Democratic Voice of Burma

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• UN envoy meets Kachin leaders, refugees
• Court date set for prominent ex-political prisoner
• NLD and 88 Generation unite for constitutional reform
• Protesters arrested after appealing for Latpadaung activist’s release.
• Suu Kyi calls for nation-building at literary festival
• Celebrations mark 67th Mon National Day
• Unity Weekly journalists in court for ‘disclosing state secrets’

UN envoy meets Kachin leaders, refugees Posted: 17 Feb 2014 03:31 AM PST United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, visited Kachin State where he met with Kachin leaders and refugees on Sunday. Quintana arrived in Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, on the morning of 16 February and met the Kachin State premier. In the evening he travelled to Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), where he met representatives of the armed group. He later visited Kachin refugees at the nearby Je Yang refugee camp. KIO central committee member Doi Pzar explained the meeting with the UN envoy. “He [Quintana] came to Laiza on a human rights mission," he said. "He told us he wanted to find out more about the ceasefire talks and the conditions for civilians. Our KIO chairman explained to Mr Quintana the history of the Kachin revolution and the history of repeated peace talks with successive Burmese governments. And, finally, he explained how nowadays we are also trying to achieve peace through political dialogue.” The KIO committee member also spoke about Quintana's meeting with refugees. “He asked the refugees why they had come here. The IDPs told him there was no security in their hometowns due to the armed conflict. He asked them when they intend returning home, and the refugees said they want to go back but the situation is not stable. Burmese troops are stationed in their villages." Related Stories Protestors greet UN’s Quintana in Sittwe NGOs say Burma's military continues to abuse Fresh fighting in northeast Burma raises concern among ceasefire groups Sunday was the UN special rapporteur's first visit to Laiza. On Monday he was scheduled to visit Latpadaung in the Monywa District of Sagaing Division where protests against a copper mine project have been ongoing. Quintana is visiting Burma from 13– 19 February, his final trip to the country during his tenure as special rapporteur on human rights. On Friday, he was met with protests by Arakanese Buddhists who have accused him and other UN agencies of bias in favour of Muslims and the Rohingya community, charges the UN has refuted.

Court date set for prominent ex-political prisoner Posted: 17 Feb 2014 03:23 AM PST Nay Myo Zin, who carries the dubious honour of having been the first political prisoner detained under Thein Sein's reformist government, will face court on 4 March on fresh charges. The former military captain, now coordinator of Myanmar Social Life Development Network, was arrested and charged on 18 January after leading a protest of hundreds of farmers from more than 30 townships across Burma, who gathered in front of Rangoon City Hall the previous day. The group called for the release of jailed activists, constitutional reform, and the establishment of a farmers' union. The charge comes under Article 18 of the penal code, the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. Fellow activist Win Cho was arrested alongside Nay Myo Zin and will too face court on 4 March, under the same charge. Their application for a right to protest had been rejected. Related Stories Pegu farmers injured in police crackdown Permit denied for journalists seeking justice for Ma Khine Protesting the protest law Nay Myo Zin spent nine months in jail in 2011 after police found articles on his laptop allegedly defaming the Burmese military. The former military man turned charity-worker received a ten-year sentence and reportedly suffered a broken pelvis while in Insein Prison. Nay Myo Zin's wife told DVB that he would have to be stretchered over to see her when she visited the infamous prison. Nay Myo Zin was released January 2012 via a presidential amnesty. Since then he has faced multiple charges, including the possession of an Aung San Suu Kyi T-shirt and matching key ring.   Myanmar Social Life Development Network, which had previously received government funding, says it works to improve the lives of people in rural Burma through infrastructure and training programs. The organisation, as of last year, had installed six drilled wells, 58 water pumping machines and 28 libraries in remote villages, according to its website. More photos of the protest by Nay Myo Zin can be viewed here.

