Security beefed up in few towns in Rakhine State

by Nyein Chan

Dhaka (Mizzima) – The Burmese military junta authorities have tightened security in Sittwe and Tungup towns in Western Burma where anti-regime protests took place in the recent past.

Two days after Aung San Suu Kyi was transferred to Insein prison on May 14 to face her trial, the police in Sittwe were deployed at crowded places in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine (Arakan state) - such as near the Town Hall, around the University, Atulamarazein and Ye Kyaw Thu pagodas, Vaishali stadium, U Ottama Park and Lawkananda pagodas.

"There are 300 police personnel deployed here. They are standing by, a local resident from Narzi Ward told Mizzima.

Similarly, police personnel have been patrolling Tungup in southern Rakhine State, since May 17.

"About 100 policemen are patrolling the town in three police patrol cars. The local authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the backdrop of Daw Suu's trial," the local resident from Tungup said.

A youth from Tungup National League for Democracy (NLD) said that the local people are disenchanted with the transfer of Aung San Suu Kyi to Insein prison to face trial.

"We are also watching the situation very closely. We will launch a movement if necessary," he said.

Sittwe and Tungup are the places where political protests and movements have taken place and demonstrations were staged during the 2007 September saffron revolution.

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Immigration Authority Makes Arakanese to Burmese on National ID Cards

Ann (Narinjara): The immigration department has issued new national ID cards to Arakanese nationals in Ann Township for the 2010 election, but identified their race on the cards as Burman rather than Arakanese, said a teacher from Ann.

"Our parents are Rahkine [Arakanese], but the immigration department issued the ID cards to us with "Burman nationals" on the cards. We disagreed with such listing of Burman on our national ID cards, but the authority refused to correct the nationality listed on the cards," he said.

Local sources said many Arakanese people in Ann Township have received their ID cards with Burman listed as the race instead of Arakanese, but they have not been given the chance to refuse the incorrect ID cards.

"We requested they correct our nationalities on the ID cards but the officials told us they are very busy with making national ID cards for everyone around the township and they will be able to correct the nationalities after the 2010 election. We have no other choice so we accepted the ID cards despite our nationalities being listed as Burman," he said.

Ann Town is located in central Arakan State and has the largest army cantonment in the state stationed there. Many relatives of Burmese soldiers and officials are now living in the town along with local Arakanese people.

"The immigration department in our township has been issuing new national ID cards to Burmese settlers and local Arakanese in the township since January of this year so they can vote in the 2010 election, but all the ID cards that have been issued have Burman noted as the race," the teacher added.

Some Arakanese people have complained about the new ID cards but the government employees have remained silent on the issue in order to avoid the attention of the high authority.

A clerk from one government department said, "Burmese high officials always explain to us that Arakanese and Burman is the same nationality and the same people, regardless of what is listed on the ID card. Whether Arakanese or Burman, it is not a problem."

Most local people in the township are uneducated and innocent, so they accepted the ID cards with Burman listed as the race without any objection.

A politician from Sittwe said, "It is a Burmanisation policy against our Arakanese people and was done with intent by the authorities. The Burmese military authority wants to see the whole of Ann Township populated with Burman people, not Arakanese, because the town is strategically important to the Burmese army and the authority wants to build the town as an army city in western Burma."

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Burma releases 113 prisoners from Buthidaung jail

(Kaladan Press) - Buthidaung, Arakan State: Burma has released 113 prisoners including Rakhine and Rohingya from Buthidaung jail in Arakan State on February 22 night. Among the freed were 22 Rakhine and the rest were Rohingya prisoners, said a relative one of the released prisoners on condition of anonymity.

Burma announced the release of over 6,000 prisoners including 11 political prisoners, five monks, six NLD members and other prisoners, from prisons across the country on February 22, according to State television and radio.

The Burmese ruling junta has persistently denied the presence of political prisoners in the country’s jail. People believe that about 2,162 political prisoners and some religious persons are still in detention in various jails. They were arrested in 2003, but military junta persistently denies it. They (junta) claimed that they all are criminals, sources said.

The junta released the prisoners to participate in the general election to be held in 2010, for ushering in democracy in keeping with the regime’s seven-point road-map.

The announcement came a day after UN human rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana wrapped up a six-day visit to Burma on February 19. This was his second trip to Burma since he assumed office in May 2008. He first visited Burma in August 2008.

Quintana was scheduled to visit Arakan and Kachin States where local opposition complain of repeated harassment by the authorities. People of Arakan hoped to meet the UN envoy and they would have apprised him of the difficulties they have been facing in Arakan. But the wish was not fulfilled as the UN envoy was not allowed to come to Arakan State. Local authorities had selected local villagers to meet the UN envoy, to provide pro-government statements, said a businessman who declined to be named.

A schoolteacher said that the Burmese ruling military had earlier also released prisoners after or before a UN envoys visited Burma to save face.

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Rakhine NLD Secretary's Appeal Rejected - U Khin Hla

Original Source: Naw Say Paw - Democratic Voice of Burma
Translated: Nay Chi U - Who is Who in Burma

U Khin Hla, Secretary of National League for Democracy Party, Rakhine , who is serving 4 years in Than Dwe prison has had his appeal rejected by Than Dwe' District magistrate's court today, it is reported.

U Khin Hla was arrested on 28 November, put on trial, prosecuted and sentenced to 4 years and 3 months imprisonment on the same day. It was understood that the opportunity seeking local authorities took advantage of the family argument to seize him, although the family is now reconciled.

About 7000 locals had already added their signatures to a petition calling for the release of U Khin Hla and deputy secretary Ko Min Aung.

Three monks from Sittwe have been in prison and three others have been detained for interrogation. Ko Ye' Min Oo, a university student from Gwa and three other men have been also detained.

NLD member U Ye' Thein from Boo Thee Daung was arrested and sent to a psychiatric hospital.

U Than Hlaing, joint secretary of NLD Party, Rakhine said," At this crucial time, when all the selfishness and pride should be set aside and we should all be concentrating on holding the meaningful discussions, for the current and long-term benefit of the country's development and future. It is vital and most important that all the political prisoners are released immediately, otherwise, talking about meaningful discussions will be just like writing things on the surface of water. It will be just a joke and no one is going to believe it . And if the discussions are not happening , I am afraid, the unnecessary killings and sufferings will be going around like in a circle."

READ MORE---> Rakhine NLD Secretary's Appeal Rejected - U Khin Hla...