known as No 1, No 2 and No 3, head the ironically-titled State Peace and Development Council.
But they are so suspicious of each other they sleep in the same military compound to keep an eye on each other.
They live in the brand new capital city of Naypyidaw, which translates as Abode of Kings.
Top dog is Than Shwe, 74, also known as Senior General No 1. His cronies are No 2 Deputy Senior General Maung Aye, 68, who is a heavy drinker and close to the country’s drug barons and No 3 General Shwe Mann, 60. He has been involved in ethnic cleansing, which has destroyed 3,000 villages.
The generals and their families live lifestyles of amazing opulence while most Burmese live in extreme poverty.
Mark Farmaner, director of the UK based Burma Campaign said: “It’s one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world, but it’s run by a committee of golf-loving Buddhists.
“It’s not the traditional dictatorship with one madman at the top. That’s why we’re concerned that when Than Shwe dies the regime will continue.
“The generals all live in luxurious houses with swimming pools, palm trees and beautiful gardens behind high-walled military compounds.
“Their wives and children regularly go on expensive shopping trips to Singapore.
Yet most normal people live in shanty towns, in corrugated huts.” Burma is a country rich in natural resources such as natural gas, gem stones, teak and jade.
It is also one of the world’s biggest producers of heroin – a massive source of income for the corrupt regime, despite claims it tries to suppress the trade.
Human rights protester Ko Aung who, as a political prisoner was kept in a 20-ft pit for six days with a rotting human corpse, said the regime had been milking the country for decades.
Ko, who is head of the Burmese Democratic Movement Association, added: “The generals are among the richest people in the whole of Asia, if not the world. They are each worth billions.
“The money comes from drug trafficking and exploiting the natural resources of the country.
“They have the best jewels in the world – diamonds and rubies. But they are paranoid and crazy, living in a different world to the rest of the people – a life of incredible privilege.
“And they own a lot of houses outside the country – in Singapore, China, Thailand and Malaysia.” So detached from reality is the government, that the Prime Minister, General Thein Sein, was shown on TV handing out televisions and DVD players to cyclone victims, who have no electricity.
When Shwe’s daughter Thandar married in 2006 she wore at least seven strings of diamond necklaces.
Gifts included luxury cars and houses worth £26million.
Former postal clerk Shwe, a specialist in psychological warfare, relaxes by watching Chinese martial arts movies.
And he refuses to allow the name of democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi to be even mentioned in his presence. His wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing is also known to be hugely influential in the country.
His son, Kyaing San Shwe runs construction business the Classic International Company as well as earning a fortune from illegal gambling. Shwe’s eldest daughter has dated young Burmese arms dealer Te Za, who purchased MiG-29 fighters and helicopters from Russia for the junta.
Yesterday, the World Food Programme said it would restart aid flights to Burma today, despite a row over government officials impounding deliveries.
The UN body had suspended relief flights after the government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.
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Government spokesman Ye Htut said the UN claims had been “baseless accusations”. He said the government had taken control of the aid to distribute it “without delay by its own labour to the affected areas”.
The foreign ministry, which turned away a disaster rescue team from Qatar, said Burma would accept foreign aid but not foreign aid workers.
The junta fears any teams would be infiltrated by enemies and is paranoid that America is planning to invade.
Meanwhile British Ambassador Mark Canning warned yesterday that the number of dead and missing was likely to “escalate very dramatically”.
He said the cyclone had left twice as many people vulnerable as the 2004 Asian tsunami.
He added: “The figures we are now getting from authoritative sources for the number of dead and missing is between 63,000 and 100,000.”
“The State Peace and Development Council”
No.1
SENIOR GENERAL THAN SHWE
Born: 1933
Background: Former postal clerk.
Interests: Specialist in psychological warfare, likes kung fu movies, consults blind peasant for astrological advice to make decisions.
Lifestyle: Daughter married in £26million bash in 2006.
No.2
DEP SENIOR GEN MAUNG AYE
Born: 1940
Background: Hardliner made name during a reign of terror. Close to drug barons of Golden Triangle in Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
Interests: Drinking heavily.
Lifestyle: Opulent mansions. Has prostate cancer.