NLD and 88 Generation unite for constitutional reform Posted: 17 Feb 2014 02:03 AM PST Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (88GPOS) civic group announced on Sunday that they will work together to change Article 436 of the Constitution, the clause which demands that 75 percent of parliamentarians must vote to make any amendment to the Constitution. An NLD delegation led by Chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi met with representatives of the 88GPOS group at University Avenue House in Rangoon on Sunday morning. 88GPOS leader Ko Jimmy explained why he thought Article 436 needed to be changed. "To amend any of the articles in Constitution, Article 436 is the key," he said. "Now, all the people in Burma, including ethnic people, are aiming towards democracy, ethnic equality and a federal union. Achieving these goals will be impossible without amending Article 436." Related Stories Suu Kyi calls for nation-building at literary festival NLD cancels literary event after pressure over Muslim speakers Henzada protestors say no more to Article 18 Article 436 is a clause under Chapter XII (Amendment of the Constitution). It states that for the amendment of any provision of the Constitution, more than 75 percent of all MPs in both houses must approve the change, and that certain provisions additionally require that the amendment must thereafter be approved by more than 50 percent of eligible voters in a referendum. He said the 88 Generation group will call on the will of the people to be expressed and shared with parliament. He added that they will also work with other political forces and ethnic groups who want to amend the 2008 Constitution. On February 10, the NLD and the 88 GPOS released a joint statement asserting their commitment to work together towards the common goal of achieving a more democratic charter, reading: "We will be working together to bring about Constitutional reforms via peace and fair means, while keeping our eyes on the national reconciliation process, for development of a genuine democratic union."

Protesters arrested after appealing for Latpadaung activist’s release. Posted: 17 Feb 2014 01:26 AM PST Four Latpadaung villagers have been charged by police for protesting without permission following a demonstration in front of a local police station last week. The group was demanding the release of prominent Latpadaung activist Thaw Zin. Thaw Zin, a former political prisoner, has made a name assisting local villagers as they resist the confiscation of land for the copper mine project. Thaw Zin was arrested by plain-clothed police on the morning of 11 February. Salingyi police superintendent, Thaw Zaw, stated that Thaw Zin would be charged with disturbing public tranquillity and would appear in court soon. This will be added to two outstanding charges, one for allegedly threatening Wanbao company staff and another for trespassing. In that 2013, incident Thaw Zin had gathered local villagers to plough land on the mining site, demonstrating that the land still belonged to farmers. Local villagers gathered in front of Nyaungbingyi Police Station after hearing of the activist's arrest. Four of the group were later charged with unlawful assembly under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. Nyaungbingyi police's Deputy-superintendent Soe Soe claimed that protesters were "unruly" and had used hostile words to the police. "We tried to reason with them in a decent manner but they said damaging things to us," the official said. "They did not seek official permission for the protest but we decided to let that go and told them to just disperse, but they didn't comply so we had to deal with them with legal action." Related Stories Latpadaung activist Thaw Zin detained Nine Latpadaung protestors freed Acid factory “burning our eyes,” say residents Thaw Zin was detained by six plain-clothed men assumed to be police last weekend as he walked between Tonywa and Shwehle villages in Salingyi Township where the controversial copper mine is located. Htay Yi, an activist who was with Thaw Zin at the time of his arrest, says she was assaulted in the incident. Police rejected her allegation on the grounds that it did not qualify as an assault under the legal term as it was not premeditated. Myint Aung, secretary of local anti-mining project campaign group Save the Latpadaung Hill Committee, condemned government and judicial authorities for their abuse of legal powers. He suggested that political and juridical discretion always falls in favour of the mine operators — military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEH) and Wanbao Mining Company, a subsidiary of China's state arms manufacturer Norinco. "The officials pretty much always dismiss cases filed by the public for the damages they suffer – it is very rare to accept them. But for lawsuits filed by the UMEH or other cronies, they'd accept them very easily and at times even volunteer to press charges against people on behalf of them," said Myint Aung.

