APF Media Kit

MEDIA KIT (12 February 2009)
Please note that an updated media kit will be provided next week
CONTENTS
3 pages WHAT’S ON:
Civil Society events around the ASEAN Summit
1 page ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

“Hot Potatoes” at the 14th ASEAN Summit
2 pages INTRODUCTION: ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF)

“Advancing a People’s ASEAN”
4 pages PROGRAM OF APF &

4th ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE
6 pages Brief description of the 33 APF workshops
1 page The Sneak Preview of Burma VJ
4 pages Summary of the ASEAN Civil Society Discussion &

Proposals (Thailand)
1 page Map of locations
10 pages BRIEFER: Rohingya, Asylum-Seekers & Migrants

from Burma: A Human Security Priority for ASEAN
10 pages: Burma Bulletin for January 2009

WHAT’S ON: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVITIES AROUND THE ASEAN SUMMIT PAGE 1 OF 3
This list as of February 12, 2009. The next update will be on February 18, 2009
Please subscribe to our text alert service by texting your name and organization
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Date Event /location Description Media Contact
16 -19 ASEAN YOUTH CAMP 90 youth representatives from eight Jaruwan Supolrai
February Students Christian ASEAN countries will meet to learn (Netting)
more about ASEAN, regional issues Tel. (+66) 810722714
Centre, Phayathai Road, and discuss how they can engage the
Bangkok (Thai/Eng)
regional organisation.
Email:
Participants are expected to produce netting2005@gmail.c
recommendations on 5 pressing issues om
in the region: the food crisis, peace,
natural resource management,
globalization, natural disaster
management, and political participation.
They will draft a common statement for
presentation in the interface session
and to the APF.
18 PRESS CONFERENCE The Thai civil society involved in the Kannikar
February ON THAI NATIONAL national process of the APF (held in Kijtiwatchakul
PROCESS early February) want to state directly to Tel (+66) 85-070-
1pm the Thai government their views on
Chulalongkorn 8954
many core issues.
University, Bangkok
18-19 REGIONAL It is anticipated that the first draft of the Yuyun
February CONSULTATION OF Terms of Reference (TOR) for the will Wahyuningrum,
WOMEN’S GROUP ON be discussed in the summit. FORUM-ASIA
ASEAN HUMAN Key women’s networks in the region tel:+ 6687 991 4451
RIGHTS BODY under the banner of the Solidarity for
Bernice Aquino See,
Asia Peoples’ Advocacy (SAPA) Task
Windsor Hotel, Bangkok Force on ASEAN and Human Rights FORUM-ASIA
(TF-AHR) will meet to discuss recent tel + 6685 145 7869
developments and make inputs to the
1st draft of the TOR based on “inside
information” gathered.
The meeting will bring in 30 human
rights defenders, experts, and
academics from ASEAN countries who
work on women’s rights together.
19 WHO'S GONNA BE Will ASEAN leaders grapple with the hot Kannikar tel: +6685
February PLAYING HOT POTATO issues confronting the regional grouping 070 8954 (Thai) or
AT THE ASEAN or will the ASEAN Summit degenerate
10am into another game of hot potato?
Debbie +6681 771
SUMMIT? 6075 (English)
(Press Launch Of Asean The press conference will feature
Peoples’ Forum / Asean speakers from the region discussing the
Civil Society) hot issues threatening the region, and
possible solutions..
Foreign Correspondents’
Club of Thailand (FCCT)
19 CIVIL SOCIETY STUDY This activity aims to orient participants Ed Legaspi

February SESSION ON ASEAN on the basic aspects of ASEAN, its
Phones: +63 928
transition towards a rules-based
Windsor Suites Hotel, regional community, and how civil
5211596 (Phils No)
Sukhumvit Soi 20, society has been engaging this process. +66 876701678
Bangkok (Bangkok – from 16
to 26 February)
19 WORKSHOP: TO BUILD The workshop, organised by South- Bonnie Setiawan,

February PEOPLES’ South People’s Solidarity Platform is Senior Researcher,
ALTERNATIVE TO bringing members of the solidarity forum Institute of Global
REGIONALISM IN formed during the World Social Forum Justice,
in New Delhi and Nairobi and also
ASEAN bonnie@globaljust.or
practitioners in development of
Bangkok alternatives. Participants will initiate g
discussion and move forward on the
formulation of People's Alternative to
Regionalism in ASEAN.
20-21 ASEAN PEOPLES’ The largest gathering ever, of Kannikar tel: +6685
February FORUM grassroots and regional organisations to 070 8954 (Thai) or
parallel an ASEAN Summit:
Chulalongkorn Debbie +6681 771
University, Bangkok 33 workshops, cultural programs, video 6075 (English)
fest – all focused on grappling with the
(Plenary sessions at challenges confronting the region.
Mahitaladhibesra See program for more details
Building,
Workshop sessions at
Political Science Dept. –
Building 1 & 2)
21 SPECIAL SCREENING: A sneak preview of Anders Roby Alampy,
February BURMA VJ: Ostergaard's award-winning "Burma VJ: SEAPA
REPORTING FROM A Reporting from a Closed Country" will tel + 6681 550 1120
6pm be one of the highlights of the ASEAN
CLOSED COUNTRY
Peoples Forum cultural program. The
at the APF venue, preview will be followed by Q & A with a
Chulalongkorn representative of the DVB, on which the
University, Bangkok film is focused.
See handout for more details
22 4TH ASEAN CIVIL The ACSC is an ongoing process that Kannikar tel: +6685
February SOCIETY brings together regional and national 070 8954 (Thai) or
CONFERENCE (ACSC) networks that have been actively
engaging with ASEAN and ASEAN
Debbie +6681 771
including dialogue with 6075 (English)
processes.
ASEAN Chair/Thai FM
Kast Piromya & ASEAN In addition to a dialogue session with
Sec-Gen Surin Pitsuwan the ASEAN Chair & ASEAN Sec-Gen, a
delegation will also meet with ASEAN
Mahitaladhibesra Heads of State/Govt in Hua Hin.
Building, Chulalongkorn See program for more details
University, Bangkok,
23-25 THE THIRD The Solidarity for Asia Peoples’ Yap Swee Seng,
February SOLIDARITY FOR ASIA Advocacy is the network of more than FORUM-ASIA and
PEOPLES’ ADVOCACY 100 civil society organisations, peoples’ co-convener of
(SAPA) GENERAL organisations, and trade unions working SAPA, yap@forum-
in Asia that meets to discuss on the
FORUM and Concurrent asia.org
yearly basis its plan in engaging with
Events inter-governmental bodies such as Tel: +66 (0)2 653
Bangkok ASEAN, SAARC, Asia-Europe Meeting 2940-1
(ASEM) and United Nations. Jenina Joy Chavez,
The working groups of the network such Focus on the Global
as the SAPA Working Group on South (FOCUS) and
ASEAN, SAPA Working Group on UN co-convener of
Human Rights, and SAPA Working SAPA,
Group on Migration and Labour will also joy.chavez@focuswe
meet to discuss its advocacy and b.org
lobbying plans in 2009.
27 CIVIL SOCIETY In 2008, civil society organisations Rafendi Djamin,

February INTERFACE WITH THE under the banner of the Solidarity for Convener, Solidarity
HIGH LEVEL PANEL Asia Peoples’ Advocacy Task Force on for Asia People’s
3.30- ASEAN and Human Rights (TF-AHR)
4.30 pm ON THE Advocacy Task Force
has held national consultation to solicit
ESTABLISHMENT OF on ASEAN and
inputs from human rights organisation in
THE ASEAN HUMAN 9 out of 10 ASEAN countries namely in Human Rights,
RIGHTS BODY Burma (on Mae Sot-Thailand border), rafendi@hrwg.org
Hua Hin, Thailand Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, tel + 62813 1144
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, 2159
Thailand, and Vietnam regarding what Yap Swee Seng,
do human rights organisations look Acting Executive
toward the roles and the mandates of
Director, Asian Forum
ASEAN human rights body.
for Human Rights and
The human rights groups agree that Development
they need an ASEAN human rights
(FORUM-ASIA),
body “with teeth” that can bite when
there is human rights violation. yap@forum-asia.org
In this meeting, key actors in the SAPA
TF-AHR will have an interface with the
High Level Panel on the ASEAN human
rights body (HLP) who act as drafters of
the Terms of References of the ASEAN
human rights body and to submit inputs
on what human rights groups want and
what has been the progresses of the
drafting of the TOR.
28 ASEAN HEADS OF Representatives of regional youth with Jaruwan Supolrai
February STATE/GOVERNMENT present their concerns and proposed (Netting)
INFORMAL DIALOGUE solutions to ASEAN leaders. Tel. (+66) 810722714
1200-
1230 WITH ASEAN YOUTH This is the first event of this nature. (Thai/Eng)
Hua Hin Email:
netting2005@gmail.c
om
28 ASEAN HEADS OF Representatives of civil society with Kannikar tel: +6685
February STATE/GOVERNMENT present their concerns and proposed 070 8954 (Thai) or
INFORMAL DIALOGUE solutions to ASEAN leaders.
1230- Debbie +6681 771
1300 WITH ASEAN CIVIL This is an ongoing process. 6075 (English
SOCIETY
Hua Hin
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS: The “Hot Potatoes” at the 14th ASEAN Summit
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hold its 14th summit from February 27 to
March 1 in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Below are some of the key issues and questions expected to arise out of the ASEAN
Summit. The preceding ASEAN Peoples’ Forum Meeting and ASEAN Civil Society
Conference in Bangkok will be discussing these issues and formulating recommendations
that will be presented to the summit.
These discussions will take place against a backdrop of political instability in some countries:
The governments of Thailand and Malaysia are struggling to assert their authority, with
growing concerns that democracy is being undermined in both. Meanwhile, Indonesia will be
holding parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
The ASEAN Charter – The ASEAN Charter came into force in December 2008, and the
Summit will be the first to be held since then. What are the social, political, security and
economic implications as this regional grouping moves to implement this charter? How likely
is ASEAN to meet its goal of creating a single market by 2015 and what challenges lie
ahead? How will it achieve the Millennium Development Goals along the way?
ASEAN Human Rights Body – The ASEAN Charter allows for the creation of a regional
human rights body, and a High Level Panel has drafted a terms of reference for it, which is
expected to be presented to the Summit. What does civil society in the region think of this
human rights body? What will role should this body play and how can it be effective?
Human rights in Burma and the Rohingya refugees – The plight of Rohingya refugees
from Burma’s Arakan State in recent weeks has highlighted the ongoing marginalisation of
ethnic minorities in the military-run country. How can Southeast Asia best help the
Rohingya? And how does the Rohingya issue reflect on the human rights situation in Burma,
the country’s relations with its Southeast Asian neighbours, and broader regional issues such
as human trafficking?
Free trade agreements – ASEAN leaders are expected to sign free trade agreements with
India, Australia and New Zealand at the summit. With the completion of these pacts, ASEAN
will have forged trade deals with every major economy in the Asia-Pacific region. The
grouping is now negotiating with the European Union for a free trade agreement. What are
the implications for workers, labour conditions, the environment and regional migration as
these agreements come into force?
Global economic slowdown – Southeast Asian economies are being badly hit by the global
economic slowdown. How will Southeast Asia recover from the crisis and how will nations
resolve related problems such as rising unemployment, and food and energy security?
ASEAN’s migrant labor - The slowdown will also have major implications for more than 45
million migrants in the Asian region, up to 20 million of whom are “intra-regional” workers in
Southeast and East Asia. Malaysia has already announced the deportation of 100,000
Indonesian migrants because of the economic downturn amidst warnings from civil society
over their fate. Thailand is on the brink of a crackdown on migrant labor. What will become of
these migrant workers? Will there be more mistreatment of these ASEAN citizens by ASEAN
governments?
ASEAN Peoples` Forum
“Advancing a People’s ASEAN”
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

February 20 – 22, 2009
We are glad to invite you to the upcoming ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF), scheduled to take
place February 20 through 22 2009, at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. This unique platform
of direct People-to-People engagement will take place prior to the 14th ASEAN Summit in Hua
Hin, and will provide civil society organizations and social movements from across the region an
opportunity to gather to discuss key issues confronting the region, articulate common positions,
and develop joint action among civil society actors in Southeast Asia.
Objective
The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum seeks to strengthen civil society across the ASEAN region, through
direct People-to-People engagement. This regional forum establishes a two-way process, in which
domestic issues are escalated to higher regional forums and the local impacts of regional issues
are highlighted for community level groups. The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum encourages regional
civil society to engage on critical ASEAN issues both among itself and with ASEAN institutions.
Design
APF participants will gather to articulate common positions on key issues confronting the region,
and develop joint action among civil society actors in Southeast Asia. Participants will have an
opportunity to take part in various plenary sessions and workshops addressing a wide spectrum
of urgent contemporary issues for all ASEAN peoples. Joint activities will tackle core issues, both
descriptive, providing information and insights, and normative, providing analysis and alternatives.
Workshops fall into four broad categories: * full list attached below.
1. Peace and Human Security dimension of ASEAN regionalism.

