Released Former Spy Chief Praises Suu Kyi

Burma's former military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt smiles as he speaks to reporters shortly after his release from eight years of house on Friday, January 13, 2012. 

Khin Nyunt, the former military intelligence chief who served as Burma's prime minister until his ouster in 2004, told reporters shortly after his release from house arrest on Friday that he welcomes pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's role in the country's politics.
“I welcome Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s efforts. If she is in the Hluttaw [Parliament], it will be better than it is now because she is bold and outspoken,” said Khin Nyunt, speaking from his home on Nawaday Road in Rangoon on Friday morning.
The 71-year-old former spy chief, who was one of 651 prisoners released earlier in the day under an amnesty announced by President Thein Sein, also said he still hasn't made any plans for his own future.
“I am very glad to be released, but I haven't given any thought yet to becoming involved in politics. I need to rest a while,” he said.
In news photos, Khin Nyunt looked happy and healthy, waving to friends and reporters gathered outside his home. Even his hair, which has turned white in recent years, had been dyed jet black.
In addition to Khin Nyunt, more than 100 other former intelligence officials were reportedly released today, eight years after they were imprisoned as part of a purge of Khin Nyunt's  Directorate of of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI) in October 2004.
Khin Nyunt’s sons, Ye Naing Win and Zaw Naing Oo, were also among those freed. Ye Naing Win had been held under house arrest, while Zaw Naing Oo, a former military officer, was released from Tayet Prison in Magway Division.
Other high-ranking intelligence officials on the amnesty list include Brig-Gen Myint Zaw and Brig-Gen San Pwint.
Aung Lynn Htut, a former Burmese intelligence officer who defected to the US following the crackdown on the DDSI, said he welcomed the news of his former colleagues' release. 
“It's time that they were released. They spent almost eight years in prison,” said Aung Lynn Htut, who is currently based in Washington, DC.
According to an announcement in the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Friday, the amnesty, which included a number of high-profile dissidents, aims to foster national reconciliation and enable the released prisoners to “participate in the political process

Suu Kyi to run for Myanmar parliament

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) boycotted last year's election

Myanmar democratic opposition leader confirms she will stand for parliament in April by-elections.

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has confirmed she will run for a parliamentary seat in April by-elections.
Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party (NLD), said on Tuesday that the Nobel Peace Prize winner had announced during a party meeting that she would seek a seat in suburban Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and her hometown.
Suu Kyi said last year that she would run for parliament but had appeared to backtrack since then.
A victory would give the longtime political prisoner a voice in parliament for the first time after years as country's most prominent democracy campaigner.
Her presence will add significance to upcoming by-elections that will be held almost a year after nominally democratic elections ended a half century of military rule.
NLD decided to rejoin electoral politics following recent signs that the new government is easing years of repression.
Government reforms
The 2010 Myanmar election is alleged to have been arranged to produce a civilian government that the former military rulers wanted, with Thein Sein, a former general, elected president.
But, to general surprise, the new leadership moved quickly last year to free some political prisoners, hold peace talks with ethnic rebels, relax media censorship and allow protests and trade unions.
Suu Kyi's NLD scored a landslide win in the 1990 elections for a constituent assembly but the country's military rulers refused to cede power.
While Suu Kyi, wields popular support in the country, her new direction has drawn mixed reactions, with some criticising her for dealing with an adminstration still tied to the former military government.
But a prominent member of the NDL said Suu Kyi had decided to give Sein's government the benefit of the doubt by agreeing to participate in elections.
"There are differences in the party. I personally disagreed with the NLD running for parliament, but [Suu Kyi] wants to take the initiative and she accepts that without the military's co-operation, political change isn't possible," said Win Tin, Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner.
Suu Kyi has set her sights set on winning a good number of the 48 vacant seats in the 1,158-seat national
legislature.
But she has said little about what she would do in parliament or whether, as rumoured, she could take a cabinet post or even the vice-presidency.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague raises Rohingya issues with Burmese government

Chittagong, Bangladesh: The British Foreign Secretary William Hague raised Rohingya issues with Burmese government during his visited to Burma on January 5 - 6, according to UK Foreign & Commonwealth office website.

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague
“I raised with the government our concerns about the discrimination faced by the Rohingya minority, who in many cases lack basic civil and political rights,” said The British Foreign Secretary William Hague quoting from Foreign Secretary remarks at his press conference in Burma which was published on UK Foreign & Commonwealth office website.

