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B U R M A B U L L E T I N
A month-in-review of events in Burma
 
A L T E R N A T I V E A S E A N N E T W O R K O N B U R M A
 campaigns, advocacy & capacity-building for human rights & democracy
Issue 64
 
April 2012
 
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Burma’s electorate unequivocally rejects the regimeand the USDP in the by-elections. The NLD wins 43of the 45 seats at stake. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi winsher seat with over 85% of the votes.
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Tatmadaw intensifies military operations and troopbuildup near the Kachin Independence Armyheadquarters. Tatmadaw soldiers continue tocommit serious human rights abuses againstcivilians in their offensive in Kachin State.
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Regime and Karen National Union sign a 13-pointagreement during a second round of talks. KNUofficials also hold meetings with President TheinSein in Naypyidaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inRangoon.
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US, EU, Canada, Australia, and Norway easesanctions after the by-elections results. Japancancels 60% of Burma’s outstanding debt andrestarts financial aid.
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UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chiefCatherine Ashton, and UK PM David Cameron allvisit Burma to bolster reforms.
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Refugees in Thailand and Bangladesh are surveyedon repatriation while the regime wants to resettleIDPs and refigees by June.
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In Thailand, Burmese migrant workers strike in wakeof minimum wage hike. Twenty migrant workers arerescued from bonded labor while two die while beingdeported to Burma.
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ADB assesses Burma’s current and future economicconditions. The bank says more investment isneeded in infrastructure and human resources.KEY STORYNLD wins by-elections by a landslide
On 1 April, Burma’s electorate unequivocally rejected the regime and the USDP in the by-elections.With 45 seats up for grabs, the NLD won 43 of the 44 seats it contested.
1
The Shan NationalsDemocracy Party (SNDP) and the USDP won one seat each.
2
The NLD swept all 37 seats in thePeople’s Assembly, including all four seats in the military stronghold of Naypyidaw.
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Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi won her seat in Kawmoo Township, Rangoon Division, with over 85% of the votes.
4
Despite
1
AFP (03 Apr 12) Suu Kyi's party wins 43 seats in parliament; RFA (03 Apr 12) NLD, Shan Party Lead Opposition Assault;Xinhua (03 Apr 12) Aung San Suu Kyi's party sweeps Myanmar by-election
2
AFP (03 Apr 12) Suu Kyi's party wins 43 seats in parliament; RFA (03 Apr 12) NLD, Shan Party Lead Opposition Assault;Xinhua (03 Apr 12) Aung San Suu Kyi's party sweeps Myanmar by-election
3
Xinhua (02 Apr 12) Myanmar election commission announces NLD wins overwhelmingly in by-elections; Myanmar Times (09Apr 12) NLD sweeps Nay Pyi Taw in surprise win
4
Xinhua (02 Apr 12) Myanmar election commission announces NLD wins overwhelmingly in by-elections
IN THIS ISSUEKEY STORY
1 NLD wins by-elections2 Minor irregularities on voting day2 NLD hails new era2 Oath of office compromise
INSIDE BURMA
3 Offensive against KIA4 KNU-regime talks5 Mon, Rakhine sign agreements5 Shan State fighting
HUMAN RIGHTS
6 Censorship continues
DISPLACEMENT
6 Refugees repatriated?6 Migrant workers exploited, killed
INTERNATIONAL
7 Thein Sein visits Japan7 UK urges progress on reforms7 EU calls for irreversible reforms8 UN Sec-Gen visits Burma8 Sanctions eased
ECONOMY
9 Gas revenues up 22%9 ADB on Burma’s economy9
OTHER BURMA NEWS
 11
REPORTS
 _____________________________________Receive the Burma Bulletin monthly! email publications@altsean.org Online copies are available for download at www.altsean.org 
 
 
2
the NLD’s impressive by-elections performance, NLD MPs accounted for less than 7% of the seats atthe national level - the third largest parliamentary group after the USDP and the military.
Minor irregularities on voting day
While unfair election laws, harassment of NLD candidates, and serious violations of election lawscharacterized the electoral process in the lead-up to 1 April [See
February and March 2012 Burma Bulletins
], there were only reports of minor irregularities on voting day. Complaints mainly concernedtampering with ballots and campaigning near polling stations.
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EU election monitors generally gave apositive assessment of the voting process but stopped short of calling it ‘free and fair.’
6
On 2 April,observers from ASEAN issued a statement that saidthe by-elections had been conducted in a “free, fair,and transparent manner.”
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On 7 April, the 88Generation Students released a report on the findingsof their by-election monitoring.
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The group said it was“satisfied” with the elections, but provided a list of areas that needed improvement, including the use of higher quality ballots and providing poll officials withbetter training.
9
 