2. Social and Cultural dimensions of regionalism – focus on environmental and sustainable
development, special interest groups, media, women's rights, and youth,
3. The Socio-Economic Dimension of regionalism – focus on globalization, labor, trade and
global financial crises.
4. Avenues of action and participation for ASEAN civil society – a People’s ASEAN: civil
society, social movements, active citizenship, and democracy.
The APF was initiated by Thai and ASEAN civil society groups, is coordinated by the APF
program committees, and is funded through financial support of both regional civil society
groups and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, through the Institute of
Security and International Studies (ISIS) at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Output
The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum will conclude with the 4th ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC
IV) in the morning of 14 December 2008. The ACSC IV will present a joint statement by
ASEAN civil society the ASEAN Leaders during a special interface session in the evening of
December 15 2008. This interface provides ASEAN civil society with a singular opportunity to
directly engage on vital issues with ASEAN’s most senior political leadership.
Î
The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum will strengthen links both horizontally across ASEAN civil society
and vertically, providing a crucial interface ASEAN’s political leadership. Workshops and plenary
session will highlight key regional issues, provide a forum for direct engagement among ASEAN
peoples, and facilitate in the formulation of solutions to address ASEAN regional challenges.
The combined elements of the APF and the ACSC IV play a crucial roll in establishing the
vitality and strength of ASEAN society as it marches into the 21st century, establishing its rightful
place among the nations of the world.
Participation & Registration

Participation in the APF is open to all participants, regardless of professional background or
nationality. All information regarding the APF is available online, and we strongly encourage all
participants to register early at:
http://www.apf2008.org
Location
The APF will be held at Chulalongkorn University as follows:
Day 1: Plenary sessions, Mahitaladhibesra Building, 9 am.
Day 2: Workshop sessions, Political Science Dept. – Building 1 & 2, 9am.
Day 3: Plenary sessions, Mahitaladhibesra Building, 9 am.
Fees
Individual registration for the APF is free of charge. We do however strongly encourage you to
make a contribution to cover logistical expenses. The recommend contribution is 1,000 Thai
Bhat for all three days, or 400 Thai Bhat per day of participation.
Group registration requires a one time payment of $40 USD to cover all group members.
For those who have submitted Workshop proposals, there is a $300 USD administration fee per
workshop session.
Your support will directly ensure a successful and fruitful conference held to the highest
professional standard. Through such events, and your generous support, we hope to encourage
the development of robust and vigorous civil society across Southeast Asia.
Website Features
Many of the APF events, panel discussions, and workshops will be made available online via the
World Wide Web both in real time streaming technology, and afterwards for download. We
encourage all those who can not make in person to the conference to check our web-site for
updates.
INFO ON APF WORKSHOPS (LOCATION: POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPT.-BUILDING 1 & 2) PAGE 1 OF 6
ASEAN Peoples’ Forum: Advancing a Peoples’ ASEAN

Workshop Topics, February 21, 2009, Bangkok (update as of Jan 23, 2009)
Topic PEACE AND SECURITY CLUSTER Time Venue
1 Towards the The ASEAN Charter which came in effect in December 11am-1pm B1.108
establishment of a 2008 (just weeks ago) makes provision for a regional
regional human human rights mechanism. Much debate has raged over the
rights protection role and function of the human rights mechanism, and this
mechanism in workshop is expected to be a provocative one.
ASEAN
2, Peace building and In all but a few countries in Southeast Asia, war, or the 9-11am; B2.106/2
3, people’s security threat of war, remains a daily reality. Instead of any
improvements, prospects for a different future have
4 11am-1pm;
deteriorated in recent years.
In the Philippines, the war against the Moro people
threatens to escalate as a result of the recent collapse of 2-4pm
the peace talks; in addition, an armed communist
movement remains active in the countryside. In Thailand,
the war in the south shows no signs of abating. In Burma,
the regime’s grip on power has strengthened, thereby
prolonging the conflict between it and different ethnic
groups. In Indonesia, a fragile peace agreement in Aceh
holds tenuously, while people struggling for self-
determination in West Papua continue to be repressed.
Meanwhile, the global context in which Southeast Asia is
situated has changed considerably. The US, long an
external power whose actions have profoundly impacted
the region, has been weakened economically, militarily,
and diplomatically. Whether it can continue to hold as much
power and influence over the region and its peoples is
under question. China, on the other hand, has not only
deepened its economic relations with Southeast Asian
countries, it has also begun to seek military ties with them.
Even Russia, whose re-emergence as a global power has
been marked in recent years, is slowly making its presence
felt in the region.
As the world changes, so will Southeast Asia. But how
should it? This series of workshops aims to provide an
opportunity for civil society and social movements to come
together and discuss these issues. What should Southeast
Asia’s peoples, civil society organisations, social
movements, and governments, as well as the ASEAN, do
to promote peace in their own countries, in the region, and
in the world?
5 Challenges to the Over the years, some ASEAN member states have been 2-4pm B1.108
protection of reluctant to recognise the essential role of civil society in
human rights strengthening democracy and the rule of law. In this
defenders and context, some states, which consider an independent civil
security reforms society to be a threat, have increasingly introduced
legislation to restrict freedom of association and
expression, and the peaceful assembly of human rights
defenders. This workshop will aim to show the trends of
repression which have affected human rights defenders
and their work in the region in recent years, as well as the
challenges they face.
Since an action-oriented mechanism to protect human
rights defenders at the regional level is still lacking,
panelists will discuss possibilities for creating a protection
mechanism for them, so that civil society and social
movements are able to carry out their activities in
accordance with the 1998 United Nations Declaration on

Human Rights Defenders. The objective is to raise
awareness among civil society and decision makers of the
need to protect human rights defenders through
recommendations to the ASEAN Summit.
6 Strengthening This workshop highlights the discrimination and exploitation 2-4pm B3 big
regional action experienced by some women who migrate for work and room
against marriage. It aims to bring to the surface and recommend
discrimination appropriate policies and services for women who migrate
towards ASEAN for marriage. This will be done by understanding the
migrant women different aspects of such migration, such as citizenship,
multiculturalism and human security.
The workshop will also examine the principles, standards,
tools and processes of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as a legally
binding instrument to seek accountability from ASEAN
states.
7 A human security This workshop will focus on the importance of a human 11am-1pm B3 big
approach to security approach to promote women’s and children’s room
dealing with the rights, and the need for an advocacy strategy on human
rights of women security in the ASEAN mechanism.
and children in It will discuss case studies of Burmese migrant workers,
Southeast Asian the victimisation of women and children in Cambodia over
countries / Human national identity cards and land entitlements, and the
rights and human trafficking of women and children after the enactment of
security for anti-human trafficking laws in ASEAN+3 countries.
trafficked persons Emphasis will be given to the importance of human security
in ASEAN +3 advocacy for women and children in ASEAN as an effective
approach in the prevention of human trafficking.
8 Defending the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 11am-1pm B1.103/2
rights of peasants current human rights regime and mechanisms are
and small-scale important instruments for peasants and rural communities.
food producers: Nevertheless, there are major gaps in the interpretation
towards an and implementation of these mechanisms when applied to
international peasants. For several years, La Via Campesina, an
convention on the international peasants’ movement, has been taking steps to
rights of the institutionalise the protection of the rights of peasants.
peasant Peasants need special provisions, while a future
international convention on the rights of the peasants is
recommended. This initiative also works as a basis for
challenging the neo-liberal model, and for building
alternatives. This is especially so within Southeast Asia,
where peasants are the backbone of society.
9 Perceptions of The problems with Burma are much more pervasive and 9-11am B1.107
regional instability problematic than ASEAN is willing to admit. ASEAN’s
through ASEAN’s policy of non-interference is a farce, since countries are
policy of non- already involved in Burma through their investments, which
intervention in cause widespread social and environmental problems. In
Burma addition, the military junta has perpetuated many problems
which have begun to affect other nations. A state that lacks
the rule of law and the fundamental protection of life, liberty
and security for its people will only deliver greater regional
instability.
SOCIO-CULTURAL CLUSTER
10 Transforming Communication is an essential element in the formation of 11am-1pm B1.101
communication: identities, citizenship, societies and cultures. It is the
identities, conduit in the continuous production and sharing of
diversities and information, knowledge, aspirations and desires. As it
solidarities in operates at the most fundamental level in our lives and
engendering their multiple dimensions, communication can only be truly

communication empowering if it is performed and developed in free
rights in ASEAN milieus.
With the ASEAN Charter and the renewed interest of
stakeholders in ASEAN, this panel intends to explore the
possibilities of transformation in the traditional "ASEAN
Way" principles and practices on communication. It will
discuss the interrelatedness of struggles on media
freedom, privacy rights, access to information and
resources, and women's rights, among many others.
The panel will also forge dialogues and solidarities in a way
that take into account the differences of people in terms of
social categories such as class, gender, ethnicity, and race,
as well as the nuances as we exercise in our individual
autonomy, citizenship and communitarian aspirations.
11 Experiences and Natural disasters and how to deal with them is a serious 11am-1pm B1.103/1
good practice in issue that impacts greatly on people in Southeast Asia. The
people’s disaster region is continuously challenged by large-scale natural
management disasters such as the 2004 tsunami and Cyclone Nargis in
Burma. These disasters are stark reminders that the region
is still a long way from achieving ASEAN’s target of having
a disaster-resilient and safer community by the end of
2015.
ASEAN has acknowledged that disaster risk reduction work
should include coordinated action at local, national,
regional and global levels. This workshop will be an
opportunity for people who worked in emergency response
in Burma, Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam to
share experiences on handling emergency response and
rehabilitation, as well as good practices and lessons
learned. It is also a chance for policy advocacy at an
ASEAN level to focus on a people-centred and humanised
emergency response.
12 An education In 2000, 164 countries, including all ASEAN member 2-4pm B1.102
challenge for states, pledged that every person would be able to claim
ASEAN: quality their right to quality education and learning by 2015. That
education for the same year gave birth to the Millennium Development Goals
unreached and (MDGs), the second goal of which reiterated the
excluded responsibility of governments for universal primary
education for all children, also by 2015.
But more than midway towards the 2015 target, some
countries are starting to lose steam, while a growing
number are seeing reversals in progress. Beset by low
capacity and a lag between policy discourse and actual
implementation, some countries also remain far from
reaching the 2015 goals.
The 14th ASEAN Summit will see the adoption of its
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community blueprint and a review
of the grouping’s commitment on the MDGs. This will be an
opportune moment to place an “Education For All” agenda
squarely in policy discussions, and to link it to other crucial
issues, such as financial turmoil, inflation, climate change
and the global economic downturn.
13 Promoting the This workshop will focus on the promotion of indigenous 11am-1pm B2.106
rights of peoples’ rights in ASEAN. It will also be a venue for
indigenous cooperation and collaboration between indigenous peoples
peoples in ASEAN and civil society organisations on issues of mutual concern
and interest for joint advocacy to the ASEAN Human Rights
Body. The target speakers of the workshop are
representative/s from the UN Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues, the UN Human Rights Council Expert

Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the
Regional UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights and the UNDP Regional Indigenous Peoples’
Programme.
14 Diversity of Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 2-4pm B2.106
communities and week.
natural resource
management:
alternatives to
mega-development
projects in the
Mekong region
from the youths’
perspective
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLUSTER
15 ASEAN response Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 11am-1pm B2.107
to the food crisis week.
16 ASEAN response Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 2-4pm B1.103/2
to the financial week.
crisis
17 Mobilising Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 11am-1pm B2.108
resources for week.
climate justice
18 Migration issues in Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 11am-1 pm B1.107
ASEAN week.
19 Consultation Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B1.101
workshop on the week.
ASEAN declaration
on the protection
and promotion of
the rights of
migrant workers
20 ASEAN: an Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 2-4pm B2.108
enabling week.
environment for
CSO effectiveness
in development
and human rights
advancement
21 China-ASEAN We are witnessing a global economic crisis, growing 2-4pm B1.103/1
relations poverty, a widening gap between rich and poor, and
ecological disasters. ASEAN countries and China are
facing these challenges, although the specific problems
confronted by each country might not be the same.
China’s increasing economic influence and the trade
activities of Chinese corporations are already felt in the
region. China is now a major dialogue partner with ASEAN,
and many Southeast Asian countries have signed
economic partnership agreements with China, or are
negotiating ones.
However, organisations and movements in China and
ASEAN countries are still not familiar with the outcomes of
such economic partnerships, and their impact on local
livelihoods. Moreover, there is very little interaction
between movements and networks in Southeast Asia, and
groups in China. There is already a growing recognition
that an alternative means of globalization and regional

integration are possible. We need to find alternatives that
are sustainable, people-centered and based on social and
environmental justice. This workshop hopes to start a
dialogue on this, and contribute to strong people-to-people
cooperation.
22 Mining in ASEAN Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B1.102
week.
23 Food security and Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 2-4pm B2.107
peoples’ food week.
sovereignty
24 Ensuring food Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 11am-1pm B1.102
security for the week.
ASEAN community
25 Peoples’ energy Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B2. 106
security workshop week.
26 Women’s trade and Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 11am-1pm B1.107
corporate week.
investment
27 Trade Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B1.108
agreements/Europe week.
an Union-ASEAN
28 The impact of the Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 2-4pm B1.107
global economic week.
crisis on workers
29 After Accra and Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B1.103/1
Doha: towards week.
more effective
development aid in
ASEAN
ASEAN INSTITUTIONS
30 Peoples’ politics For many countries in the region, the political system of 2-4pm B3 small
and alternative representative democracy has many limitations. Rather room
communities than working for the people, elected politicians and
governments represent capitalists instead. They do not
represent farmers, labourers, poor people and other
marginalised groups. As a result, government policy is
unable to address the real problems of the majority of the
people in a country. Resources are not justly allocated, but
are under the influence and domination of “super power”
countries and global organisations.
It is therefore important for peoples’ movements to review
the problems and limitations of the representative system
of politics. They need to share their experiences and
lessons learned to find ways to develop peoples’ politics,
and to propose these to ASEAN as alternatives for
sustainable development.
31 The impact of As our world faces increasing globalization and the drive 9-11am B1.103/2
globalisation and towards neo-liberalism and modernity, consumerism is
the Gross National slowly infiltrating every aspect of our lives. This is
Happiness (GNH) especially so for young people in Southeast Asia, who face
Youth Movement the challenges of growing up amidst two changing cultures.
One is the world of local wisdom and its emphasis on
values and collectivism; the other world emphasises
materialism and individualism.
Amidst the transitions in these two contrasting cultures, the

social paradigm and lifestyles of young people have
inevitably shifted, inadvertently making them subservient to
materialism and consumerism-although they may or may
be not fully aware of these issues.
It is necessary for young people today to empower
themselves, and recognise social problems at local,
national and regional levels. This is so they will search
together for an ASEAN identity, and identify issues for
young people as they face the challenges that come with
development. Most importantly, young people must have a
role in creating just and peaceful societies at local, national
and regional levels.
32 Alternatives to Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B2.108
regionalism week.
33 Refugees Sorry, more info on this workshop will be available next 9-11am B2.106/1
week.
A REGIONAL FIRST: THE SNEAK PREVIEW OF BURMA VJ
A sneak preview of Anders Ostergaard's award-winning "Burma VJ: Reporting from a

Closed Country" will be one of the highlights of the ASEAN Peoples Forum cultural
program. The preview will be held at 6pm, Saturday February 21 at the APF, followed
by Q & A with a representative of the DVB, on which the film is focused.
Armed with pocket-sized video cameras, a tenacious band of Burmese reporters face down death
to expose the repressive regime controlling their country.
In 2007, after decades of self-imposed silence, Burma became headline news across the globe
when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive rebellion. More than 100,000 people took to the
streets protesting a cruel dictatorship that has held the country hostage for more than 40 years.
Foreign news crews were banned, the Internet was shut down, and Burma was closed to the
outside world.
So how did we witness these events? Enter the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), aka the
Burma VJs. Compiled from the shaky handheld footage of the DVB, acclaimed filmmaker
Anders Ostergaard’s Burma VJ pulls us into the heat of the moment as the VJs themselves
become the target of the Burmese government. Their tactical leader, code-named Joshua,
oversees operations from a safe hiding place in Thailand. Via clandestine phone calls, Joshua
dispenses his posse of video warriors, who covertly film the abuses in their country, then smuggle
their footage across the border into Thailand. Joshua ships the footage to Norway, where it is
broadcast back to Burma and the world via satellite.
Burma VJ plays like a thriller, all the more scary because it is true.
AWARDS:
Sundance Film Festival January 2009
Won World Cinema Documentary Film Editing Award
Nominated for Grand Jury Prize World Cinema Documentary
Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival November 2008
Won Joris Ivens Award
Won Movies That Matter Award
Copenhagen International Documentary Festival November 2008
Won Grand Jury Prize
Won the CPH:DOX Amnesty Award
People’s Empowerment
มูลนิธิศักยภาพชุมชน
Empowering People for a strong Civil Society
Summary of the ASEAN Civil Society Discussion and Proposals
ASEAN was established in 1967 as an agreement among member nations to follow principles of non-
interference and common understanding. However, after more than four decades of the body’s existence, the
people of ASEAN countries still do not have sufficient understanding of ASEAN and its affairs. Thus, for 41
years, ASEAN has been an assembly of governments with limited, if any, participation by the people.
Thailand will host the 14th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikan, on 27 February – 1 March 2009.
ASEAN people realize the importance of unity and harmony among all citizens. As such, organizations in
each nation have held respective workshops in order to educate their people about ASEAN. Throughout
Thailand in 2008, People’s Empowerment Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
SEARCH-Canada, the Embassy of the United States of America in Thailand, and ActionAIDS in Thailand,
carried out a national process consisting of 12 community discussion forums on ASEAN. Participants of the
forums were members of grassroots networks, including those of ethnic groups, community radio members,
Southern people, disabled people, labor representatives, university students, community leaders, Northeastern
people, farmers for development, Central biological agriculturists, LGBT people, aids groups, and refugees in
Thailand, totaling 634 people from 41 provinces.
From the forums, participants have gained much knowledge and understand about ASEAN. Having
previously known close to nothing about ASEAN, these members of civil society are now able to thoroughly
examine and criticize the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Community Action Plans, and ASEAN’s Human
Rights Mechanism. Thus, after much discussion and debate, clear positions on ASEAN matters have been
agreed upon by a diverse collection of civil society groups. We admire the Thai government for remaining
open to criticism and recognizing the participation of Thai people in the ASEAN process.
Civil Society Proposals on the ASEAN Charter (taken from views expressed in 12 forums)
The Thai people propose that:
1. the ASEAN charter be accepted only after the fulfillment of appropriate conditions;
2. ASEAN, being a “people-centered” body, include a People’s Forum in its structure;
1/546 Nuan Chan Rd., Klongkum, Bungkum,Bangkok 10230 Thailand Tel.+6629466104 Fax.+6629466104
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www.peoplesempowerment.org
3. all ASEAN people have the same status, rights and freedoms, and that the state commit to this
principle of equal rights;
4. participation in the ASEAN process be varied and inclusive of such groups as the disabled, LGBT
people, and refugees, with the ratio of male to female participants consistently balanced;
5. Timor-leste be included as a member of ASEAN;
6. the principle of entities relating to ASEAN under article 16 of the ASEAN Charter, including
consideration of organizations in appendix 2, be revised;
7. state decision-making be transparent and open to the scrutiny, debate, and suggestions of civil society
before final implementation;
8. English remain the working language of ASEAN, but respect for the variety of ASEAN languages be
demonstrated through the translation of documents to various languages of ASEAN nations for wide
accessibility;
9. ASEAN travel documents be made available for people to travel freely throughout the region;
10. ASEAN institutions allocate 30 percent of their budgets to civil society programs and activities;
11. the motto of ASEAN people be, “Unity among diversity, participation and transparency”;
12. an ASEAN people’s symbol, different from that of ASEAN governments, be established;
13. people be allowed to participate in the amendment of the ASEAN Charter every 5 years;
14. an ASEAN People’s Charter be drafted to serve as a standing point for ASEAN people working
together.
Summary of ASEAN Community Action Plan Proposals
Economic Action Plan
Agriculture
Those representing agriculture groups propose the formation of a central market for ASEAN agricultural
products, the establishment of a fund for risk insurance, the provision of land for people, the identification of a
clear agricultural and industrial zone, the support of people to participate in land-use decisions, direct links
between agricultural products and the agricultural industry, the minimization of production costs, the
establishment of a rice bank, and support for a network of farmers.
Labor
Those with particular concern for labor propose the free movement of capital and labor, allowing workers to
legally travel and work throughout Southeast Asia. Furthermore, it is requested that ASEAN nations protect
the rights of workers by adopting all international labor standards.
Socio-Cultural Action Plan
It is proposed that a healthcare system, free from discrimination toward stateless people, refugees, and
minorities, be implemented. Through this system, the state should care for those suffering from HIV and
focus on containing the spread of HIV infections among all people. Civil society groups also propose the
promotion and maintenance of local cultures, as well as programs for ASEAN cultural exchanges. In
addition, such groups wish to support ASEAN policies that reflect principles of gender equality and respect
for the rights of disabled people, who for too long have been treated as a burden on Thai society.
Media
Those representing community radio and media groups propose the support of creative, independent media,
along with a commitment to media freedom and regular cooperation with ASEAN.
Education
Support for a variety of cooperative educational programs is proposed, particularly those that promote the
international exchange of students (i.e. the ERASMUS programme). The development of an ASEAN
curriculum and associated fund is desired to spread knowledge about people’s rights and freedoms.
Environment
To establish sustainable security of environment, to let people to do environmental research and to listen to
people sector before invest megaproject every time.
Political and Security Action Plan
Civil society groups propose good governance education for leaders at the local and national levels,
transparent budget management, support for participatory democracy, the protection of marginal people’s
freedom to express their opinions, the establishment of a mechanism to investigate work performance of the
state, the guarantee of people participation in all sectors, the development of political education processes, and
the building of regional mechanisms, recognized by the UNHCR and international community, for
determining the status of refugees throughout ASEAN.
Summary of the Proposals on the proposed draft of ASEAN Human Right Body
Members of Thai civil society insist on the previous draft of people submitted to the High Level Panel and
deny the first draft of the High Level Panel, especially the mandate of ASEAN human right body. The
minimum standard is that the ASEAN Human Rights committee should be independent, have more protection
role, for example AHRB should be able to receive complaint from people and concede humanitarian
interference.
Apart from People’s Empowerment Foundation, there are also other groups who organize conference on
ASEAN, for example the ASEAN study project of Thammasart University, the Institute of Asian studies, the
Institute of Social Research, and the Working Group of ASEAN Civil Society.
The ASEAN People’s Forum and ASEAN Civil Society Conference will be held on 20-22 February 2009 at
Chulalongkorn University, parallel to the ASEAN Summit meeting that will be held later that week.
Approximately 700 people from all ASEAN countries are expected to attend.
People’s Empowerment Foundation

4 February 2552
ΛLTSEΛN
∞ ∞∞ B U R M A∞∞∞
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
BN 2008/1049: January 30, 2009
ROHINGYA, ASYLUM SEEKERS & MIGRANTS FROM

BURMA: A HUMAN SECURITY PRIORITY FOR ASEAN
• ASEAN must be proactive in pressuring Burma’s INSIDE
military regime, the State Peace and Development 2 INTRODUCTION
Council (SPDC) to cease perpetuating the severe 3 ROHINGYA
persecution and economic mismanagement that has 3 Persecuted in Burma
been forcing millions of people to flee to neighboring 4 Boat people
6 Regional implications
countries. 6 Bangladesh
• ASEAN has helped create this human security crisis 7 Thailand
8 Malaysia
by its decades-long tolerance of the regime’s 8 MIGRANT WORKERS
economic crimes, war against civilian communities, 8 ASEAN import commodity
and systematic persecution of religious, ethnic, and 8 Thailand
political groups. 9 Malaysia
10 Global recession
• ASEAN members have passively stood by as the
regime implemented illogical policies that nurtured corruption and
transnational crime, strangled small and medium enterprises, and wrecked
the agricultural sector.
• ASEAN members are now compounding the problem by criminalizing the
regime’s victims, abusing them, and deporting them. In doing so, ASEAN
undermines its own declared aspiration to be a regional community.
• The thousands of Rohingya boat people are only the tip of the iceberg.
Millions of Burmese have fled the country in the past decade, with two million
in Thailand alone. In the past year, there has been an exodus of ethnic Chin
fleeing famine, Karen fleeing an intensified military offensive, cyclone Nargis
survivors seeking shelter, and people fleeing a climate of fear caused by the
harsh crackdown in the lead-up to Burma’s 2010 election.
• ASEAN members must ensure that refugees and migrant workers are treated
humanely. ASEAN cannot continue to treat Burmese migrant labor as
‘disposable’ commodities – using them when they are needed and sending
them back to suffer in Burma when they don’t.
• The number of arrivals in Southern Thailand has increased four-fold over the
past three years. Between October 2006 and March 2008, about 9,000
Rohingya boarded boats in Bangladesh and Burma and headed for Thailand
and Malaysia. Since November 2008, an estimated 538 boat people are known
to have died at sea. ASEAN has been aware of the plight Rohingya since the
early 1990s, when nearly 250,000 fled to Bangladesh.
• The UN recognizes that the exodus of Rohingya creates “complex
humanitarian situations in the region.” The Thai government also
acknowledges that boat people represent a regional issue.
• Governments of Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh do not provide any
legal status to the Rohingya, which leaves them vulnerable to abuse, arrest,
deportation, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
P O BOX 296, LARDPRAO POST OFFICE, BANGKOK 10310, THAILAND

