KEY STORY
1 Over 300 dissidents released
INSIDE BURMA
3 ‘Peace agreements’ signed
3 Military operations continue
4 NLD prepares for by-elections
5 Parliament reconvenes
HUMAN RIGHTS
5 Regime tightens censorship
6 Burma in int’l indexes
6 Regime violates children rights
DISPLACEMENT
6 Refugees pour into China
INTERNATIONAL
7 UK sets benchmarks
7 EU to respond to ‘reforms’
7 US: More needs to be done
8 US envoy exposes trafficking
8 Sanctions eased
9 Thailand & Burma cement ties
ECONOMY
9 Electricity & gas prices rise
9 24-hour electricity campaign
10 Uncertain foreign investments
10 Cronies to profit from migrants
10 IMF, Daw Suu highlight reforms
11 International aid upped
11 OTHER BURMA NEWS
13 REPORTS
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· The regime releases over 300 political prisoners, including numerous high-profile dissidents. However, about 900 political prisoners remain detained in jails across Burma.
· Tatmadaw offensives and attacks against civilians in Kachin State and Northern Shan State continue despite a second order by President Thein Sein to cease all military operations.
· The regime makes ‘initial peace agreements’ with Chin, Karen, and Shan armed groups.
· NLD officially re-enters Burma’s political arena and steps up activities in lead-up to the 1 April by-elections. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi calls for legislative and constitutional reforms during a campaign tour.
· The regime tightens restrictions on press freedom. Reporters Sans Frontières still ranks Burma near the bottom of its annual press freedom survey.
· Regime’s report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child ignores numerous violations of children’s rights in Burma.
· EU, Norway, and Australia ease sanctions. EU, Denmark, and France plan to increase aid.
· An unprecedented number of high-level foreign officials visit Naypyidaw to assess the regime’s reforms: UK FM and US lawmakers say more still needs to be done to complete the reform process.
· IMF and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi highlight the necessary reforms to Burma’s economy.
· The regime’s unilateral decision to cancel Italian-Thai Development’s coal-fired power plant in the Tavoy Special Economic Zone raises eyebrows.
KEY STORY
Over 300 political prisoners released
In January, the regime released over 300 political prisoners. On 2 January, President Thein Sein issued an order that commuted the death sentences of 33 prisoners to life in jail and reduced the terms of 38,931 prisoners to mark the 64th anniversary of Independence Day.[1] As a result of the order, on 4 January the regime released 6,656 prisoners from jails across Burma.[2] However, as in previous mass releases [See Table Most recent mass releases of prisoners], most of those freed were common criminals.[3] Only 34 (or 0.5%) of those released were political prisoners.[4]
Most recent mass releases of prisonersDate / Total Prisoners / Political
prisoners / %
18 Nov 2004 / 3,937 / 28 / 0.7%
29 Nov 2004 / 5,311 / 12 / 0.2%
13 Dec 2004 / 5,070 / 21 / 0.4%
3 Jan 2005 / 5,588 / 26 / 0.5%
6 Jul 2005 / 334 / 253 / 75.7%
3 Jan 2007 / 2,831 / 50 / 1.7%
23 Sep 2008 / 9,002 / 10 / 0.1%
20 Feb 2009 / 6,313 / 24 / 0.4%
17 Sep 2009 / 7,114 / 128 / 1.8%
16 May 2011 / 14,578 / 55 / 0.4%
12 Oct 2011 / 6,359 / 220 / 3.4%
4 Jan 2012 / 6,656 / 34 / 0.5%
13 Jan 2012 / 651 / 299 / 45.9%
Total / 73,744 / 1,180 / 1.6%
On 12 January, Thein Sein announced an amnesty for an additional 651 prisoners under Section 401(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.[5] Of the 651 released the next day at least 299 were political prisoners.[6] They included numerous high-profile dissidents:[7]
· 88 Generation Students Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Phyone Cho, Kyaw Min Yu aka Jimmy, Htay Kywe, Nilar Thein, Mya Aye, and Ant Bwe Kyaw.
· Shan leaders Hkun Htun Oo and Nyunt Lwin.
· Buddhist monk U Gambira.
· Former MP elected in 1990 Kyaw Min.
· Journalists Sein Win Maung, Thant Zin Aung and Zaw Thet Htwe, 13 DVB video journalists, and blogger Nay Phone Latt.
