Burma Window No.

16

Dec 31, 2011

National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (DASSK) organized the biggest ever music concert in Burma for Union Nationalities Education Fund at Myanmar Convention Center (MCC) in Rangoon on the night of December 30. Eight Burmese music bands and more than 80 Burmese famous singers took part in the show. All 10,000 tickets were sold out, valued at 30,000, 20,000, 10,000, and 5,000 kyat. At the concert, a T-shirt featuring DASSK image and signed on it by all singers of the concert and Daw Suu was put into auction. A business woman won the t-shirt with 12,500,000 kyat. In the early morning of December 29, a series of blasts and a massive fire at the industrial estate in Mingala Taung Nyunt Township, the outskirts of Rangoon killed at least 17 people. About 100 injured people have been hospitalized while at least 16 warehouses and 226 neighboring houses were destroyed. According to a Rangoon Central Fire Department official, the explosion occurred at a warehouse for electrical goods, setting off subsequent blasts at other warehouses in which gunpowder and sulfuric acid had been stored. The explosions were so large and destroyed two fire engines that arrived at the scene, killing five firemen. Most of the other victims were killed or injured after being hit by flying debris from buildings destroyed by the explosions. Others were crushed by collapsing structures. Fightings continue between government troops and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and on December 28, government troops took over a major military base of Kachin Independence Organizations Brigade 4. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa made a second trip to Burma on December 28 and met his Burmese counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin, other government officials and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He also visited Burma in late October and met President Thein Sein at this time. On December 27, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission visited Burmas notorious Insein prison to inspect situation inside the prison. Fifteen activists went into hunger strike in Insein prison in late October. According to National League for Democracy, Burma has about

600 political prisoners. However, Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said there are over 1500 political prisoners in Burma. Political Prisoners Network formed by former political prisoners and currently working for activists being held in prisons said there can be about 600 political prisoners behind bars. The governments figure is lesser than this. On December 27, Health Minister of Thailand said they have been conducting field study to build a hospital in border town Maesot for Burmese migrant workers. Thai authorities have been extending new buildings at Maesot general hospital, but its not enough, the minister said while visiting the border town. Maesot has about 200,000 Burmese migrant workers and the planned hospital is to be built in accordance with the agreement between Thai PM and Burmese president at a meeting held few days ago to strengthen friendship between the two nations. An official at the Burmese Labor Ministry said five Burmese working groups would go to Thailand as early as the first week of January 2012 to solve problems of Burmese migrant workers working in Thailand. They will resolve problems including checking citizenship, issuing temporary passport, granting children of migrant workers as Burmese citizen, helping to get legal work permit in Thailand, and defending rights of Burmese migrant workers working in Thailand. Burmese Deputy Labor Minister Maung Myint, who recently visited Thailand to meet Thai officials and Burmese migrant workers said: Our government duty is not only to defend Burmese workers in the home country but to protect all Burmese labors working and living either legally or illegally in foreign countries. We will continue to work until we solve this problem. Before, military government did not recognize Burmese migrant workers. On December 26, government representatives led by Aung Thaung and United Wa State Army (UWSA) met at Wa capital Pangsang. On December 25, Aung Thaungs group also met with leaders of the NDAA, also known as the Mongla. The UWSA signed a new ceasefire agreement with the government on September 6 and the NDAA signed a ceasefire on September 7. On December 26, Japanese Foreign Minister Kocihiro Gemba concluded his two day visit in Burma. He became the first Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Burma since 2002. During his stay in Burma Gemba met President Thein Sein, and Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyitaw separately and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. This visit will be a big turning point for Japan-Burma relations, Gemba was quoted by Kyodo News Agency as telling Wunna Maung Lwin.

According to Burmese state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar, Japanese FM and Burmese president discussed matters related to bilateral versatile cooperation, including strengthening bilateral friendly ties, bilateral economic cooperation, economic and social assistance from Japan, assistance from Japan in Myanmars democratization, national reconciliation and bilateral culture exchanges. On December 23, U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi traveled to Naypyitaw to register NLD at the Union Election Commission. After they officially registered the party, NLD leaders met members of Union Election Commission at their office. During the two hours meeting, Tin Aye, the Chairman of Burma's Union Election Commission (UEC), promised pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi that he will ensure the forthcoming by-elections to be free and fair. Tin Aye also said the government was committed to cooperating with the opposition for the welfare of the country. According to NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win, who accompanied the trip, U Tin Aye also proposed the cooperation of both sides to improve the countrys economy. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also met Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint as well as Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann separately at their offices. It was reported that DASSK discussed issues of democracy and parliamentary with the house speakers. On December 23, Burma's Minister of Finance and Revenue Hla Tun announced the verdict that the Central Bank of Myanmar will cut interest rates from 12 to 10 percent starting on January 1, 2012. On December 22, New Mon State Party (NMSP) representatives led by General Secretary Nai Han Thar and Government representatives led by Train Minister U Aung Min met as the first time in Southern Thailand Sangkhala Buri Township. More meetings will be held for peace, U Aung Min said after the meeting. On December 21, Karen National Union (KNU) delegation and Government delegation led by Train Minister U Aung Min met at the border town of Mae Sot, Thailand, to discuss ceasefire. KNU officials, after the meeting, said there would be another meeting between the two sides in January 12, 2012, in Pahan, Karen State capital. According to KNU officials participated at the peace talk, government minister U Aung Min unofficially made a comment at the meeting that his government would release political prisoners on January 4, and 12, 2012. On December 21, a meeting of 21 founding member of new NLD was held in Rangoon HQs office. At the meeting, NLD leadership elected U Tin Oo, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the leader and deputy leader of the party respectively. On the same day, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi met activists from 88-generation Student Group at her party HQs in Rangoon.

