Source: Radio Free Asia, Burmese language

Dec 3 2007

This might be an English language exclusive to Burma Confidential (but it will get out there tomorrow).  We learned this from several Burmese langauge sources: Htay Kywe has been (temporarily) released in order to attend his mother's funeral today.  His mother had been sick for four years. 

At Htay Kywe's request, he family deliberately concealed his arrest from her.  It is likely that his visit to her in the hospital led to his arrest.

Per Mizzima: 

Htay Kywe, one of the 88 generation student members, who led the September peoples' protest, was arrested after visiting his mother in Shwegonedine Special Clinic when her health deteriorated.

However, fearing that his mother's health might deteriorate further, Htay Kywe requested family members not to disclose his arrest to her. Daw Mi Mi Lay died unaware about her son's detention.

"Our mother was waiting for her son. Since she was terminally ill, we did not dare disclose the truth about him [Htay Kywe]. We appealed to the authorities to allow him to come to the hospital before mother died but not long after we made the request mother passed away," continued Khin San Myint.

Although his mother died from a long battle with cancer, it is appropriate to inform our readers that many other students have learned of their parents' deaths shortly after the students were taken in by the regime.  It is widely referred to as "death of a broken heart".   If the process for arrest, booking, charging and assigning legal counsel were transparent in Burma, this would not occur.  But what has happened on each occasion is that when the parents went to inquire as to their child's condition and whereabouts, the regime has said nothing.  The parents of 88 Generation Students rightly assume the worst and, believing their child to be in the process of being tortured, they cannot bear it.

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News & Analysis:

This act of defiance may seem small relative to September's events, but it should not be underestimated.  Pakokku is what sparked the nationwide monk movement.  From Khin Ohmar of APPPB:

At about 8 am this morning on October 31, about 100 (one hundred) monks held a peaceful march in the central Burma town of Pakkoku in Magwe Division, in lines of 3 and ended the walk back at the monestary after one hour.

According to Irrawaddy News Group, the monks marched through the town's streets chanting the “Metta Sutta” (the Buddha’s words on loving kindness). Many residents bowed before the protesting monks and the march ended peacefully about one hour later. 

Pakokku Monks March Again

By The Irrawaddy and AP
October 31, 2007

Story here.

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Urgent Actions Needed

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Recent moves by the SPDC are clearly intended to indicate to the United Nations that the generals are still in charge of Burma (Myanmar).  Thus, goes the signal, SPDC will dictate the who, what, where, when, why and how of any dialogue going forward.

Pinheiro - UN Human Rights Rapporteur - first visit since 2003

Two weeks ago, they agreed to "allow" the UN Human Rights Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to visit after a four year absence. 

Burma should have been a regular stop for Pinheiro.  Between 2003 and 2007, Burma has seen:

• Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi kept under house arrest for the entire period

• Prisons still housing dissidents

• Rape and terror campaigns carried out by the junta in Eastern Burma

• Horrific abuses and heroin addiction throughout the country's ruby, silver and jade mines

• Continuing forced labor long after a 1999 decree suspending the law which allowed it to happen in the first place

• Continuing conscription of child soldiers for four years after the generals declared it illegal.  Seriously, they have an annual conference to address this issue.   Here's the October 31, 2007 update from Human Rights Watch.

All of this, not to mention the events leading up to and including the Saffron Revolution and the bloodiest crackdown since 1988.

From 2003 until now, the UN Human Rights Rapporteur Pinheiro has been barred from visiting by the government responsible for the abuses.  The regime has attempted first to deny and then to paint these actions(to borrow a phrase from Unocal lawyer Daniel Petrocelli, in characterizing the SPDC pipeline security troops who have terrorized Tenasserim Division since 1992) as those of "rogue" soldiers. 

Looking at it through recent BBC reports, you can see what SPDC is doing to the UN.  I like how they refer to Nyan Win as "Burmese Foreign Minister".

BBC: October 22, 2007

Junta allows human rights visit

Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win wrote to the UN suggesting that Mr Pinheiro could arrive before mid-November... Ibrahim Gambari is currently in India awaiting a visa.

Gambari - UN Special Envoy - Second Visit Since August Requires a Visa?

Awaiting a visa?

Shouldn't Gambari have permanent permission to travel to and from Burma? 

Gambari's visa was ultimately approved for November 4, 2007. 

Petrie - UN Burma Country Chief Since 2003 - Kicked Out 

Then, a day before Gambari's visit, they pull this:

BBC: November 3, 2007

Burma to expel UN's top diplomat

Dramatic timing

It is not clear when Mr Petrie, who began his posting in Burma in 2003, will have to leave the country.

But the timing of the junta's decision, one day before Mr Gambari's visit begins, is dramatic, says the BBC's James Reynolds in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

It makes his trip, one that was already looking difficult, much more difficult, says our correspondent.

On 24 October, United Nations Day, (Petrie) issued a statement critical of the country's deepening economic crisis.

Clearly, the UN's chain is being yanked.

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