Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Constitution written to prevent me from being president, says Suu Kyi
• Peace Day activists fined for protesting without permission
• Ethnic rebels discuss nationwide ceasefire in Chiang Mai
• Suu Kyi arrives in Australia
• 23 farmers sued for ‘trespassing’ on their own land

Constitution written to prevent me from being president, says Suu Kyi Posted: 27 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST Aung San Suu Kyi pointed a finger at the former ruling junta in Burma on Wednesday, claiming that the 2008 constitution was specifically worded to prevent her from becoming president of the country. Speaking at Sydney Opera House as part of her first official visit to Australia, Suu Kyi responded to a journalist's question by saying, "It's not whether or not I can be president, but because this constitution was written specifically to prevent me from being president. I object to this, because no constitution should be written with one person in mind." Suu Kyi was undoubtedly referring to a clause in the constitution that states that any person who is married to a foreigner or whose spouses or children are overseas citizens are barred from being appointed to the presidency by parliament. Suu Kyi's two sons with her late husband Michael Aris are British; the clause is widely believed to be targeted at the opposition leader. Suu Kyi was awarded two prestigious honorary doctorates degrees from the University of Sydney and University Of Technology during Wednesday's ceremony at the Sydney Opera House in front of an audience which included members of the Burmese community, the Australian ambassador in Burma, Australian ministers. A Burmese band also performed for the audience. Suu Kyi mainly focused her speech on the need to amend the constitution, but also paid homage to the struggle for democracy in her country. But she warned against complacency and emphasized the risk of believing that Burma has already achieved democracy. Related Stories Suu Kyi arrives in Australia NLD request quadripartite talks on constitution Ethnic rebels conclude talks with NLD, political parties "Those of you who think that Burma has successfully taken the path to reform, would be mistaken," she said. "If you want to know why you are mistaken, you only have to study the Burmese constitution, not a pleasant task I can tell you. But if you read it carefully, you will understand why we cannot have genuine democracy under such a constitution." Questioned about the conditions for the Rohingya community in Burma, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate answered in general terms that the Burmese government has an obligation to protect everybody in the country. "We cannot have peace without security," she said. "I have said repeatedly that unless our people all feel secure, you can't expect them to sit down and sort out their differences". Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Australia on Wednesday for a five-day visit as a guest of Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. The National League for Democracy lawmaker will also visit Melbourne and Canberra where she will meet Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Peace Day activists fined for protesting without permission Posted: 27 Nov 2013 03:02 AM PST Two activists who organised a demonstration on International Peace Day calling for peace in Kachin state have been fined by two township courts in western Rangoon for holding a rally without permission from local authorities. May Sabe Phyu and Maran Jaw Gun on Tuesday were ordered by Sanchaung and Dagon township courts to each pay fines of 10,000 kyat (US$10) to both courts or risk serving concurrent terms of one month in prison. The two were facing six counts of charges under Article 18 of the penal code – the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law – at courts in the six townships (including the two that passed sentences on Tuesday) that they marched through on 21 September 2012. Related Stories Political prisoners committee recommends 82 more releases Copper mine protestors given one-month sentences in Rangoon NLD refused permit to stage 'constitution rally' in Naypyidaw May Sabe Phyu told DVB by phone that she and her co-defendant chose to pay the fine, as recommended by their lawyers, but maintained that this did not mean they were admitting any wrongdoing. "In my opinion, Article 18 is a clause within the law that should not exist," she said. "Also, I do not appreciate the judge stating in the verdict that 'mercy' was granted because we were marching for peace. We were given light sentences because of a legal loophole but it has nothing to do with being merciful. "Honestly, I am completely disaffected with this verdict." While the pair must pay fines of 10,000 kyat each to Sanchaung and Dagon township courts, they still await verdicts by four other courts: in Botahtaung, Mingalar Taungnyunt, Pazundaung and Tamwe townships. Last week six activists who protested against the brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks and activists in Latpadaung last year were sentenced to one month each in prison under the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law.

