pdc monthly news commentary december 2010 eng

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The activities of NLD and domestic opposition forces

The relationship between NLD and the military juntaThe relationship between NLD and the military junta

The SPDC intimidated some NLD members who were briefing the people about theright to refrain from voting in the General Elections sponsored by the military regime, andalso committed physical assaults upon them. On November 1, police and Power Mongershold up about 150 NLD Youths campaigning in Rangoon Division South Dagon Township.Power Mongers wearing red armbands also obstructed campaigning youths in North Oakkalaward 2. SPDC authorities cordoned off NLD Youths distributing election boycott flyers inSouth Dagon ward 71 on November 3, dragging them off No. 39 line bus and seized Ko AyeThwin's camera.

USDP Organizer U Saw Mya Thaung physically assaulted private tuition teacher U Aung Pewho was handing out flyers in Twantay Township Kunchan ward on November 6. SPDC

authorities and USDP members also threatened NLD Youths campaigning for no vote intwenty townships of Mandalay Division such as Meikhtila, Wundwin, Thazi, Yamethin,Kyaukbadaung, etc.

On November 12, SPDC Supreme Court turned down Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrestappeal but the regime freed her next day in the evening. She commented on the 18th that herrelease from seven-year's detention was not a sign of regime's moderation. At a rally attended

by more than a hundred thousand people to greet her in front of the NLD HQ on the 14th,SPDC authorities planted Power Mongers or thugs among the people to provoke riot.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi personally went to Rangoon Divisional Court on the 16 th to put hersignature on the oath to prosecute the SPDC about NLD's legal right to exist. NLD attorneys

testified at the Central Court in Naypyidaw on the 18th

about the case but the case wasrejected on the 23rd. Mandalay Divisional Court also rejected an appeal by Arakan StateTaungup Township NLD member Ko Min Aung who is being detained for reporting army'sforced labor to the ILO. SPDC Press Scrutiny Board instructed all publications to use theword 'disbanded NLD' instead of NLD.

After Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited a safe house run by NLD leader Ma Phyu Phyu Thinnfor HIV/AIDS victims in South Dagon to give encouragement, SPDC authorities put varioussorts of pressure to close the safe house by citing poor hygienic conditions. NLD Youthmember Ko Yazar refuted allegations by regime's daily Kyemon newspaper, proclaiming thatthey could not drive out the patients.

Although the NLD was not participating in but boycotting the SPDC-sponsored elections, itwould set up an enquiry commission to investigate election frauds and present the findings,

PDC News Commentary ~ December 2010 (Eng) Page 1 of 1 0

December 2010

Compiled and commented by the Political Defiance Committee (PDC)

National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)


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Central Executive Committee member U Win Tin said on the 8 th. Popular leader Daw AungSan Suu Kyi said on November 15 that her chief objective was to bring about a peacefulchange in Burma and that she wished to see Burma Army as an honorable armed force,adding that she could work with SPDC or USDP for Burma's democracy issue.

While Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD was offering olive branch to the SPDC with softapproaches, SPDC generals did not make any official responses but rather carrying out allsorts of attacks and vilifications through the media under their control.

The relationship between ethnic groups and the military juntaThe relationship between ethnic groups and the military junta

Relations between military regime and ethnic ceasefire forces were getting tenser witheach passing day, tending to erupt into a full-fledged civil war again. As the SPDC increasedtroop deployment in Myawaddy by strengthening IBs 335, 275 and 24, confrontations arosewith DKBA Brigade 5 which was refusing to transform into a Border Guard Force (BGF). On

November 7, Election Day, DKBA Battalion 902 led by Maj. Kyaw Thet under the command

of Brigade 5 took over Myawaddy-Maesot Friendship Bridge, MAS office, Communicationsoffice and police post, resulting in firefights.

Battles continued in the morning of 8 th, leading to deaths of five civilians and some SPDCsoldiers with about twenty wounded. On that day the DKBA detained MOC 8 TacticalCommand 3 G-3 Capt. Thet Naing who came to talk to the DKBA, but released him on the12th. Battles also broke out between DKBA forces and SPDC troops in Three Pagodas Passregion on the same day. DKBA Battalion 907 led by Maj. Nortaya and KNU Brigade 6 troopsled by Capt. Saw Htenay joined hands to attack SPDC IB 283 and LIR 405 outposts onMaekatha highway in Three Pagodas Pass ward 4 and took hold of Three Pagodas Pass town.They overran and burned down SPDC offices.

