Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Koh Tao murders: ‘accused are innocent’ say Burmese investigators
- Child-trafficking protest forces local officials into action
- DVB Bulletin: 18 December 2014
- Par Gyi killing: lawyers demand official investigation
- Buddha Bar storm: charges upheld, trial set for 26 Dec
- Koh Tao defence lawyers call on British witnesses
- Thailand-Burma in border trade talks
| Koh Tao murders: ‘accused are innocent’ say Burmese investigators Posted: 18 Dec 2014 06:21 AM PST Burmese government investigators say that witnesses who might be able to prove the innocence of two Burmese nationals accused of murdering a pair of British tourists in Thailand are too afraid of the Thai police to testify. At a press conference in Rangoon on Thursday, the investigators reiterated their belief that Zaw Win and Win Zaw Htun are innocent of the murders of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge. The bodies of the young English backpackers were discovered on a beach in the Thai island of Koh Tao on 15 September. Evidence suggested miss Witheridge had also been raped. Htoo Chit, a prominent Burmese migrant’s rights activist is a member of the investigation committee, is adamant the 21-year old Arakanese did not commit the violent crime. “Whatever the Thai government decides in this case, we believe these two young people did not commit these crimes”, Htoo Chit said. The Thai police handling of the case has sparked international controversy, and has become a foreign policy issue for the Burmese government. Rights activists have taken it upon themselves to support the two Burmese migrant workers, who have been detained in prison since their arrest in early October. Zaw Linn And Win Zaw Htun say Thai police forced them into a confession with threats of torture. A confession which they later recanted. Htoo Chit believes the case is of significance for millions of migrants working in Thailand, and not just those from Burma. “Thailand’s handling of this Koh Tao murder investigation will not only impact the lives of Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin, but the lives of millions of migrant workers from Burma, Cambodia, Laos and other countries,” Htoo Chit said. The Burmese investigators say they believe that the way the migrants were treated by police will discourage witnesses from testifying. Some of those interviewed were “strong witnesses” who might provide evidence to exonerate the accused, but they are reluctant to testify, said Kyaw Thaung, who leads the investigating committee. “If they (the witnesses) say what they know, they will lose their job. They are afraid of Thai police and Thai bosses. This is the main difficulty for us,” he told reporters. Kyaw Thaung said the committee would meet with Burmese government officials to discuss ways to provide security to witnesses who agree to testify. The Burmese investigation committee set up in Bangkok said they have interviewed 40 migrants who may have witnessed the brutal attacks at the popular beach resort. They say each interviewee fled back to Burma, scared of becoming embroiled in the opaque case. Zaw Linn and Win Zaw Htun are due back in court on the 26th of December, facing seven charges each, including murder and rape.
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| Child-trafficking protest forces local officials into action Posted: 18 Dec 2014 05:12 AM PST Officials in the Pegu division town Prome were foced in to action after protests broke out on 16 December, demonstrating the local government's neglectful treatment of a young child who they claimed had been sold and forced to beg for money. Activists and civil society members rallied through the town carrying the four-year-old girl before marching to the Department of Social Welfare where they demanded the authorities take the girl into their care. The case has perplexed the small town. The young girl was believed to have abandoned by her mentally handicapped mother, before being abducted and sold into a family who then made her to beg in the streets. She is now under the care of Prome authorities. The post Child-trafficking protest forces local officials into action appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| DVB Bulletin: 18 December 2014 Posted: 18 Dec 2014 04:31 AM PST On tonight's bulletin:
You can watch DVB Bulletin every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news. The post DVB Bulletin: 18 December 2014 appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| Par Gyi killing: lawyers demand official investigation Posted: 18 Dec 2014 02:44 AM PST The legal team representing the widow of slain reporter Par Gyi say they plan to petition the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus* ordering the Ministry of Home Affairs to lead an investigation into his untimely death, according to attorney Robert Sann Aung. The renowned lawyer, who heads the team representing Par Gyi's widow Ma Thandar, said they were considering the motion because the local police in Mon State's Kyeikmayaw, with whom the case surrounding Par Gyi's death was filed, have still not offered any sign of progress in their investigation. "We are planning to petition the Supreme Court to order the Ministry of Home Affairs to directly handle the investigation," he said, adding that the legal team intend issuing the call around the end of December. Related StoriesMa Thandar previously sent a letter to President Thein Sein rejecting the report into her husband's death compiled by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission. She said it was "incomplete and biased". Assuming Thein Sein does not intervene, a trial will be slated for a civilian court. Par Gyi, a former political activist-cum-reporter, was detained by the Burmese army at the end of September in Kyeikmayaw while covering the conflict between government forces and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army. The army acknowledge that they killed Par Gyi, but said he was shot as he first attempted to wrestle a firearm from a soldier and then tried to flee. But Ma Thandar and her supporters maintain that Par Gyi was brutally tortured before being killed.