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• Migrants from Burma suffer abuse at the hands of unscrupulous labor
brokers, government-sponsored vigilantes, and employers.
• ASEAN countries, especially Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, benefit
immensely from cheap migrant labor from Burma. According to an ILO study,
the over 2 million Burmese migrant laborers in Thailand contribute as much
as 6.2% of Thailand’s total GDP.
• Forcing migrants and asylum-seekers back to Burma, where the regime
continues to perpetrate serious economic mismanagement, religious
persecution and political repression is not a viable solution. It is doubtful if
the regime will receive them back, since the Rohingya are not even
acknowledged as citizens of Burma.
• ASEAN must include this human security crisis on the formal agenda of the
ASEAN Summit scheduled for February 27 in Hua Hin, Thailand. It must
insist that the regime stops its campaign of persecution against ethnic,
political and religious groups.
• ASEAN should also adopt a regional approach on asylum-seekers and
migrants that is reflective of the humane and human rights values
encapsulated in its own Charter.
INTRODUCTION
With the formal enactment of the ASEAN Charter in December 2008, there must be a
comprehensive approach to the issue of migrant labor and refugees in the region. With
regards to the main source of the problem, ASEAN must be proactive in pressuring Burma’s
military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to address the root causes
that force people to flee persecution or to escape the pervasive poverty that exists in Burma to
look for a better life elsewhere.
The arrival of Rohingya boat people places a burden on receiving countries. In April 2007, six
UN human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma,
recognized that the thousands of Rohingya who fled to neighboring countries created
“complex humanitarian situations in the region.”1
ASEAN members must also ensure that migrant workers and refugees are treated humanely
and cooperate with UN agencies to this end. The ASEAN charter requires adhering to the
principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for and protection of
human rights and fundamental freedoms. This surely includes the humane treatment of
Burmese migrant labor. ASEAN cannot continue to treat Burmese migrant labor as
‘disposable’ commodities – using them when they are needed and sending them back to suffer
in Burma when they don’t.
The Rohingya boatpeople are the tip of the iceberg and the most recent symptom of a much-
larger crisis which has already caused millions to flee Burma in the past decade - with two
million having fled to Thailand alone. In the past year, there has been an exodus of:
• Ethnic Chin fleeing widespread famine that affected 100,000 people, or 20% of the total
Chin population. In July 2008, it was reported that more than 700 people had fled to
Mizoram, India, due to food shortages in Chin State.2
1
Irrawaddy (04 Apr 07) More Rohingya boat people detained in Thai waters
2
CHRO (Jul 08) Food Scarcity and Hunger in Burma’s Chin State
2
• Karen fleeing the intensified SPDC’s military offensive in Eastern Burma. Between
February and July 2008, over 750 Karen villagers, arrived at the Thai-Burma border.3
• Cyclone Nargis survivors seeking shelter. Over 100 survivors arrived in Mae Sot, Thailand,
from the Irrawaddy delta in the immediate wake of Nargis 4, while more migrants from
affected areas have continued to reach Thailand and other parts of ASEAN.
ROHINGYA*
ASEAN has been aware of the Rohingya’s plight since the early 1990s, when nearly 250,000
fled to Bangladesh. In March 1992, Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi [now
Malaysia’s PM] said that the Rohingya refugee crisis “could no longer be regarded as Burma's
domestic problem because the action by Burmese troops has burdened neighboring countries
and may disrupt regional stability.”5 Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said that the influx of large
numbers of refugees from Burma into Bangladesh was creating “a potential area of instability
for the region and human suffering.”6
Persecuted in Burma
In Western Burma’s Arakan State, the SPDC has continued to deny the almost one million
Rohingya their basic rights of citizenship and has subjected them to systematic
discrimination, exploitation, and abuse. Human right violations include:7
• Restrictions of movement
• Restricting marriages
• Arbitrary arrests and imprisonment
• Forced labor
• Arbitrary taxation
• Confiscation of land and other personal belongings
• Constant harassment by SPDC authorities
• Forced displacement and relocation.8
The SPDC has also stepped up religious persecution against Rohingya, including:
• Arrest, fines, and prison sentences for renovation of mosques9
• Closure and destruction of mosques and madrassas10
Local authorities in Rangoon recently banned prayers in homes,11 it is expected the ban will
be widened.
3
Irrawaddy (05 Feb 08) More Karen Refugees Flee to Thai Border; Irrawaddy (01 Jul 08) Fighting between KNLA
and DKBA Continues; Irrawaddy (09 Jul 08) Thousands of Karenni IDPs hide in jungle
4
Irrawaddy (06 Jun 08) Cyclone victims migrating to Thailand; Irrawaddy (17 Jun 08) Cyclone survivors arrive in Thai
cities; Mizzima News (05 Jun 08) Over 100 cyclone victims reach Thai-Burma border; DVB (09 Jun 08) Cyclone
refugees flee to Thailand
5
FEER (10 Mar 92) Title unknown
6
New Straits Times (12 Mar 92) Islamic nations slam Myanmar for persecuting Muslims
* This section on Rohingya updates Altsean-Burma’s previous briefer “Rohingya and Muslims in Arakan State: Slow-
burning genocide” - BN2006/1028: 8 August 2006. The briefer can be downloaded from
http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Rohingya.php
7
HRC, 7th session, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, 5 March 2008, UN
Doc A/HRC/7/18, Para 78
8
Kaladan News (16 Sep 07) Rohingya families maybe sent to Coco Island; Kaladan News (15 Sep 07) Orders to
relocate 12 Rohingya families in Kyaukpru; Kaladan News (18 Sep 07) Two villages to be shifted from Maungdaw
Township
9
Kaladan News (19 Mar 08) Fined for renovation of mosque in Maungdaw; Kaladan News (28 Mar 08) Twelve
sentenced to seven years in jail for renovation of mosque; Kaladan News (09 Sep 07) Eight detained by Nasaka for
mosque renovation
10
Kaladan News (22 Jul 07) Nasaka destroys mosque in Arakan; CSW (Aug 08) Briefing: Burma
11
Mizzima News (09 Jan 09) Muslims proscribed from worshipping in residential flats
3
On 2 April 2007, six UN human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on human
rights in Burma, released a statement calling on the SPDC to stop discriminating against
Rohingya.12
In addition to the ongoing persecution, many Rohingya flee hunger and malnutrition caused
by the military regime’s self-serving and misconceived policies. During the past two years,
the SPDC has forced farmers in Arakan State to sell their rice at below-market prices, banned
the transport of rice to Arakan State from other areas of Burma,13 and restricted the delivery
of humanitarian aid to the region. In October 2007, the World Food Program (WFP) said that
they had been providing food aid to the Rohingya for ten years and food shortages had not
improved. 14 In January 2008, the WFP announced plans to increase its food assistance to
Rohingya in Northern Arakan State but warned that their main challenges in distributing the
aid were SPDC restrictions on travel. 15 In September 2008, WFP said that the needs of
Rohingya in Northern Arakan State remained critical and noted that, 44% of households in
the area had insufficient food and 27% of children under five suffered from “moderate to
acute” malnutrition.16
Boat people
Many Rohingya, desperate to flee persecution and starvation, have attempted to escape to
Thailand and Malaysia in overcrowded boats not suited for ocean travel.17 Human traffickers
and human smugglers promise them a better life and good jobs. Instead, the Rohingya find
themselves in boats with faulty engines and an inadequate supply of food and water to make
the long trip. The annual “sailing season” normally runs from October-November to March-
April when seas are usually calm. Most boats leave from Cox’s Bazaar District in Southern
Bangladesh. There have also been reports of Rohingya boat people departing - or attempting
to depart - from Akyab, the capital of Arakan State.18
Boat people departures

1600
1,444
1,358
1400
1,146
1200
1000
803 764
800 692
588
507
600 479
393 315
400 255
199
200
47
0
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
Passengers 2006/2007 - Total on 30 Apr 2007: 3,001

Passengers 2007/2008 - Total on 30 Apr 2008: 5,969
Source: Arakan Project
12
Irrawaddy (04 Apr 07) More Rohingya boat people detained in Thai waters
13
DVB (18 Feb 08) Rice export restrictions drive up prices; Narinjara News (10 Jul 07) People face acute rice
shortage in Northern Aarakan; Mizzima News (12 Sep 07) Burmese Smuggle Rice from Bangladesh
14
Independent (London) (19 Oct 07) Five million Burmese are going hungry, warns UN
15
AP (10 Jan 08) UN Agency Says Myanmar Food Aid Hampered
16
DPA (16 Sep 08) WFP faces 11.2-million-dollar shortfall in Myanmar
17
Kaladan News (26 Jan 08) BDR pushes back 19-Burmese national to Burma
18
Kaladan News (27 Feb 08) Akyab becomes main port for travel to Malaysia; Kaladan News (01 Apr 08) Thirty five
boat-people jailed, 42 others detained in Burma
4
Between October 2006 and March 2008, about 9,000 Rohingya boarded boats in Bangladesh
and Burma and headed for Thailand and Malaysia.19 [See Boat people departures chart] The
figure is likely to underestimate the number of boat people, as many departures are difficult to
document.
Many boats never reach their destination. Engines often fail several hours after leaving port
and the refuges are taken to destinations determined by ocean currents. In the most tragic
situations, the boats sink in the Bay of Bengal or in the Andaman Sea. In the 2007/2008
season, two boats sank and at least 165 boat people drowned.20 Another boat was rescued 280
km off the coast of Sri Lanka after 22 days at sea, but 17 of the 67 passengers had already
died.21 In the 2008/2009 season an estimated 538 boat people died at sea.22
2008
• 7 November: One hundred twenty boat people left for Malaysia from Moshkhali in Cox's
Bazaar District, Bangladesh. On 10 November the boat stopped in Teknaf, Bangladesh, and
passengers were driven off after being told that they were in Thailand.23
• 9 November: One hundred boat people left for Malaysia from Shapuri Dip, Bangladesh.24
• 10 November: Two boats, carrying 60 and 80 people respectively, left for Malaysia from
Shapuri Dip, Bangladesh.25
• 11 November: One hundred and fifty boat people left for Malaysia. It stopped in Shapuri
Dip due to engine trouble. Passengers fled from the area out because they feared arrest.26
• 24 November: Na Sa Ka Area 7 personnel seized an engine boat carrying 47 boat people.
The boat people were released after each paid a 100,000 kyat bribe.27
• 1 December: About 100 boat people from Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships in
Arakan State left for Malaysia. On 7 December, Thai authorities arrested the boat people
when they arrived in Thailand.28
• 8 December: SPDC soldiers apprehended about 108 Rohingya boat people in Thilawa Port,
Rangoon Division, after a storm had swept off-course their boat.29 The boat had left for
Malaysia from Cox’s bazaar district on 30 November.30
• 15 December: Ninety-seven Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people left for Malaysia from
Bahar Sara in Cox's Bazaar district. Their boat returned to Bangladesh on 4 January 2009
after being stopped several times by the SPDC Navy.31
• 29 December: Indian authorities said that about 300 of 412 boat people from Bangladesh
and Burma were presumed dead in the Bay of Bengal. The boat people had left for Malaysia
from Bangladesh on six small boats.32
19
Arakan Project (15 Apr 09) Boat people departures chart
20
IHT (27 Nov 07) Bangladesh police detain 2 suspected people-traffickers, sinking boat death toll reaches 6;
Narinjara News (13 Mar 08) Migrant boat sinks, 115 missing
21
Reuters (03 Mar 08) Myanmar and Bangladesh boat people perish off Sri Lanka
22
Straits Times (18 Jan 09) Boat people feared dead
23
Kaladan News (13 Nov 08) Five engine boats with boat-people leave for Malaysia (corrected)
24
25
26
Kaladan News (13 Nov 08) Five engine boats with boat-people leave for Malaysia
27
Kaladan News (15 Dec 08) Four engine boats leave for Malaysia with boat-people in a month
28
* Tal makeshift camp is sometimes referred to as Dum Dum Meah makeshift camp
29
DVB (11 Dec 08) Over 100 migrants from Arakan arrested
30
31
Kaladan News (05 Jan 09) Rohingyas leave for Malaysia by boat in search of greener pastures
32
Reuters (29 Dec 08) India widens sea search for 300 missing migrants
5
2009
• 2 January: Thai Navy in Phangnga intercepted a boat carrying 60 Rohingya.33

