Burma Underground

Malaysian blogger released on bail

The Editor — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:39:00 -0700

Nathaniel Tan, the Malaysian blogger and activist who was arrested on the 13th and remanded to police custody for four days has been released on bail. He has posted his statement about the events at his blog. His statement is an eloquent and inspiring response, and there's really nothing I could say to add to it here. Here are a few excerpts from his statement, but do go read the whole thing.

I was eventually made to understand that I was arrested in connection to accusations made on the internet regarding Datuk Johari Baharum.

The connection to me was based on a comment made on my blog that was made by an anonymous commentor on the 10th of Februrary, 2007.

It was prepostorous of the police to suspect me of publishing these accusations based on documents protected by the Official Secrets Act that were supposedly in my posessesion. There is absolutely nothing even remotely resembling proof to substantiate such claims.

Kachins Condemning SPDC's order to demolish Bum San Kachin Baptist Church in Burma

The Editor — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:53:00 -0700

Dated: 18th June 2007

We, the Kachin National Organization, strongly condemn the recent State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) order to demolish the Bum San Kachin Baptist Church, located near the 105-mile gate office in Muse, Northern Shan State of Burma. The SPDC confiscated many Church buildings and lands, and restricted religious freedom in Burma for several decades. We appeal to the SPDC to dismiss its order to remove Bum San Kachin Baptist Church and to return all confiscated Churches and Church lands to the respective church bodies. We also ask SPDC to treat Christians and people of other religions on equal footing; and to fully abide by the laws and respect freedom of religion in Burma.

Whilst the Christian Solidarity Worldwide released a report highlighting the religious persecutions and discriminations against Christians and other religions in Burma, the SPDC bluntly denies any existence of such violations in Burma. The SPDC even forcefully asked the religious bodies to sign false declaration saying that they are enjoying full religious freedom. We have several evidences that the SPDC officials approached the religious leaders concerned to sign the confession papers. Contrary to the SPDC's claim, the recent act by the Burmese military government to demolish Bum San Kachin Baptist Church is purely a violation of religious freedom in Burma.

We, the Kachin National Organization warns the SPDC that your current treatment to other religions would create more consequences in Burma similar to that of U Nu's era. Many Kachin Christian believers joined Kachin Independent movement when U Nu bluntly declared Buddhism as a state religion for Burma. The history will repeat itself unless Burmese junta fully accepts co-existence and ethnicity diverse in the Union Of Burma.

Finally, we urge all Kachin Christians to protect our churches by all means and Christian from all over the world to condemn Burmese military junta’s fascist policy.

The Central Committee
Kachin National Council
Kachin National Organization

Contact for further information:

UK Office: knoffice_uk AT yahoo.com
Thailand Office: kno_office AT yahoo.com
India Office: kno_India AT yahoo.com
USA Office: kno_usa@yahoo.com
Denmark Office: knodk AT yahoo.co.uk
Japan Office: kno5japan AT yahoo.com

Malaysia Must Protect Chin Children Now

The Editor — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:10:00 -0700

(CHRO Press Release)

CHRO joins the Malaysian Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Burma in their call for the Malaysian government to take immediate action in the case of Dally Sui and to protect all Burmese children living in Malaysia. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia has a responsibility to uphold and ensure the rights of all children, including refugee and undocumented children, are protected.

THE CASE OF DALLY SUI

Dally Sui is seven year old Chin girl who was abducted on 20 March. Her body was later found with her hands severed at the wrist on 27 March. Dally Sui and her family fled Burma, and had been living in Malaysia as refugees since 2002. She went missing the day before she and her family were scheduled to leave Malaysia to be resettled to the United States.

After becoming aware that Dally Sui had disappeared, her parents immediately filed a missing persons report with the police. As the hours turned into days and the search for Dally Sui spread throughout the Chin community in Kuala Lumpur, the police did little to help. Despite repeated requests for their involvement, the authorities failed to take exert the effort even to simply speak to the distraught parents or interview the neighbors

In the end, Dally Sui was found dead with her body dumped in some undergrowth just 4 kilometers from her parent’s house. Her hands remain unaccounted for and her killer has still not been identified by the authorities. Her parent’s must now face leaving for the United States without receiving answers about the death of their little girl.

PROTEST AGAINST SPDC BARBARISM

The Editor — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:49:00 -0700

From the KNO:

A gang-rape case in Putao

March 22nd, 2007

On February 2nd, 2007, shocking news broke out from the highland plains of Duk Dang Village, Putao. This day of infamy will go down in history as evidence of the State Peace and Development Council's savagery, brutality, and oppression. Over a month has passed but we, the Kachin people around the world, have not forgotten the despicable act committed by Maj. Zaw Min Thet, Capt. Win Myint Oo, Capt. Kyaw Ze Ya, and four other service members of Infantry Battalion 138.

More than 10 years ago our Kachin people decided to try and resolve over 30 years of war with the central government by peaceful means. With solicitation from our Burmese counterparts we thought we could bury our differences and begin the mission of rebuilding our homeland. We have now reached 13 years since the ceasefire agreement and the results are extremely discouraging. Kachinland has been reduced to an international hotspot for the raging HIV epidemic, illicit drug production and deforestation is rampant, malnutrition among children is on the rise, and human rights violations continue unabated as the structures of civil society are weakened and torn down.

Urgent Appeal

The Editor — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:00:00 -0700

I received an email update the other day concerning the case of the four Kachin girls who were first gang raped by SPDC soldiers and then imprisoned because the story was leaked to the press.

The appeal below was also published at the Kachin News, although I'm not sure where it originated apart from the OMCT- and I couldn't find the original on that website. I'm posting here not only because it's an important case, but because the appeal includes the contact addresses, phone numbers, and emails of several key Burmese officials. I'm sure many people, and hopefully spambots, will be able to put this information to good use.