On that day SPDC IBs 283, 284 and 31 shelled Karen villages around Kyainn-Seikkyi townwithout pretext, killing a 13-year old girl and wounding one boy. On the 9 th, SPDC troopsassisted by 120mm mortar fire, occupied Wallay Myaing Base where DKBA Brigade 5's HQwas based. SPDC IBs 270 and 284 also attacked Three Pagodas Pass on November 13 withartillery support, resulting in heavy fighting. On the 16 th, SPDC forces captured DKBABattalion 906's Rubber Plantation (Ava checkpoint) post.

As DKBA and KNU troops continued guerrilla warfare in Wallay, Three Pagodas Pass andKawkareik Township's Hteetapalei regions, battles raged daily with casualties on both sides.At a confrontation near Kyaukkwe village, Three Pagodas Pass Township, on November 11

between KNU Brigade 6 Battalion 16 and SPDC IBs 284, 207, about twenty SPDC men

perished. When attacking DKBA Brigade 5 and KNU forces, the SPDC was exploiting BGFstransformed from DKBA thereby systematically dividing Karen nationalities.

Instability was arising among Karen ceasefire groups transformed into BGFs. On the 22 nd, Lt.Htu Lui Eiur of DKBA-turned-BGF 1018 based in Myawaddy Township Shwe Kokko villagewas shot to death by one of his men. Many troopers from Karen BGFs were continuallydefecting to KNU and DKBA Brigade 5. Three Pagodas Pass-based Battalion 3 headed by Lt.Col. Saw Lay War from another Karen ceasefire group known as the Hawngthayaw group orKPF was forced to surrender due to SPDC regime's pressure. SPDC pressures promptedMaesot-based No. 4 Regional Control Force to raid and search the homes of six KNU leadersin Maesot on the night of November 2.

Tensions continued in KIO territory where the KIO was refusing to convert into a BGF. TheSPDC ordered closure of all KIO liaison offices in towns by the end of November and also



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cut off some routes leading to KIO HQ. In the second week of November, the SPDC sent five battalions to KIO- and SSA (North)-controlled territories to reinforce MOC 3 and its tenbattalions already deployed there. SPDC troops deployed in SSA (North) Brigade 1 territory before the elections were not withdrawn. The Brigade 1 was refusing to become a HomeGuard Force.

The UWSA issued a four-point statement on November 5 rejecting SPDC elections. It startedairing TV programs of the DVB through Wa State Information Dept. since November 10. TheSPDC shut off Ta-ping frontier gate at Namlway Bridge connecting Kengtung and EasternShan State Mongla Special Region 4 (NDAA-ESS) on November 24. Since the first week of

November, the SPDC was conducting military operations in KNPP-active areas of KayahState with LIRs 512, 511 and 517 under the command of LID 55. SPDC troops haveapparently increased their strength in New Mon State Party areas including the HQ area.

Ethnic armed forces, KNU, KNPP, NMSP, KIA, SSA (North) and CNF, met at Thai-Burma border in Mae Hong Son Province on November 2 to form a Federal Union FormationCommittee. A Federal Parliament comprising delegates from armed ethnic groups and elected

representatives of 1990 election was established on the 6 th with Khoo Rimond Htoo of KNPPand U Thein Oo of NLD-LA elected respectively as Speaker and Deputy Speaker ofParliament.

Battles broke out between SSA (South) troops led by Lt. Gen. Sao Yawd Serk and SPDCforces since early November. On November 4 th, two skirmishes in Eastern Shan StateMongyawng region caused the death of seven SPDC men with nine wounded. On the 11 th,SSA (South) forces laid an ambush against Artillery Battalion 361 in Wan Sawt region,resulting in four dead including one colonel on SPDC side. Next day SSA (North) CentralSecurity Force waged an hour-long battle with IB 33 in Want Hai region. On 23rd, a two-hourlong battle in Ponpakyin Township caused two SPDC dead and two wounded.