A bomb blast in a public toilet at the old campus of Hlaing University in Rangoon on December 21 killed a woman, a cleaner, and seriously wounded two other fellow female employees. Finance and Revenue Ministry on December 21 issued a ruling regarding Burmese citizens living and working in foreign countries. According to ministrys new ruling which will take into effect on January 1, 2012, Burmese citizens in foreign countries no longer need to pay income tax to Burmese government. An official at the ministry said that its part of an attempt by government to encourage Burmese citizens to send more of their salaries than before. Burmese citizens previously needed to pay Burmese government 10 percent of their income as tax. Meanwhile, visiting Thai Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra on December 20 met Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the Thai ambassador house in Rangoon. She was in Burma to attend Great Mekhong meeting. Thaksin Shinawatra, ex-Thai Prime Minister, confirmed he visited Burma on December 15 to prepare his sister Yingluck Shinawatra visit in the country during an interview with Thailands Bangkok Post Daily Newspaper. Reports suggested Thaksin met retired Snr-Gen Than Shwe and President Thein Sein. And he stayed a night at Burmas Tavoy project site and flew back on December 16. Burma held the 4th Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Naypyitaw on December 19-20. Leaders from China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam attended the meeting. At a press conference on December 16, Chairman of Union Election Commission U Tin Aye said: upcoming parliamentary by-election will be free and fair and the countrys existing political parties can now start their election campaigns. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP), opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political parties will compete for 48 vacant parliamentary seats in the upcoming bi-election. Dated December 14, National Planning and Economic Development Ministry issued a decree withdrawing restrictions in the formation of Business companies in Burma. Business companies now will be able to buy and sell various items that was limited before in accordance with the new rule. Meanwhile, a Burmese delegation led by Thura Shwe Mann, the speaker of the Lower House of Burmese Parliament, is traveling to India to study the rules, process and procedures of Indias Parliament. The Burmese delegation, which will stay in India from Dec. 11-17, included: Maung Maung Thein, the chairman of the Economic and Trade Development Committee; Htay Myint, the chairman of the Investment and Industrial Development Committee; Khun Myat, the chairman of

the Bill Committee for Burmas Lower House; Soe Tha, the chairman of the Planning and Finance Development Committee; and 30 other leaders from Burmese parliaments. Aung Than Oo, Deputy Minister of Burmese Electric Ministry 2 on December 13 said the government will increase electric bill by 50 percent in order to fund ministry which has been in debt. Burmese people have been suffering severe electricity shortage for decades, however. U.S special envoy to Burma Derek Mitchell made a 6-day lengthy trip to South Korea, Japan and China in an effort to speed up Burmas political transition and to get cooperation from regional countries. He began the trip on December 8 and concluded on December 13. On December 12, Lt Gen. Nyan Htun, commander of Burma navy, kicked off four days trip to neighboring Bangladesh, according to government newspapers. He was the third high ranking army official to visit Bangladesh under U Thein Sein government. Before him, Lt Gen. Soe Win, deputy commander of Burmese armed forces and Lt Gen. Myat Hein, commander of air, had visited the neighboring county. During the trip, he met his Bangladesh counterpart Zahir Uddin Ahmed and other top officials including Prime Minister as well as Defense minister and made an agreement to strengthen cooperation between two armies on military issues. On December 11, DKBA Brigade 5, led by Saw Lah Pwe signed a peace agreement with the Burmese government at the meeting in Pahan, Karen State capital. Seven members from the government delegation team led by Aung Thaung attended the peace talk, reported government TV. On December 10, President Thein Sein sent a letter to Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Burmese armed forces, giving an order to stop fighting in Kachin State. Burmese Information Ministry on December 10 made a move by lessening censorship policy on Film and Video industry. Kyaw San, Information Minister, declared the shift at the HQs office of Burmese Film in Rangoon. The censored board had used ten provisions previously in censoring film and video. Now, the ministry reduced four conditions, and six remain in place are politics, religious, ethnic affairs, culture, sex-related, cruel issues. ++++++++++++++++++