“In all these areas I hope that the new National Human Rights Commission can demonstrate that it is a truly independent, impartial and effective body. This must include addressing the human rights violations which are a stain on the progress elsewhere in the country.”

“I heard from ethnic minority representatives, reconciliation is the most important challenge facing this country on January 5. Achieving a durable and equitable peace will be complex. But it is essential to meet the aspirations and rights of all the citizens of this diverse country. Sustainable peace must be built on trust and dialogue between all groups, to provide a solid foundation for economic and political progress.”

Two Rohingya representatives - Master Yunus from National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR) and Abu Taher from National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD) - met British Foreign Secretary William Hague with other ethnic representatives at the residence of the British ambassador in Rangoon January 5 at 5pm- 6pm, according to a source from Rangoon and BBC Burmese.

The two Rohingya representatives highlighted and mentioned about the situation of Rohingya people – Human rights abuses in the Rohingya resided area - and their citizenship rights to Foreign Secretary William Hague at the meeting of ethnic minority representatives. Abu Taher, the Rohingya representative also mentioned about a report and appeal letter of NDPD which was sent to Burmese government that mention to find a solution about Rohingya issue of Arakan.

"I am delighted to be here, making the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary in 56 years.
It has been made possible by the initial steps taken by President Thein Sein, including the release of over 250 political prisoners, the easing of restrictions on the media and political parties and dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD,” said Hague at Rangoon press conference on January 6.

“I have come to hear directly from the country’s leaders what they plan to do to continue progress, and to speak to opposition figures and members of civil society about British support for their endeavours.”

“My message is that if the country continues on this promising path, as we hope it will, we are ready to offer a new relationship based on friendship and prosperity.”

“I have held meetings with the President, the Foreign Secretary, and the Speaker of the Lower House, and I met representatives from ethnic groups. It was a particular honour for me, on the night of January 5 and in the morning of January 6, met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of her Party. She embodies the long struggle for democracy in this country and is an inspiration to me and to countless people around the world.”

The British Government and the British people have a strong commitment to the people of Burmese country, as we have shown by our staunch support for democracy here over many years.

We are ready to move towards a strong, positive and open relationship as reforms take place, and to respond bilaterally and through the EU. We will judge progress by actions and events and will respond in good faith to measures as they are taken

15 more Rohingya boatpeople arrested

Teknaf, Bangladesh: 15 more Rohingya boatpeople were arrested at Shahpuri Dip under Teknaf upazila on December 7, midnight, according to locals and Teknaf police said.

Arrested Rohingya sea voyagers in Teknaf police station

“Being informed, a group of police from Teknaf went to Shapuri Dip, raided and arrested 15 boatpeople while other boatpeople gathered in the house of sea voyage agent Bulu before their departure for Malaysia or Thailand. However, 45 boatpeople including (agents) fled from the scene sensing the presence of police.”

“The arrested boatpeople were -- Ibrahim (30), Shafiq (20), Sadek Hussain (20), Abdur Razzak (34), Abu Shama (17), Bashir Ahmed (40), Zahir Ahmed (25), Esuf (26), Saiful (20), Kamal Hossain (32), Kabir (23), Mohammad Ullah (45), Abdul Mazid (20), Rahim Ullah (22) and Dil Mohammad (32).”

Besides, on December 8, the Teknaf police also arrested 14 sea voyage agents (Dalals) from Teknaf and Shapuri Dip who have been involved in human trafficking. Some of the local Dalals are -- Mohamed Rofique, Ziaul Haque, Mike Yunus, Islam Shukur, Saida – said a local from Shapuri Dip preferring not to be named. 

According to Mahabul Haque, Officer in Charge (OC) of Teknaf police station, a case was filed in the Teknaf police station against the arrestees including the agents. The 15 arrestees hail from different areas of Myanmar (Burma).

In addition, on December 8, at about midnight, an engine boat loading with about 70 boatpeople departed to Malaysia from Lombori Ghat of Teknaf under the Cox’s Bazar District.  Two agents named Feroz, son of Ahamed, hailed from Lombir Para and Nazir, son of Badsha Mea, hailed from Lombir Para of Teknaf managed the boat, said a fisherman of Teknaf who denied to be named.

Another boat with loading over 100 boatpeople will leave for Malaysia from Teknaf within 2 to 3 days, said a man from Shapuri Dip who denied to be named 

In 2011, from October to December, the human trafficking to Malaysia was temporarily stopped after conducting operation at Burma-Bangladesh border by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Coast Guard. But, now, the human trafficking is resumed, said local people.  

