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."
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
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.”
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.”
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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.”
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.”
Thursday, February 27, 2014
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.”
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.”
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Forcing Aung San Suu Kyi to walk in rain an ‘insult to Buddhism’
Forcing Aung San Suu Kyi to walk in rain an ‘insult to Buddhism’
From our correspondent in Warsaw
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to central Europe was plunged into controversy yesterday after Aung San Suu Kyi was forced to walk in the rain.
The incident happened as Aung San Suu Kyi arrived for a visit to the Polish Parliament. Parliamentary officials apologised for the incident, saying that it was due to blocked roads because of a protest by trade unionists.
However, the incident has caused a storm of protest in Burma and among the exile Burmese community.
969 leader The Ven U Htoo Kha Zee posted on his Facebook Page: ‘Forcing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to walk in the rain is clearly an insult to Buddhism and to the nation. It is learnt that the Polish Parliament recently banned halal slaughtering of animals and this may be how the Muslims try to get their revenge. There should be an investigation to see if any Polish MP is secretly Muslim and arranged this. It is also widely known that in Soviet time chemicals were dropped on clouds to make it rain sooner and stop it raining on military parades in Red Square. We must be told if the Polish government kept some of the chemicals and used them to make it deliberately rain on The Mother.”
The Ven U Htoo Kha Zee, who played a leading role in the Saffron Revolution in 2007, also questioned why protestors had not been moved or arrested to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to investigations by Burma Tha Din, the average rainfall in Poland in September is 50mm.
Media in Burma have been quick to take up the story of Aung San Suu Kyi being forced to walk in rain, with front page headlines such as ‘Aung San Suu Kyi Walks In Rain!, and ‘Aung San Suu Kyi Braves The Rain!’
Burma Tha Din has not been able to establish if any drops of rain actually fell on Aung San Suu Kyi, or if the umbrella completely protected her. A Burma Tha Din investigation has found that Aung San Suu Kyi has previously walked in sunshine, but we have been unable to establish if she has also walked in snow. A family friend in Oxford, England, who knew Aung San Suu Kyi when she lived there, refused to comment when Burma Tha Din called, but did reveal to Burma Tha Din that it does often snow in the winter.
Aung San Suu Kyi could not be reached for comment about her thoughts on walking in the rain, or the rights that Polish trade unionists were protesting for. However, she was reported to have commented on the protesters clothing, saying “Ooh, look at all the pretty colours, beautiful.”
From our correspondent in Warsaw
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to central Europe was plunged into controversy yesterday after Aung San Suu Kyi was forced to walk in the rain.
The incident happened as Aung San Suu Kyi arrived for a visit to the Polish Parliament. Parliamentary officials apologised for the incident, saying that it was due to blocked roads because of a protest by trade unionists.
However, the incident has caused a storm of protest in Burma and among the exile Burmese community.
969 leader The Ven U Htoo Kha Zee posted on his Facebook Page: ‘Forcing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to walk in the rain is clearly an insult to Buddhism and to the nation. It is learnt that the Polish Parliament recently banned halal slaughtering of animals and this may be how the Muslims try to get their revenge. There should be an investigation to see if any Polish MP is secretly Muslim and arranged this. It is also widely known that in Soviet time chemicals were dropped on clouds to make it rain sooner and stop it raining on military parades in Red Square. We must be told if the Polish government kept some of the chemicals and used them to make it deliberately rain on The Mother.”
The Ven U Htoo Kha Zee, who played a leading role in the Saffron Revolution in 2007, also questioned why protestors had not been moved or arrested to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to investigations by Burma Tha Din, the average rainfall in Poland in September is 50mm.
Media in Burma have been quick to take up the story of Aung San Suu Kyi being forced to walk in rain, with front page headlines such as ‘Aung San Suu Kyi Walks In Rain!, and ‘Aung San Suu Kyi Braves The Rain!’