Ethnic armed groups issued proclamations denouncing SPDC elections. They also welcomedDaw Aung San Suu Kyi's release and urged her to initiate efforts toward nationalreconciliation. Six ethnic groups which have formed a military alliance were found to havestarted coordinated military actions in the form of guerrilla warfare along respectiveterritories. As SPDC considered the whole country to be its enemy with its troops openingmilitary fronts all over the country and not differentiating between frontline and rear, weassume that they could only wage a limited offensive.

The activities of NLD and domestic opposition forcesThe activities of NLD and domestic opposition forces

Prior to elections, NLD members stepped up 'no vote' campaigns all over the country. Towelcome Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whose arrest term would be fulfilled on November 13,nearly one hundred State and Division NLD leaders came to Rangoon to wait for her releasesince the 11th. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's office room in the NLD HQ also got a renovation.Before her time was up, masses of people were lining up since Friday the 12th at the corner ofUniversity Avenue on which her house was situated, well into the night. On November 13 th at5:15 pm, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was finally freed and greeted by thousands of supporterswaiting for her in front of her house. She has been tirelessly carrying out political activitiessince her release from house arrest.

On November 14 in the afternoon she addressed more than 100,000 supporters waiting forher speech in front of the NLD HQ at Shwegondaing. She pledged to continue working for

national reconciliation together with all democratic forces and also said that she wished tohear people's voices directly. After the public address, she held a press conference at the NLD



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office where domestic and foreign reporters turned up extensively. She spoke about the needto set up a network covering both home and abroad by utilizing modern technology so as tospeed up Burma's pro-democracy movement. In response to reporters' question about hersecurity, she said that her security depended upon authorities just like any other citizen's,adding that she has never considered her security since her release.

Beginning on the 15th, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi started coming to office daily and conductedparty work and mass organizing works. On the first morning she met with the NLD LegalAssistance Team and talked about the conditions facing the NLD and legal matters. She alsocalled and separately met with NLD members Ko Naychi Min, Ko Naingan Lin and Ko NyanWin Aung who were doing social assistance works on their own out of disagreements with

NLD leaders. On the 17th, she visited HIV/AIDS victims looked after by the NLD SocialAssistance Team in Rangoon Division South Dagon Township, and gave encouragement aswell as enquiring about the conditions there. Thousands of local people greeted her on theway.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also met with CRPP members cum ethnic leaders. At the homage-

paying ceremony for senior patriotic personages held on the 20th, ethnic leaders assigned herthe duty to lead the convening of 21 st century Panglong Conference and carry out the ethnicnationality issue. On the 22nd, she met with more than 100 NLD Youth leaders from variousStates and Divisions, and told them above all to raise their political consciousness, to set upeffective communications networks among the youth and to work for the achievement ofcontinued support of the people. She commented that the people and youths have become

bolder in political matters.

On the 23rd, she met with the NLD Central Women's Assistance Team and women leadersfrom States and Divisions. She led a discussion on political, economic and social issueswhich included relief of Arakan State's Cyclone Giri victims, human trafficking matters and

Tuesday Prayer Team's activity for release of political prisoners. She also met separately withArakan State NLD Organizing Committee members and donated Kyat 3.9 million forCyclone Giri relief. She went to Rangoon Airport to receive her younger son Ko Htein Linalias Kim Eris arriving on that day.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also met with leaders of political parties and Independent candidatesthat have contested in SPDC's 2010 elections. On the morning of 23 rd, she met with theDemocratic Party (Myanmar) led by U Thu Wai, and on the 25 th, she met with the Peace andDiversity Party. The meetings resulted in decisions to cooperate on common programs. Onthe 26th, she met with twelve CRPP members to discuss convening of the second PanglongConference. She visited and gave encouragement to about seventy family members of

political prisoners on the 29th. When she went shopping at Bogyoke Aung San market on the30th, thousands of people cheered her warmly.