No.3
Born: 1947.
Background: Was accused of ethnic cleansing in Karen state. Considered the most likely successor to Than Shwe.
Interests: Unknown.
Lifestyle: Has a mansion retreat in rolling parklands, with a lake and beach.
http://www.mirror. co.uk/news/ 2008/05/10/ no1-no2-no3- the-evil- heart-of- burma-89520- 20412846/
============ ========= =======
To be Continue on
–
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* **
The Shwe Gas Pipeline Campaign Committee- India
shwecampaign@ gmail.com
shweinfo@gmail. com
www.shwe.org
www.burmese. shwe.org
” You are never a loser, until you quit trying”
Members of the Rohingya Muslim minority from Myanmar and Bangladesh prayed at a makeshift refugee camp in Indonesia. ublished: April 18, 2009
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IDI RAYEUK, Indonesia — The only solace for the almost 200 men living in a squalid refugee camp here is the freedom they now have to pray.
“In Myanmar, if we pray, we are killed,” said Alam Shah, 38, a member of the Rohingya Muslim minority, who fled the predominantly Buddhist Myanmar last year. “I’m scared they will send us back there. It is a very, very dangerous country.”
The Rohingya here were found floating at sea on Feb. 2, after having spent three weeks aboard a wooden boat with no motor, no food and no water. When they were found by an Indonesian fisherman off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia’s northernmost province, many were close to death.
A few months before, another boat with about 200 Rohingya refugees landed in Sabang, on the northern tip of Aceh, where they are now being held at a naval station. Several more boats were found by the Indian coast guard carrying almost 400 Rohingya.
Research by nongovernmental organizations suggests that all the refugees had passed through detention camps on islands just off the coast of Thailand. According to interviews with the refugees, the Thai military towed and abandoned at least six boats at sea between November and January, when the international news media picked up the story and the so-called push-backs were halted.
The expulsions reversed a policy in which Thailand had allowed thousands of Rohingya to land in recent years, mostly on their way to Malaysia. The Thai military had denied accusations of pushing the refugees out to sea, but Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand said in February that some boats had been towed out to sea and that he intended to investigate.
About 1,200 men are known to have been pushed out to sea, more than 300 of whom drowned, according to the Arakan Project, a nongovernmental human rights group. There are fears, however, that many more Rohingya from Bangladesh and Myanmar, formerly Burma, are still missing.
“It is difficult to say what the exact numbers are,” said Chris Lewa, an expert on Rohingya issues who runs the Arakan Project. “But based on the interviews we have done with refugees that have ended up in India and Indonesia, we think there were many more push-backs than have been confirmed.”
“What does seem clear,” Ms Lewa said, “what is consistent among all the interviews we have done with the refugees, is that they were detained on islands off the coast of Thailand before being towed out to sea and set adrift by the Thai military.”
Last week, after months of delays, the United Nations began the process of “status determination” for the 391 men being held in Idi Rayeuk and Sabang. The process, a series of interviews with refugees, will determine if they are in need of protection and can stay in Indonesia, or if they are economic migrants who should be returned to Myanmar.
At the same time, on the resort island of Bali, leaders from around Southeast Asia, including from Myanmar, are beginning discussions about regional migrants, including the Rohingya.
Indonesia, which regional analysts have praised for its leadership in matters like human rights, disaster reconstruction and other issues involving Myanmar, fears a flood of thousands of Rohingya to its shores if the men in Aceh are allowed to stay.
“Indonesia is trying to play a leadership role in this situation,” said Lilianne Fan, a humanitarian worker who has worked in Aceh and Myanmar and is now advising the Acehnese governor.
“Compared to other regional governments, the Indonesians have responded very well, especially since they have engaged international organizations,” she said.
The United Nations estimates that about 723,000 Rohingya live in Myanmar, where the military government considers them foreigners and denies them citizenship, passports or the right to own land. There are also hundreds of thousands of Rohingya living in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya in Myanmar live mostly in the northern state of Rahkine and in the past fled through Bangladesh and into the Middle East. But new travel restrictions imposed by Bangladesh’s government have forced the Rohingya to find alternative destinations like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The process of status determination and the negotiations that will need to take place between Myanmar and Indonesia could take many months. Meanwhile, the few aid organizations in Idi Rayeuk are concerned that the camp is not equipped to house refugees for long.