Military MPs changed to counterbalance NLD
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi hailed the electoral win as “the beginning of a new era” and hoped that the by-election results would force authorities to heed the will of ordinary citizens.
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USDP leader Htay Oodownplayed the NLD’s victory, which he attributed exclusively to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s popularityas the daughter of Burma’s independence hero.
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President Thein Sein simply said that the by-electionswere conducted “in a very successful way,”
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but the regime hardliners were shocked at the NLD’ssweeping victory.
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 The regime quickly moved to make the military’s representations in the parliament more hard-line inorder to counterbalance the new contingent of NLD MPs.
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On 22 April, the regime ElectionCommission announced the replacement of 59 military-appointed MPs (39 in the People’s Assemblyand 20 in the National Assembly) with higher ranking officials.
15
Among the newly-appointed MPs wasa Tatmadaw colonel from LID 77 who had been involved in the Saffron Revolution crackdown.
16
 
NLD compromises over parliamentary oath of office
On 23 April, the third parliamentary session resumed in Naypyidaw.
17
However, NLD MPs-elect failedto attend the session because they objected to the wording of the parliamentary oath of office, which
5
AFP (01 Apr 12) Myanmar opposition alleges ballot paper irregularities; TIME (01 Apr 12) A Landmark Election Unfolds inBurma and the Opposition Starts Celebrating Victory; AFP (06 Apr 12) Myanmar's ruling party claims poll irregularities; Irrawaddy(01 Apr 12) USDP Broadcasts Anthem at Polling Station in Mandalay; Mizzima News (01 Apr 12) NLD files official complaintagainst ballot tampering; Kaowao News (01 Apr 12) Wax Ballots Prevent the Vote for NLD in Moulmein; IMNA (01 Apr 12) USDPbreaks electoral laws at Moulmein polling stations; IMNA (01 Apr 12) Despite prohibition, USDP continues its by-electioncampaign on “D-day”; IMNA (01 Apr 12) Glossy Moulmein ballots difficult to mark; DVB (09 Apr 12) Election body to investigateallegations; group publishes report; KIC (01 Apr 12) Wax covered ballot cards threaten vote in Kaw Mu Township
6
AP (01 Apr 12) Myanmar's Suu Kyi reported winning historic vote; RFA (01 Apr 12) Suu Kyi Has Won: Party Claims
7
VOA (02 Apr 12) Burma's Opposition Party Wins By-Election in Landslide
8
DVB (09 Apr 12) Election body to investigate allegations; group publishes report
9
Election Monitoring Network (07 Apr 12) By-election 2012 - Election Monitoring Report No.1
10
VOA (02 Apr 12) Burma's Opposition Party Wins By-Election in Landslide
11
RFA (04 Apr 12) 'Suu Kyi Won Because of Father'
12
Reuters (03 Apr 12) Myanmar president says by-elections "very successful"
13
Straits Times (06 Apr 12) Now may be the time to end Myanmar sanctions
14
Reuters (25 Apr 12) Myanmar's military moves amid Suu Kyi no-show
15
NLM (23 Apr 12) Republic of the Union of Myanmar Union Election Commission Nay Pyi Taw Notification No. 22/2012 2ndWaxing of Kason, 1374 ME (22 April, 2012) 39 Defence Services Personnel Pyithu Hluttaw Representatives substituted; NLM (23Apr 12) Republic of the Union of Myanmar Union Election Commission Nay Pyi Taw Notification No. 23/2012 2nd Waxing ofKason, 1374 ME (22 April, 2012) 20 Defence Services Personnel Amyotha Hluttaw Representatives substituted
16
Irrawaddy (30 Apr 12) Saffron Crackdown Commander in Parliament Stirs Outrage
17
Xinhua (23 Apr 12) Myanmar's parliament sessions resume after adjournment
Prominent NLD elected MPs
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - NLD ChairpersonOhn Kyaing - CEC memberWin Myint - CEC memberMay Win Myint - CEC member, former political prisonerPhyu Phyu Thin - HIV/AIDS activistPhyo Min Thein - Former political prisonerZayar Thaw - Hip hop singer, former political prisonerSandar Min - Former political prisoner
 
 
3
required them to ‘safeguard’ rather than ‘respect’ the constitution.
18
On 26 April, Daw Aung San SuuKyi said the dispute over the wording of the oath of office was a “technical problem” that should notend in political deadlock.
19
On 30 April, the NLD announced that its MPs-elect would attend Parliamenton 2 May despite their opposition to the wording of the oath of office.
20
The NLD said it decided to endthe impasse “as a gesture of respect to the desires of the people” and in consideration of an appeal madeby other MPs.
21
However, the NLD pointed out it would continue efforts to get the wording of the oathchanged.
22
 