She also talked about national reconciliation matters with UN Secretary-General and someheads of state who called her on phone. She talked to British Prime Minister David Cameronon November 15, Mr. Ban Ki Moon on the 18 th, Greece Prime Minister George Papandreouon the 19th and Philippine President Benigno Aquino on the 22nd. She also received UNSecretary-General's Special Representative on Burma Mr. Vijay Nambia on the 27th at herhome.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took questions asked by foreign-based Burmese media andinternational news agencies. She told CNN TV that she welcomed US government'sengagement policy toward the SPDC military regime but suggested it to be a pragmaticrelation. She toldIndian Express newspaper that she was saddened over India's negligence of



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Burma's pro-democracy efforts, recommending the Indian government to work as well withorganizations striving for Democracy in Burma as with the SPDC regime.

She told The New York Times that she has not talked about prosecuting SPDC military chiefsat the International Criminal Court (NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win, however, refuted thethat report, claiming that the newspaper has made a mistake). Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urgedthe Japanese government to assist Burma's transition from military dictatorship to democraticadministration.

NLD members and political activists reported on electoral fraud and illegitimate actsperpetrated by the SPDC Election Commission and the USDP on November 7, Election Day.On November 30, NLD Youths made blood donations at Insein Hospital and MingladonDefense Services Hospital in dedication to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday and to nationalreconciliation (However Mingladon Defense Services Hospital refused to accept the blooddonation).

Most of the opposition parties and Independent candidates contesting in the SPDC-sponsoredelections encountered all sorts of illegitimate and prejudiced persecution by regimeauthorities, election commissions and USDP even before the election, prompting the formerto complain to the commissions and authorities or to file cases at police stations. On theElection Day, election commissions and polling booth officials committed vote cheatings andused unlawfully collected advance votes to help USDP candidates win the polling.Opposition candidates documented all these frauds complete with hard evidence andwitnesses. Losing candidates also refused to put their signatures acknowledging defeat.

To expose regime's frauds, these candidates hold press conferences, contacted foreign newsmedia, informed the voters, issued reports, filed cases at relevant police stations, complainedin writing to SPDC chiefs and explained to UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to BurmaMr. Vijay Nambia. Because of SPDC Election Commission law stipulating deposit of Kyat

one million to file formal objection, there were very few cases of formal objection filed at theElection Commission.

Due to SPDC's poll cheatings and irregularities, even parties like the NUP and U Aye Lwin'sUnion of Myanmar National Politics Federation which were considered to be close to themilitary regime got frustrated and made formal objections. U Aye Lwin remarked, "Onlywhen hit on the back did I realize it as dacoit." U Nay Myo Wai of the Peace and DiversityParty also said, "I did not listen to NLD's call for boycott of SPDC elections because I havenot expected such injustice. NLD's decision is absolutely correct."

Democratic Party (Myanmar) Chairman U Thu Wai who has regarded SPDC's election as"military dictators' withdrawal" told the press conference on November 19 that the military

junta has conducted the election tactfully and that his party would continue extra- parliamentary activities. Its Secretary-1 Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein also asserted that her party would not accept the election result but would object to it together with other pro-democracy parties. Dr. Than Nyein and U Khin Maung Swe who broke away from the anti-election NLD to form the NDF party and contest in the elections also said that they could notrecognize the election result as the SPDC's election was not fair and that they would ask theElection Commission to re-assess the results. With the exception of the USDP and the NUP,all other political parties contesting in the elections welcomed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi'srelease while some parties pledged to work together on common points.

Differences arose among some political parties running for elections. The NDF party expelled

its No. 2 leader U Thein Nyunt (Kawkareik), who was elected from ThingangyunConstituency, on allegations of failure to observe party duty and making irresponsible talk



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about internal party matters. Union Democracy Party Chairman U Thein Htay resigned fromhis party after the election and asserted that he would follow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi'sleadership and carry out services to the people. On the 9 th, All Burma Monks Alliance, '88Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Students' Unions urged the Burmese peopleand the international community not to recognize the SPDC election.

We assume that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD were using the tactics of winning overinternal and external forces including ethnic nationalities to pressure the SPDC to get onto thedialogue route.

The military junta and domestic situation

The situation of the activities of the military juntaThe situation of the activities of the military junta

Although the military regime's Election Commission has instructed all campaigning tocease by October 30, junta-sponsored USDP blatantly carried out canvassing activities till theElection Day and made illegitimate vote-buying in the whole country. The regime has banned

entry visas of foreigners and passed new regulations to discipline domestic and foreignreporters before the election. Citing a cyber-attack against the Yadanarbon Teleport, Internetconnections were cut off two weeks before the election.