The men were greeted generously by the local Acehnese, many of whom live in abject poverty themselves but can relate to the Rohingya’s situation. Many Acehnese here have family members who were forced to flee a separatist conflict that raged in Aceh for 30 years until a peace agreement was reached in 2005. Idi Rayeuk, in fact, was once a central launching point for Acehnese trying to flee the country.
“The support has been unreal and an inspiration for the rest of the world,” said Sara Henderson, president of the Building Bridges to the Future Foundation. “They are still giving free fish to the camp when they have barely enough to eat themselves.”
But the generosity of the Acehnese and the local government is nowhere near enough, Ms. Henderson said. The men still live in tents on wet, muddy ground. Sanitation, food and water remain basic, and security is almost nonexistent. Seven men fled the camp last Monday morning, apparently afraid they were about to be deported, but they were all later caught.
Several of the refugees are also suffering from serious health problems, like tuberculosis, but the camp lacks qualified doctors and money for health care.
The Building Bridges to the Future Foundation, which was founded in response to the December 2004 tsunami in Aceh, has been pressing for donations to help coordinate the camp and provide necessary logistical support. The local government has offered to provide a larger plot of land if money can be raised for necessities like temporary barracks, sanitation and food.
“The local community and the government do not have the funds to support a refugee camp of 198 men,” Ms. Henderson said. “They barely, and rarely, have the funds to take care of themselves.”
Members of the Rohingya Muslim minority from Myanmar and Bangladesh prayed at a makeshift refugee camp in Indonesia.
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IDI RAYEUK, Indonesia — The only solace for the almost 200 men living in a squalid refugee camp here is the freedom they now have to pray.
“In Myanmar, if we pray, we are killed,” said Alam Shah, 38, a member of the Rohingya Muslim minority, who fled the predominantly Buddhist Myanmar last year. “I’m scared they will send us back there. It is a very, very dangerous country.”
The Rohingya here were found floating at sea on Feb. 2, after having spent three weeks aboard a wooden boat with no motor, no food and no water. When they were found by an Indonesian fisherman off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia’s northernmost province, many were close to death.
A few months before, another boat with about 200 Rohingya refugees landed in Sabang, on the northern tip of Aceh, where they are now being held at a naval station. Several more boats were found by the Indian coast guard carrying almost 400 Rohingya.
Research by nongovernmental organizations suggests that all the refugees had passed through detention camps on islands just off the coast of Thailand. According to interviews with the refugees, the Thai military towed and abandoned at least six boats at sea between November and January, when the international news media picked up the story and the so-called push-backs were halted.
The expulsions reversed a policy in which Thailand had allowed thousands of Rohingya to land in recent years, mostly on their way to Malaysia. The Thai military had denied accusations of pushing the refugees out to sea, but Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand said in February that some boats had been towed out to sea and that he intended to investigate.
About 1,200 men are known to have been pushed out to sea, more than 300 of whom drowned, according to the Arakan Project, a nongovernmental human rights group. There are fears, however, that many more Rohingya from Bangladesh and Myanmar, formerly Burma, are still missing.
“It is difficult to say what the exact numbers are,” said Chris Lewa, an expert on Rohingya issues who runs the Arakan Project. “But based on the interviews we have done with refugees that have ended up in India and Indonesia, we think there were many more push-backs than have been confirmed.”
“What does seem clear,” Ms Lewa said, “what is consistent among all the interviews we have done with the refugees, is that they were detained on islands off the coast of Thailand before being towed out to sea and set adrift by the Thai military.”
Last week, after months of delays, the United Nations began the process of “status determination” for the 391 men being held in Idi Rayeuk and Sabang. The process, a series of interviews with refugees, will determine if they are in need of protection and can stay in Indonesia, or if they are economic migrants who should be returned to Myanmar.
At the same time, on the resort island of Bali, leaders from around Southeast Asia, including from Myanmar, are beginning discussions about regional migrants, including the Rohingya.
