.......................

February 2010
Compiled and commented by the Political Defiance Committee (PDC)
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)

February 2010

Th e activities of NLD and dom estic opposition forces

The relationship between NLD a nd the military jun ta

On January 11, the SPDC let Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meet with her lawyers about the
appeal case for her house. On January 15, SPDC Liaison Minister U Aung Kyi sent for her to
talk for 25 minutes. The SPDC also allowed Karl D. Jackson, Director-General of John
Hopkins University South-East Asia Studies in United States, and team to meet with some
NLD leaders on January 11. On January 18, the Central Court heard her appeal on Insein
Special Court's verdict. Renowned journalist U Win Tin travelled to Mandalay on January 18.
This was his first trip after his release from a long jail term but the SPDC just left it to his
own without any harassment, merely keeping a close watch on the voyage.
Although the regime was showing some superficial concessions, it was not freeing her. While
visiting Mandalay Division Kyaukbadaung city in the third week of January, Home Minister
Maj. Gen. Maung Oo said that she would be freed in 2010 November--when her time was up.
Because her case was still in the process of appealing to the Central Court, such talk by Maj.
Gen. Maung Oo was not in line with law, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi protested through her
lawyer U Nyan Win on January 28.
The SPDC is continuing its systematic persecution on the NLD. U Aung San Oo applied for a
prohibition warrant through his lawyer U Han Toe to halt his sister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
house-mending work. Local SPDC authorities forbade NLD members' religious rituals in
Rangoon Division Ahlone Township, prompting them to formally complain in writing to
Naypyidaw on January 8. Police Special Branch took photos of all the relatives of NLD MP
U Maung Kywin Aung in his native village and intimidated them. Authorities also banned
prison visits for Hlaing Thayar Township NLD Organizing Committee member U Tin Yu,
who is serving a prison term of nine years for taking part in Saffron Revolution. The length of
ban was one month.
Since the SPDC has sentenced Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to detention with the intention of
freeing her only after the election, we assume that she would not be released before the
election. However, due to mounting domestic and foreign pressures, SPDC top brass are
vacillating over whether to release her or not and are at loggerheads with each other. Maj.
Gen. Maung Oo's disclosure of the issue during his Kyaukbadaung trip could be a deliberate
ploy to sound out domestic and foreign response or might be a display of hardliner group's
stand.

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The relationship between ethnic groups and the military j un ta

Tensions continued between the SPDC and powerful ceasefire groups. Despite lobbying
by MAS chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint and relevant regional commanders, there was no progress.
Both sides are stepping up war preparations and feeling the pulse. When a leader of Mongla
ceasefire group that rejected regime's proposal got assassinated and a bomb found near
UWSA Liaison Office in Mu-se, suspicions arose higher.
Although the SPDC has not yet started military action against the big ceasefire groups, it was
planning to employ the tactics of finishing off hard-line leadership and splitting them by
buying off weak leaders. It is also planning to launch military offensives against ethnic
groups still fighting the regime as well as to make ethnics fight with ethnics. Some ethnic
forces still in armed struggle have also turned to urban guerrilla attacks in addition to jungle
warfare.
On January 5th, MAS chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint proposed to meet with UWSA Chairman Pouk
Yu-chiang but the latter turned it down citing health reasons. The UWSA is still clinging to
its nine demands sent to Lt. Gen. Ye Myint last November.
Wa troops took into custody a sergeant and six men from Mongkhat-based LIR 327 when
they intruded into Wa-controlled area. A military training graduation ceremony was held at
UWSA Brigade 468 HQ in Mongpouk on January 14. Since the SPDC started to pressure
ceasefire groups to transform into Border Guard Forces in 2009, the UWSA has stepped up
training of new recruits and militia in the territories of various brigades, resulting in more
than 3000 trained up to now.
Meanwhile Wa TV (WSTV) has repeatedly broadcasted Chairman Pouk Yu-chiang's speech
in the mornings and evenings exhorting the entire Wa people to be on military alert. January
issue of Wa Today Journal also printed an article titled "Defend our home" in Burmese,
strongly rebuking SPDC's demands for BGF transformation and handover of southern Wa
region to the regime.
Triangle Region Commander Maj. Gen. Kyaw Phyoe informed his troops in Mongkhat and
Mongyang area in early January about Wa group preventing Mongla group's transformation
into Border Guard Force and an increase within a month to eleven units of Wa-Mongla joint
forces at Mongyang Township Kho-sone boundary checkpoint from previously one unit. The
SPDC also instructed Shan State Police Force to speedily compile list of crimes committed
by ceasefire groups in Shan State within 2009.
In the morning of January 27, Eastern Shan State Special Region 4 Mongla ceasefire group
Secretary U Min Ein was shot to death while jogging. Next day an unexploded bomb was
found near UWSA Liaison Office in Mu-se.
On January 13, a military convoy of Division 55 and Division 33 with over 100 vehicles
headed to ceasefire areas in central and eastern Shan State. On 8th and 15th, about 20 military
trucks a day drove off to Hsenwi, Kutkhai, Kunlon and Hopan regions. The main purpose of
these troops could be to cut off links between SSA (North)'s Brigade 1 and UWSA Brigade 7,
between SSA (North) and SSA (South), and between SSA (North), UWSA and Mongla
regions, an SSA (South) commander speculated. As long as they are alive, they would never
accept transformation into Home Guard Force or militia, an SSA (North) commander vowed.
After the SPDC floated news of SSA (North) based in Hsipaw Township Seng Kiao about to
resume war with the regime, families of SPDC soldiers in army battalions from central Shan
State Mong Nawng were hastily moved to Laikha and Taunggyi on January 11 and 12.