INSIDE BURMATatmadaw steps up offensive against KIA
In April, fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) continued inKachin State and Northern Shan State. The Tatmadaw intensified military operations and troop buildupin preparation for an attack on the KIA headquarters in Laiza, Momauk Township, Kachin State.
23
 Tatmadaw soldiers continued to commit serious human rights abuses against civilians as part of theiroffensive in Kachin State.
•
 
1 April
: KIA Battalion 36 forces killed four Tatmadaw soldiers during heavy fighting in Mongkoe,Muse Township, Northern Shan State.
24
 
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5 April
: KIA Brigade 4 forces and militia members captured and then destroyed a strategicTatmadaw checkpoint in Mongkoe, Muse Township, Northern Shan State
 
.
25
 
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6 April
: Tatmadaw troops from LIDs 88 and 99 and Military Operations Commands (MOCs) 3 and10 began shelling KIA bases around Laiza, Momauk Township, Kachin State, with heavy artillery.
26
 
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8-9April
: Tatmadaw soldiers fired more than 100 mortar shells at a KIA outpost located on a hill nearGan Dau Yang and N'Pawn villages, Waingmaw Township, Kachin State.
27
 
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11 April
: Tatmadaw troops overran a KIA Battalion 19 outpost in Dawhpumyang, Momauk Township, Kachin State, after more than 10 hours of heavy artillery fire.
28
 
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19 April
: Tatmadaw troops from IB 141 in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State, detained and tortureda 37-year-old local village headman suspected of having ties to the Kachin IndependenceOrganization (KIO).
29
 
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23 April
: KIA and Tatmadaw forces repeatedly clashed in an area controlled by the KIA Brigade 5 inMomauk Township, Kachin State.
30
 
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26 April
: Tatmadaw mortar shells killed two children in Kone Law Village, Momauk Township,Kachin State.
31
 
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26 April
: KIA and Tatmadaw forces repeatedly clashed near Laiza, Momauk Township, KachinState.
32
 
18
Reuters (23 Apr 12) As Myanmar awaits easing of sanctions, row brews over MP no-show; Xinhua (23 Apr 12) Myanmar'sparliament sessions resume after adjournment; VOA (23 Apr 12) Burmese Democracy Party Skips Parliament Opening
19
AP (26 Apr 12) Myanmar's Suu Kyi's hopeful on oath dispute; Reuters (26 Apr 12) Myanmar parliament stand-off a "technicalmatter:" Suu Kyi; RFA (26 Apr 12) Oath Dispute Based on ‘Technicality’
20
AP (30 Apr 12) Myanmar oath dispute resolved; Reuters (30 Apr 12) Suu Kyi's party decides to enter Myanmar's parliament;Xinhua (30 Apr 12) Aung San Suu Kyi's party to attend parliament; DPA (30 Apr 12) Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi to takeparliament oath; NYT (30 Apr 12) Myanmar Opposition Yields in Oath Dispute; RFA (30 Apr 12) NLD Backs Down Over OathRow
21
Xinhua (30 Apr 12) Myanmar's NLD insists on "respecting" constitution despite decision on parliament debut; BBC (30 Apr 12)Suu Kyi backs down over Burmese parliamentary oath
22
BBC (30 Apr 12) Suu Kyi backs down over Burmese parliamentary oath; Xinhua (30 Apr 12) Myanmar's NLD insists on"respecting" constitution despite decision on parliament debut; RFA (30 Apr 12) NLD Backs Down Over Oath Row
23
Kachin News Group (10 Apr 12) Burma army buildup near Laiza suggests push for KIO capital; Mizzima News (25 Apr 12) KIOrejects offer to hold peace talk in Myitkyina
24
Kachin News Group (03 Apr 12) 4 Burma soldiers fall in battle on election day in N.Shan state
25
Kachin News Group (06 Apr 12) Kachin forces capture Burma army checkpoint in N.Shan state
26
SHAN (10 Apr 12) Newsflash
27
Free Burma Rangers (24 Apr 12) Burma Army Mortars Villages and Burns Homes in Kachin State; 50,000 people displaced
28
Kachin News Group (13 Apr 12) KIO closes Loije trade route after Burma army shelling
29
Kachin News Group (23 Apr 12) Burma army troops assault Kachin village headman
30
Mizzima News (25 Apr 12) KIO rejects offer to hold peace talk in Myitkyina
31
Kachin News Group (26 Apr 12) Burma army shelling kills 2 kids in Kachin state
32
Kachin News Group (26 Apr 12) Burma army shelling kills 2 kids in Kachin state
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