Indonesia, which regional analysts have praised for its leadership in matters like human rights, disaster reconstruction and other issues involving Myanmar, fears a flood of thousands of Rohingya to its shores if the men in Aceh are allowed to stay.
“Indonesia is trying to play a leadership role in this situation,” said Lilianne Fan, a humanitarian worker who has worked in Aceh and Myanmar and is now advising the Acehnese governor.
“Compared to other regional governments, the Indonesians have responded very well, especially since they have engaged international organizations,” she said.
The United Nations estimates that about 723,000 Rohingya live in Myanmar, where the military government considers them foreigners and denies them citizenship, passports or the right to own land. There are also hundreds of thousands of Rohingya living in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya in Myanmar live mostly in the northern state of Rahkine and in the past fled through Bangladesh and into the Middle East. But new travel restrictions imposed by Bangladesh’s government have forced the Rohingya to find alternative destinations like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The process of status determination and the negotiations that will need to take place between Myanmar and Indonesia could take many months. Meanwhile, the few aid organizations in Idi Rayeuk are concerned that the camp is not equipped to house refugees for long.
The men were greeted generously by the local Acehnese, many of whom live in abject poverty themselves but can relate to the Rohingya’s situation. Many Acehnese here have family members who were forced to flee a separatist conflict that raged in Aceh for 30 years until a peace agreement was reached in 2005. Idi Rayeuk, in fact, was once a central launching point for Acehnese trying to flee the country.
“The support has been unreal and an inspiration for the rest of the world,” said Sara Henderson, president of the Building Bridges to the Future Foundation. “They are still giving free fish to the camp when they have barely enough to eat themselves.”
But the generosity of the Acehnese and the local government is nowhere near enough, Ms. Henderson said. The men still live in tents on wet, muddy ground. Sanitation, food and water remain basic, and security is almost nonexistent. Seven men fled the camp last Monday morning, apparently afraid they were about to be deported, but they were all later caught.
Several of the refugees are also suffering from serious health problems, like tuberculosis, but the camp lacks qualified doctors and money for health care.
The Building Bridges to the Future Foundation, which was founded in response to the December 2004 tsunami in Aceh, has been pressing for donations to help coordinate the camp and provide necessary logistical support. The local government has offered to provide a larger plot of land if money can be raised for necessities like temporary barracks, sanitation and food.
“The local community and the government do not have the funds to support a refugee camp of 198 men,” Ms. Henderson said. “They barely, and rarely, have the funds to take care of themselves.”
AFP/Presidency.Info – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said his country will work closely with Australia to … JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Sunday that his country will work closely with Australia to tackle the influx of migrants arriving on both countries’ shores.
“I spoke to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning about greater cooperation and finding the best solution,” he added.
“There is an increase in the number of migrants because of the situation in their countries, as well as the global crisis. We hope to work together with many countries, including Malaysia,” Yudhoyono said.
There are now 2,000 migrants in Indonesia, 600 of whom arrived between January and April, mostly from Afghanistan, he added.
In their telephone conversation, the two leaders promised to intensify bilateral cooperation, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told AFP.
“They talked about the dramatic increase in the number of migrants coming from countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, among others. This has become a serious issue nationally and regionally,” he added.
“They’re happy with how the police in the two countries have been cooperating, sharing information and carrying out coordinating action,” Djalal said.
The leaders also expressed satisfaction at the success of last week’s so-called Bali Process on people smuggling, people trafficking and related transnational crime, he added.
“They believe in a regional solution to handle this regional problem, as it involves countries of origin, transit and destination,” Djalal said.
Indonesia has long been a transit country for illegal migration and people smuggling to Australia.
At least three people died and another two are missing presumed dead after an explosion Thursday on board an illegal smuggling vessel carrying mainly Afghan refugees off Australia’s northwest coast. Dozens more were injured.
Meanwhile, 68 Afghan migrants were arrested in Indonesia Friday as they prepared to depart illegally for Australia, the second such group arrested there in recent months.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090419/wl_asia_afp/indonesiaaustraliaimmigrationrefugees_20090419121330
Sun Apr 19, 8:13 AM ET
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JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Sunday that his country will work closely with Australia to tackle the influx of migrants arriving on both countries’ shores.