Suu Kyi calls for nation-building at literary festival Posted: 17 Feb 2014 12:37 AM PST Speaking at the Irrawaddy Literary Festival in Mandalay on Saturday, Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi said she wants to see Burmese people participating in nation-building. "What I want are people who understand why they want a united peaceful prosperous country," she told a packed room at the Mandalay Hill Resort. The Burmese opposition leader said people should not sit back and hope that others work for the country, and that each and every citizen has a duty to their country. "People should understand that we are not alone in the world," she said, "and they need to understand how to share and work with others." This was the second annual Irrawaddy Literary Festival. Last year the event was held at the Inya Lake Hotel in Rangoon and was likewise presided over by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi. Several well-known international authors and poets spoke at the Mandalay gathering from 14 to 16 February, including Louis de Bernières (The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts, The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin) and Jung Chang (Wild Swans). Related Stories NLD and 88 Generation unite for constitutional reform DVB talks to British Ambassador to Burma Suu Kyi rally in Taunggyi moved to vacant lot

Celebrations mark 67th Mon National Day Posted: 17 Feb 2014 12:25 AM PST Last weekend saw three days of celebration across Mon State to mark the 67th Mon National Day. An official ceremony was organised in Kamawet, Mudon Township — an act that has earned jail time for past participants. "People in the past were jailed for celebrating Mon National Day," explained Min Kyi Win, a member of the official organising committee. "Respective governments in the past didn’t encourage it." Mon National Day is marked on the date of the establishment of the Hongsawaddy Kingdom after the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Min Kyi Win told DVB that marking the date became easier after the pro-democracy protests of 8 August 1988, known in Burma as 8-8-88. Min Zayar, a member of the political organisation 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, explained the positive role that such events play: “By celebrating the ethnic nationalities National Day in openness, it promotes the understanding, love and trust among different ethnic people. It helps to achieve national reconciliation and peace as the country has inherited a bad history. "I join the celebration as a Mon National and I also join as a citizen of the country." Min Zayar added. Organisers received congratulatory letters from Burmese President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Related Stories Census 'needlessly divisive' in ethnic areas: ICG Fresh fighting in northeast Burma raises concern among ceasefire groups Arakan statesmen dodge assassination in KL

Unity Weekly journalists in court for ‘disclosing state secrets’ Posted: 16 Feb 2014 09:34 PM PST The trial of five media workers representing Burmese journal Unity Weekly began on Friday, according to a report on Sunday by state-run The New Light of Myanmar. The group was arrested on 30-31 January following the 25 January publication of a report titled "Secret Chemical Weapon [built] by the Former Senior-General, Chinese Technicians and the Current [Burmese Military] Commander in Chief". The report alleged that the facility spanned 3,000 acres, housed rockets and was heavily guarded by uniformed troops. Police across the country seized circulating copies of the 25 January edition. Related Stories Burma preparing to ratify chemical weapons ban: Ye Htut New visa limit for foreign journalists in Burma NGOs say Burma's military continues to abuse The New Light of Myanmar reported that journalists Lu Maw Naing, Sithu Soe, Aung Thura and The Yazar Oo face the charge of "disclosing state secrets" as well as trespassing under Article 3(a) of the Official Secrets Act (1923). CEO Tin Hsan faces the charge of "disclosing State secrets" as well as abetting the act of trespass. The Act provides for a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut has since denied that the factory, located in Pauk, Magwe Division, produces chemical weapons. "Our country is a signatory state for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) – it was just a defence-related factory, but not a chemical weapons factory." Ye Htut told DVB in a phone interview last week. Burma is a signatory to the convention, but has not yet ratified the CWC by passing its edicts into law. Lwin Lwin Myint, wife of arrested journalist Lu Maw Naing, was also apprehended for questioning after attempting to visit her husband on 2 February following his 30 January arrest. She was freed two days later. The New Light of Myanmar stated in a report that she was released due to insufficient evidence.

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