Ethnic rebels discuss nationwide ceasefire in Chiang Mai Posted: 27 Nov 2013 01:35 AM PST The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), made up of representatives from 14 ethnic armed groups, is sitting in Chiang Mai from 26 to 28 November to discuss proposals for a ceasefire after decades of conflict with Burmese government forces. The three-day summit in northern Thailand comes ahead of talks between the NCCT and the Burmese government next month in Karen state capital Hpa-an. Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win, the general-secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU), told DVB that the NCCT on Tuesday discussed a draft of the nationwide ceasefire plan proposed by Naypyidaw and added amendments according to the policies of individual armed groups. Related Stories Ethnic rebels conclude talks with NLD, political parties NLD, other parties arrive in Chiang Mai to meet ethnic armed groups Gun Maw calls on public to help peace process "We discussed the nationwide ceasefire agreement as proposed by the government and we make amendments as necessary based on our basic principles," said the KNU general-secretary. He said the NCCT aimed to reach an agreement between the armed groups regarding a framework for the nationwide ceasefire, as well as an itinerary for future procedures and political dialogue with the government. The meeting was joined by more than 20 participants, including Gen. Gun Maw Sumlat of the Kachin Independence Organisation; and Khun Okkar, David Takapaw, Abel Tweet and Nai Hongsa of the United Nationalities Federal Council. Representatives of the Arakan Liberation Party were unable to attend the conference but are expected to join the meeting on Wednesday. The NCCT was formed by a loose alliance of ethnic armed groups who appointed their representatives at a meeting in KIO headquarters Laiza on 2 November.

Suu Kyi arrives in Australia Posted: 26 Nov 2013 11:54 PM PST Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Australia on Wednesday for a five-day visit as a guest of Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Greeted by dozens of supporters and members of the Burma diaspora at Sydney airport, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent a few minutes shaking hands and chatting to the crowd. One supporter was thrilled to see her. “I’m so happy to meet her. We’ve been [waiting] so many years. We’ve been fighting for this journey and she came here, so we’re happy to see her,” said an unidentified supporter. Related Stories Constitution written to prevent me from being president, says Suu Kyi NLD's 'constitution rally' goes ahead in Naypyidaw NLD refused permit to stage 'constitution rally' in Naypyidaw Later on Wednesday, Suu Kyi is to receive honorary doctorates from the University of Sydney and the University of Technology at a ceremony at the Sydney Opera House The National League for Democracy lawmaker will also visit Melbourne and Canberra where she will meet with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and make a number of public speeches.

23 farmers sued for ‘trespassing’ on their own land Posted: 26 Nov 2013 11:22 PM PST Twenty-three farmers who staged a "ploughing protest" in Rangoon's Dagon-Seikkan township are being sued for trespassing by the Green Asia Company, an arm of Asia World, Burma's largest and most diverse conglomerate which has stakes in everything from industrial construction to supermarket chains and bus companies. In 2008, 16 companies headed by Asia World, launched an agricultural project which entailed buying up 10,000 acres of land from farmers in and around Nyaungbin village and eight nearby villages eat of Rangoon. Initially, the farmers say, the companies agreed to end the project after three years – whether or not it turned out profitable – and return the land to the original owners. However, in 2009, the companies evicted the farmers from the land and would not allow them to cultivate crops there. The farmers allege that despite the fact that the agricultural venture proved unprofitable, the companies would not return the land to the original owners. The farmers filed a lawsuit against the Green Asia joint-venture, but it was rejected by the local court. Related Stories Military land grabs leave farmers in despair Latpadaung committee pledges US$1.68 million for local development Tavoy farmers demand return of lands seized in 1990 In 2012, several farmers decided to defy the companies by returning to plough their fields as a mark of protest. The firms then filed a suit against 23 farmers alleging seven charges including trespassing under Article 447 of the penal code, according to lawyer Phoe Phyu who is defending the farmers. "I believe that, from a legal point of view, the farmers are not in the wrong for cultivating the land because the three-year contract had expired," Phoe Phyu told DVB. "Moreover, both the police and the court refused to accept the lawsuit previously filed by the farmers against the companies for breaking their promise. However they then accepted the companies' charges against the farmers," he said. "Evidently, farmers don't enjoy the same rights as large companies." He said the farmers refuse to recognise the lawsuit against them as the court would not accept their original case against Green Asia and its partners. "The companies' agricultural project did not yield profit and we initially proposed that they allow us back onto our land to grow crops," said Myint Aung, one of the 23 farmers. "We are the original owners of the land, so I don't see why we should recognise a 'trespassing' lawsuit." According to a statement released by the farmers, Burmese President Thein Sein visited the area in 2008 in his capacity as prime minister and promised the farmers their land would not be confiscated. Green Asia was not available for comment.

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