“I spoke to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning about greater cooperation and finding the best solution,” he added.
“There is an increase in the number of migrants because of the situation in their countries, as well as the global crisis. We hope to work together with many countries, including Malaysia,” Yudhoyono said.
There are now 2,000 migrants in Indonesia, 600 of whom arrived between January and April, mostly from Afghanistan, he added.
In their telephone conversation, the two leaders promised to intensify bilateral cooperation, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told AFP.
“They talked about the dramatic increase in the number of migrants coming from countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, among others. This has become a serious issue nationally and regionally,” he added.
“They’re happy with how the police in the two countries have been cooperating, sharing information and carrying out coordinating action,” Djalal said.
The leaders also expressed satisfaction at the success of last week’s so-called Bali Process on people smuggling, people trafficking and related transnational crime, he added.
“They believe in a regional solution to handle this regional problem, as it involves countries of origin, transit and destination,” Djalal said.
Indonesia has long been a transit country for illegal migration and people smuggling to Australia.
At least three people died and another two are missing presumed dead after an explosion Thursday on board an illegal smuggling vessel carrying mainly Afghan refugees off Australia’s northwest coast. Dozens more were injured.
Meanwhile, 68 Afghan migrants were arrested in Indonesia Friday as they prepared to depart illegally for Australia, the second such group arrested there in recent months.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090419/wl_asia_afp/indonesiaaustraliaimmigrationrefugees_20090419121330
CANBERRA (Reuters) – An explosion aboard a boat carrying 49 asylum seekers believed to be from Afghanistan killed at least three people off the northwest coast of Australia on Thursday, officials said.
The wooden fishing boat had been intercepted by Australia’s navy at Ashmore Reef, between Australia and Indonesia, and was drifting under the watch of the military when the explosion occurred.
The leader of Western Australia state said the boat may have been deliberately doused in petrol before the explosion.
“It is understood that the refugees on the boat spread petrol and that ignited causing the explosion,” Western Australia state Premier Colin Barnett told reporters in Perth.
Three people were killed, two were missing and scores of others injured in the explosion.
“I really can’t speculate on the cause. Clearly this will be subject to appropriate inquiries by the appropriate authorities,” Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Alan Du Toit told reporters in Canberra.
A small number of navy sailors were also on board when the explosion happened, Du Toit said, along with crew, believed to be Indonesian fishermen. Four navy sailors were among 51 people injured by the blast.
Thirteen boats carrying asylum-seekers have been discovered in Australian waters since the centre-left government softened Canberra’s treatment of asylum-seekers last July.
Around 379 people have been detained on Christmas Island, between Australian and Indonesia, since September last year, mostly from Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/16/worldupdates/2009-04-16T141505Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-390728-1&sec=Worldupdates
2009/04/13
THE Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Orga-nisation Malaysia (Merhrom) is concerned over the increase in human rights abuses against Rohingyas in the Arakan state of Myanmar in recent months, especially after the international media highlighted the plight of the Rohingya boat people late last year.
The military regime continues to subject Rohingyas and Muslims in Arakan to harassment, arbitrary arrest, extortion and religious persecution.
In one of the latest incidents, a 16-year-old Rohingya girl, Hamida, was killed and hacked into three by monks in Sittwe (Akyab), the capital of Arakan on March 28.
According to a local businessman, she was abducted by the monks while on her way home from work at a teacher’s house. The Rohingya villagers did not dare to file a report at the police station.
In the same month, it was reported that at least 10 houses belonging to Rohingyas were burnt down by mobs in Sindi Prang village.
Merhrom is deeply concerned over the way Asean countries have been handling the Rohingya issue.
There were suggestions from some Asean countries to send Rohingyas back to Myanmar. This would only make our situation worse as we know how we will be treated by the military regime.
We applaud the statement by Singapore that it will assist Rohingya refugees by providing humanitarian assistance so that they can depart for a third country.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made it clear that the problem should be addressed at the source and that Asean members should not export their problems to one another.
We appeal to the Malaysian government and Asean leaders to make sure that Rohingyas in exile will not be sent back forcefully to a place where they will face persecution and prosecution.