Starting from November 6, one day before the election, the Elections Commission andInformation Ministry arranged a tour of polling booths in Rangoon and Mandalay fordiplomats of Rangoon-based foreign embassies, reporters from foreign news agencies andreporters from domestic media in two groups. (American and European embassies refused togo on the tour to look at SPDC's sham election.)

Although the law said advance vote collection was to start only on November 5, the SPDCgathered advance votes among soldiers and family members, civil servants and familymembers and in some rural areas two weeks before the election. Authorities as well forcedthose who were able to go to and vote at the polling booths to cast advance ballots. Also onthe Election Day, all sorts of polling frauds and vote cheatings were done, with the USDPdefeating rival party candidates by means of advance votes.

When the All Mon Region Democratic Party General Secretary Dr. Min Nwe Soe personallywitnessed the polling booth in-charge of Mudon Township Nyaungon village polling stationno. 2 writing affirmative marks for the USDP on ballot sheets, he complained to relevantofficials. The Township Commission informed Dr. Saw Naing, Independent candidate forSouth Oakkala Constituency for Regional Assembly, on November 8 at 9 pm that he has wonthe seat and made him sign an acknowledgement paper for his win but on November 10, the

SPDC announced on the evening news of Burmese TV that USDP candidate U Aung KyawMoe has won.

Similarly NDF candidate U Aung Myat Tun contesting from Bahan Constituency waswinning by a margin of more than 2000 votes over the USDP candidate at the time of vote-counting after the polling booth closure, but the Township Commission informed him on thenext day that he has lost to the USDP candidate. Nai Ngwe Thein and Dr. Hla Aung,candidates of the All Mon Region Democracy Party respectively for People's Assembly and

National Assembly from Kyaikmaraw Township Constituency have beaten rival USDPcandidates at each polling booth but eventually lost due to advance votes which turned uplater.

Many candidates of Democratic Party (Myanmar), Karen People's Party, Rakhine NationalsDevelopment Party, '88 Generation Students and Youths (Union of Myanmar), Union of



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Myanmar Federation of National Politics, Peace and Diversity Party and NUP were winning by a large margin after vote-counting but were lost by advance votes turning up, variousconcerned parties reported. According to a source close to the Commission, Senior Gen. ThanShwe has ordered the Election Commission not to let opposition parties win more than 30%of seats and to destroy all evidence after the election.

China's Xinhua news agency reported on November 17 that the USDP has won a total of76.5% in all three assemblies. Out of 1154 seats in three chambers, the USDP won 883, the

NUP got 63, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party 57, the Rakhine NationalsDevelopment Party 35, the All Mon Region Democracy Party 16 and the NDF party got 16seats, China'sPeople's Daily reported online.

The SPDC Election Commission was found modifying the figures for voter numbers and votecounts. Row 37 on supplement page kha of November 13th issue of SPDC newspapersreported that 152614 voters or 100% of eligible voters casted votes in KyaukbadaungTownship; row 187 on page ma of November 15th issue reported that 26065 voters or104.28% of eligible voters casted votes in Amm Constituency1; row 235 on page la reported

that 867956 voters or 8.15% of eligible voters cased votes in South Dagon MyothitConstituency-2. There figures were then corrected in the November 17th issue of SPDCdailies.

The Commission also proclaimed USDP candidates to have won in cancelled constituencies.Row 6 on supplement page ta-talincheikof November 17th issue reported USDP candidateBaran Shaung as winner in Ingyanyan Constituency-2 while row 3 on supplement page hta-wunbe reported USDP candidate Mone Pornor as winner of Sumprabum Constituency-2 buton the next day, announced annulment of those proclamations.

As strong objections against voting frauds of SPDC authorities, Election Commission andUSDP turned up from both inside and outside the country, the SPDC Election Commission

sent threatening letters to the parties on November 16, warning them to act in accordancewith laws and by-laws. The Commission reprimanded the parties that their talking to foreign-

based radio stations and media were infringing the provisions of Election Law Article 64. Asan attempt to defend USDP's poll win and Election Commission's acts, a commentary in the

November 20th issue ofKyemon newspaper said that the winners have prevailed by the ballotscasted with both head and heart of voters and were thus in accordance with law.