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Despite continued talks between KIO and SPDC, there was no progress. On January 29,
MAS boss Lt. Gen. Ye Myint and Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Soe Myint met with
KIO Chairman Zaung Khra and team at Northern Command HQ in Myitkyina. The meeting
was the eleventh between them concerning the BGF issue. The SPDC allowed Sakhong Teng
Yeng's group that has transformed into BGF and Lasang Awnwa's group that has transformed
into militia to wear uniforms and bear arms at the Mano (Totem pole) festival which began
on January 7 in Myitkyina, it discriminated against the KIO by forbidding them from wearing
uniforms and bearing arms. When KIO Chief-of-Staff Maj. Gen. N'banla led his team with
arms to the festival, tensions arose between KIO and SPDC.
Sakhong Teng Yeng's group and Lasang Awnwa's group which have already transformed
into BGF and militia are experiencing SPDC's pressure upon them. When the SPDC froze
eight of Sakhong Teng Yeng's businesses, the group held a special meeting in Myitkyina
form January 13 to 16 but was unable to pass any resolution.
On January 9, SPDC IB 236 seized Kyat 100 million worth goods that included 1600 rice
bags, 400 sesame bags, timber and wood sculpture carried by eight trucks, two Hiluxes and
one Pajero on Bhamo-Manwein highway. Myitkyina-based Special Drug Police also beat one
of the group's presidents Oohdi Dwelar on January 16, seriously wounding him.
Unable to bear SPDC army's control, many soldiers from transformed ceasefire groups were
deserting their units. A lot of soldiers from Sakhong Teng Yeng's BGF battalions 1001, 1002
and 1003 undergoing military training at Union village-based SPDC Advanced Training
School No. 7 and Pai Souk-chien's Kokang BGF Battalion 1006 undergoing military training
at Mankat village-based Advanced Training School No. 8 fled from the training schools.
Displeased with transformation into BGF, some soldiers from Kya-inn Seikkyi-based DKBA
Battalion 908 defected to the KNU. Four members of the ceasefire Karenni National
Democratic Party (KNDP) that has been transformed into BGF defected to KNPP forces on
January 4 as they could not bear SPDC army control.
On January 15, SEC Commander Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win summoned ceasefire groups in
Karen and Mon states to Moulmein SEC HQ and gave pressure for transformation but
ceasefire New Mon State Party (NMSP) Chairman Naing Htaw Mon asserted at the 63rd Mon
National Day ceremony that it could not accept BGF formation and demanded revision of
some clauses in SPDC's 2008 Constitution. The SPDC is constantly watching NMSP's
activities besides provoking by frequently intruding into territories controlled by NMSP
forces including its HQ area at Ye River source.
SPDC newspapers and radios accused KNPP troops of causing electric power disruptions in
Rangoon and many other cities by demolishing a power grid pylon on January 23 night.
KNPP admitted to doing it but claimed that bombing is not aimed at the people but at the
military regime. SPDC Home Ministry released news about Burma Lawyers Council (BLC)
and KNU conspiring to ruin 2010 election by bombing Rangoon and some townships in
recent months, SPDC dailies reported on January 28. BLC and KNU denied the accusations
at once. On January 30, SPDC Home Ministry held a press conference with a few selected
reporters to allege exiled organizations planning terrorist attacks inside the country.
The third congress of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Palaung National Liberation
Organization also announced their opposition to SPDC's 2010 election.

