Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Bullet Points: 8 August 2014
• Twenty-six years on: ‘objectives not fulfilled’
• One dead in violence at Arakan refugee camp
• Burma prepares for ASEAN foreign ministers’ summit
• Shan community urges US Secretary of State to pressure Thein Sein

Bullet Points: 8 August 2014 Posted: 08 Aug 2014 05:26 AM PDT On today's edition of Bullet Points: A Rohingya man shot and killed by police in Sittwe. The world looks to Naypyidaw as ASEAN foreign ministers meet. Ceremonies are held in major cities to commemorate the anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.  You can watch Bullet Points every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

Twenty-six years on: ‘objectives not fulfilled’ Posted: 08 Aug 2014 04:34 AM PDT Commemorations marking the 26th anniversary of Burma's 1988 pro-democracy uprising were held across the country on Friday. An event organised by activist group 88 Generation Peace and Open Society began on Friday morning at the Kyaikkasan Meditation Centre in Rangoon's Thingangyun Township. Political activists from several parts of the country gathered to recall the historic events of what is now commonly known as the "8888 uprising". In a separate event, Buddhist monks and civilians gathered in front of Rangoon's City Hall to hold a prayer ceremony for those who died during a brutal crackdown by the Burmese military. In central Burma's Mandalay, around 500 people attended a Buddhist ceremony at the Phayagyi Monastery. Tin Aye Kyu, one of the event's organisers and keynote speakers, urged participants to keep pushing for the changes that many people died for in 1988. Last year, commemorators at the 25thanniversary of the uprising – referred to as the "Silver Jubilee" — established three fundamental goals for a continued path to a democratic future. "I urged the audience to work for realisation of the three objectives of the 8888 Silver Jubilee Resolution: to facilitate a union congress; bring about a new Constitution and establish a federal union," said Tin Aye Kyu. Activists got creative in Pegu Division. In Prome [Pyay], performance artists were joined by peaceful marchers, where crowds watched four characters carry out an allegorical performance about Burma's media. "The performance involved four characters trying to dig out a pot buried in the ground, representing the media in Burma," said Bashee, a former student activist who participated in the 8888 demonstrations. "One of the characters, representing the government, smashed it up to prevent it from falling into the hands of the people." Related Stories Bullet Points: 8 August 2014 Bullet Points: 7 August 2014 Activist sentenced to one year for false claims of NLD coup Police in the town attempted to stop the march, but whether authorities plan to take legal action against the organisers remains unknown, he said. Central Burma's Monywa, Sagaing and Myingyan also held commemoration events today. The 1988 demonstrations began as protests against Burma's deteriorating economic situation and the abrupt currency devaluation initiated by then-dictator Ne Win. But public anger grew quickly as awareness of wider abuses surfaced. On 8 August 1988, massive crowds marched through the streets of every major city and Burma to call for change, and authorities struggled to contain the protests. Eventually, they were ordered to fire directly at the protesters. Neil Hongsa, a representative of the New Mon State Party, said that Burma is due for another mass demonstration if the government does not address widespread issues such as the need for constitutional reform. "The 8888 uprising was a product of public dissatisfaction. There are indications that there will be another outburst like that if the 2008 Constitution is not amended," Neil Hongsa said. "I would like to urge that both the government and political forces in the country promote unity among ethnic nationalities and the general public, looking towards peace and development. Shwe Myo Thant of the Karenni National Progressive Party said that the 8888 uprising was unique in the sense that people from all walks of life in Burma – regardless of social strata or ethnic differences – had came together to campaign for a true democracy. "And as of today, we have yet to win this democracy," Shwe Myo Thant said. "Commemorating the day, in my opinion, will likely contribute to a genuine democratic transition in Burma." Some have estimated that thousands were killed by Burmese authorities in the 8888 uprising, but the true number of casualties remains a mystery.