The SPDC imposed tighter restrictions upon news media. On November 7, it apprehended theowner of Japanese AFP news agency Mr. Toru Yamaji and kept him for three days till the 12th.The regime also arrested and then deported Australian ABC news agency's documentarycameraman Hugh Piper and producer Helen Barrow both of whom have their visa periods

still left, ABC news agency disclosed on the 11th

.The SPDC banned some publications which have printed the news of Daw Aung San Suu Kyiillustriously. It suspended First Elevenand Hot Newsfor two weeks, and 7 Days, Venus

News, Myanmar Newsweek, Myanmar Postand The Voicejournals for one week. Authoritiesalso banned reporters of domestic private media from attending the press conference of USSecretary-General's Special Envoy Mr. Vijay Nambia held at Rangoon Airport before hisdeparture. However the SPDC ordered writer Nga Min Swe, who was always vilifying DawAung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, to demonstrate in front of the NLD HQ on the 25 th, wearinga T-shirt with the words "Dont cover Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's eyes and ears!"

Victorious USDP's top leaders Prime Minister U Thein Sein, Industry-1 Minister U Aung

Thaung and Transport and Communications Minister U Thein Swe visited Arakan State onthe 24th and met with election-winning Rakhine Nationals Development Party to lure it. The



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team also continued their trip to Kachin State and met with winning ethnic parties there towin them over. Information Minister U Kyaw Hsan and Religion Minister Thura U MyintMaung also went to Karen State to win over the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party viaTaungalay Abbot U Pyinnya Thami to the USDP side.

On November 26, Senior Gen. Than Shwe issued a signed directive aimed at successfulopposition representatives who were clamoring for revision of the 2008 Constitution,democratic rights and ethnic rights to be won in the parliament. The directive specified two-year's imprisonment for anyone speaking against state security, the three main national causesor the 2008 Constitution, inside the parliament.

A video clip showing Police Director General Brig. Khin Yee, Police Brig. Myint Thein andPenal Dept. Director General (Retd.) Col. Zaw Win taking former SPDC Secretary-1 cumformer Defense Intelligence Chief ex-Gen. Khin Nyunt, who was under house arrest on asuspended sentence of 44 years, and wife Dr. Daw Khin Win Shwe from their house to a newlocation surfaced on Facebook and Internet on November 26. It was not known who leakedthe audio-lacking video file for what intent but various speculations arose since it coincided

with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest and with tensions coming upbetween ceasefire groups and SPDC.

The clip showed Brig. Khin Yee and U Khin Nyunt conversing, the latter going upstairs andcoming down with a bag, hugging and kissing farewell to apparent grandchildren and settlingin the new place. The time of filming was not known but we assume that the film was aboutU Khin Nyunt and wife being transferred to a more secure place for some security reason.

We assume that some discreet internal change has appeared inside the SPDC military junta.

The socio-economic situation of the peopleThe socio-economic situation of the people

With the election approaching, Internet connections have become extremely slower sothat cybercafs in cities have to close down while communications of hotels, airlines andnews agencies were hurt. US dollar exchange rate dropped down continually after theelection, and rice, beans and sesame export businesses sank by half. Storm victims in manyCyclone Giri-hit areas of Arakan State were in dire need of food, potable water and shelter,social associations carrying out relief work said. About 18,000 children in said areas weremalnourished, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA)reported on November 16.

On the 19th, the military regime signed a memo agreeing to Global Fund's provision of $105.2million to combat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in next five years. The US Embassy initially

donated $100,000 for Giri relief but later on increased its assistance to $300,000, U Aye TharAung reported on the 23rd.

Due to fighting between SPDC and DKBA which started on November 7 and 8 in Myawaddyand Three Pagodas Pass townships, some people got wounded and some killed while tens ofthousands fled into Thailand. Local populace who were forced to return to homeland becauseof Thai government's pressure, have to flee again because of consecutive fighting and thendeported again.

Burma's economic situation was complicated while common people have to struggle veryhard to make their ends meet, and the conditions were worsening with time, economist AlisonVicary, Australia's Macquarie University commented on November 22.



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International Pressure

Even before the military regime's election has started, the international community haslooked at the regime's oppression and stated that the election could not be free and fair.