*A writ of mandamus is an order from a court to an inferior government official ordering the government official to properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion.
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| Buddha Bar storm: charges upheld, trial set for 26 Dec Posted: 18 Dec 2014 12:30 AM PST Three Rangoon nightclub managers – New Zealander Phil Blackwood, and Burmese Tun Thurein and Htut Ko Ko Lwin – will face trial on charges of insulting Buddhism, a court in Bahan Township decided on Thursday. A judge upheld charges under Penal Code articles 295, 295(a) and 188 against the trio, who are accused of religious offenses after posting an image of Buddha wearing headphones on social media as part of a promotion for the newly opened VGastro Bar. The three were denied bail and a trial date was set for 26 December. Under Burma's Religion Act – article 295 – anyone who attempts to insult, destroy or damage any religion can be sentenced to a maximum of two years in jail, with another two years for insulting religion through the written word. The Penal Code lists Article 188 as "Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant." No details have as yet been made clear as to why this additional charge was leveled at the three. At least 20 Buddhist monks gathered outside the Bahan Township courthouse. Other observers wore t-shirts with "969" logos, indicating support for the hardline Buddhist organisation led by extremist monk Wirathu. The three bar managers were arrested last week and denied bail. New Zealander Blackwood experienced difficulty in attaining legal representation with four lawyers declining to take the case on grounds that it was too sensitive. One of the lawyers, who requested anonymity, told Blackwood's family that he had decided against representing him after the police in Bahan Township advised him against it. A friend of Blackwood told DVB on Wednesday that the family had finally acquired legal representation. Phil Robertson, the deputy-director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, blasted the verdict and called for the three to be released on bail. "Demanding respect for religion doesn't justify criminalising free speech or abusing other rights, and it certainly doesn't vindicate the apparent lynch mob mentality that the Ma-Ba-Tha [hardline Buddhist group] have towards these three persons," he told DVB. "The provisions of the penal code they are charged under are overly broad and essentially allow the authorities to criminalise speech about religion without effective restriction — when what is really needed here is a reasoned discussion about freedom of expression and religion. "All three should be immediately released on bail and allowed to defend themselves against these charges – and the fact that they immediately apologised and withdrew the offending materials should be considered sympathetically and taken into account." Related StoriesHowever, several Burmese monks have called for tough action. "I believe that the [VGastro Bar management] intentionally insulted Buddhism," said U Zawana, a prominent monk based in Rangoon. "Buddhism is prevalent in this country and everyone has the utmost respect for the Buddha. They [bar managers] did a very inappropriate thing by using the image of Buddha in an advertisement like this. "I think they deserve punishment for insulting the Buddhist religion. In fact I feel that the current charge they are facing – Article 295 – is too light. They should receive a harsher charge if one is available." The furore unfolded on 10 December after the newly opened bar-restaurant posted on its Facebook page an advert for a promotional event, using an animated image of the Buddha wearing headphones, a motive that is commonly used by the Buddha Bar franchise across the world. However, the picture quickly garnered shock and outrage on Burmese social media, with some calling it "an insult to Buddhism". The club owners took the advert down the same evening but a mob gathered outside their venue in Bahan Township's upmarket Green Valley neighbourhood, calling for action against the nightclub. Monks from the local Association of Protection of Race and Religion, commonly known as the Ma-ba-tha, a fundamentalist Buddhist organisation closely associated with 969, were prominent at the protest. Police intervened to calm the situation, and several protestors were heard calling, "Hand over the foreigner!" and "Let's lynch them!"
