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Todays is : Saturday, 22 November 2008

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Investment in orange trees fail
Businessmen who own orange groves in Garayang villages on the Sino-Burma border trade route in Kachin State, northern Burma are disappointed over investing in the orange business this year, a source said.An orange businessman said they could not make any profits in Garayang this year as most orange


KIO TV broadcasts junta-KIO meet
In an unusual move the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has started broadcasting recent video recordings of the meeting between KIO leaders and Burmese ruling junta on the group-owned Laiza Television in the KIO's headquarters and business center Laiza, since last week, said residents of Laiza


Kachin youth leader in Malaysia leaves for third country
Tangbau Kamli, a Kachin youth leader today left for the United States of America, which is accepting Burmese refugees. He was given a third country refugee status under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) programme in Malaysia, said Kachin refugees in Malaysia. Tangbau Kamli wa


KIO should wage war again on Burmese junta: Kachin resident
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) should wage war again on Burma's ruling junta in Kachin state, was a suggestion made by a Kachin resident at a meeting between delegates in the KIO-led Kachin state Interim Committee (KSIC) and Kachin residents of Hpakant (Phakant) jade mining city on Novem


Fear of bombing leads to reopening of checkpoints on Myitkyina-Hpakant road
Tipped off that the Hpakant jade mining city could be bombed the  Burmese military junta has reopened six military checkpoints on the Myitkyina-Hpakant Road in Kachin State of northern Burma to conduct vigorous checks.  All travellers and goods are being checked since early October. The checkpoint


US embassy refuses visa twice to Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum and family
For the second time the US embassy in Rangoon, in the former capital of Burma, has denied US entry visa to Rev. Dr. Lahtaw Saboi Jum, former general secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), the country's well-known peace mediator and his family. This was disclosed by a local source close to


US ban and economic meltdown hits jade trade in China
Jade businessmen in China have been dealt a body blow by the current global economic meltdown and the US ban on import of Burmese gems, said jade traders. The US banned import of Burmese gems on Oct 27, 2008.A Burmese jade trader who arrived in Guangzhou in China's southwest Guangdong (Canton) provi


Severe torture and extortion of Naga gold trader by Burmese troops
Severe torture was inflicted on an innocent Naga businessman and money was extorted by Burmese Army soldiers in Hukawng Valley in Burma's northern Kachin State after he was accused of being a 'Naga rebel', said local sources.Mr. Na Tat (30), a businessman dealing in gold was detained at the Burmese


Fuel prices drop at private outlets in Myitkyina
The price of petrol and diesel in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State has dropped since early October in private shops in town, a source said. According to residents in Myitkyina earlier one gallon of petrol cost 5,000 Kyat (US $4) at private outlets but now it is down to 4,000 Kyat (US $3).  E


Monsoon leave over, Chinese workers back in Myitsone project
Chinese employees working for the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) are back to work in the Myitsone hydropower project in Irrawaddy River also called Mali Hka in Burma's northern Kachin State following their monsoon holidays, local sources said.About a hundred workers have arrived back in gr


Deadline for motorcycle licenses extended in Kachin State
The deadline to apply for motorcycle licenses by owners of illegal Chinese-made motorcycles in Kachin State in northern Burma has been extended by the Burmese ruling junta. The four-month period to apply and acquire licenses expired on October 31. The fresh deadline is November 30, said local source


Burmese Army raids KIO-run sugar mill, detain three
Burmese Army troops raided the Namti Sugar Mill in Burma's northern Kachin State and detained three security personnel on October 8 at 6:30 p.m. local time, said mill sources. The sugar mill is operated by Buga Company under the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) which signed a ceasefire agreeme


Thai firm to give Ledo Road in northern Burma new look
The historical Ledo Road also called Stilwell Road is being reconstructed. An 80 mile stretch between Myitkyina and Danai (Tanai) in Kachin State of northern Burma is being reinstructed by a Thai company, a subsidiary of the Yuzana Company since early this week, said locals.Thai road construction wo


Prostitute dies after sexual escapade with Russian in jade land
Three days after she had sex with a Russian male in the last week of October, a Shan prostitute died under bizarre circumstances, in Phakant jade mining area in Kachin State, northern Burma, said local sources.The Shan woman was called for a night at a Russian mineral exploration camp in Tarmakhan,


USDA's free eye surgery kick starts in Myitkyina Hospital
Fervent election campaign in favour of Burma's ruling junta for the 2010 polls has begun in full swing with the junta-sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) offering free eye surgery to the people from October 29 at the General Hospital in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin Stat


Short term prison inmates sent to hard labour camps
Inmates serving less than a year's term in a prison in Myitkyina, the capital of Burma's northern Kachin State are being sent to Hard Labour camps in lower Burma by the ruling military junta, local sources said.Prison inmates serving prison terms between six months to five years in Zilon Prison have


Students' movement and accommodation restricted in Monyein
Local Burmese military junta authorities have imposed severe restrictions over accommodation for students' of the Distant University Education of Monyein University in Burma's northern Kachin State, student sources said. During the month-long special classes in Monyein University before the examina