On November 2, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown labeled SPDC's election a

farce. On the same day, British Foreign Office's Junior Minister Jeremy Brown asserted thatBritain would not recognize the non-inclusive election called by the SPDC which was stillholding political prisoners. British Ambassador to Burma Andrew Heyn also said on the 5 th

while in Bangkok that SPDC election would not be fair because it did not meet internationalstandards. US President Obama also said at the press conference in Indonesia on the 9 th thatthe SPDC-sponsored election would not be a free election. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who was on a visit to China demanded the Chinese government to help with Burma's

progress after the election.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwon also said that the world would only regard thegovernment coming out of an open and inclusive election to be a legitimate one and deal withit. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ms. Jody Williams spoke during a seminar held in Thailand onBurma affairs about no need to monitor SPDC's elections which were crooked and lacking infairness right from the start.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of StateHilary Clinton, East Timorese President Ramos Horta, Philippine Foreign Minister AlbertoRomulo, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, SouthAfrican International Relations and Cooperation Director General Molobi and other NobelPeace Prize laureates issued statements welcoming Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release. NobelPeace Prize laureate de Klerk, former South African Prime Minister, who was on a visit toJapan also welcomed her release and warned world nations not to forget her repeateddetentions.

At the UN Human Rights Committee meeting on November 18, a draft resolution of Burmaissue motioned by US, EU and Western nations was adopted by 96 votes in favor, 28 againstand 60 abstaining. China vehemently objected to the resolution and proclaimed non-acknowledgement of it. India also voted against it. On the same day, the UN Security Councilunder the leadership of alternating chair UK called a closed door meeting on Burma affairs.

UN Human Rights Rapporteur on Burma Mr. Quintana demanded Burma on the 16 th to promptly release more than 2100 political prisoners. On the 28th, UN Secretary-General'sSpecial Envoy Mr. Vijay Nambiar who was visiting Burma urged the SPDC to settleallegations of election fraud, to release all political prisoners and to initiate an inclusive

political transition and national reconciliation.

World nations repudiated the November 7 election called by the SPDC regime. CanadianForeign Minister Lawrence Cannon expressed disappointment on the 8 th over SPDC militaryregime's failure to fulfill its promise of a free and fair election. American congressmen alsodenounced the election and stated on the 19th that any Burmese government that excludedDaw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic nationalities would not be legitimate. Czech Republic's

parliamentary foreign affairs committee also declared SPDC election illegal and demandedrelease of all political prisoners. On the 8th, six Nobel Peace Prize laureates said that SPDC'selection has ended their hopes. On the 15 th, Indonesian Member of Parliament BudymanSadjameko urged his country which would assume alternating ASEAN chair in 2011 toappraise SPDC's election. At the press conference on the same day, American State

Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley asserted that the US government would constantlywatch the progress of the military regime and maintain engagement and economic sanctions.



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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told AFP news agency on the 16 th that China believedin SPDC's upholding of the seven-step road map but refused to answer questions of DawAung San Suu Kyi's role. Both China and current alternating ASEAN chair Vietnamdescribed SPDC election as an apparent development on the 9 th. EU parliamentariansdemanded on the 26th for cessation of support to the SPDC by China, India, Russia and

ASEAN and for collective pressure upon the regime to bring about positive changes inBurma.

In his speech in front of Indian parliamentarians on November 9th, US President Obamacriticized India's policy toward Burma. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also said that the Indiangovernment should engage as well with Burmese pro-democracy organizations as with theSPDC regime, prompting Indian Foreign Ministry Secretary Mrs. Nirupama Rao to claim onthe 22nd that closeness between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and India was inseparably firm. Onthe 16th, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara asserted that the Japanese government was

practicing a positive engagement policy for Burma's democracy development. Japan's TokyoProvincial Assembly speaker also welcomed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts for national

reconciliation, on the 24

th

.We assume that although the international community is disappointed with military regime'sdeeds, they would recognize and deal with the upcoming USDP government as they did withthe present regime if the opposition forces could not work out any effective action.

//End of Report /Saturday, December 11, 2010//

//End of Translation/Saturday, December 18, 2010//

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pdc monthly news commentary december 2010 eng

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