National League for Democracy will soon have its first policy

By our correspondent in Yangon

Burma Tha Din can exclusively reveal today that the National League for Democracy (NLD) will soon have its first policy.

A senior leader at the NLD headquarters in Rangoon told Burma Tha Din on condition of anonymity; "I can't tell you what it is or even which area it will be, but someone from the HQ who was taking post and other documents to The Lady's house in Naypyidaw was using the restroom and overheard through the door people in the office mention something about a policy.”

Speculation has been growing that the NLD will announce at least one policy ahead of key national elections expected in late November next year.

Earlier this year the NLD held its first national conference in decades, and some observers had expressed hope that this conference would discuss policy, but in the event no policy matters were put on the agenda, only NLD organisational issues. The establishment of NLD committees on some issues, such as education, also led to fevered speculation about the NLD having specific policies, but so far none have materialized.

NLD officials gave mixed responses to our correspondent when asked about the lack of policies. One NLD leader stated that there is no need for the NLD to have any policies as they are not in government, and they will make some when they get into government. Another said that people will vote NLD anyway, so they don’t need any. Why take the risk of upsetting anyone?

However, another NLD leader said that they may indeed have policies, but simply haven’t been told about them. “Dr Tin Mar Aung won’t let us see The Lady, so we have no idea what she is agreeing in all the meetings that she has with the United Nations and foreign visitors. When Dr Tin Mar Aung decides the time is right, she will let the people she likes know what the correct policy is.”

Aung San Suu Kyi and her policy team meet with the Indian Prime Minister and his policy team earlier this month

Communities call for war talks to stop military attacks

Yangon, Sunday: Youth and women leaders from Burma's ethnic and religious minorities today called for the commencement of war talks in response to increased military attacks and atrocities upon civilians.

"Every time the government has peace talks, there are more attacks, rapes, abductions and killings of civilians, especially targeting women, children and young people. In the past few months, when Myanmar Peace Center hosted more peace talks, the Tatmadaw increased attacks in Kachin and northern Shan states," explained a youth leader.

"We need to abandon peace talks now and start war talks so the military will be busy talking instead of raping ethnic women and girls," emphasized a women's rights activist.

A longtime observer of the Burma situation concurred with the analysis and congratulated the activists for thinking outside the box. "The UN, US and EU should begin exploring this strategy as it can't be worse than what they have been doing in the past 3 years.

"If it works, then we can start talking about establishing a parliamentary commission to oppose constitutional reform and re-brand the MPC as the Myanmar War Center."

UK To Offer Military Training To Thailand

Burma Tha Din News has learned that British Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond is to offer military training to the Royal Thai Army, following the military coup earlier this week.

On Tuesday the head of the Thai Army, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, announced the imposition of martial law, and then announced a full military coup yesterday.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has told Burma Tha Din News that the imposition of a full military coup meant that Thailand had now met the strict criteria for receiving training. “Martial law wasn't enough,” the spokesman said. “Now that Thailand is detaining political leaders and censoring media, it’s time to spend taxpayer’s money providing free military training to these soldiers.”

The offer means that Thailand is joining an elite few countries with human rights abuses serious enough to get free military training from the British government, including Burma and Eritrea.

The military training will be undertaken in Thailand and the UK.

An official from the Embassy of Thailand in London expressed surprise and delight about the forthcoming offer; “We thought we’d have to persecute religious minorities and assassinate a few political opponents before qualifying for free training. It is very good news that we’ll now be able to do this much more professionally with British help.”

It is not yet known if the USA and Australia will also be providing training.

The Ministry of Defence spokesperson denied that providing the training is linked to future arms sales and investment agreements, telling Burma Tha Din; “Er, well, yes military-run countries do buy more weapons, but that is purely co-incidental. We give free training to soldiers from authoritarian regimes as part of our commitment to world peace.”

Wirathu Will be Reincarnated as a Rohingya

Burma Tha Din Network has learned that senior members of the Union Sangha Maha Nayaka Council believe that U Wirathu, the Monk who leads Burma’s extremist 969 movement, is likely to be reincarnated as a Rohingya Muslim after he dies.

The discussion apparently took place at an informal meeting during the recent Almost All Order But Not Quite Sangha Meeting held at the Kabar Aye Pagoda.

U Wirathu has made global headlines with his rabid anti-Muslim rhetoric, as anti-Muslim violence has spread from Rakhine State to many parts of Burma. President Thein Sein has personally intervened to defend the controversial Monk from international criticism, and even banned a journalist who wrote a critical article for Time magazine from re-entering the country.

Having friends in high places, however, appears not to help when it comes to Karma and reincarnation. Only Karma passes from one life to another, and senior Monks believe that U Wirathu’s actions, his Karma, is not going to work in his favor at the time of reincarnation.

Monks believe that U Wirathu has forgotten the meaning of Metta, and the triple truth: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. Being reborn as a Rohingya child in an IDP camp in Rakhine State will be the likely result of his actions.

A senior Monk told Burma Tha Din off the record; “Do not look upon this as a punishment being reborn as someone low. The Buddha teaches that all of humankind is equal, apart from women of course. Rather this experience will result in increased understanding and compassion, and positive Karma will be restored. It will help restore balance.”

Women call for Parliamentary bill to prohibit soldiers and ex-generals from marrying civilians

By our correspondent in Nay Pyi Daw

Women’s organizations have written to all MPs calling on them to introduce a bill prohibiting soldiers and ex-generals from getting married to civilians, in order to protect the nation.

The letter states that the indigenous people of Burma have been under threat from soldiers for many years, and that their numbers have increased massively from the 1960s onwards. In some border areas the local people are swamped with soldiers who rape local women, steal property, burn homes, and take our land, forcing out the local population. They must be prevented from getting married and breeding, or the entire national will be under threat, says the letter.

The women’s groups say that Bill should ensure that any soldier wanting to get married to a civilian must resign from the Army and become a civilian, in order to prevent soldiers swamping the civilian population even further.

A leader of the Union League of Women in Myanmar told Burma Tha Din, “Burma is known around the world as a Buddhist nation, which is known as a peaceful religion, so where did all these soldiers come from? It can be observed that most of the soldiers are in the border areas, which makes us suspicious that they have come from neighboring countries.”

"Soldiers and ex-Generals are taking our land, and control the best businesses in our country," said another women’s leader. "The ex-Generals especially are getting special favors from the United Nations and international governments, while indigenous civilians get nothing."

“A lot of civilian people are afraid their country will suffer even more if the soldier population grows,” said one MP in Parliament. “Our Buddhist monks are worried the soldier population will influence the country.”

When asked to comment on the proposed bill, an NLD spokesperson told Burma Tha Din; “One of the few policies we have is not to comment on important issues if they are controversial.”