New Delhi (Mizzima) – Veteran journalist Win Tin said on Monday Burma’s military rulers are going the whole hog to garner diplomatic support from regional countries in the face of growing international condemnation over the trial of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Win Tin, who is also a central executive committee member of the Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy said, the visit of Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong are all part of the junta’s effort to cosy up to regional countries.
“Clearly, the junta is in a tight spot as the international community has reacted more sharply than it had anticipated. And since it might be difficult for the regime to try and influence the West, they at least want the support of regional countries,” Win Tin added.
On Sunday, the junta’s mouthpiece newspaper reported the visit of Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to Burma. Rajapaksa was received in Naypyitaw by the Burmese Army Chief Snr. Gen Than Shwe — a rare gesture by the junta supremo.
Similarly, Singapore’s former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on a four-day visit to Burma last week had meetings with Than Shwe and other junta brass.
Win Tin said, such visits are indications that the junta is seeking support from regional countries. He said the junta had not anticipated that there would be such a loud outcry from the international community by putting on trial Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“It [junta] seems to have miscalculated on the strong support for Aung San Suu Kyi by the international community,” Win Tin said.
The junta wants to gauge China’s reaction over the mounting pressure and is likely to go ahead and sentence the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate, if China gives the green signal, he said.
According to Win Tin, the junta is determined to sentence Aung San Suu Kyi to a prison term and put her away before their proposed 2010 general elections. But it had not anticipated such an outburst from the international community.
Sources said Thura Shwe Mann, the third leader in the Burmese military hierarchy, last week visited China without making any official announcement. On Monday, the Chinese News Agency Xinhua reported that Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, number two in the military hierarchy, is visiting China.
Observers believe these visits are aimed at explaining and trying to convince China about the junta’s stand regarding the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and the regime’s plans ahead.
Win Tin said, “Whatever the circumstances, the junta is likely go ahead with its plan if China approves.”
About Me
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Two Karen villagers raped and killed by soldiers from Burma’s army (LIB (205)
A Karen relief team based on the Thai-Burma border reported on Wednesday, June 17, that two teenaged Karen women were raped and murdered by Burmese soldiers in Kwee Law Plo village, Lu Pleh Township, Pa-an district on June 12.
Joint troops of the Burmese Army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were passing through the village, which is 15 kilometers from Ler Per Her IDP (independent displaced persons) camp.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, June 17, the Free Burma Ranger (FBR)’s communications and information coordinator said that the two women were raped and murdered in the village after their husbands had fled into the jungle to avoid being forced to work as porters for the Burmese Army.
The source said that the first victim, who was 18 years old, was eight-months pregnant, and the second victim, a 17-year-old, had a six-months-old baby.
The coordinator said the relief team members who are working underground in the area reported that Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 205 , which is taking part in the ongoing fighting, were involved in the crime.
The Irrawaddy has not been able to obtain independent confirmation of this incident.
The attack by a joint force of the Burmese Army and the DKBA on the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), which started in the first week of June, has forced about 4,000 refugees to flee to Thailand. Most of the refugees are from Ler Per Her IDP camp, which came under attack.
The FBR is actively involved in helping Karen displaced people inside Karen areas who ran away from the civil war.
On 27 December, 2008, a seven-year-old Karen girl was also raped and murdered by a Burmese soldier from LIB 350 in Nyaunglebin District, Pegu Division.
Different ethnic-rights groups based on the Thai-Burma have written reports about Burmese soldiers raping female victims of the civil war in Burma in previous years.
Karen organizations have previously accused the Burmese military of using systematic rape as a weapon to terrorize ethnic people living along the borders.
In 2004, the Karen Women Organization (KWO) published a report titled “Shattering Silences,” which claimed that Burmese troops systematically raped Karen women. The report documented 125 cases of sexual violence committed between 1988 and 2004.
The report said that half of the rapes were committed by military officers, 40 percent were gang-rapes, and in 28 percent of the cases the women were killed after being raped.
Women’s organizations in other ethnic areas have reported similar incidents. In June 2002, the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) released a report titled “Licence to Rape,” which detailed testimonies from 173 ethnic Shan women who had been raped or encountered sexual violence at the hands of Burmese soldiers.
Joint troops of the Burmese Army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were passing through the village, which is 15 kilometers from Ler Per Her IDP (independent displaced persons) camp.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, June 17, the Free Burma Ranger (FBR)’s communications and information coordinator said that the two women were raped and murdered in the village after their husbands had fled into the jungle to avoid being forced to work as porters for the Burmese Army.
The source said that the first victim, who was 18 years old, was eight-months pregnant, and the second victim, a 17-year-old, had a six-months-old baby.
The coordinator said the relief team members who are working underground in the area reported that Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 205 , which is taking part in the ongoing fighting, were involved in the crime.
The Irrawaddy has not been able to obtain independent confirmation of this incident.
The attack by a joint force of the Burmese Army and the DKBA on the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), which started in the first week of June, has forced about 4,000 refugees to flee to Thailand. Most of the refugees are from Ler Per Her IDP camp, which came under attack.
The FBR is actively involved in helping Karen displaced people inside Karen areas who ran away from the civil war.
On 27 December, 2008, a seven-year-old Karen girl was also raped and murdered by a Burmese soldier from LIB 350 in Nyaunglebin District, Pegu Division.
Different ethnic-rights groups based on the Thai-Burma have written reports about Burmese soldiers raping female victims of the civil war in Burma in previous years.
Karen organizations have previously accused the Burmese military of using systematic rape as a weapon to terrorize ethnic people living along the borders.
In 2004, the Karen Women Organization (KWO) published a report titled “Shattering Silences,” which claimed that Burmese troops systematically raped Karen women. The report documented 125 cases of sexual violence committed between 1988 and 2004.
The report said that half of the rapes were committed by military officers, 40 percent were gang-rapes, and in 28 percent of the cases the women were killed after being raped.
Women’s organizations in other ethnic areas have reported similar incidents. In June 2002, the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) released a report titled “Licence to Rape,” which detailed testimonies from 173 ethnic Shan women who had been raped or encountered sexual violence at the hands of Burmese soldiers.
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