Although most Asean countries did not sign the Refugee Convention 1951 and its 1967 Protocol, Asean countries are bound to observe the non-refoulement principle.
According to former foreign minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, the Asean secretariat is studying whether to return the Rohingyas back to Myanmar or encourage third countries to accept them.
The first option is worrying to the Rohingyas.
The military regime has announced that Rohingyas were not Mynamar citizens and that it would only accept Rohingyas if they admit they are Bengali and that their status is that of non-citizens.
The fact is, Rohingyas are not Bengali. Rohingyas have their own language, which is different from Bengali, and they have lived in Arakan since the 7th century.
According to Rais, 144 Rohingyas in Malaysia were sent to other countries between 2003 and 2008. This shows the lack of commitment and political will of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Resettlement countries though the UNHCR is fully aware of the plight of Rohingyas in Myanmar.
Although the military regime agreed to cooperate with the Asean secretariat for data collection as the first step to resolving the Rohingya problem, we are afraid of the kind of information that will be provided by them.
We recommend that Asean leaders visit Arakan state and get an accurate picture of the situation from the Rohingyas themselves.
The visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to Arakan on March 7 revealed the real situation of Rohinyas.
On the basis of his observations and discussions held, he concluded that the UNHCR’s current level of activities in northern Arakan state does not correspond to actual needs and a decision was taken to upgrade the programme immediately.
We welcome the move by Asean leaders to discuss the Rohingya issue at the Bali Process tomorrow. However we would like to emphasise that the discussion must focus on the recognition of Rohingyas as citizens as well as addressing ways to stop human rights abuses against them.
Asean leaders must recognise that Rohingyas are very much in need of international protection as refugees.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Letters/2529847/Article/index_html
A LASTING solution to the plight of Burma’s Rohingya minority remains elusive after Burma yesterday continued to deny they were its citizens or acknowledge they were persecuted.
Burma’s police chief made the comments at the Bali Process meeting, a people-smuggling summit involving more than 40 regional nations and heralded as the forum that would address the Rohingya problem after several aborted attempts to tackle the issue.
The Rohingya came to global prominence this year when Thailand’s military was accused of towing the boats of as many as 1000 asylum-seekers out to sea and leaving them to drift at the mercy of the currents without adequate food and water.
Those incidents in January also refocused attention on Burma’s treatment of the Rohingya. Hundreds of thousands have fled to refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh or attempted the perilous sea crossing to South-East Asia.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, was among the leaders to hold talks with Brigadier-General Khin Yi, the deputy minister for home affairs and police chief of Burma (also known as Myanmar). Mr Smith pledged $3.2 million to aid programs for the Rohingya.
“Australia put to Myanmar all the human rights, democratic and rule of law issues that we have in the past,” Mr Smith said of their discussions.
“The response from the police chief was … the traditional response of Myanmar not to accept the notion of citizenship.”
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, said he and others at the summit had told Brigadier-General Yi that “social and economic problems” were behind the exodus of Rohingyas, some of whom have washed ashore in Indonesia’s province of Aceh. “Myanmar denied [the flight of the Rohingyas] was because of human-rights violations,” he said.
Asylum-seekers from Myanmar have said they suffer beatings by Burma’s security forces and had their property stolen while having punishing taxes levied on them.
Meanwhile, Thailand avoided scrutiny for its treatment of the Rohingya altogether after its foreign minister failed to turn up due to the political crisis in his homeland. He was represented by a deputy secretary from the Thai Foreign Ministry.
As well as towing out at least four boatloads of Rohingyas who had landed in Thailand, the Thai military is also accused of administering severe beatings to some of the asylum-seekers.
An ad hoc working group from Bali Process nations may address the Rohingya issue at a later date but any recommendations it makes will be non-binding.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/rohingya-not-our-problem-burma-tells-bali-meeting-20090416-a7md.html
A LASTING solution to the plight of Burma’s Rohingya minority remains elusive after Burma yesterday continued to deny they were its citizens or acknowledge they were persecuted.
Burma’s police chief made the comments at the Bali Process meeting, a people-smuggling summit involving more than 40 regional nations and heralded as the forum that would address the Rohingya problem after several aborted attempts to tackle the issue.