The police, BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and Coast Guard of Teknaf arrested boat-people heading for Malaysia illegally to 80, in the last one month, said an aide of Tekanf police station.

Leaving homeland for fishing sole agents’ pressure

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Rohingya fishermen are leaving their homeland for collecting more taxes by fishing sole agents in Maungdaw, said a fisherman who lost his job from Maungdaw south.

Fishermen pulling their fishing net after taking the fishes

“The fishing sole agents are collecting more taxes from Rohingya fishermen who only expert in the fishing business and haven’t able to work for their survival in Maungdaw, Arakan state, wishing to leave their homeland.”

In Maungdaw south, there are two Burma border security force (Nasaka) areas – Number 7 and 8 – controlled by two sole fishing agents who are collecting more taxes from Rohingya fishermen and they can’t able to fulfill the taxes and their survival, said a village administration office member from Nasaka area  number 8.

“The Nasaka area number 7 and 8 are full of fishing business with fishing boats and rowboats. The agents are collecting 1.2 million kyat per year from a boat which only able to work 8 months a year and 90,000 kyat per month.”

“The agents are also collecting 3000 kyats per fishing boat or rowboat for every unloading fishes from boat to land.”

Fishing boats arrived after fishing in the sea

The fishermen are not able to catch sufficient fishes to fulfill the taxes and survival and become more debt which made them jobless, landless and homeless, said a fish trader from Maungdaw.

“The situations for fishermen become to leave their home land to pay their debt, working in the neighbors’ country – Bangladesh or Malaysia.” 

“The two agents – Kyaw Saw, ex-military intelligence personnel control the Nasaka area number 7 and Than Htay for Nasaka area number 8 – took the permission from high official from Akyab. Nobody can able to reduce the taxes from fishermen by local officers or local elders.”

Bangladesh Coastguard pushes back 18 Rohingya to Burma

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Coastguard pushed back 18 Rohingya (sea voyager) who were trying to go to Malaysia by sea route from Shapuri Dip yesterday, said a local from Shapuri Dip.

On being tipped off, a team of Coast Guard raided the area and arrested 18 Rohingya while gathering at the Shapuri Dip and tried to go to Malaysia by sea route yesterday at around 4 am.

Later pushed back them to Burma after interrogations, according to security official.

The arrestees are from different areas of Arakan state, Burma, according to sources.

Earlier, police arrested 15 Malaysia sea voyagers from the same area on January 7 at night. Later, they were sent to Cox’s Bazar jail after being filed a case against them.

An elder from Maungdaw said that Rohingya people are going to Malaysia by deadly sea route because of political persecutions and human rights abuses in their areas.

“We, Rohingya, hope to get some rights from Burmese authorities after the 2010 elections, including in freedom of movement, marriage permission, medical facilities, education, and the equal rights same as other ethnic groups,” the elder said.

The elder also said that in Arakan State, harassment and human rights abuses are going on unabated till now even the President Thein Sein’s civilian-led government rules the country.

Suu Kyi’s dream about democracy

Britain and other countries will help Burma achieve its dream about democracy, says Aung San Suu Kyi.

After meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday, she told reporters that she believes that international countries including Britain are cooperating in trying to achieve her dream of true freedom and democracy in Burma.

“Our friends in international countries including Britain will cooperate with us in trying to achieve our dreams,” she said. “Our dreams must have goals. We need to work hard, and if our friends are on our side, the dreams of the citizens will come true.”

On the last day of Hague’s visit to Burma, he met with National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders and ethnic leaders for 45 minutes at Suu Kyi’s home in Rangoon on Friday morning.
In response to questions, Hague said that regarding establishing democracy in Burma, Britain will be on the side of Suu Kyi and the NLD and it is important that more improvements take place in Burma in order that Britain can lift economic sanctions against the country.
“Before we review our sanctions, we want to see more improvements. Now, political prisoners are still being imprisoned. There are still arrests for political actions, so we cannot identify Burma as a free democratic country,” Hague said.
NLD leaders discussed how the European Union could help Burma’s pro-democracy movement, and ethnic leaders discussed peace in Burma and told Hague the Constitution does not cover ethnic people’s rights. In the meeting, Hague said that a EU branch office would be opened soon in Burma.
Ethnic leaders told Hague that the government still wages war in Kachin State. Hague said the British government understood the circumstances in ethnic areas of Burma.
In meetings between Hague and government leaders in Naypyitaw, Hague strongly urged the government to immediately release all political prisoners, to stop fighting as soon as possible and to establish peace.