Statement on 46th Kachin Independence Revolution Day

The Editor — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

The Central Committee
Kachin National Organization

Monday February 5th, 2007 marks the 46th anniversary of the Kachin Independence Revolution against ethnocentric Burmese military regime. After more than four score years, we remain to be enslaved under the maniacal of militarism and our basic human rights to live and freedoms to survive are increasingly endangered evermore than the past. KNO has witnessed the build up of troops to an unprecedented level during the cease-fire era, and such action will force us to set another revolt against the Burmanization.

KNU Statement on SPDC’'s Increasing Military Activities

The Editor — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 15:44:00 -0800

According to recent news reports, the SPDC's renewed campaign of violence in Karen State has displaced as many as 3000 people in a matter of months. (Counterinsurgency Creates Fresh Wave of Refugees, New Attacks by Burma Displace Over 3,000 Karen)

I mentioned in the previous post that thousands of Karen in Thailand expecting to be resettled in the US have had their cases rejected or put on hold due to the 'material support clause' of the Patriot Act. The KNU, or sub-groups of the KNU have been identified as groups which may be engaging in 'terrorist activity'. Consequently, anyone deemed to have provided support are rendered inadmissable for migration or resettlement in the US. The KNU is the oldest resistance group in Burma, and have a cease-fire agreement with the junta. They have adhered to the tenants of the cease-fire even to their own detriment, as the SPDC doesn't give a flying flip about any agreements they've made with anyone. The following is a statement from the KNU regarding the recent SPDC attacks against the Karen people. There's no clause against providing moral support, is there?

Statement of Kachins in Malaysia

The Editor — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 06:31:00 -0800

We, Kachins, are living in northern part of Burma, so-called Kachin State bordered by China and India.

On January 2,2006, five freedom fighters of the Kachin Independence Army ( KIO/KIA) were deliberately shot dead by Burmese Infantry Battalion (68), led by Major Hla Moe, near Naung Hant village in Northern Shan State, Burma.Two other civilians were also injured during the attack and have been taken to a military hospital. This is such an incident since KIO/KIA took ceasefire with SPDC ( State Peace and Development Council ) in 1994.

Chronological events of KIO/KIA Servicemen Killed By Burmese Junta after 1994 Ceasefire Agreement

1996 Sergeant Mahka La Seng, a well known Infantry Intelligence Chief of Battalion 6, under KIO/KIA 2nd Brigade.
Arrested from Seng Tawng Village in Hpakant Township, Kachin State and secretly killed on the road between Namya and Ntau Villages, by Burmese Army Infanty Battalion 74

1997 4 KIA soldiers from Battalion 6, under KIO/KIA 2nd Brigade.
Arrested on the road between Seng Ra and Lawng Hkang Villages in Hpakant, Kachin State, and killed secretly by Burmese Army Infantry Battalion 74

1998 Njai Naw, a well known KIO/KIA Intelligence Agent.
Arrested from Mashi Kahtawng Village of Hpakant, Kachin State and killed secretly. The culprits have not yet been identified.

19 March, 2001 11 KIO/KIA Servicemen
Arrested from where they were working in their agricultural field in Battalion 9, under KIO/KIA 4th Brigade, Norhteast Shan State, and killed secretly by Burmese Army Battalion 242 led by Maj. Nyo Win

Thus, we, Kachin people in Malaysia, strongly condemn the recent killings and urge all the International Communities to support the causes of ethnic nationalities in Burma.

Names of those were shot dead by Burmese Infantry Battalion 68
on January 02, 2006

(1) Mr. Labang Gam Hpang
(2) Mr. Zehkung Hkawng Hkam
(3) Mr. Maran Zau Mai
(4) Mr. Maran Tu Shan
(5) Mr. Maran Brang Shawng

Further Information:
Kachin News
Kachin Post

From the Kachin National Organisation

The Editor — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:39:00 -0800

The following statement references a recent attack by the SPDC on a unit of the Kachin Independence Organization at their base in Muse, in Shan State. Article Link

KNO Statement on SPDC killing of KIA soldiers and violating the Cease-fire Agreement against KIO/KIA

4th January 2006

Five freedom fighters of Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) were deliberately shot dead by Burmese Infantry Battalion near Naung Hant village in Northern Shan State, Burma on January 2, 2006. Two other civilians were also injured during the attack and have been taken to a military hospital. This is the second incident since KIO/KIA took ceasefire with State Peace and Development Council in 1994.

The similar atrocities happened in Si Za Pa village in Northern Shan State on 22nd March 2001. In that incident, the Burmese troops intentionally killed nine soldiers of the KIA’s army and two other civilians. Despite the ceasefire, the Burmese army continued their genocidal activities all over Kachin inhabited areas.

Evidence shows that the Burmese army resumed exterminating all the ethnic nationalities in Burma. Thus, we, the Kachin National Organization strongly condemn the recent killings and urge all the International Communities to support the causes of ethnic nationalities in Burma.

We, KNO call up all the Kachin National individuals and organizations living inside and outside Burma; and the International Communities:-

-          To condemn the violation of the Cease-fire Agreement.
-          To urge KIO/KIA to withdraw from sham National Convention.
-          To take immediate action against SPDC by UNSC.

Central Committee
Kachin National Organization

Contact: 8, Dene Avenue,
TW3 3AH, London, UK.
Tel: 44-1234 360 725,
Fax: 44-1295 273 225,
Email: knoffice_uk@yahoo.com

78, Soi- 4, Bumrungrat Rd.,
Waket, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand.
Mobile: 66 - 955 38030, Fax: 66 - 53 – 249 114,
Email: kno_office@yahoo.com