Burma Tha Din has not been able to establish if any drops of rain actually fell on Aung San Suu Kyi, or if the umbrella completely protected her. A Burma Tha Din investigation has found that Aung San Suu Kyi has previously walked in sunshine, but we have been unable to establish if she has also walked in snow. A family friend in Oxford, England, who knew Aung San Suu Kyi when she lived there, refused to comment when Burma Tha Din called, but did reveal to Burma Tha Din that it does often snow in the winter.
Aung San Suu Kyi could not be reached for comment about her thoughts on walking in the rain, or the rights that Polish trade unionists were protesting for. However, she was reported to have commented on the protesters clothing, saying “Ooh, look at all the pretty colours, beautiful.”
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
White House Press Conference - Exclusive Translation
From our White House Correspondent
President Obama and President Thein Sein spoke to the media after their historic meeting in the White House. As President Obama spoke Obamaese and President Thein Sein spoke Myanmarese, Burma Tha Din Network provides this translation.
The original is available on the White House website here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/20/remarks-president-obama-and-president-thein-sein-myanmar-after-bilateral
President Obama:
I want to welcome President Thein Sein to the United States of America and to the Oval Office.
When I became President I set our foreign policy on a decisive new course of pivoting towards Asia. This is because they have lots of money and growing economies, and because like all Americans, the prospect of China being the richest most powerful country in the world scares the shit out of me. We need Asian countries to be our friends, not China’s friends, but we can’t do that if we are arguing with them about human rights in Burma. More generally, I am not particularly interested in human rights anyway.
I also recall there was also something about North Korea and nuclear proliferation influencing the decision at the time, but these days I kind of lost interest in all that nuclear disarmament stuff and can’t remember the details now.
Our approach on Burma also fitted in with my more general approach of reaching out an open hand to dictatorship’s around the world, telling them, if you are willing to change your approach, we’ll change ours. Most dictatorships mistook this as a sign of weakness, and many even increased abuses against their populations, but I responded firmly with statements of concern, eventually.
Thank the Lord one dictatorship did respond to my offer of friendship, Myanmar. President Thein Sein’s Cornell University educated advisors have trained him to use the language of reform, even while conflict, violence and human rights abuses have continued, and that’s good enough for me. I am desperate for a foreign policy success. This is the only success I have, and by God and going to talk it up. I have been careful to remember not to condemn ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslims, which in any case would play badly with the domestic American audience. I’ll pay lip service to human rights concerns, but won’t do anything to risk upsetting my new buddy Thein Sein.
As I stand here with President Thein Sein, I am imagining the faces of China’s leadership as they watch this on their TVs. Ha! We are dragging Burma away from their sphere of influence, and they know it. The release of all political prisoners would be nice, but pulling Burma away from China is what really matters.
President Thein Sein:
I can’t believe he has fallen for all of this, what a sucker. Did someone mention there is a golf course round here somewhere? Are we done yet?
President Obama and President Thein Sein spoke to the media after their historic meeting in the White House. As President Obama spoke Obamaese and President Thein Sein spoke Myanmarese, Burma Tha Din Network provides this translation.
The original is available on the White House website here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/20/remarks-president-obama-and-president-thein-sein-myanmar-after-bilateral
President Obama:
I want to welcome President Thein Sein to the United States of America and to the Oval Office.
When I became President I set our foreign policy on a decisive new course of pivoting towards Asia. This is because they have lots of money and growing economies, and because like all Americans, the prospect of China being the richest most powerful country in the world scares the shit out of me. We need Asian countries to be our friends, not China’s friends, but we can’t do that if we are arguing with them about human rights in Burma. More generally, I am not particularly interested in human rights anyway.
I also recall there was also something about North Korea and nuclear proliferation influencing the decision at the time, but these days I kind of lost interest in all that nuclear disarmament stuff and can’t remember the details now.