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| Koh Tao defence lawyers call on British witnesses Posted: 17 Dec 2014 10:12 PM PST The defense team of two Burmese men accused of murdering of two British tourists on the Thai resort island Koh Tao have asked the court to summon witnesses who were on the island when the incident took place. A formal request was filed at the court on 16 December to summon British nationals, Christopher Ware and Shaun McAnna, to testify as defence witnesses at the trial, a representative of the suspects' defence team, told DVB. "On behalf of the two defendants, and as members of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, on Tuesday we submitted the request in court. We are yet to find out whether it will be approved or not [on Thursday]," said representative Amporn Sungtong. Mr. Ware was a friend of murder victim David Miller, and Mr. McAnna was a musician at the nearby AC bar. The two left Thailand shortly after the incident took place. The defence and prosecution teams are to present witnesses at the trial on 26 December. The lawyer said there are about 10 individuals nominated as defence witnesses, but eight of them are Burmese migrants who have received threats and are currently relying on the Burmese embassy to ensure their security. She said the Lawyers Council of Thailand would welcome anyone with credible information to come forth as witnesses for the defendants. Meanwhile, prosecutors have appointed over 40 witnesses. The suspects are due back in court on 26 December. The post Koh Tao defence lawyers call on British witnesses appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| Thailand-Burma in border trade talks Posted: 17 Dec 2014 08:53 PM PST Thailand and Burma plan to have a joint trade committee meeting next month in an attempt to boost two-way trade and investment. The move is part of the countries’ strategy to drive overall border trade volume to reach 1.5 trillion baht (US$4.5 billion) next year. The first meeting will be chaired by Thai Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya and his Burmese counterpart. It will cover cooperation between the twin cities of Mae Sot in Tak province and Burma’s Myawaddy, the setting up of the Thailand–Burma Business Council and the raising of awareness of businesses both in and outside the two areas. The discussion will also include suggestions to tackle problems and obstacles to border trade, with the conclusion to be submitted to the policy committee on special economic zone development chaired by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. However, Thailand’s Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the Commerce Ministry would first call a meeting with government agencies including the Board of Investment, Customs Department, National Economic and Social Development Board and the Highways Department as well as private companies from the two countries tomorrow and Saturday in Mae Sot to monitor border trade, address trade obstacles and prepare for establishing the special economic zone. In October, the government’s policy committee on special economic zone development approved the boundaries of zones in five border areas covering 10 districts with a total area of 1.83 million rai to be set up in 2015-16. Related StoriesThey are Mae Sot, Phop Phra and Mae Ramat districts in Tak; Muang, Wan Yai and Don Tan districts in Mukdahan; Sadao district in Songkhla; Aranyaprathet and Watthana Nakhon districts in Sa Kaeo; and Khlong Yai district in Trat. Phase two will comprise six potential locations: Mae Sai and Chiang Khong districts in Chiang Rai; Sangkhla Buri district in Kanchanaburi; Nakhon Phanom province; Nong Khai province; and Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat. Thailand’s border trade with Malaysia, Burma, Laos and Cambodia has recorded average growth of more than 10 percent a year over the past five years. Next year, the Commerce Ministry has set a target for border trade of 1.5 trillion baht, up from an estimated 1.1 trillion this year and against 924 billion baht in 2013. For the first 10 months of this year, border trade amounted to 812 billion baht, up 6.49 percent year-on-year. Thailand’s border trade with Burma is expected to grow by 10 percent this year from 197 billion baht last year. For the first 10 months, Thailand’s border trade with Burma surged by 7.89 percent to 173 billion baht, with 77.7 billion from exports and 96 billion from imports. Officials from Burma and Thailand will meet next month to approve the framework of the delayed Dawei megaproject. This article was originally published in the Bangkok Post. The post Thailand-Burma in border trade talks appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
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