Democratic Voice of Burma

---

• Four forestry officers slain in Shan State
• Nay Myo Zin, Naw Ohn Hla arrested over Latpadaung protest
• Latpadaung villagers tear down Wanbao fence
• Burmese army captures KIA outpost near Hpakant
• Low turnout mars Rangoon municipal elections

Four forestry officers slain in Shan State Posted: 30 Dec 2014 02:15 AM PST Four forestry department officials were shot to death in southern Shan State by a group of armed men on Saturday. Deputy Pol-Supt Myat Min Soe of the Shan State police crime division said that six forestry officers were on their way back from inspecting confiscated timber in a village named Wansalaung when they were ambushed by five unknown men on the road between Langhko and Wanhatgyi. Four officials – a district-level deputy forestry director and three township foresters – were killed in a hail of gunfire; however, two others survived. "On 27 December, the officials were travelling in a Pajero SUV and two motorbikes on their way back from inspecting seized logs in Wansalaung when they were stopped by five armed men," said Min Soe, citing a survivor's account. "The men spoke briefly before the gunmen opened fire." He said that police found five M-22 bullet casings and one cartridge with three rounds remaining. He said local police have opened an investigation into the incident. Related Stories Will ASEAN be a conduit for transnational organised crime? Shan State citizens rally for peace and ethnic rights 7 govt troops killed in N. Shan State clash While it was unclear who the attackers were, at least one anonymous source pointed a finger at "a certain armed group, which has apparently exploited their engagement in peace talks with the government by running illegal logging operations and assassinating those who pose a threat to their profits." According to a Shan State government administrator, the forestry officers had earlier seized 200 tons of illegally felled logs and were on their way back to check the haul. "We assume someone had a grudge," he said. Sai La, a spokesperson for the Shan State Army-South, said, "We have read reports accusing us of the killings, but actually there are also government forces and two local militias active in this region. "While we are investigating internally, we suggest other groups do likewise. We have constantly instructed our troops – since the beginning of our engagement in nationwide ceasefire talks – to refrain from attacking government personnel, unless provoked." The post Four forestry officers slain in Shan State appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Nay Myo Zin, Naw Ohn Hla arrested over Latpadaung protest Posted: 29 Dec 2014 11:49 PM PST Activists Naw Ohn Hla and Nay Myo Zin were arrested by police in Rangoon on Tuesday morning for their role in a protest in front of the Chinese embassy, denouncing the killing of Latpadaung villager Khin Win last week. Nay Myo Zin, a former Burmese military servicemen who is nowadays better known as a civil rights activist, told DVB by telephone that he was detained by police while preparing to embark on a journey to Latpadaung, the site of a controversial China-backed copper mine project, near Monywa in Sagaing Division. "I am in a police vehicle right now on the way to Dagon Township police station," he said. "We set off at 9am to head to Latpadaung but the police were waiting for us at a bus stop." He said fellow activist Naw Ohn Hla was arrested at her home that same morning. Nay Myo Zin said that police were unclear about what charges he was being detained on, and only told him it was because of the protest the previous evening. Late on Monday afternoon, dozens of protestors were caught up in a scuffle in front of the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon when police tried to prevent them from laying a wreath at the embassy's gates. The protestors were calling for an end to violence against villagers protesting land grabs at the Latpadaung copper mine site, which is jointly run by Chinese state mining firm Wanbao and Burmese military-backed Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. RAW FOOTAGE OF DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE CHINESE EMBASSY ON 29 DECEMBER: The Chinese embassy in Rangoon released a statement on 25 December, expressing its "deep condolences" over the death of villager Khin Win, who was shot in the head by riot police on 22 December while protesting the laying of fences around disputed plots of land at the copper mine site. The embassy further remarked that Chinese workers have been attacked at the site while peacefully implementing the project. "The Letpadaung mining project is an important joint [venture] between China and Myanmar, and we support the Letpadaung project to be implemented in a peaceful and secure manner, and oppose any kind of violence," the statement said. Meanwhile, the Myanmar Wanbao copper mining joint venture on Tuesday issued a further statement, reiterating its right to continue the project, and stating that it has followed all the recommendations issued by the Latpadaung investigation commission. Related Stories Latpadaung villagers tear down Wanbao fence Low turnout mars Rangoon municipal elections The Latpadaung Mine Story Hundreds of local villagers and their supporters have been protesting the Latpadaung copper mine since its inception more than 10 years ago. Many have been displaced to make way for the project, which was originally contracted to a Canadian firm, Ivanhoe Mines. The controversial mine was temporarily suspended when activists and monks staged a mass sit-in protest in 2012. The protest was broken up brutally by riot police on 29 November that year when some 80 protestors were injured, including several Buddhist monks, many with horrific burns that experts have attributed to white phosphorous. A subsequent investigation headed by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi failed to pronounce anyone guilty for the violent crackdown, and to many villagers' dismay, recommended to the government that the project be resumed.   