Our approach on Burma also fitted in with my more general approach of reaching out an open hand to dictatorship’s around the world, telling them, if you are willing to change your approach, we’ll change ours. Most dictatorships mistook this as a sign of weakness, and many even increased abuses against their populations, but I responded firmly with statements of concern, eventually.
Thank the Lord one dictatorship did respond to my offer of friendship, Myanmar. President Thein Sein’s Cornell University educated advisors have trained him to use the language of reform, even while conflict, violence and human rights abuses have continued, and that’s good enough for me. I am desperate for a foreign policy success. This is the only success I have, and by God and going to talk it up. I have been careful to remember not to condemn ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslims, which in any case would play badly with the domestic American audience. I’ll pay lip service to human rights concerns, but won’t do anything to risk upsetting my new buddy Thein Sein.
As I stand here with President Thein Sein, I am imagining the faces of China’s leadership as they watch this on their TVs. Ha! We are dragging Burma away from their sphere of influence, and they know it. The release of all political prisoners would be nice, but pulling Burma away from China is what really matters.
President Thein Sein:
I can’t believe he has fallen for all of this, what a sucker. Did someone mention there is a golf course round here somewhere? Are we done yet?
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
Burma Tha Din has secured this exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
Interviewer
Dear Mother
According to the reports, Human Rights Watch are saying that ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been taking place against the Rohingya in Burma. What is your response to this?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
The European Union lifted the sanctions, saying it is a reward for remarkable change in Burma. But many are saying it is too soon to lift sanctions, because many human rights problems remain. What is your opinion? Is lifting sanctions a good way to promote human rights?
DASSK
These kind of problems happen because there is a problem of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
Mother Suu, it is now almost two years since the ceasefire in Kachin State was broken, and since then there have been reports of rape and many other human rights abuses, and tens of thousands of people displaced and suffering because of aid being blocked. Despite promises from the President and military to observe a ceasefire, the Kachin Independence Army says they are still being attacked by the Burmese Army. What do you think should be done to end this conflict?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
It is learned that more political prisoners are being released this week. How do you say about this?
DASSK
The question of political prisoners arises due to the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
It is now a year since the EU suspended and then the USA lifted many sanctions, but there has still not been much investment in Burma, why do you think this is?
DASSK
I think that investors are concerned by the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
What is your opinion on reports that the army and security forces have been raping many women in Rakhine and Kachin State?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
There is a growing problem of land confiscation across the country, as your have seen yourself at Letpadaung. What do you think should be done about this?
DASSK
What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
Dear Mother, thank you very much for answering my questions today, it has been a great honour.
Burma Tha Din has secured this exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
Interviewer
Dear Mother
According to the reports, Human Rights Watch are saying that ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been taking place against the Rohingya in Burma. What is your response to this?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
The European Union lifted the sanctions, saying it is a reward for remarkable change in Burma. But many are saying it is too soon to lift sanctions, because many human rights problems remain. What is your opinion? Is lifting sanctions a good way to promote human rights?
DASSK
These kind of problems happen because there is a problem of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
Mother Suu, it is now almost two years since the ceasefire in Kachin State was broken, and since then there have been reports of rape and many other human rights abuses, and tens of thousands of people displaced and suffering because of aid being blocked. Despite promises from the President and military to observe a ceasefire, the Kachin Independence Army says they are still being attacked by the Burmese Army. What do you think should be done to end this conflict?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
It is learned that more political prisoners are being released this week. How do you say about this?
DASSK
The question of political prisoners arises due to the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
It is now a year since the EU suspended and then the USA lifted many sanctions, but there has still not been much investment in Burma, why do you think this is?
DASSK
I think that investors are concerned by the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
What is your opinion on reports that the army and security forces have been raping many women in Rakhine and Kachin State?
DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
There is a growing problem of land confiscation across the country, as your have seen yourself at Letpadaung. What do you think should be done about this?
DASSK
What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.
Interviewer
Dear Mother, thank you very much for answering my questions today, it has been a great honour.
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