The regime also released former SPDC PM Khin Nyunt along with about 200 military intelligence officials who had been imprisoned following Khin Nyunt’s ouster in October 2004.[8]
Despite the release of a large number of political prisoners, the following points are a matter of concern:
· About 900 political prisoners remain detained in jails across Burma.[9]
· Political prisoners released under Section 401(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code can be rearrested and forced to serve the remainder of their original sentences if they violate any laws in the future.[10]
· The regime continued to refuse to acknowledge the existence of political prisoners in Burma. On 14 January, regime Home Affairs Minister Lt Gen Ko Ko said that none of the approximately 300 dissidents released had been jailed for political reasons.[11]
The UN, the EU, the US, the UK, Norway, Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines all welcomed the release of political prisoners as a positive step forward.[12] However, the US, the UN, Canada, and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana urged the regime to release all remaining political prisoners.[13]
INSIDE BURMA
Regime signs ‘initial peace agreements’ with four ethnic groups
In January, the regime continued to promote the appearance of a reform agenda by pursuing ‘peace agreements’ with ethnic armed groups. The regime’s apparent haste to produce ‘initial’ agreements appears to be aimed at removing economic sanctions and other barriers to foreign investment. Regime representatives signed agreements with the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Karen National Union (KNU), and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N). However, the regime failed to reach an agreement with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
· 6 January: After two days of talks, CNF representatives signed a nine-point ‘initial peace agreement’ with a regime delegation led by Rail Transportation Minister Aung Min in Haka, Chin State. [14]
· 12 January: KNU representatives signed an ‘initial ceasefire agreement’ with a regime delegation led by Rail Transportation Minister Aung Min during talks in Hpa-an, Karen State.[15] Following the agreement, KNU General Secretary Zipporah Sein noted that it was an agreement “in principle” and that “a lot more discussions about the politics involved” were necessary.[16]
· 16 January: SSA-S representatives signed an 11-point ‘initial agreement’ with a delegation led by Minister of Rail Transportation Aung Min during talks in Taunggyi, Southern Shan State.[17]
· 19 January: After two days of talks in Ruili, China, KIO representatives and regime officials led by regime ‘Peace-making Group’ head Aung Thaung, failed to reach an agreement.[18]
· 28 January: SSA-N representatives signed a five-point ‘preliminary agreement’ with the regime ‘Peace-making Group’ led by Aung Thaung during talks in Taunggyi, Southern Shan State.[19]
Military operations, attacks against civilians continue
In January, the Tatmadaw continued to launch armed offensives against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State and Northern Shan State.
On 13 January, President Thein Sein issued an order for Tatmadaw forces to cease hostilities against all ethnic armed groups in Burma.[20] However, the order - which followed a 10 December order to end attacks against the KIA - had little effect on the situation on the ground. Tatmadaw troops continued their attacks against the KIA. The Tatmadaw also continued to mobilize troop reinforcements and supplies to conflict areas.[21] KIO officials estimated that over 20,000 Tatmadaw soldiers were involved in the ongoing offensive.[22]
· 3-4 January: Tatmadaw forces attacked the KIA’s Battalion 16 base at Lwaigyai in Mongton Township, Northern Shan State.[23]
· 19-20 January: Tatmadaw forces attacked KIA Battalion 8 soldiers along the Kyaukpyu-Kunming pipeline route in Namtu, Mantong, and Kutkai Townships in Northern Shan State.[24]
Tatmadaw forces also continued to target civilians during military operations in Kachin State. Reports also surfaced of Tatmadaw attacks on civilians in China’s Yunnan Province opposite Kachin State.[25]
· 5 January: Tatmadaw soldiers detained a local village administrator from Tar Law Gyi Village, Myitkyina Township, for alleged ties to the KIA.[26]
· 11 January: Tatmadaw soldiers shot and killed two Kachin women, aged 17 and 20, while they were walking to a market near Nam Ya Village, Hpakant Township.[27]
· 12 January: Tatmadaw soldiers killed a 60-year-old ethnic Chinese farmer near Loije, Momauk Township.[28]
· 15 January: Tatmadaw soldiers from LIB 309 killed two civilians in Hpakant Township.[29]
NLD prepares for by-elections
In January, the NLD officially re-entered Burma’s political arena and stepped up activities in preparation for the 1 April by-elections.