• 4 January: A boat carrying 60 people, including Rohingya and Bengalis, left for Malaysia
from Sonar Para in Cox’s Bazaar district.34
• 7 January: A boat carrying 193 boat people, mostly Rohingya, was found by fishermen off
Sabang Island in Indonesia’s Aceh province after being towed back to sea by Thai
authorities.35
• 12 January: Forty Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people left for Malaysia from Cox's
Bazaar.36
• 16 January: Thai authorities intercepted a boat carrying 46 Rohingya near an island in
Southern Thailand.37
• 17 January: Indian authorities rescued 152 boat people on the Andaman and Nicobar
islands.38
• 27 January: Thai Navy detained 78 Rohingya boat people found drifting near the Surin
Islands in Phangnga.39
Regional implications
An estimated one million Rohingya live in Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, the Middle East,
and beyond. 40 Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia are not parties to the 1951 Refugee
Convention or its 1967 Protocol. As a result, Rohingya refugees receive little or no legal
protection in these countries.
Bangladesh
The situation for Rohingya in Bangladesh remains dire. Many end up in camps in Cox’s
Bazaar district, Southern Bangladesh. Two official UNHCR camps, Nayapara and
Kutupalong are home to about 27,000 Rohingya refugees. 41 In addition, about 9,000
Rohingya live in the unofficial Leda site, while another 4,000 live in a settlement near
Kutupalong.42 There are also more than 200,000 Rohingya living outside the various camps
and unofficial sites.43 Both the UNHCR camps and the unofficial sites are overcrowded and
several independent organizations have widely reported on the inadequate living conditions.44
On 2 July 2008, Bangladeshi authorities began moving the about 9,000 Rohingya living in the
Tal makeshift camp to the newly established Leda unofficial site located in Cox’s Bazaar’s
Nhila sub-district. 45 The move was in response to international pressure and designed to
improve living conditions, with better housing and sanitation facilities. 46 The new camp
reportedly had better facilities and camp residents expected to obtain refugee status by the
UNHCR. 47 However, while living conditions were dire in Tal camp, residents had small
33
34
35
AFP (07 Jan 09) Foreigners stranded near Indonesia; Jakarta Post (10 Jan 09) Myanmar boat people take up
refuge in Sabang; BBC (15 Jan 09) Thais ‘leave boat people to die’
36
Kaladan News (13 Jan 09) Another engine boat with boat-people leaves for Malaysia
37
BBC News (16 Jan 09)Thais hold more migrants amid row
38
AFP (18 Jan 09) Indian Coast Guard rescues migrants, Thailand accused
39
Bangkok Post (28 Jan 09) More boat people caught off Phangnga
40
Refugees International (19 Dec 08) Rohingya: Burma’s forgotten minority
41
UNHCR (23 Jul 08) UNHCR cards give refugees in Bangladesh individual identities
42
43
44
MSF (May 07) Stateless Rohingyas in Bangladesh: No one should have to live like this; HRW (26 Mar 07)
Rohingya Refugees from Burma Mistreated in Bangladesh; CSW (Aug 08) Briefing: Burma
45
Narinjara News (04 Jul 08) Burmese Refugees Moved to Better Camps in Bangladesh
46
CSW (Aug 08) Briefing: Burma
47
Narinjara News (04 Jul 08) Burmese Refugees Moved to Better Camps in Bangladesh
6
income generating schemes, informal work arrangements in Teknaf, access to firewood, and
access to the river for fishing.48 In the new site, access to water is limited and residents do not
receive food rations. Access to education is limited because Bangladeshi authorities are
concerned that construction of a school would attract a new influx of refugees. 49 By
September 2008, 17 adults and eleven children at the Leda site had died.50 The deaths were
caused by pneumonia, malaria, fever, edema, asthma, starvation, and complications during
childbirth.51 In addition, security issues for women have not been resolved. On 16 September
2008, four local youths gang-raped a 25-year-old refugee at the entrance of the site while her
child watched.52 Tensions between site residents, local officials and area residents have run
high and there have been violent confrontations between the groups.53
In July 2007 and again in May 2008, Bangladeshi authorities and the SPDC renewed their
official commitment to forcibly repatriate the Rohingya refugees living in official camps in
Bangladesh to Burma.54 Activists slammed the decision and said that if the Rohingya were
free from oppression in Burma, there would be no need to force them to go back.55 Since then,
there have been no forced repatriations from the camps. However, Bangladeshi authorities
have continued to arrest and deport scores of Rohingya caught crossing the Burma-
Bangladesh border.56
Thailand
It is estimated that over 7,500 Rohingya boat people have arrived in Southern Thailand since
the 2006/2007 sailing season.57 The number of arrivals has increased four-fold over the past
three years. 58 From 26 November to 25 December 2008, Thai authorities detained 659
Rohingya boat people in eight separate incidents.59
Some Rohingya found work in commercial plantations, farming, and factories. Most preferred
to continue on their journey to Malaysia.
In 2006//2007, those apprehended by Thai authorities were taken to Mae Sot and then
deported to Burma. Once in Burma, they were detained in horrific conditions by the SPDC-
aligned armed group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.60
Rohingya in other areas of Thailand also experienced increased scrutiny. On 20 July 2007,
100 Rohingya refugees who had camped out on Mae Sot’s football pitch were urged to return
to Burma.61 On the same day, Thai Army’s General Boonsang announced that Thailand was
willing to assist in the resettlement of Rohingya refugees, within their “limited resources.”62
48
Kaladan News (08 Sep 08) Refugees block clinic and staff
49
CSW (Aug 08) Briefing: Burma
50
Kaladan News (08 Sep 08) Refugees block clinic and staff
51
Kaladan News (05 Sep 08) 29 unregistered refugees die in Leda camp in two months
52
Kaladan News (18 Sep 08) Burmese refugee woman gang raped
53
Kaladan News (08 Sep 08) Refugees block clinic and staff; Kaladan News (12 Sep 08) Locals attack refugee ration
trucks to Lada camp
54
Narinjara News (16 Jul 07) Flag Meeting Between Nasaka and BDR Held in Cox's Bazar; Mizzima News (23 Jul
07) Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister meets Bangladesh counterpart; Irrawaddy (29 May 08) Bangladeshi Govt to
Repatriate Rohingya Refugees
55
Irrawaddy (29 May 08) Bangladeshi Govt to Repatriate Rohingya Refugees
56
See Altsean-Burma’s Chronology for individual incidents:
http://www.altsean.org/Chronology/Chronology2008/DisplacementChronology2008.htm
http://www.altsean.org/Chronology/Chronology2007/DisplacementChronology2007.htm
57
Asia News (15 Jan 09) Thailand persecutes Muslim minority
58
Reuters (20 Jan 09) UN seeks access to Myanmar refugees held in Thailand
59
Asia News (15 Jan 09) Thailand persecutes Muslim minority
60
HRW (27 Mar 07) Rohingya Refugees from Burma Mistreated in Bangladesh; DVB (19 Jan 07) More Rohingyas
arrested in Thailand
61
Irrawaddy (20 Jul 07) Uncertainty over Rohingyas’ fate in Thailand
62
Irrawaddy (20 Jul 07) Uncertainty over Rohingyas’ fate in Thailand
7
However, on 28 March 2008, Thai PM Samak Sundaravej said that Thailand’s Navy was
investigating resettling Rohingya on a deserted island.63
In January 2009, the Thai government announced a crackdown against undocumented

migrants.64 On 22 January, new Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said that Thailand would push
Rohingya out of the country, as they affected “security, economy and the opportunities of
Thai laborers”.65 Two days earlier, Abhisit had suggested that boat people get into distress on
purpose as a tactic to get into third countries.66
Malaysia
Malaysia is a Muslim country with a sizable Rohingya community. As a result, it is the

preferred destination for Rohingya boat people leaving from Burma and Bangladesh. There
are about 12,000 Rohingya registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.67
In 2006, the Malaysian government began registering the Rohingya for IMM13 permits,
which granted them temporary work status. However, the permit registration process has
since stalled and Rohingya have continued to live without any protection.68
The Malaysian government’s failure to provide any legal status to the Rohingya has subjected
them to the same vulnerabilities as other Burmese migrants, including arrest, deportation, and
a lack of access to education and healthcare.
On 22 March 2008, thugs from the infamous RELA “Volunteer People’s Corps” rounded up
more than 500 people from Burma. Two hundred Rohingya refugees were among those
arrested.69 Between 14 September and 22 October 2008, Malaysian authorities arrested 38
Rohingya refugees.70
MIGRANT WORKERS
ASEAN’s most valuable import commodity
The saga of migrant labor from Burma is a story filled with misery, abuse, and death at the
hands of unscrupulous labor brokers, government-sponsored vigilantes, and employers.
ASEAN countries, especially Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, have benefited immensely
from cheap migrant labor from Burma.
Economic hardship and human rights violations are the main reasons for the exodus from
Burma. In their host countries, the migrants are severely limited to their ability to seek legal
redress for inhumane treatment and exploitation. They also lack access to basic healthcare and
are not covered by important provisions of labor and employment laws. Most migrant
laborers, whether legal or undocumented, live in constant fear of deportation.
Thailand
In Thailand, Burmese migrant labor is concentrated in agriculture, the garment industry,

construction, fishing fleets, and seafood processing. Burmese migrant labor is also present in
63
Bangkok Post (29 Mar 08) Samak wants Rohingya put on an island
64
AFP (22 Jan 09) PM vows migrant crackdown
65
AFP (22 Jan 09) PM vows migrant crackdown
66
AFP (20 Jan 09) PM: Rohingya reports 'exaggerated'
67
Mizzima News (31 Jan 07) UNHCR concern over arrest of Burmese in Malaysia
68
69
Irrawaddy (24 Mar 08) Hundreds of Burmese Migrants Rounded Up in Malaysia
70
Star (17 Nov 08) Rohingyas in dire straits in Johor
8
the hotel and restaurant industry and many young Burmese women are employed as
housekeepers. In Thailand, it is estimated that there are two million migrant laborers from
Burma, 75% of whom are undocumented71. A 2007 study by the ILO estimated that Burmese
migrant labor contributed US$11 billion to the Thai economy, a figure that represents 6.2% of
Thailand’s total GDP.72 The same study noted that most of the Burmese migrant laborers in
the garment industry in Tak Province were paid at 60 to 70 baht per day while the legal
minimum wage was set at 133 baht/day.
Tragic news reports document the precarious existence and death of Burmese migrant
laborers in Thailand.
• 13 July 2007: Thai police used an unknown gas to force sleeping Burmese migrant workers
(including pregnant women) from their homes near Bangkok. Over 30 were arrested.73
• 9 April 2008: 54 undocumented Burmese migrants, including children, died in in a sealed
freezer truck while being transported from Ranong to Phuket.74 The adult survivors received
two-month suspended sentences and a 1,000 baht fine for violating Thailand’s immigration
laws.75
• 16 December 2008: Thai authorities sentenced 15 migrant workers from Burma, including
a 15-year-old girl, to four years in jail for working in Bangkok with fake work permits. The
workers had paid their employer 6,000 baht (US$170) for the permits. The Thai employer,
who provided the permits, escaped punishment.76
• 12 January 2009: Thai authorities arrested over 170 undocumented migrant workers from
Burma during a raid on a shrimp processing factory in Mahachai, Samut Sakhorn Province,
Thailand.77
Malaysia
In Malaysia, migrant workers from Burma are also exploited and deported. Estimates for the
number of Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia run as high as 500,000.78 As the Malaysian
Immigration Act of 1959/1963 does not distinguish between undocumented migrant workers
and refugees, all those without valid residency status are subject to arrest, detention, and
deportation.79
Malaysia’s vigilante thugs, RELA, which is empowered by law to enter any premises and
arrest undesirable persons and suspected undocumented migrants80, increased their attacks on
migrant communities including registered refugees during the last two years.81 Hundreds of
people have been rounded up and detained, including pregnant women and children.82 Many
were deported. Many others went into hiding.
• 12 March 2007: RELA arrested 48 Chin asylum seekers from Jalan Imbi in Kuala Lumpur
and took them to Seminyah detention camp for deportation.83
• 4-5 August 2007: RELA detained 150 UNHCR-registered refugees from Burma during
raids in Central Selangor State.84
71
IOM (20 Oct 08) Situation Report on International Migration in East and South-East Asia
72
www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/download/yr2007/fact_migrant07.pdf
73
NMG (14 Jul 07) Thai police arrest migrant workers using gas
74
Reuters (10 Apr 08) Myanmar migrant recalls container horror
75
AFP (11 Apr 08) Thai court jails Myanmar container survivors for three days
76
DVB (18 Dec 08) 15 migrant workers jailed in Thailand
77
IMNA (13 Jan 09) 170 migrant workers arrested in raid on Thai factory
78
NCGUB (25 Jun 07) Burma Human Rights Yearbook 2006-2007
79
HRW (14 Jan 09) World Report 2009
80
HRW (14 Jan 09) World Report 2009
81
Project Maje (Jul 08) We Built This City: Workers from Burma at Risk in Malaysia
82
Irrawaddy (24 Mar 08) Hundreds of Burmese Migrants Rounded Up in Malaysia
83
Chinland Guardian (12 Mar 07) RELA raids continue in Malaysia
9
• 8 August 2007: Malaysian authorities detained 77 undocumented migrants from Chin State
living in Bartam Valley, Cameron Highland.85
• 7 January 2009: Malaysian authorities arrest around 300 Burmese migrant workers in a
raid at Pasar Budaya market in Kuala Lumpur.86
On 15 January 2009, it was reported that the US Senate was investigating allegations that
Malaysian government officials had been extorting money from foreign migrants in
connection with human trafficking network. The allegations stated that government officials
take migrants, mostly Burmese, from Malaysian detention facilities and then transport them to
the Thai-Malaysian border. At the border, government officials demand money from the
migrants. If they are able to pay, they are allowed to stay in Malaysia. If unable to pay, the
migrants are turned over to human traffickers in Southern Thailand.87
What will ASEAN do in the wake of the global recession?
Now that the global recession has hit, Burmese migrant workers are losing their jobs by the
thousands. In November 2008, 3,000 migrant workers lost their jobs in Mae Sot, Thailand.88
Falling commodity prices and decreased consumer spending has hit all sectors of the
economy. The garment industry and agricultural sectors have been especially hard hit. The
solution so far has been to lay-off, dismiss, jail, and deport Burmese migrant laborers.
Political leaders in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia have taken an “out of sight, out of
mind” approach to Burmese migrant laborers in their zeal to return them to Burma. The
fallacy in this approach is the assumption that these workers and their dependents will be able
to survive in Burma once they return.
The conditions inside Burma that forced Burmese people to look for work in other countries
has not changed, In fact, they have worsened as many farming families have been robbed of
the means of feeding themselves. Until ASEAN and the rest of the region are able to help
secure a durable solution in Burma, people will continue to leave by the tens of thousands.
84
AP (06 Aug 07) Myanmar activists call for a halt to refugee crackdown in Malaysia
85
Khonumthung News (10 Aug 07) Malaysian Authorities intensify crackdown on Burmese refugees
86
DVB (09 Jan 09) 300 migrants arrested in raid in Kuala Lumpur
87
AFP (15 Jan 09) US probes Malaysian officials' link to human trafficking
88
IMNA (04 Dec 08) Migrant factory workers from Burma hit by Thailand’s economic slowdown
10
BURMA BULLETIN
∞∞∞ 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 25 January 2009
• ASEAN’s scandalous response literally puts asylum- IN THIS ISSUE

