Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Burmese defendants plead not guilty to Koh Tao murders
• DVB Bulletin: 8 December 2014
• Tatmadaw expanding presence, says Karenni NGO
• China’s crackdown on money laundering affects Burmese exports
• Army officer jailed for signing Article 436 petition
• Burma ratifies biological weapons treaty

Burmese defendants plead not guilty to Koh Tao murders Posted: 08 Dec 2014 05:14 AM PST Two Burmese Men have pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and double murder in Thailand. The prosecution demanded the death penalty should Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun (also known as Win Phyo), be found guilty of the killing of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge in September. Capital punishment had previously been taken off the table, as the two twenty-one year old Arakanese migrants had confessed to the crime— a confession they later recanted. Related Stories Koh Tao murders: Burmese pair indicted Koh Tao murders: Burmese call for witnesses to come forward Mon police bust counterfeit banknote gang     The post Burmese defendants plead not guilty to Koh Tao murders appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

DVB Bulletin: 8 December 2014 Posted: 08 Dec 2014 04:24 AM PST On tonight's bulletin: Burmese defendants plead not guilty to Koh Tao murders Opium production down in Burma on poor crop yield Tatmadaw solider jailed for NLD support New trams launched on downtown Rangoon circuit You can watch DVB Bulletin every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news. The post DVB Bulletin: 8 December 2014 appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Tatmadaw expanding presence, says Karenni NGO Posted: 08 Dec 2014 04:23 AM PST A new report has accused the Burmese military of increasing its presence in Karenni State, contrary to regional ceasefire agreements. Friday's report from the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN) states that the Tatmadaw (the Burmese government military forces) has been "reinforcing its troops, expanding outposts, storing supplies and ammunition, and confiscating and staking off land for the army." Burma had agreed to limit its military presence in the region under a 2012 ceasefire agreement with the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and other armed ethnic groups who have been fighting for independence. "In a lot of areas we have land confiscations by the military, so it's very, very difficult for the peace process and the ceasefire to continue," said Khu Mi Reh, a KCSN coordinator. "Some of the people in the communities want humanitarian aid, but we need to look at the political situation because this now is not genuine peace," he told DVB on Monday. "If we want to provide humanitarian aid to the community we need to generate a peace between the government and the armed groups." The KNPP and other armed ethnic groups have been fighting the government since Burma became an independent country in 1948. A ceasefire was announced in 2012 during Burma's transition from military to civilian government, though the report comes at a time of renewed attention of the military's influence in Burma. The report highlights the Burmese army confiscating 3,000 acres of land to build the No.14 military training school, in an area which "had been used by farmers for generations by local people". Related Stories Army officer jailed for signing Article 436 petition Latpadaung mine 'must be halted' pending EIA, says Amnesty Military MPs snub Suu Kyi "The local people demanded that the building be stopped, but their pleas fell on deaf ears and construction of the training school was completed. Now there have already been two trainings held at the school for commanders from the front lines, soldiers and militia," the report says. This is one example of where the Burmese military and the local population have been at odds, it says, and lists the affect on everyday lives such as the fear of landmines which have been placed around the area. "Some do not risk going out for the landmines," said Mi Reh, expanding on how Burmese troops deliberately interfere with the lives of locals on a regular basis. "They say: 'If you want to use this road you must pay'. But there's no reason to pay the military: they don't control this road. But they [demand] money for the roads, and if they go to the farms they ask a lot of questions from the people – like 'Where are you going?' and 'What are you doing?'. "The people never received services, like health or education, from the government," said Mi Reh. "Most of the people are just farming and trying to support their families and their children. We just want the government to create a genuine peace and trust, and provide the humanitarian aid." The post Tatmadaw expanding presence, says Karenni NGO appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