· 5 January: Regime Election Commission approved the NLD registration.[30]
· 9 January: The NLD re-organized its seven-member Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi became the party’s chairperson.[31]
· 16 January: The NLD published the first issue of its new campaign newsletter “D-Wave.”[32]
· 17 January: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and HIV/AIDS activist Phyu Phyu Thin held a campaign rally to mark the opening of a new party office in Rangoon’s Mingala Taungnyunt Township.[33]
· 18 January: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi registered to run for a parliamentary seat in Rangoon Division’s Kawmoo Township.[34]
· 19 January: The NLD nominated candidates for all 48 vacant parliamentary seats in the by-elections.[35] Candidates included: CEC members Ohn Kyaing, Win Myint, and May Win Myint; HIV/AIDS activist Phyu Phyu Thin, former political prisoner Phyo Min Thein, hip hop singer and former political prisoner Zayar Thaw, and 88 Generation Student Sandar Min. [36]
· 29 January: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a campaign trip to Tavoy, Tenasserim Division, to support local NLD candidate Aung Soe.[37] Thousands of supporters cheered Daw Suu during her one-day trip.[38] In a speech to supporters, she said the NLD would work in the Parliament to repeal “repressive laws” and amend the constitution.[39]
Other key political players announced their stance in relation to the by-elections:
· 88 Generation Students said they would support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s bid for a parliamentary seat but indicated they would not participate in the polls.[40]
· Ethnic political parties Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), and Zomi National Congress (ZNC) said they would re-register but would not field any candidates in the by-elections.[41]
Parliament reconvenes to discuss budget
On 26 January, the People’s Assembly and the National Assembly reconvened for the third parliamentary session in Naypyidaw.[42] On 31 January, the National Parliament (a joint session of both Houses) reconvened.[43] The Parliament is expected to debate and adopt the national budget for the FY 2012/2013 and resume the discussion of several bills that were introduced during the second session.[44] In addition, regime Censorship Board Director Tint Swe announced that a new media law that would “guarantee freedom of expression in Burma” would also be introduced during the third session.[45]
HUMAN RIGHTS
Regime tightens censorship
“People in the international community and some political groups are saying that we have press freedom now, but it isn't true.” - A Rangoon-based reporter.[46]
Despite the regime’s repeated announcements that it would lift media censorship, in January fresh reports surfaced of tightened restrictions on press freedom. The regime Censorship Board warned local media not to report about:[47]
· Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s call for the release of remaining political prisoners.
· Comments made by 88 Generation Students concerning the need for the creation of student unions and the regime’s flawed policies vis-à-vis ethnic groups.
· News about the eviction of abbot U Pyinnya Thiha from his Rangoon monastery by the regime-backed Sangha. [See December 2011 Burma Bulletin]
· Reports of campaign irregularities by the USDP in the lead-up to the 1 April by-elections.
Burma still near the bottom of int’l indexes
International indexes released in January continued to provide a bleak outlook for freedom in Burma:
· 19 January: Freedom House released its annual “Freedom in the World 2012” report.[48] The report rated Burma as “Not Free” with regard to political rights and civil liberties.[49] Freedom House has rated Burma as “Not Free” since its first survey in 1972.
· 25 January: Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) released its “Press Freedom Index 2011/2012.”[50] The survey ranked Burma 169th out of 179 countries.[51]
Regime ignores, violates, children’s rights in Burma
On 19 January, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) examined the regime’s periodic report under the Convention of the Rights of the Child.[52] The report stated that the regime had taken, or was in the process of adopting, necessary measures to comply with the Convention.[53] However, the regime’s report failed to address documented cases of gross violations of children’s rights including:
· The recruitment and use of child soldiers and cases of sexual abuse by the Tatmadaw.[54]
· Displacement and attacks on education and healthcare facilities and personnel.[55]
· Incidents of forced labor.[56]
· The denial of Rohingya children’s rights, including freedom to travel, access to education, healthcare, and recognition under the law.[57]
In response to the Committee’s questions about budget allocations that put military spending above health and education, and concerns that revenues from the sale of natural resources were not benefiting Burmese children, regime Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Maung Wai explained that income was spent on mega-development projects.[58] Maung Wai also claimed there was no discrimination based on religion, race or gender in Burma and said that usage of the term ‘Muslim Rohingya’ was a “painful thing” for the delegation.[59]
DISPLACEMENT
Refugees pour into China
Thus far, the ongoing conflict in Kachin State has displaced approximately 50,000 people in Kachin State.[60] In addition, on 30 January, it was reported that there were at least 25,000 refugees on the Chinese side of the border in Yunnan Province.[61]
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Recent events inside Burma have led to an unprecedented number of high-level foreign officials visiting Naypyidaw to assess the regime’s ‘reforms.’