WLB launches CEDAW report
The Burmese ruling junta continues to discriminate against women in Burma, according to a new report.  This, despite the international agreement signed by the junta regarding the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).The report entitled "In the Shadow of


Fire in Phakant destroys several houses
Two separate fires in Phakant in Burma's biggest jade mining area in Kachin State gutted several houses, local sources said.The fire broke out in Kalattkone quarter in downtown Phakant at 6 a.m. local time yesterday and destroyed eight large houses, in the quarter. Five to six families resided in th


Kachin village headman forced to retract statement on assault
A village headman in Kachin State in northern Burma was forced to retract his statement that he was assaulted and tortured by Burmese Army soldiers. The headman was forced to deny the allegation and call it untrue by the local Burmese military base after his story was covered by Thailand-based Kachi


Despite tax reduction, Chinese yet to resume logging in northern Burma
Reduction in taxes by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) notwithstanding, Chinese timber businessmen are yet to resume logging in Burma's northern Kachin State, said a local source.In the second logging season this year, the Central Treasury Department of the KIO has reduced tax on hardwood


Police in Kachin State gear up for 2010 election
The police force in Kachin State, northern Burma is gearing up for the 2010 general elections. Police personnel are into training and parades in the Nyein-Chan-Tar-Yar sport stadium in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State since October 22, a source said.The police exercises will continue for three


Mayan villagers forced into sentry duty
Villagers in Mayan in Burma's northern Kachin State are being forced into night sentry duty at their village on the orders of the village-based Burmese Army Artillery Battalion No. 372 led by Major Ye Yint Thwe, said villagers. The sentry duty comes at a time when villagers are to start harvesting p


USDA launches election campaign with charity work
An upbeat Burmese military junta sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in Kachin State has recently launched a series of campaigns to kick start its preparations for the 2010 general elections announced by the regime before the May referendum on the draft constitution, observ


Border trade restriction in Loije puts businessmen in a spot
Businessmen in Loije, Bhamo District, Kachin State are in a spot following restriction in border trade by the Burmese military junta authorities."These days it has become difficult to trade in Chinese goods through Burmese check points. The only goods that are allowed to pass through the gates are i


Chinese made motorcycle owners in a spot
People in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, riding Chinese made unlicensed motorcycles are finding it extremely difficult to negotiate the road to Laiza on the Sino-Burma border, in the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled area, a source said.On the way to Laiza, Burmese military


Former foes play 'friendship football match' in Myitkyina
Former foes – the Burmese military junta and the largest ethnic Kachin insurgent group in Northern Burma, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) played a 'friendship football match' on October 18 (last Saturday) in Myitkyina, the capital of Kahin State, said local sources.The 'friendship footb


Brig-Gen Thein Zaw mobilises support for election in Waingmaw
The Burmese military junta is gearing up for the elections with Kachin State's Organizer and Minister of Post, Communication and Telegraph, Brig-Gen Thein Zaw having met Christian leaders in Waingmaw on September 20 to garner support for the 2010 polls, sources said. The meeting came a day after he


Cholera kills 21 in northern Burma
An outbreak of Cholera has killed 21 people in areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), a ceasefire group in Kachin State, northern Burma, said KIO officials.The outbreak of the disease was first noticed in Pung Shwe Yang village and its surrounding villages in the Triangle Ar


Copier machine owners forced to donate money in Kachin State
The Burmese military junta has forcibly collected funds from all owners of copier machines in Myitkyina Township, capital of Burma's northern Kachin State. The money was ostensibly collected to support the staff members of the "Burma Press Scrutiny and Registration Board", said sources close to copi


Junta starts to clear confiscated Christian cemetery
Graves in a confiscated Christian cemetery in Myitkyina, the capital of Burma's northern Kachin State are being flattened with a bulldozer for the construction of government buildings by the local Burmese ruling junta authorities, said local Christian sources.A bulldozer is being used in the Dukahta


Burmese soldiers assault village headman for helping KIA
The village headman of Nalung was assaulted by two Burmese soldiers for helping a soldier of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) at the military checkpoint near the Sino-Burma border in Burma's northern Kachin State, said a local source. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing


Junta orders civilians to pay electricity charges for roadside lighting
The Burmese military junta's new Kachin State Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win of the Northern Command has ordered residents to pay the monthly electricity bills for roadside lighting in Myitkyina Township, the capital of Kachin State in northern Burma as of three weeks ago, said residents.A merchant in Ta


USDA offers 'free medical surgery' in Kachin State
The Burmese military junta sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) has offered 'free medical surgery' to people in Myitkyina Township, the capital of Kachin State in the north of the country, said local sources. It is meant to woo the electorate for the 2010 general elections w


Two monks arrested for smuggling heroin
Two presiding Buddhist monks of the Tagontai Monastery in Mandalay were arrested in Mansi (Manje) city in Bhamo District, Kachin State while they were delivering a number of solid-heroin blocks. Acting as carriers they collected the heroin from 105 Miles Border Trade Zone in Muse in northeast Shan S