Th e activities of NLD an d domes tic opposition forces

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 As the SPDC unilaterally plans to go along with 2010 election, political organizations
including the NLD as well as political activists are also stepping up their activities.
The NLD issued a statement on January 14 appointing NLD MPs U Win Myint of Irrawaddy
Division Danubyu Township Constituency 1, U Thein Nyunt of Rangoon Division
Thingangyun Township Constituency 1, U Tun Aung alias U Tun Tun Hain of Shan State
Nawncho Township Constituency, Dr. Win Naing of Rangoon Division Syriam Township
Constituency 1, U Ohn Kyaing alias Aung Wint of Mandalay South-East Township
Constituency 2, Dr. May Win Myint of Rangoon Division Mayangone Township
Constituency 2, Dr. Than Nyein of Rangoon Division Kyauktan Township Constituency 1, U
Nyan Win of Mon State Paung Township Constituency 1 and U Hantha Myint of Sagaing
Division Butalin Township Constituency 1 as new Central Executive Committee members.
The first meeting of NLD CEC with new members was held on January 18 at the HQ. NLD
Chairman sent instructions to state and division organizing committee chairmen on January
27 to submit list of candidates for reformation of the new Central Committee.
Rangoon Division NLD Organizing Committee members met with township organizing
committee members from twenty townships in Rangoon Division on January 26 and met with
remaining twenty townships on January 29 at the HQ in Shwegondine. Mandalay Division
NLD also made its first organizing trip on January 25 by going to Myingyan and meeting
with township organizing committee members of the district. NLD CECs U Win Tin and U
Ohn Kyaing visited Mandalay on January 18 and met with Mandalay Division NLD members
on January 21.
The NLD Youth resolved on January 1 to recruit new members and expand youth movement
realization works in 2010. NLD township women's teams are being expanded since seven
months ago and in Rangoon Division, twenty-two townships have accomplished the task, Dr.
May Win Myint, Rangoon Division Women's Working Group in-charge, said.
The NLD held an art exhibition as a fund-raising venture for political prisoners on January 1
at its HQ. At the ceremony to mark 62nd anniversary of Independence Day on January 4 held
at the head office, the NLD issued a statement affirming its chief aim for national unity and
reconciliation.
On January 1, the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP) issued a statement
exhorting the entire Burmese people including the NLD and ethnic forces to strive in unity
for political change in Burma in the new year. CRPP Secretary U Aye Tha Aung also
asserted on January 30 that the CRPP would rally around NLD's Shwegondine Declaration.
The Secretariat of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) also demanded the
SPDC on January 6 to let them meet with imprisoned party leaders Khun Tun Oo and Sai
Nyunt Lwin to discuss 2010 elections and current political situation.
At the Independence Day ceremony held at Thakin Thein Pe's home on Parami Road,
Rangoon, the Veteran Politicians group urged the SPDC regime to jointly solve the current
national crisis.
Anti-military dictatorship, anti-2008 Constitution and anti-2010 election mass activities are
gaining momentum in the whole country. In Mon State, anti-2010 election spray campaign
kicked off on January 1. Activists also distributed anti-2010 election flyers in Rangoon
Division Twantay on New Year's Eve night. Also in Mandalay, distribution of banknotes
printed over with words 'Free 2010' was carried out on New Year's Eve night.
On January 7 and 8, spray campaigns calling for opposition to 2010 election, downfall of
Gen. Than Shwe and release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi occurred in Northern Shan State Mu-

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se city's main locations. Coinciding with Kachin Mano festival in Myitkyina, Kachin
Students Union (AKSYU) led an anti-regime poster campaign in the morning of January 9.
On January 18, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's pictures with words 'Free Aung San Suu Kyi' were
dropped on buses in Rangoon.
Fifty-nine Christian churches performed a 24-hour group prayer service beginning in the
morning of January 18 in Myitkyina zone to oppose SPDC's Confluence Dam project. In
Northern Shan State Lashio, patriotic military families distributed Appeal to Soldiers on
January 24 and 25. The flyers called for 'army and people to join hands to achieve victory',
'immediate settlement of livelihood fulfillment' and 'giving precedence to dialogue.'
Students of Computer Studies University in Hlawga, Rangoon, made a poster campaign in
the campus on January 28 protesting against school authorities' oppression on students, and
caused a stir. On the same day, '88 Generation Students stated that it is imperative to conduct
dialogue between Senior Gen. Than Shwe and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi so as to make 2010
elections credible.
Strikes demanding labor rights broke out at some factories. On January 7, about 100 female
workers led a strike demanding 10 points of workers' rights at a shrimp processing freezer
plant in Rangoon's Hlaing Thayar Industrial Zone 2.
Political activities of political parties and people could intensify as 2010 elections come
closer.