The post Nay Myo Zin, Naw Ohn Hla arrested over Latpadaung protest appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Latpadaung villagers tear down Wanbao fence Posted: 29 Dec 2014 10:24 PM PST Around 100 local villagers on Monday tore down a fence erected by the Myanmar Wanbao copper mining company around a disputed patch of land north of Sete village near the Latpadaung mine site. The villagers have set up a rally camp at the spot and are demanding the return of farmland they maintain was seized for the project. On Tuesday morning, local authorities warned the protestors about interfering with the mesh and barbwire fence and advised them to disperse. "Around 100 farmers are holding a sit-in at the rally camp, and authorities this morning warned us via loudspeakers that a curfew had been imposed and that villagers must stop destroying the fence and disturbing the project," said Sanda Thiri, a Buddhist monk from nearby Zeetaw village. He told DVB on Tuesday that about 300 riot police have been deployed at the scene and that a tense standoff has ensued. Meanwhile, Chinese state-backed Myanmar Wanbao on Tuesday issued a further statement, reiterating its right to continue the mining project and stating that it has followed all the recommendations issued by the Latpadaung investigation commission. DVB TV RAW FOOTAGE OF LATPADAUNG INCIDENT, 29 DECEMBER 2014: Hundreds of local villagers and their supporters have been protesting the Latpadaung copper mine since its inception more than 10 years ago. Many have been displaced to make way for the project which was originally contracted to a Canadian firm, Ivanhoe Mines. The controversial mine was temporarily suspended when activists and monks staged a mass sit-in protest in 2012. The protest was broken up brutally by riot police on 29 November that year when some 80 protestors were injured, including several Buddhist monks, many with horrific burns that experts have attributed to white phosphorous bombs. A subsequent investigation headed by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi failed to pronounce anyone guilty for the violent crackdown, and to many villagers' dismay, recommended to the government that the project be resumed. Related Stories Nay Myo Zin, Naw Ohn Hla arrested over Latpadaung protest Suu Kyi says ‘no’ to reimposing sanctions The Latpadaung Mine Story The post Latpadaung villagers tear down Wanbao fence appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Burmese army captures KIA outpost near Hpakant Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:48 PM PST Burmese government forces have captured a Kachin rebel outpost in Kar Mine, near the jade mining town of Hpakant. La Nan, a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), told DVB that troops from the Burmese army's 5th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) based in the village of Gongyi in Kar Mine Township, launched an assault with artillery support at the KIA outpost on 27 December. "Government troops under the 5th LIB based in Gongyi captured a KIA outpost named Huay Kya in that area," he said. "They shelled the camp ahead of an infantry advance, and our men were forced to withdraw." Related Stories Will ASEAN be a conduit for transnational organised crime? SNLD chairman: ‘Only policy makers should be at peace talks’ Drug protests spread to Moenyin He said government forces had initiated a similar attack on 19 December when they raided a KIA outpost in Dawhpumyang village and captured two rebel Kachin fighters. Fighting between the Burmese army and the KIA continues to rage despite an agreement to reduce fighting amid ongoing negotiations aimed at a ceasefire. On 19 November, the Burmese army shelled a KIA training camp, killing 23 cadets belonging to various ethnic militias, further straining relations. The post Burmese army captures KIA outpost near Hpakant appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Low turnout mars Rangoon municipal elections Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:10 PM PST A lackluster campaign was followed by a record low voter turnout – 26 percent – for municipal elections in Rangoon. Nonetheless, on Monday it was announced that candidates Htay Aung, Khin Hlaing, Aung Min and Khin Maung Tint – respectively of Rangoon's east, west, south and north districts – have been elected to the central committee of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). Khin Hlaing, who will assume the central committee member seat for western Rangoon, said: "I plan to allocate 30 percent of public tax to municipal workers and the remaining 70 percent towards the city's renovation." He promised to inspect municipal tax accounts for irregularities in a move against corruption in the YCDC. Meanwhile, several losing candidates have complained about restrictions in the YCDC election law. Related Stories Nay Myo Zin, Naw Ohn Hla arrested over Latpadaung protest Burma's top taxpayers 2014 announced Compromises reached on most ceasefire issues "Both the YCDC and the [Rangoon] divisional government played unfairly," said Win Cho, who contested the vote for western Rangoon district. Susanna Hla Hla Soe, a losing candidate in the northern district, said restrictions on campaigning ahead of the elections "were imposed on some candidates but not on others". The YCDC elections were held for the first time in 60 years on 27 December. A little more than 400,000 people were eligible to vote as polls were limited to one vote per household.   The post Low turnout mars Rangoon municipal elections appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

You are subscribed to email updates from DVB Multimedia Group | DVB Multimedia Group To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States