Junta Sells Foreign-Aid-Fertilizers For Cyclone Nargis-Hit Irrawaddy River Delta
The Burmese military junta is now selling fertilizers, which came as aid from foreign countries for farmers in the Cyclone Nargis devastated regions in the country, since early this month, said local farmers.Farmers in Burma's northern Kachin State said, sacks of fertilizers marked 'Made-in-China' k


Fire brigade force residents to buy fire extinguishers for funds
The fire department of the Burmese military government in Bhamo town, the second largest city in Kachin State in northern Burma, is forcing residents to buy fire extinguishers, said local sources.The fire brigade sells each fire extinguisher tank at Kyat 40,000 (est. (est. US $ 34) and fire fighters


Rigorous checking on border trade route
Travellers are being rigorously checked at military checkpoints, especially between Lajayang and Garayang Villages on the illegal Sino-Burma border trade route in Kachin State, northern Burma by the Burmese Army, since Monday (October 6), said travellers.Cars and people are not being allowed after 6


Commander grants logging permits to Kachin ceasefire groups
Maj-Gen Soe Win Burmese junta's Northern Region Military Command commander has officially given 'logging permits' to all ethnic Kachin ceasefire groups in Kachin State. It is an unusual gesture which former commanders had never done, said local sources.The permission allows logging officially in Kac


Police guard monasteries in Myitkyina
Apprehensive of unrest on the first anniversary of the September 2007 saffron revolution led by monks, security has been beefed up by the Burmese military junta in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in northern Burma. Policemen have been deployed to guard every monastery in town, a source said.Â


Tourism in Burma badly hit
Staff members of a tourist agency in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma have claimed that the tourism industry in Burma is in the doldrums. This has affected payment of their salaries, a source said."Our salary has not increased in what has become an unstable tourism business given the unstable po


Rise in prostitution in Kachin State
The unstable political and economic situation in Burma (which was renamed Myanmar by the ruling junta) is driving a section of women in Kachin State into prostitution, sources said. They have been frequenting night clubs.There are a number of women, especially ethnic Kachin women, who frequent the '


Junta issues motorcycle license in Loije for the first time
The Burmese military junta in Loije Township in Bhamo District in Kachin State, northern Burma has started issuing license for Chinese manufactured unlicensed motorcycles in Loije since yesterday, a source said.This is the first time that the regime is issuing licenses in Loije. The authorities have


Ohn Myint awards students in Myitkyina
The Burmese military junta has awarded students who notched up six and five distinction marks (D) in the standard X final examinations this year. The award ceremony was held in the city hall in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in northern Burma on September 23, sources said.According to a part


Putao residents are not allowed to use timber
Residents of Putao in Kachin state, northern Burma are finding it difficult to buy timber for building wooden houses given the restrictions imposed by the Burmese military junta authorities, sources alleged."Timber is only meant for use by the Burmese Army and it has ordered people to send all the w


Junta imposes night curfew in Myitkyina
The Burmese military junta has come down heavily on residents of Burma's northern town Myitkyina the capital of Kachin State in the wake of students pasting anti-regime posters to denounce the 20th anniversary of the coup in the country on September 18. The regime has imposed night curfew starting f


Laiza residents forced to accept medicine
Residents of Laiza, on the Sino-Burma border, were forced to accept medicine distributed by Kachin State Northern Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win on Sunday, a source said. Laiza is the headquarters of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled areas.KIO authorities in Laiza forced some residents to


Senior USDA leader says they will definitely win 2010 elections
The junta sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in northern Burma has claimed it will definitely win the 2010 elections in Burma. This was declared by a senior leader, said local people.Salang Rawang Jung, general secretary of Kachin State's USDA told ethnic Kachin Christian


Monks finding it difficult to travel in Burma
A year after the saffron revolution, Buddhist monks are still finding it extremely difficult to travel in Burma because the Burmese military junta authorities are checking them thoroughly all the time, a source said.Monks who want to travel from Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in northern Bur


Commander Soe Win spends sleepless night over student's movement
Maj-Gen Soe Win, the Burmese military junta's Northern Military Command commander is spending sleepless nights over the movement unleashed by student activists. Try as he might, he has been unable to stop the poster movement launched by students in his area of control, sources in Kachin State in nor


Kachin woman gang raped, no action yet
The Burmese military junta is still avoiding taking action against rapists in Kachin State, northern Burma.There was an instance of rape again in Kachin State in Loi Je Township. A married woman, Sumlut Roi Ji (33) was gang raped by two Burmese construction workers, U Thein Tun Lin (40) and U Thein


Article/Feature Burmese people carry yoke of junta's survival In Burma democracy has been taboo for the military junta. On the contrary pragmatically Burmese citizens have never dared to seriously aspire for civilian rule regardless of useless sanctions and pressure on the regime for nearly half a century.While democracy has been taboo there has been no dearth of ways o
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Commentary Living under duress in Kachin State The Burmese military junta seems to have singled out Kachin State for some harsh treatment, one reason for which could be the daring level of dissidence among the student community, which has been repeatedly troubling the regime through poster campaigns, right under the very noses of junta officials.The dissi
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