Th e m ilitary jun ta and dom estic situa tion

Th e situ ation of the activities of th e military junta

Senior Gen. Than Shwe's message for 62nd anniversary of Independence Day said, "As
we are planning to hold the elections systematically this year, the entire people have to decide
and choose correctly." Citing regime sources, Asahi Shimbun newspaper of Japan reported on
January 8 that the SPDC is planning to hold elections in 2010 October.
The generals are repeatedly claiming that they would hold elections in 2010 without fail and
are also stepping up preparations for elections. They are also expanding riot control reserve
battalions and army reserve battalions as well as militia groups to suppress mass uprisings if
these broke out in 2010.
Besides the existing sixteen riot control police battalions, the SPDC has started forming 100-
strong riot control companies led by a police superintendent each. Rangoon Command has
instructed militia forces, auxiliary fire squad and police on January 26 to form such
companies in Rangoon Division. In the third week of January, War Office instructed all
thirteen regional commands in the country to set up two reserve battalions each for the Army
HQ. Army HQ Reserve Battalion No. 1 will comprise of forces extracted from divisions,
MOCs, regional commands and supporting arms while Battalion No. 2 will comprise of
forces extracted from training schools.
Transfers and reshuffles are going on inside SPDC troops. Some lieutenant colonels from
War Office were transferred to regional commands and divisions while some colonels were
moved as deputy regional commanders or deputy division commanders. Some colonels
serving as tactical commanders were transferred to regional commands and divisions as
Colonel of the General Staff while some senior officers from War Office were moved to
civilian ministries. Lt. Col. Aung Zaw Oo of Gen. Ye Myint's MAS was transferred to Amm-
based MOC 5 in Arakan State as Tactical Commander; Lt. Col. Aung Zaw Aye of Vice-
Senior Gen. Maung Aye's Armed Forces (Army) HQ was transferred to Mong Hsat-based

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MOC 14 in Shan State as Tactical Commander and; Co. Win Thein of Gen. Shwe Mahn's
Joint Chief-of-Staff Office was promoted to the post of Deputy Commander of Lashio-based
NEC.
Though there were reshuffles of about 60 or 70 colonels after the third tri-annual meeting of
SPDC held in November 2009, no changes in the ranks of brigadiers and above were found
till this day, military analyst U Aung Kyaw Zaw commented on January 12. Colonels who
recently graduated from the National Defense College have to serve in their old posts because
there were no vacancies at higher levels. As the SPDC has to assign military and civilian
posts before 2010 elections, there could be reshuffles inside the SPDC military in coming
months.
Unconfirmed reports said that Principal Maj. Gen. Mya Win of National Defense College in
Maymyo, Mandalay Division, has been retired. The regime promoted Consular U Kyaw Swa
Min, second leader of Burma's Permanent Representative to UN, to the post of Ambassador.
However, the SPDC is still retaining current Ambassador U Than Swe in addition to
appointing U Kyaw Swa Min as Joint Ambassador. This kind of structure has never existed in
the Foreign Office.
The SPDC is beginning to reorganize its administrative order by changing the posts of TPDC
chairmanships. It reshuffled about 100 TPDC chairpersons who have served for more than
three years.
The SPDC is giving away major state-owned enterprises to relatives of junta members and
big businessmen close to the regime. It allowed a first-ever joint venture between the state
and private in the energy sector by granting U Tayza who is very close to Senior Gen. Than
Shwe's family and some other domestic and foreign firms. On January 23, the regime set up
Fuel Oil Importers and Distributors Association composed of 47 central executive members
led by U Tayza and Aung Thet Mann, son of Gen. Shwe Mann, as president and vice-
president respectively. The SPDC is planning to hand over state-owned Myanmar Airways
International (MAI) to U Aung Ko Win. Although the SPDC announced ending of
Independence Merit medals on 62nd Independence Day, it conferred Thiri Pyanchi awards to
its close cronies U Tayza and U Zaw Zaw on that day.
After news about some SPDC military units including divisions 66 and 77 defying orders on
account of livelihood difficulties came out last month, the SPDC hiked salaries of all
government employees by Kyat 20000 each for all lower levels, Finance and Revenue
Ministry announced in its Notification 104/2009. The benefits would be effective from 2010
January. The regime also raised wet ration allowances for soldiers to Kyat 300.
In preparation for 2010 elections, the SPDC has instructed military units and USDA to carry
out public campaigning. SPDC troops are conducting campaigning talks for 2010 elections in
frontline villages while USDA members are collecting data from door to door.
The SPDC is trying to contain news during the 2010 election period. On January 7, the court
in Insein Jail sentenced former army officer Maj. Win Naing Kyaw to death and 20 years'
imprisonment for revealing state secrets. The regime also sentenced DVB reporters Ma Hla
Hla Win and Ko Ngwe Soe Lin to 27 years and 13 years in jail respectively. Authorities
forbade reporting news about election activities and stopped issuing photos of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and U Aung Kyi's meeting. The regime also kept jailing Ko Saw Wai although his
sentence was fulfilled on January 22. Ko Saw Wai was jailed for writing a poem with the
words 'Power-crazy Sen. Gen. Than Shwe.' Authorities prevented Tokyo Sakuya dance
troupe led by comedian Myitta from going abroad on January 22. Myitta has planned to
perform an entertainment show in Tokyo, Japan.