One dead in violence at Arakan refugee camp Posted: 08 Aug 2014 02:56 AM PDT One man was fatally shot by police in western Burma when violence broke out at a displacement camp, state media reported on Friday. According to a report in New Light of Myanmar, 30-year-old Shaungshu Arlong was shot and killed on Wednesday night as he "tried to attack a member of the police with his sword". The report said that police were attempting to disperse a mob that abducted and tortured two young men accused of theft. The report said that police were notified on Wednesday night that the two had been abducted while shopping at a displacement camp near Hmansi, in Arakan State's Sittwe Township. It said the two were tied up with rope and "tortured by a mob". Police arrived at the scene and fired five warning shots as the mob dragged the detainees into a paddy field. After the warning shots, the mob began attacking the police with rocks, prompting a second round of warning shots, at which point several men wielding swords advanced toward the officers, it continued. One of the men, Shaungsu Arlong, was shot by police and died on the spot. Other media outlets have reported that at least 15 people were arrested in relation to the violence. The civilians involved are believed to have been Rohingya Muslims, some living in displacement camps dotting the area since deadly riots erupted in the state in mid-2012. London-based Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) said in a statement on Friday that "more than 100 security forces" arrived at the camp, and that two other people were seriously injured, but this has not been independently verified. Related Stories Bullet Points: 8 August 2014 Bullet Points: 6 August 2014 Bullet Points: 5 August 2014

Burma prepares for ASEAN foreign ministers’ summit Posted: 07 Aug 2014 11:26 PM PDT Security was tight in Naypyidaw on Friday, as foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered for meetings on regional and international issues. The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings at the Myanmar [Burma] International Convention Centre (MICC) will also include counterparts from non-ASEAN members in discussions on regional security and economic development. Burma’s President Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Wanna Muang Lwin will be presiding at the opening ceremony on Friday to deliver opening remarks. This year’s foreign ministerial meetings coincide with ASEAN Day, set for 8 August of every year, to celebrate the birth of the group 47 years ago. The three-day foreign ministerial meeting is likely to be overshadowed by the South China Sea territorial dispute between some ASEAN member countries and China. Member states are also hoping the meetings will bring about a comprehensive push towards the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Related Stories Bullet Points: 8 August 2014 Shan community urges US Secretary of State to pressure Thein Sein Bullet Points: 7 August 2014 ASEAN foreign ministers are also due to hold bilateral meetings with their dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Japan,South Korea, Australia, India, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and Russia. ASEAN consists of ten Southeast Asian countries - Cambodia, Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Shan community urges US Secretary of State to pressure Thein Sein Posted: 07 Aug 2014 11:06 PM PDT Shan community organisations urged US Secretary of State John Kerry in a letter to suspend all military engagement with the current Burmese government, as the Burmese Army is escalating military operations in central Shan State. Ahead of Kerry's planned visit to Naypyidaw for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, 14 Shan community-based organisations issued an open letter on Thursday to inform the US official of how the Burmese Army had seized territories of the Shan State Army-North in June, an action which violates an existing cease-fire agreement. The areas include Ke See Township's Wan Pasaung and Wan Warp towns, where more than 300 villagers have been displaced, the letter said. "This aggressive expansion into Shan ceasefire areas, endangering and displacing civilians, throws further doubt on claims by the Burmese government that it is seeking a peaceful settlement to the ethnic conflict," the letter said. "We also deplore the huge costs of this offensive, with a single day of shelling costing hundreds of thousands of dollars on the national budget." Calling on Kerry to raise these issues with President Thein Sein during their meeting in Naypyidaw, the Shan community organisations added that the Burmese government needed to begin the immediate withdrawal of troops in Shan State and other ethnic areas "in order to build confidence in the peace process". "We also urge the United States to suspend military-to-military engagement with the Burmese government, to convey disapproval of its continued aggression against the ethnic people," it said. Related Stories Bullet Points: 8 August 2014 Burma prepares for ASEAN foreign ministers' summit Bullet Points: 7 August 2014 New York-based Human Rights Watch also pressed Kerry to put pressure on the Burmese government regarding the country's "deteriorating rights situation," according to a HRW statement released on Thursday. "Kerry should use his visit to deliver a clear and public message of deep concern about serious human rights problems, including continued persecution of the Rohingya, continued military abuses against ethnic groups, and the need for constitutional reform," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams. "They need to be put on notice that Burma will lose US and international support if reforms do not continue." Scheduled to attend the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Naypyidaw, Kerry will be in Burma from today until Sunday.

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