The Rohingya came to global prominence this year when Thailand’s military was accused of towing the boats of as many as 1000 asylum-seekers out to sea and leaving them to drift at the mercy of the currents without adequate food and water.
Those incidents in January also refocused attention on Burma’s treatment of the Rohingya. Hundreds of thousands have fled to refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh or attempted the perilous sea crossing to South-East Asia.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, was among the leaders to hold talks with Brigadier-General Khin Yi, the deputy minister for home affairs and police chief of Burma (also known as Myanmar). Mr Smith pledged $3.2 million to aid programs for the Rohingya.
“Australia put to Myanmar all the human rights, democratic and rule of law issues that we have in the past,” Mr Smith said of their discussions.
“The response from the police chief was … the traditional response of Myanmar not to accept the notion of citizenship.”
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, said he and others at the summit had told Brigadier-General Yi that “social and economic problems” were behind the exodus of Rohingyas, some of whom have washed ashore in Indonesia’s province of Aceh. “Myanmar denied [the flight of the Rohingyas] was because of human-rights violations,” he said.
Asylum-seekers from Myanmar have said they suffer beatings by Burma’s security forces and had their property stolen while having punishing taxes levied on them.
Meanwhile, Thailand avoided scrutiny for its treatment of the Rohingya altogether after its foreign minister failed to turn up due to the political crisis in his homeland. He was represented by a deputy secretary from the Thai Foreign Ministry.
As well as towing out at least four boatloads of Rohingyas who had landed in Thailand, the Thai military is also accused of administering severe beatings to some of the asylum-seekers.
An ad hoc working group from Bali Process nations may address the Rohingya issue at a later date but any recommendations it makes will be non-binding.
April 15, 2009
Australia pledged more help for Burma’s persecuted Rohingya people on Wednesday as Foreign Minister Stephen Smith pressed for improved treatment of the Muslim minority.
He met bilaterally with Burma’s deputy minister for home affairs and police chief, Brigadier General Khin Yee, on the sidelines of the Bali Process meeting on people smuggling and transnational crime.
Mr Smith, who co-chaired the Bali summit, pressed the Burmese representatives on the Rohingya issue.
“Australia put to Myanmar (Burma) all the human rights, democratic and rule of law issues that we have in the past,” he told reporters later.
“The response I got from the police chief was along the lines… of the traditional response of Myanmar to not accept the notion of citizenship.”
The Rohingyas are denied citizenship in mainly Buddhist Burma and human rights groups say they face repression and poverty.
Thousands have fled the junta-ruled nation to neighbouring Bangladesh, while others have sought safety in other South-East Asian countries.
Their plight gained international attention earlier this year when Thailand’s military was accused of towing hundreds of the refugees out to sea in poorly-equipped boats with scant supplies after they fled Burma.
Although the conference failed to agree on concrete solutions to deal with the problem of Rohingya asylum seekers, Mr Smith said the summit helped “focus” affected countries on the problem.
“It’s an acute problem and I don’t think anyone is under any illusions that this problem can be solved overnight, or in one season,” he said.
Mr Smith announced Australia would provide an extra $3.2 million in humanitarian aid to Rohingyas living in Burma’s northern Rakhine State, to improve their living conditions and give them better economic opportunities.
“Australia is concerned about the deteriorating living conditions and increasing marginalisation of the Rohingya people in Burma and in refugee camps in Bangladesh,” Mr Smith said.
“Their already parlous situation has been exacerbated by poor rice harvests, the rising price of basic food items and enforced restrictions on their movements.”
The conference agreed to establish an “ad hoc group” to intervene in regional migration crises and emergencies, at the request of affected countries.
During his opening address to the conference, Mr Smith said the circumstances driving people smuggling had changed and the region had to keep up.
“The current global financial and economic crisis may well also encourage more people to seek economic opportunities outside of their own borders,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Smith welcomed news that Indonesia had agreed to extradite accused Afghani people smuggler Amanullah Rezaie who was arrested on Monday.
“I welcome very much the provisional arrest,” he said.
“That particular individual is wanted for people-smuggling charges in Australia.”