seekers and migrants from Burma between the devil
and the deep blue sea: deportation into the hands of KEY STORY
the brutal regime, sold into the clutches of human 1 Rohingya boat people
traffickers or left out to die in open ocean.
INSIDE BURMA
• Fleeing persecution in Burma and squalid living 3 Ethnic groups boycott elections
conditions in Bangladesh, nearly 1,000 Rohingya 3 SPDC for Obama?
3 SPDC Army in disarray
refugees set to sea in hopes of reaching Malaysia.
4 Soldiers rape women
An estimated 538 boat people die at sea. 4 Trucks from China
4 Child mortality
• The regime arrests 16 dissidents, including 12 NLD
4 HIV/AIDS patients evicted
members, and sentences eight to prison terms up to 4 Five million need food
104 years. 4 Nargis survivors struggling
5 Drug smuggling/trafficking
• Detention conditions continue to deteriorate. Four
political prisoners die in Burma’s jails. In early HUMAN RIGHTS
January, the SPDC also suspends political 6 Custodial deaths
6 Detention conditions
prisoners’ visitation rights for one month. 6 Arrests
• The regime steps up religious persecution. SPDC 7 Prison sentences
7 Forced labor
authorities in Rangoon’s Kyauktada Township ban
Christian and Muslim prayer meetings in residential INTERNATIONAL
apartments. 8 UNGA resolution
8 Abhisit’s “flexible engagement”
• SPDC Army deserters on the rise because of ECONOMY
increasing abuse at the hands of their superiors. 8 Sanctions update
8 The squeeze is on
• UNICEF reports that approximately 10% of all 9 OTHER BURMA NEWS
Burma’s children die before reaching the age of five 10 REPORTS
- the 2nd highest child mortality rate in Asia. _____________________________________
Receive the Burma Bulletin monthly!
email publications@altsean.org
• FAO and WFP say that five million Burmese in need Online copies are available for
of continued food assistance. download at www.altsean.org
• UN General Assembly adopts yet another resolution

that strongly condemns the SPDC’s human rights
record. No ASEAN country supports the resolution.
*This issue also covers the events in December 2008 not previously reported
KEY STORY
Rohingya boat people, trafficked Burmese: a human security priority or ASEAN’s latest
shame?
Allegations that Thai authorities intentionally left hundreds of helpless Rohingya boat people to die in
open seas caused an international scandal. The accusations arose just days after news broke that the US
Senate was investigating claims that Malaysian officials were acting in collusion with human traffickers
to extort or traffick Burmese migrants and asylum-seekers.1 In Indonesia, government authorities
1
AFP (14 Jan 09) US probes Malaysian officials' link to human trafficking
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decided to repatriate the Rohingya who made landfall on a small island opposite Aceh because they
were “economic migrants.”2 If the fate of the Rohingya were not perilous enough, the SPDC added
insult to persecution when the junta denied that the Rohingya were an ethnic group from Burma.3 The
net result is that ASEAN has collectively placed the Rohingya in an immigration purgatory. In reality,
the Rohingya boat people are the tip of the iceberg that represents the SPDC’s history of economic and
armed aggression against its own people. This constant barrage of violence has already caused millions
to flee Burma in the past decade - with two million having fled to Thailand alone. [For more
information, please see the briefer “Rohingya, asylum seekers & migrants from Burma: A human
security priority for ASEAN”, available at http://www.altsean.org/Reports/RohingyaMigrants.php]
Those escaping the SPDC’s policy of religious persecution should be a concern for all ASEAN
members. The plight of the Rohingya affects the comprehensive security of the entire ASEAN region.
As such, ASEAN must be proactive in pressuring the SPDC to address the root causes that force
Rohingya to flee persecution in Burma. ASEAN members must ensure that Rohingya are treated
humanely and cooperate with UN agencies to this end. ASEAN cannot continue on a path the will only
make the situation worse for the Rohingya.
ASEAN’s latest boat people
Fleeing persecution in Burma and squalid living conditions in Bangladesh, nearly 1,000 Rohingya
refugees set sail on the open ocean in hopes of reaching Malaysia during December 2008 and January
2009. An estimated 538 boat people died at sea.4
• 15 December: Ninety-seven Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people left for Malaysia from Bahar
Sara in Cox's Bazaar district. Their boat returned to Bangladesh on 4 January 2009 after being
stopped several times by the SPDC Navy.5
• 29 December: Indian authorities said that about 300 of 412 boat people from Bangladesh and Burma
were presumed dead in the Bay of Bengal. The boat people had left for Malaysia from Bangladesh on
six small boats.6
• 2 January: Thai Navy in Phangnga intercepted a boat carrying 60 Rohingya.7
• 4 January: A boat carrying 60 people, including Rohingya and Bengalis, left for Malaysia from
Sonar Para in Cox’s Bazaar district.8
• 7 January: Fishermen find a boat carrying 193 boat people, mostly Rohingya, off Sabang Island in
Indonesia’s Aceh province. The boat had been towed back to sea by Thai authorities before reaching
Sabang.9
• 12 January: Forty Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people left for Malaysia from Cox's Bazaar.10
• 16 January: Thai authorities intercepted a boat carrying 46 Rohingya in Southern Thailand.11
• 17 January: Indian authorities rescued 152 boat people on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.12
• 27 January: Thai Navy detained 78 Rohingya on a boat people found drifting near the Surin Islands
in Phangnga.13
The arrival of Rohingya boat people has placed a burden on receiving countries. The number of
Rohingya refugees apprehended by Thai authorities has risen four-fold over the last three years,
reaching 4,886 in 2008.14 Faced with this challenge, the Thai government has adopted a brutal response.
Numerous accounts corroborated charges that Thai authorities, on at least two occasions, failed to
2
AP (22 Jan 09) Indonesia to repatriate 193 boat migrants
3
BBC (30 Jan 09) Burma rejects boat-people claims
4
5
6
Reuters (29 Dec 08) India widens sea search for 300 missing migrants
7
8
9
AFP (07 Jan 09) Foreigners stranded near Indonesia; Jakarta Post (10 Jan 09) Myanmar boat people take up refuge in Sabang;
BBC (15 Jan 09) Thais ‘leave boat people to die’
10
Kaladan News (13 Jan 09) Another engine boat with boat-people leaves for Malaysia
11
BBC News (16 Jan 09)Thais hold more migrants amid row
12
AFP (18 Jan 09) Indian Coast Guard rescues migrants, Thailand accused
13
Bangkok Post (28 Jan 09) More boat people caught off Phangnga
14
Reuters (20 Jan 09) UN seeks access to Myanmar refugees held in Thailand
2
protect these persons and knowingly put them at further risk.15 Survivors from both incidents told of
similar experiences - capture by Thai authorities, ill-treatment, and eventual forcing out to sea on
disabled boats with little food or water.16
INSIDE BURMA
Ethnic groups boycott 2010 elections
In January, the Kachin Independence Organization and the Kachin National Organization stated they
would boycott the 2010 elections because they believed that the process would be neither free and fair
nor usher in genuine democracy.17 Similarly, the New Mon State Party and the Mon National
Democratic Front announced they would not contend in the elections due to the provisions contained in
SPDC-drafted constitution.18
Meanwhile, the regime kicked off its campaign for the elections. In Chin State, the pro-junta National
Unity Party (NUP) began recruiting new members.19 In an attempt to curry favor with voters in the rural
areas, the USDA began offering loans to farmers in Rangoon Division’s Thonegwa Township.20
Similarly, NUP members in Mon State’s Mudon Township planted summer paddy for local farmers.21
Pro-junta supporter Aye Lwin announced that his two political parties - the National Political League
(Union of Myanmar) and the 88 generation students (Union of Myanmar) - would be contesting the
polls.22
SPDC for Obama?
On 21 January, a day after Barack Obama was sworn in as new US President, an SPDC official
expressed hopes that Washington would change its policy towards the junta and end
“misunderstandings” of the past.23 On 22 January, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe congratulated
Obama on his inauguration.24 However, the SPDC Censorship Board suppressed parts of Obama’s
inauguration speech which was published by the Voice weekly journal. The censored passage stated,
“[…] Those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that
you are on the wrong side of history.”25
SPDC Army in disarray
According to leaked minutes from a meeting of senior SPDC military officials, the Commander of the
Northern Military Command Maj Gen Soe Win reported that the number of desertions among SPDC
Army soldiers was increasing. Soe Win also said that undisciplined and corrupt army officers were
increasingly abusing their subordinates.26 In January, it was reported that over the past year in Northern
Arakan State alone, five SPDC Army soldiers committed suicide because their superiors had refused to
discharge them.27
15
16
Jakarta Post (10 Jan 09) Myanmar boat people take up refuge in Sabang ; BBC News (15 Jan 09) Thais ‘leave boat people to
die; AFP (18 Jan 09) Thai govt sending Burmese minority aylum seekers to sea
17
Mizzima News (09 Jan 09) Ethnic Kachin rebel vow to oppose junta held elections; Mizzima News (13 Jan 09) Kachin party -
but not KIO - to contest 2010 election; DVB (21 Jan 09) KIO and NMSP rule out election participation
18
IMNA (19 Jan 09) Largest Mon political party will not participate in 2010 elections; IMNA (26 Jan 09) Victorious Mon party from
1990 election supports NMSP refusal to compete in 2010
19
Mizzima News (13 Jan 09) Pro-junta party kicks off campaign for 2010 polls in northwestern Burma
20
DVB (06 Jan 09) USDA grants loans to farmers; DVB (15 Jan 09) Farmers encouraged to join USDA to get loans
21
IMNA (13 Jan 09) NUP planting summer paddy in bid for support in 2010 election
22
Mizzima News (06 Jan 09) Pro-junta group announces formation of political parties
23
AFP (22 Jan 09) Myanmar hopes for policy change from Obama: official
24
NLM (23 Jan 09) Senior General Than Shwe congratulates President of USA
25
Irrawaddy (26 Jan 09) Obama speech censored in Burma
26
Mizzima News (29 Jan 09) Armed forces becoming more corrupt and inefficient: Regional Commander
27
Narinjara News (22 Jan 09) Five soldiers commit suicide in Arakan in 2008
3
Soldiers rape women
• 27 December: The body of a seven-year-old girl was found with gunshot wounds and signs of rape in
Ma Oo Bin village, Kyaukkyi Township, Pegu Division. SPDC Army soldiers from LIB 350 were
suspected of the assault.28
• 28 December: Two SPDC Army soldiers raped a 21-year-old woman from Hsa Hmaw Township,
Kachin State.29
• 20 January: Three SPDC Army soldiers raped a 16-year-old girl in Rangoon.30
Trucks from China
In mid-January, it was reported that five military trucks from China crossed into Burma through the
Jiegao border gate in Northern Shan State. The trucks were reportedly transported to the SPDC’s
military base in Meikhtila.31
Asia’s 2nd worst child mortality
On 15 January, UNICEF launched its annual report, “The State of the World’s Children”. The report
rated Burma as having the 2nd highest child mortality rate in Asia, with approximately 10% of all
children not surviving past 5 years old.32
On 22 December, Médecins Sans Frontières, in its annual report on the “Top Ten humanitarian crises,”
said the health care system in Burma is perilously underfunded and leaves the vast majority of people
without access to healthcare. The lack of funds has caused needless suffering and preventable deaths.33
HIV/AIDS patients forcibly evicted
On 19 January, SPDC authorities forced 35 HIV/AIDS patients out of the Ahthawka Rama Shwehintha
Yele monastery in Rangoon’s North Okkalapa Township. The patients had been receiving free
treatment at the monastery for the past several years. Twenty-four of the 35 patients were forcibly
transferred to Waibargi Hospital. On 29 January, it was reported that patients at the hospital had been
discharged and that SPDC authorities were pressuring them to return to their hometowns despite the
need for continued medical treatment.34
UN: Five million in need of food
On 28 January, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP)
released a report that stated five million people in Burma are in need of food assistance because of
cyclone Nargis and a continued rat infestation that has destroyed crops in Chin State.35 The WFP said it
could not get enough food aid to Western Arakan State and Chin State because of SPDC-imposed travel
restrictions.36
Cyclone Nargis survivors still struggling
After six months of providing aid and humanitarian assistance to cyclone Nargis survivors, on 19
December, the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) published its first periodic review subsequent to the July
28
KWO (05 Jan 09) KWO demands accountability for SPDC rape and killing of 7-year-old girl
29
Mizzima (09 Jan 08) Two soldiers accused of rape and murder attempt
30
DVB (30 Jan 09) Three soldiers accused of rape at pagoda festival
31
Mizzima News (14 Jan 09) China provides more military trucks to Burma
32
UNICEF (15 Jan 09) The State of the World’s Children 2009
33
Mizzima News (22 Dec 08) Burma's health care cripplingly under funded: MSF
34
Irrawaddy (22 Jan 09) AIDS Patients Forced to Leave Monastery; Mizzima News (29 Jan 09) HIV/AIDS patients driven out from
Rangoon
35
AP (28 Jan 09) UN: Burma Faces Food Crisis; Mizzima News (30 Jan 09) Over five million people face food shortage in Burma
36
BBC News (28 Jan 09) ‘Six million Burmese need food’
4
2008 Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report. The report has updated the situation in Nargis
impacted communities. Key findings included:37
• Only one third of households reported that adequate medical supplies were available at local clinics.
• Food insecurity persisted in the Southwest portion of the Irrawaddy delta and locations around
Rangoon.
• A large number of households were still living in inadequate and overcrowded shelters which
provided little protection from heat and rain.
• International assistance was not reaching the Western areas of the delta and some of the larger towns.
Drug smuggling/trafficking
During December and January, there were numerous reports of individuals and SPDC officials arrested
for drug smuggling:
• 19 December: Police arrested a drug trafficker in Maungdaw, Arakan State, and seized 1400
amphetamine tablets and 900,000 kyat in cash.38
• Late December: SPDC authorities arrested a Rangoon Division SPDC Army warrant officer from
Light Infantry Battalion 701 on charges of drug trafficking. The officer was reportedly trafficking
drugs because he couldn’t support his family on his army salary.39
• 31 December: Special Branch police arrested a woman drug trafficker in Akyab, Arakan State, and
seized 20,000 amphetamine tablets.40
• 25 January: Police seized at least 28 kilos of heroin found on a Singaporean-flagged ship docked at
Rangoon’s port.41
• 25 January: Police in Buthidaung, Arakan State, arrested a fellow police officer and a woman on
charges of drug trafficking and seized 150 grams of marijuana, 2,000 marijuana-filled cheroots, and
430 amphetamine tablets.42
• 26 January: SPDC authorities arrested a man from Bogale Township, Irrawaddy Division, on
charges of drug smuggling and confiscated 32 kilos of heroin found inside container boxes on a boat
headed to Rangoon.43
• 30 January: SPDC authorities seized an unspecified about of heroin in an upscale residential area in
Rangoon’s Hlaing Tharyar Township.44
HUMAN RIGHTS
On 12 January, Freedom House ranked Burma among the “worst of the worst” countries in its annual
worldwide survey on freedom.45 Between 22 December and 23 January, the regime arrested 16
dissidents, including 12 NLD members, and sentenced eight to prison terms up to 104 years.
Detention conditions continued to deteriorate. Between 19 December and 22 January, four political
prisoners died in Burma’s jails. In early January, the SPDC suspended political prisoners’ visitation
rights for one month.46
The regime also stepped up religious persecution. On 5 January, SPDC authorities in Rangoon’s
Kyauktada Township banned Christian and Muslim prayer meetings in private residences.47
37
TCG (19 Dec 08) Post Nargis Periodic Review I
38
Narinjara News (22 Dec 08) Drug trafficker arrested, Yaba seized in Maungdaw
39
Irrawaddy (07 Jan 09) Soldier’s arrest for transporting drugs a sign of the times
40
Narinjara News (06 Jan 09) Woman Yaba trafficker arrested in Sittwe with 20000 yaba tablets
41
Irrawaddy (30 Jan 09) Raids in Rangoon Yield More Heroin
42
Kaladan News (26 Jan 09) Drug distributor arrested in Buthidaung
43
DVB (27 Jan 09) Crab exporter arrested for heroin trafficking
44
Irrawaddy (30 Jan 09) Raids in Rangoon Yield More Heroin
45
Bloomberg (13 Jan 09) Global Freedom Fell in 2008 Amid Crackdowns, Rights Group Says
46
Mizzima News (10 Jan 09) Visitation rights denied to families of political prisoners
47
Mizzima News (09 Jan 09) Muslims proscribed from worshipping in residential flats
5
Custodial deaths
• 19 December: NLD youth member Maung San, 35, committed suicide in Pegu prison.48
• 28 December: Political prisoner Htay Lwin Oo, 46, died of tuberculosis in Mandalay’s Ohbo
prison.49
• 24 December: SPDC authorities in Pegu prison severely beat NLD member Aung Kyaw Oo.50
• 22 January: Monk U Arnanda, 61, from Thitsar Tharaphu monastery in Rangoon’s North Okkalapa
Township’s died in Insein prison.51
Detention conditions
• On 13 January, monk leader U Gambira began a hunger strike in Mandalay’s Ohbo prison.52 On 17
January, the SPDC transferred him to Khamti prison in Sagaing Division.53
• Relief activist Yin Yin Wine, 36, suffers from gastro-intestinal disorder in Rangoon’s Insein prison.
She has not received proper medical treatment and authorities rejected her request to be treated
outside the prison.54
• SPDC authorities in Buthidaung prison, Arakan State, put 88 Generation Student Htay Kywe in
solitary confinement.55
• Student activist Kyaw Zaw, 19, was transferred from Insein prison to Shwe Tathay labor camp in
Twante Township, Rangoon Division.56
• Political prisoner Zaw Naing Htwe was transferred to Lay Mine labor camp in Taungoo Township,
Pegu Division, where he is being held in shackles and deprived of adequate food and water.57
• Activist Kathy Aung, 23, suffered a miscarriage in Mandalay's Ohbo prison.58
• 88 Generation Student Nilar Thein, suffers from a peptic ulcer in Thayet prison, Magwe Division.59
• All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) member Kyaw Ko Ko was hospitalized in Insein
prison after suffering from jaundice.60
Arrests
• 22 December: SPDC Military Intelligence in Maungdaw, Arakan State, arrested a 45-year-old