China’s crackdown on money laundering affects Burmese exports Posted: 08 Dec 2014 02:49 AM PST Burmese exports to China have decreased recently following a Chinese government move to freeze hundreds of bank accounts in border regions in an attempt to crackdown on illicit financial transactions across the Sino-Burmese border. Among those targeted are about 20 Burmese merchants, an unknown number of hundi [money transfer] operators based in the border towns, and many Chinese traders. "The export of rice and maize to China has gone down by one-third," said Chantha Oo, deputy-chairman of the Rice Wholesale Centre in Muse, one of the towns affected. "The Chinese government has have frozen all suspicious accounts – those with a huge flow of cash, including many belonging to Burmese persons, such as hundi operators," he said. "The majority of accounts targeted were Chinese-owned – not so many Burmese. This has affected rice and maize exports to an extent, but it is not particularly damaging." Merchants in Muse said such a crackdown at the border is not rare, and usually does not have a lasting impact on trade or exports. Related Stories Rice price volatility in Burma must be addressed, says World Bank Burmese soldier jailed for raping disabled Kachin girl BUSINESS WEEKLY 7 NOVEMBER 2014 According to Tin Hlaing Win, the information officer at the Rice Wholesale Centre in Mandalay: "Transportation fees to deliver goods from Mandalay to the Chinese border have recently gone up. Imported goods have increased and Chinese merchants are buying up exports from Burma at lower prices." Burmese merchants who focus on exporting by land across the border invariably rely on hundi operators to transfer their money into China. However, in recent years several cases have arisen where they become unwittingly caught up in money laundering operations. Burma exports 300,000- 400,000 metric tons of maize per year, mostly via the Muse-Ruili border crossing into China, according to the Myanmar Pulses, Beans & Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. Demand has increased annually since 2009, with farmers nowadays attempting year-round production in the traditional corn-growing areas of northern Shan State, Mandalay Division and the Irrawaddy delta. The post China's crackdown on money laundering affects Burmese exports appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Army officer jailed for signing Article 436 petition Posted: 07 Dec 2014 11:10 PM PST A Burmese army officer was jailed for two years after he signed a petition to amend Burma's Constitution. Maj. Kyawzwar Win was sentenced by a military court on 5 December after photos emerged of him signing a petition to amend Article 436. The ruling is believed to be the first case of its kind within the three years Burma has undergone transition from military to civilian government. Kyawzwar Win, an army engineer, was officially court-martialled for insubordination and breaking military rules. "I was sentenced to jail because I signed the petition while the NLD [National League for Democracy] was collecting signatures for the constitutional amendment," he said before being taken to prison, Radio Free Asia reported. "There is an order in the army to not get involved in amending Article 436." Article 436 is controversial among pro-democracy activists. The article states that constitutional amendments require approval of 75 percent of parliament, and as the military controls 25 percent of seats it effectively allows the military power to veto constitutional amendments in Burma. Related Stories Tatmadaw expanding presence, says Karenni NGO Anti-PR upper house MPs petition tribunal Suu Kyi reiterates call for dialogue after sexpartite talks flounder Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD and civil society movement 88 Generation Peace and Open Society ran a petition calling for amendments to the article from May to July, claiming around 5-million signatures in support. Both claim the petition represents Burmese people from all sectors of society. Kyaw Thiha, an NLD MP from Mandalay Division, said the Kyawzwar Win was sentenced the same day military commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing came to the Defence Services Academy graduation in the town. "We heard from his wife that he [Kyawzwar Win] was sent to Obo prison – we are exploring options to help file an appeal for him," Kyaw Thiha said. The post Army officer jailed for signing Article 436 petition appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Burma ratifies biological weapons treaty Posted: 07 Dec 2014 08:57 PM PST Burma has become the 171st state to pledge support for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), ratifying the treaty in Geneva, Switzerland, on 1 December. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Thant Kyaw expressed Burma's willingness to work with the other member states in advancing the goals of the BWC. The move by Naypyidaw was welcomed by US Ambassador Robert Wood, special representative to the Conference on Disarmament. "My delegation would like to offer Myanmar [Burma] our heartiest congratulations on taking this important step," he said. Related Stories Burma one of most corrupt countries in world: report Rangoon death sparks allegations of police brutality 88 Gen leader Hla Myo Naung, passes away, aged 47 "Every country that joins the BWC sends a powerful message of solidarity with the international community that the possession and use of biological weapons should not be an option. Should Myanmar so desire, the United States stands ready to assist with implementing the Convention in its domestic laws, regulations, and practices, and in other BWC-related areas," said Ambassador Wood. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Biological and Toxin Weapons, and on Their Destruction is the first multilateral convention to enforce an outright ban of biological weapons. It was formed in 1972 and came into force in 1975. The post Burma ratifies biological weapons treaty appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

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