BOXUN received today

8 January (boxun.com)

An unidentified US citizen carrying some signs taken into custody by Rangoon police yesterday and deported today. He is later identified as Joseph Moynahan, 81, of Boston. (AP)

9 December

Burma is among the Asian countries with least freedom of press. Others are North Korea, China, Vietnam and Laos, says Reporter without Borders. (NMG)

12 December

US Red Cross is donating $ 500,000 to UNICEF's Tsunami relief work in Burma. (Irrawaddy)

14 December

Human rights Watch says Burma remains one of the most repressive countries in Asia, with Aung San Suu Kyi still under house arrest, political activities remain curtailed, more child soldiers than any other country in the world and multitudinous rights abuses.

Thai-Burma Relations

2 January

Thai-based Burma Lawyers Council appeal to Rangoon and the international community to intervene on behalf of the migrants that had their lives and livelihoods devastated by the Tsunami. (Text)

6 January

Human Rights Education Institute of Burma, based in Thailand, says it has a documented list of 145 Tsunami deaths, collected from eyewitnesses and relatives. The number of missing Burmese is estimated at 1,000.

There was only one case of Burmese involvement in the Phangnga post-Tsunami looting but all have to suffer for it. On 30 December, a residence of 150 Burmese was raided and even "looted". Some 60% of the migrants have lost their work permits. Not a single worker knows each of them is entitled to receive 2,000 baht from the social relief fund. (Text)

8 January

HREIB has documented 156 dead. (Irrawaddy)

11 January

Burmese Tsunami survivors are being treated as if they don't exist. No 20,000 baht ($500) compensation for each death, no 2,000 baht ($50) aid money for an unemployed. Those that escape from being branded as criminals are those still with their work permits or those brought back to work by their employers. (Bangkok Post)

11 January

353 Karens flee to Ban Ta Per Phu in Umphang district after fighting broke out between KNU and the Burma Army. (Bangkok Post)

12 January

Gen Winai Phattiyakul, Secretary General of National Security Council, says a new accounting saw some 1.8 million foreigners are living in Thailand: 1.28 million registered migrant workers of whom 850,000 are Burmese; 100,000 asylum-seekers; 120,000 in camps; 100,000 who have been granted refugee status and 10,000 "highlanders". (AFP) the Provincial Administration Department meanwhile expects to grant citizenship up to 90,000 highlanders by late August. (Bangkok Post)

Authorities are seizing Burmese in discriminately, with little effort to determine individuals' true status. However, Burmese authorities, apparently fearing return of dissidents, have closed the border crossing at Kauthaung after 1,000 Burmese were deported. (Financial times)

Nassir Achwarin, coordinator of Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, speaks out against sensationalist Thai media reports that Burmese gangs on pickups were stripping Tsunami affected Khao Lak bare. Compared to looting by Thais, the number of the Burmese committing crimes is insignificant, says a Thai journalist, but the Burmese are blamed because of their nationality. (Irrawaddy) Other foreign tourists may applaud Thai generosity, but thanks to the media and nationalist history, the tales of our neighbors about us will be much less flattering, writes Sanitsuda Ekachai in Bangkok Post, 13 January. (S.H.A.N.) Meanwhile three Tsunami relief workers f rom the aid agency World Vision are detained by villagers in Phang Nga's Thai Muang district, for helping to repatriate migrant workers from Burma, fearing a shortage of workers will result if the migrants go home.(Bangkok Post)

13 January

The HREIB has the names of 163 dead today. Suwit Khunkitti, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, says he is unaware that Burmese migrants were denied emergency aid. Everyone is entitled to aid regardless of whether they are Thai or foreigners, he says. (IPS)

Politics

9 January

95 family members from Democratic Party of Arakan surrendered to Paletwa-based Light Infantry Battalion 289. The DPA has been a member NCUB as well as a newly formed coalition of Arakan groups, Arakan National Council. (Narinjara)

A prominent astrologer is predicting Aung San Suu Kyi will be assassinated this year. (Asian Tribune)

Deputy Wa leader, Li Ziru, 59, dies suddenly. He has been suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure for years. (S.H.A.N.)