businessman for alleged connections with a Burmese media organization in exile.61
• 30 December: SPDC authorities in Rangoon arrested nine NLD youth members for calling for the
release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.62 Six of them were released on 14 January.63
• 4 January: Special Branch police in Twante, Rangoon Division, arrested private tutor Aung Pe, 52,
for saluting General Aung San’s monument.64
• 6 January: SPDC authorities in Muse Township, Northern Shan State, arrested a 44-year-old local
villager for possession of a Burmese pro-democracy media group’s monthly newsletter.65
• 12 January: Special Branch police in Dala Township, Rangoon Division, arrested NLD youth
members Htet Soe Linn and Thet Paing Linn.66
48
DVB (25 Dec 08) Political prisoner commits suicide in Bago jail; Irrawaddy (29 Dec 08) Political Prisoner Htay Lwin Oo Dies
49
Irrawaddy (29 Dec 08) Political Prisoner Htay Lwin Oo Dies
50
DVB (08 Jan 09) Commodity protestor beaten in Bago prison
51
DVB (30 Jan 09) Monk U Arnanda dies in detention
52
DVB (19 Jan 09) U Gambira reportedly on hunger strike; AFP (23 Jan 09) Jailed Myanmar monk goes on hunger strike
53
Mizzima News (22 Jan 09) Gambira transferred to Hkamti prison: Prison official; DVB (22 Jan 09) U Gambira transferred to
Khandee prison; Irrawaddy (21 Jan 09) Imprisoned Monk Leader Transferred
54
Irrawaddy (22 Dec 08) Health of Burmese Cyclone Volunteer at Risk
55
DVB (24 Dec 08) 88 Generation Students' member tortured by prison authority
56
Irrawaddy (09 Jan 09) Teenage activist transferred to labor camp
57
Irrawaddy (09 Jan 09) Teenage activist transferred to labor camp; Irrawaddy (16 Jan 09) Freezing temperatures hit remote
areas of Burma
58
Mizzima News (22 Jan 09) Detained female activist suffers miscarriage in prison; DVB (22 Jan 09) Political prisoner miscarries
in detention
59
Mizzima News (20 Jan 09) Nilar Thein's health deteriorates
60
Mizzima News (08 Jan 09) Detained student leader hospitalized in Insein prison
61
Narinjara News (29 Dec 08) Man arrested for connections with media in exile
62
AP (30 Dec 08) Activists calling for release of Suu Kyi arrested
63
Mizzima News (15 Jan 09) Six opposition party members freed
64
Mizzima News (05 Jan 09) Private tutor stages solo protest
65
SHAN (16 Jan 09) Villager arrested for carrying 'Independence' copy
66
DVB (13 Jan 09) Two NLD youth members arrested
6
• 14 January: SPDC authorities arrested Dala Township NLD member Min Thike Htoo.67
• 16 January: Police in Allen Township, Magwe Division, arrested lawyer Poe Phyu, 30.68
Prison sentences
• 3 January: SPDC court sentenced ABFSU member Bo Min Yu Ko to 104 years in prison in
connection with the September 2007 anti-junta protests.69
• 5 January: A court in Rangoon’s South Dagon Township sentenced NLD-LA member Khin Maung
Win, 29, to 10 years in prison with hard labor for carrying out relief activities for cyclone Nargis
survivors.70
• 19 January: SPDC sentenced NLD member Thein Soe to two years in prison for monitoring
corruption and recruitment of child soldiers by SPDC authorities in Rangoon’s South Dagon
Township.71
• 21 January: A court in Dala Township, Rangoon Division, sentenced NLD youth members Htet Soe
Linn and Thet Paing Linn to two and a half years in prison on charges of disturbing a government
official on duty.72
• 21 January: It was reported that Rangoon’s Mayangone Township court sentenced monk U Khaema
Sara to 14 years in prison for the alleged theft of a jade Buddha statue and possession of a forged
identity card.73
• 21 January: A court in Rangoon’s Hlegu Township sentenced Khin Thein, the mother of a local
NLD member, to one month in prison.74
• 23 January: Magwe court sentenced labor activist Zaw Htay to 10 years in prison for reporting to the
ILO land confiscation by the SPDC Army.75
Forced labor
Forced labor incidents involving construction of roads, schools, a military base, and city beautification
were reported:
• Beginning on 1 January, SPDC authorities ordered 100 households along the main road through
Khawzar Sub-Township, Ye Township, Mon State, to supply gravel and stones for road repairs.76
• On 2 January, SPDC authorities ordered Yin-Ye villagers in Ye Township, Mon State, to provide 30
large piles of firewood for a brick factory operated by IB 31.77
• On 2 January, it was reported that the SPDC Army was forcing villagers in Mohyin Township,
Northern Kachin State, to assist in the construction of an artillery base and radar station.78
• On 5 January, it was reported that SPDC authorities in Natsinchaung village in Zeegone Township,
Pegu Division, had forced local residents to do reconstruction work on a school destroyed by cyclone
Nargis.79
• In advance of a visit by SPDC PM Lt Gen Thein Sein on 26 January, SPDC authorities in Maungdaw,
Arakan State, forced residents to beautify the town.80
67
DVB (20 Jan 09) Third Dala township NLD member arrested
68
DVB (19 Jan 09) Lawyer Pho Phyu arrested
69
AP (14 Jan 09) Myanmar activist gets 104 years in jail
70
Mizzima News (06 Jan 09) Nargis volunteer sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
71
Mizzima News (21 Jan 09) NLD member jailed for two years for disturbing officials
72
DVB (23 Jan 09) Dala NLD youth member jailed
73
DVB (21 Jan 09) Monk given 14-year jail term
74
DVB (27 Jan 09) NLD member’s relatives jailed after being assaulted
75
DVB (26 Jan 09) Labour activist jailed for 10 years
76
DVB (02 Jan 08) Mohyin residents forced into construction work
77
IMNA (09 Jan 09) Villagers forced to supply free timber and firewood to Burmese army in Ye Township
78
IMNA (15 Jan 09) Households in Ye Township forced to supply truckloads of construction materials
79
DVB (05 Jan 09) Villagers forced to work on school reconstruction
80
Narinjara News (26 Jan 09) Residents Forced to Clean Town for PM's Trip
7
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
ASEAN doesn’t support UNGA resolution
On 24 December, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that strongly condemned widespread
human rights violations in Burma and called on the SPDC to halt politically motivated arrests and free
all detainees and political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The resolution was approved by
a vote of 80-25 with 45 abstentions. It was the 18th resolution passed by the UNGA against the military
regime since 1992. As with the draft resolution considered in the UN’s Third Committee in November,
no ASEAN country supported the resolution. ASEAN countries voting against the resolution included:
Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines abstained.
Cambodia was absent.81
Abhisit indicates “flexible” approach for the junta
On 14 January, new Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva noted a change in foreign policy towards the SPDC.
Abihist said that Thailand will use a “flexible engagement” approach to the junta. The exact nature of
such a policy remains undefined. Abhisit also said that sanctions on the SPDC were counter-
productive.82 This flexibility seemed to manifest itself in Abhisit’s response to reports that Thai officials
had forcibly abandoned Rohingya boat people to die in open seas. Although Abhisit declared his
intention to crack down against migrants, he also promised an investigation into the allegations and
vowed to punish those guilty of human rights abuses. Abhisit also expressed willingness to cooperate
with the UN.83 Meanwhile, Thai FM Kasit Piromya initiated discussions with the ambassadors of
Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India and said that he was preparing to raise the
Rohingya issue for discussion at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Thailand on 27 February.84
ECONOMY
Sanctions update
During his last days in office, former US President George W. Bush ordered the tightening of economic
sanctions on Burma. Junta cronies Zaw Zaw and Win Aung, along with 14 companies, were added to
Treasury Department’s sanction list.85
The squeeze is on
With the drop in global commodity prices, SPDC revenues from natural resources are down. The
SPDC’s income from gas exports, which account for about 40% of all export income, fell 28.5% in
value between April and December 2008 - a loss of US$670 million.86 Burma’s trade surplus decreased
more than 39%, from US$2.83 billion in 2007 to US$1.72 billion during the same period.87
Despite a 72% drop in global oil prices,88 the junta refused to adjust the rates for gas at state-owned gas
stations. This has led to an unusual situation where gas is now cheaper on the black market - 300 kyat
(US$0.27) lower than the 2,500 kyat (US$2.20) per gallon charged at state-run pumps.89
Cyclone Nargis delivered a near fatal blow to the rice plains of the Irrawaddy delta, with yields down
30% in some areas in 2008. In another blow to Burmese farmers, the price of paddy in Burma dropped
81
IHT (24 Dec 08) UN condemns human rights violations in Myanmar
82
Irrawaddy (15 Jan 09) Burma Situation Affects Region: Thai PM
83
AFP (22 Jan 09) PM vows migrant crackdown, AFP (20 Jan 09) PM: Rohingya reports 'exaggerated', VOA (19 Jan 09)
Thailand to Investigate Rohingya Refugee Abuse Claims
84
Nation (26 Jan 09) Rohingya refugee issue needs a holistic approach, Xinhua (30 Jan 09) UNHCR allowed to meet Rohingyas
85
AFP (16 Jan 09) US slaps more sanctions on Myanmar regime backers;
86
Irrawaddy (08 Jan 09) Global Crisis Hits Junta’s Pockets as Gas Prices Fall
87
AP (06 Jan 09) Myanmar trade surplus shrinks as gas exports fall
88
Bloomberg (30 Jan 09) Oil Gains on Report That U.S. Economy Shrank Less Than Forecast
89
Irrawaddy (09 Jan 09) Falling Fuel Prices Have No Effect on Gov’t Pumps
8
from 575,000 kyat (US$500) per ton in July 2008 to a current level of 287,500 kyat (US$250).90 Thus
many rice farmers are working at a loss, with income from the sale of an acre of rice amounting to
70,000 kyat (US$59) with production costs at about 90,000 kyat (US$78).91
OTHER BURMA NEWS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY
Dec NLD member Win Tin visits the families of political prisoners in Rangoon.
21
Dec CRPP calls for unity in Burma during a meeting held at the NLD headquarters in Rangoon.
23
Dec SPDC authorities hold opening ceremony for the Kengtung Hydroelectric dam in Kengtung Township,
30 Shan State.
Dec Two miners die and seven hurt in a jade mine explosion in Hpakant, Kachin State.
31
Dec Newly elected Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina demands the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
31
1 Personal physician Dr Tin Myo Win visits Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
1 NLD releases a statement that calls for national reconciliation and the immediate release of all political
prisoners. CRPP and seven pro-democracy parties express support for the statement.
1 United Wa State Army announces that its territory in Eastern Burma will now be known as the Wa state
government special administrative region.
1 US human rights advocate Eric Stover is denied entry into Burma.
2 US highlights its support for efforts to establish democracy in Burma ahead of the country’s 61st
anniversary of independence.
3 Weekly journal Voice reports that the SPDC Information Ministry has revoked the license of 11 journals
and 20 magazines.
4 About 250 NLD members attend an Independence Day ceremony at the party headquarters in Rangoon.
The NLD calls for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
4 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi puts up a banner inside her residence compound which says: “Act decisively in
the interest of the nation and the people.”
4 In his Independence Day anniversary speech, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe attacks “neo-
colonialists” interfering in Burma’s internal affairs and “driving a wedge among national people and
inciting riots to undermine national unity, peace and stability of a nation.”
4 For the second time in three years, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe fails to attend the state dinner
marking the Independence Day anniversary.
5 About 70 students from Akyab university, Arakan State, protest the local bus companies’ suspension of
service to the university.
5 Chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy Saw Mra Aung, 92, dies.
6 SPDC authorities release popular hip hop singer Yan Yan Chan.
7 Malaysian police and immigration authorities arrest 300 Burmese migrant workers in a raid at Pasar
Budaya market in Kuala Lumpur.
8 One thousand Burmese jade merchants hold a four-day jade exhibition in China's Yunnan province.
8 About 200 workers of an oil company in Myaing Township, Magwe Division, protest the takeover of
oilfields in Vaheen village by another company. SPDC security forces arrest four protesters.
12 All Kachin Students’ Union members distribute anti-junta leaflets in four Townships in Kachin State.
12 Thai officials arrest over 170 Burmese migrant workers during a raid on a shrimp factory in Mahachai,
Samut Sakorn Province, Thailand.
12 Bangladesh authorities in Chittagong halt rice imports from Burma after finding a shipment of rotten
rice.
12 SPDC authorities deny lawyers access to a court in Insein prison to defend their clients, MP Nyi Pu and
Dr Tin Min Htut.
12 UK Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell says that the SPDC-organized elections in 2010 are designed
to entrench military rule.
14 State-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reports that during December 2008, SPDC police arrested
277 drug traffickers and seized more than 50 kilos of opium, 2.32 kilos of heroin, 120,000 amphetamine
tablets, and other precursor chemicals.
15 Combined DKBA and SPDC Army forces clash with KNLA soldiers in Kawkareik Township, Karen
90
Irrawaddy (13 Jan 09) Burmese rice farmers struggle to make a living
91
Irrawaddy (26 Jan 09) Soaring kyat means more economic turmoil for Burmese
9
State.
17 SPDC authorities in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Division, order the relocation of 78 shop owners in
preparation for the building of a new police station.
18 US-based “Realizing the Dream” organization awards Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the “Trumpet of
Conscience” award.
18 Australia authorities rescue two Burmese nationals floating in a bathtub-sized cooler from the waters off
Northern Australia.
19 Weekly Eleven reports that the SPDC Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department has banned the
breeding of chicken, quail, and pig in populated areas in Rangoon as part of its preventive measures
against bird flu.
19 Chinese media reports that more than 50 Chinese in Shanxi Province have been abducted to Burma and
held for ransom.
20 European Commission donates 40.5 million Euros for humanitarian aid in Burma.
21 About 300 Burmese refugees demonstrate outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur to protest
discrimination against Rohingya.
21 Chinese police officials say that of the 19 known teenagers kidnapped and taken to Burma for ransom,
17 have returned home. Chinese police arrest two suspects in connection with the kidnappings.
21 Danish Development Minister Ulla Toraes and Norwegian Minister for Environment and Development
Erik Solheim visit Burma and meet with SPDC officials.
22 On appeal, the Eastern Rangoon Provincial Court reduces Chin activist Kyaw Soe’s prison term from 33
years to 13.
23 NCGUB re-elects Dr. Sein Win as PM.
26 About 100 people protest at the Thai and Burmese embassies in London to demand just treatment of
Rohingya boat people.
28 NLD Central Executive Committee members request a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
28 A Thai court in Ranong Province sentences 66 Rohingya boat people to five days in jail for illegally
entering Thailand.
31 UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari arrives in Burma to start a four-day visit.
REPORTS ON BURMA RELEASED IN JANUARY
“Freedom in the World 2009”, Freedom House