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Th e socio-economic situation of the people

Despite salary and wage hikes by the SPDC military regime, pensions were not raised so
that pensioners are facing more hardship. As salary hikes have caused unwarranted consumer
price rises, manual laborers are encountering increased poverty. Because SPDC generals'
circles knew in advance of salary hikes, they purchased kilos of gold, causing gold prices to
shoot up.
The SPDC was torching Karen villages in Karen State Nyaunglebin District Kyaukkyi
Township and in Tenasserim Division, and killing villagers, many of them fled to jungles and
border areas. Five Karen schools in Kyaukkyi Township have to close too.
The International Organization for Migrants (IOM) stated that it has helped more than 57000
Burmese refugees to settle abroad through Thailand within six years but over 3000 Karen
refugees which fled into Thailand because of SPDC and DKBA offensive last year were
facing the danger of Thai Army's forcible repatriation. On January 19, some refugees in Nupo
refugee camp kept in hold from migrating to abroad stage a soundless demonstration in front
of UNHCR office in the camp.
In spite of claims by SPDC regime cooperating with neighboring countries like Thailand,
China and Bangladesh to suppress human traffickers, Burmese people suffering from all
kinds of hardships are illegally migrating to neighboring countries and other countries with
all kinds of means.

Interna tional Press ure

US Senator Jim Webb who has talked to SPDC generals once expressed his support on
January 4 for SPDC regime's 2010 election process. However US State Department said on
January 6 that it would watch and monitor the elections for international credibility.
At the US State Department press conference held on January 20, US Under-Secretary of
State Mr. Kurt Campbell said that the US government need to be patient in dealing with the
SPDC regime but would not be indefinitely patient. A senior official from US State
Department said on January 22 that in spite of establishing a high level direct relation with
the SPDC regime the US administration was still awaiting regime's clear-cut steps to go
forward.
British Parliament held a meeting on January 5 about human rights violations inside Burma
and on border areas. The number of British parliamentarians demanding the UN Security
Council to take action upon Burmese regime's human rights abuses was increasing. French
government demanded the SPDC again on January 27 to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
all political prisoners, adopt a concrete program for national reconciliation and initiate
dialogue with ethnic forces and political forces before 2010 election. On January 21,
Norway-Burma Committee said that international sanctions imposed on Burmese military
regime were not enough.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon hoped on January 8 for Burmese regime to announce the
exact date of election and said that he would constantly watch development of Burma issue
and continue the talks with the regime depending upon the situation. On January 19, SPDC
signed a memorandum of understanding to extend the tenure of ILO watching forced labor in
Burma by one year. ILO Executive Director Mr. Kari Tapiola and his high-level delegation

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met with villagers in Magwe Division Aunglan Township on January 21 and met with
organizations and individuals assisting the ILO at the Traders Hotel UNICEF meeting hall on
January 23.
Since the SPDC did not free those detained for reporting to the ILO in addition to three child
soldier recruitment cases breaking out in one week during the ILO high-level delegation's
Burma visit, an ILO official expressed dissatisfaction with the visit on January 25.
The SPDC has permitted UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur Mr. Thomas Quintana to
visit Burma in the third week of next February in accordance with his demand, Quintana said
on January 26. He has been denied visa by the regime for a long time.
We assume that the SPDC regime would continue to play like above tightening and loosening
controls in turn without giving a damn about whoever saying whatever as long as there is no
effective action.

//End of Report /Sunday, February 07, 2010//

//End of Translation/Monday, February 14, 2010//

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