12 January

The disbanded Nasaka has been replaced by Border Areas Trade Directorate "Nakatha". (S.H.A.N.)

Lt-Gen Thein Sein announces the National Convention will resume on 17 February. This year is make or break for Burma as Rangoon prepares to host the 2006 Asean summit, says Irrawaddy's Aung Zaw. (VOA)

13 January

Several weekly publications carry identicle article written by Maung Pyithu "Mr People" accusing the NLD of using Committee Representing People's Parliament, set up in September 1998 with the support of 251 elected members, to convene a parliament and establish an interim government. It warns the unlawful organization could be closed down. (Irrawaddy)

14 January

Col Thet Htut, former head of the passport section, and Col Tin Hla, deputy head of the Counter Intelligence Department, are reported to be among those that have died of inhumane tortures by the Army.

Maj Zaw Naing Oo, son of Gen Khin Nyunt, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on 27 December 2004. (NCGUB)

Shans

5 January

Shan State Army "North" holds annual meeting. The provisional resolution, pending approval by the Shan State Peace Council, is to attend the National Convention. (S.H.A.N.)

Economy / Business

11 January

Daewoo International has stopped its investment in electronic equipment production in Burma and has concentrated on the investment in oil and gas sector, says Flower News journal. (XNA)

Human Rights

8 January

People in Yebyu township are being forced by buy wanted posters of Mon guerrilla leaders, 3 posters per household, each at 700 kyat ($ 0.70). The group is also threatening them not to follow the Burma Army's order.(Kaowao)

Environment

4 January

Pornchai Rujiprapha, deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Energy, discloses recent meeting with Burmese officials. There will be selection of project sites and an MOU for cooperation during early 2005. China has also expressed interest in investing. However, an EGAT source says involvement of China can result in the rising price of electricity. (Matichon)

War

3 January

A Muslim shop owner in Maungdaw arrested after finding a bomb in his shop. (Narinjara)

10 January

Burma Army's LIB 337 and its militia shell the strategic hill on the border of Maehongson. The meeting with Thai business sector on 7 January was just a trick to replenish their provisions, says Rimond Htoo of KNPP, whose troops and ABSDF are defending the Yamo hill. (NMG) shells have forced the Thai village of Mae Suey Oo to leave their homes and move deeper inside Thai territory. (ITV)

11 January

Maj-Gen Tawatchai Wattana, Commander of Naresuan Force, "confirms" the fighting was not spilling over into Thailand. Villagers of Mae Suay Oo were evacuated on the orders of Maehongson governor Supoj Laowankhiri. (TNA) They were moved back from the Huey Suathao village to Mae Suay Oo at 13:00 today.(Kantarawaddy Times)

A Thai army officer had denied there was any strayed shells falling inside Thailand. (NMG)

KNU base, 20 km from Umpang, bombarded by 300 Burma Army troops. 10 captured dead and 7 alive after the fighting subsided. (Reuters)

About 20,000 Karenni refugees are living in terror because of the attacks, says Alexander Pauk Pauk, secretary of Karenni Refugee Committee in Maehongson. (Irrawaddy)

14 January

37 mortar shells fall inside Thailand in Maehongson. The Thai Army says it cannot accept missiles straying into Thai territory. (NMG) Activity Report and Forwards Plan of the Campaign Committee

Date: 3 December 2004

Burmese students and political activists who are presently residing in Finland established the CDB, Campaign for Democracy in Burma (Finland) on 20 June 2002 to carry out the following objectives;

1. To end military dictatorship rule and bring about democracy in Burma

2. To mobilize Finnish people' s support for democracy and human-rights in Burma

3. To represent Burmese community in Finland

4. To organize an activist network for Burma action

5. To cooperate with Burma pressure groups at the international level (boxun.com)