http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fiw09/FIW09_Tables&GraphsForWeb.pdf
“World Report 2008 - Burma”, Human Rights Watch (HRW)

http://www.hrw.org/en/node/79297
“We Are Like Forgotten People”, Human Rights Watch (HRW)

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0109web_0.pdf
“FAO/WFP crop and food security assessment mission to Myanmar”, FAO/WFP

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&shortid=EGUA-
7NNRJE&file=Full_Report.pdf
“Burma’s Economy 2008: Current Situation and Prospects for Reform”, Burma Economic Watch/Economics
Department, Macquarie University,
http://www.econ.mq.edu.au/Econ_docs/bew/BurmaEconomy2008.pdf
“The State of the World's Children 2009”, UNICEF

http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/docs/SOWC09-FullReport-EN.pdf
10

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MEDIA KIT (12 February 2009)

1 page ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

2 pages INTRODUCTION: ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF)

4 pages PROGRAM OF APF &

6 pages Brief description of the 33 APF workshops

1 page The Sneak Preview of Burma VJ

4 pages Summary of the ASEAN Civil Society Discussion &

1 page Map of locations

10 pages BRIEFER: Rohingya, Asylum-Seekers & Migrants

10 pages: Burma Bulletin for January 2009

19 CIVIL SOCIETY STUDY This activity aims to orient participants Ed Legaspi

19 WORKSHOP: TO BUILD The workshop, organised by South- Bonnie Setiawan,

27 CIVIL SOCIETY In 2008, civil society organisations Rafendi Djamin,

Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

1. Peace and Human Security dimension of ASEAN regionalism.

Participation & Registration

ASEAN Peoples’ Forum: Advancing a Peoples’ ASEAN

accordance with the 1998 United Nations Declaration on

engendering their multiple dimensions, communication can only be truly

Indigenous Issues, the UN Human Rights Council Expert

that an alternative means of globalization and regional

Amidst the transitions in these two contrasting cultures, the

A sneak preview of Anders Ostergaard's award-winning "Burma VJ: Reporting from a

Summary of the ASEAN Civil Society Discussion and Proposals

The Thai people propose that:

Summary of ASEAN Community Action Plan Proposals

Economic Action Plan

Socio-Cultural Action Plan

Political and Security Action Plan

People’s Empowerment Foundation

BN 2008/1049: January 30, 2009

ROHINGYA, ASYLUM SEEKERS & MIGRANTS FROM

P O BOX 296, LARDPRAO POST OFFICE, BANGKOK 10310, THAILAND

Boat people departures

Passengers 2006/2007 - Total on 30 Apr 2007: 3,001

Source: Arakan Project

• 2 January: Thai Navy in Phangnga intercepted a boat carrying 60 Rohingya.33

In January 2009, the Thai government announced a crackdown against undocumented

Malaysia is a Muslim country with a sizable Rohingya community. As a result, it is the

ASEAN’s most valuable import commodity

In Thailand, Burmese migrant labor is concentrated in agriculture, the garment industry,

What will ASEAN do in the wake of the global recession?

Issue 25 January 2009

• ASEAN’s scandalous response literally puts asylum- IN THIS ISSUE

• UN General Assembly adopts yet another resolution

P O BOX 296, LARDPRAO POST OFFICE, BANGKOK 10310, THAILAND

ASEAN’s latest boat people

Ethnic groups boycott 2010 elections

SPDC for Obama?

SPDC Army in disarray

Trucks from China

Asia’s 2nd worst child mortality

HIV/AIDS patients forcibly evicted

UN: Five million in need of food

Cyclone Nargis survivors still struggling

• 22 December: SPDC Military Intelligence in Maungdaw, Arakan State, arrested a 45-year-old

ASEAN doesn’t support UNGA resolution

Abhisit indicates “flexible” approach for the junta

OTHER BURMA NEWS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY

REPORTS ON BURMA RELEASED IN JANUARY

“Freedom in the World 2009”, Freedom House

“World Report 2008 - Burma”, Human Rights Watch (HRW)

“We Are Like Forgotten People”, Human Rights Watch (HRW)