Suu Kyi’s Detention Extended

National League for Democracy, or NLD, spokesman U Lwin said that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest was extended for another year on November 27. U Lwin said that the move was carried out under provisions of the 1975 State Protection Act, Article 10/b, which empowers the government to detain prisoners for up to five years without filing charges. According to an Associated Press report, Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win told Association of Southeast Asian Nation, or Asean, leaders during a November summit in Vientiane, that he did not have information about Suu Kyi’s continued detention as he had not been in touch with officials back home.

Rangoon to Resume Convention

On November 23 state-run television and radio quoted Lt-Gen Thein Sein, chairman of the National Convention Convening Committee as saying that the National Convention tasked with drafting a new constitution, is to re-start in February next year. He also claimed that ceasefire groups promised to continue participating in the assembly, which was adjourned indefinitely on July 9. Thein Sein who on October 19 became Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, the junta that oversees the government of Burma, insists that the administration remains committed to the seven-point road map to political reform, which was unveiled by the then PM Gen Khin Nyunt last year.

Junta Says Prisoner Amnesty Completed

The official New Light of Myanmar reported on November 29 that the government of Burma has released 9,248 prisoners from the country’s jails. Rangoon promised to release the first batch of 3,937 prison inmates on November 18—exactly one month after the coup that ousted PM Gen Khin Nyunt. Only about 40 of Burma’s 1,300-odd political prisoners, including former student activist Min Ko Naing, were freed. Win Tin, a 74-year old National League for Democracy member, whom deputy foreign minister Kyaw Thu said was among those to be released, remains in Insein Prison.

Bohmu Aung, also known as Thakin San Hlaing, a member of the “Thirty Comrades”, died peacefully at home in Rangoon aged 95. He was active as a member of the pro-independence movement, the Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association), which was established in 1930. During WWII, Bohmu Aung became a member of the Thirty Comrades, a group of young Burmese men who allied with Japan to fight the British colonial government that ruled Burma. Since the 1962 coup he has been jailed occasionally for his political activities. In the 1990s Bohmu Aung led a group of “Veteran Politicians” that called for political reform and negotiation with the NLD. Only two of the Thirty Comrades are still alive.

Burma Accused of Using Child Soldiers

A report by the London-based human rights organization Amnesty International says that Rangoon still uses child soldiers. The report claims that child soldiers as young as 11 are recruited. “In early 2004, homeless children were reported to be at increased risk of recruitment, and some child soldiers who escaped were subsequently re-recruited into military units,” the report stated. It also carried accounts from former child soldiers who claimed they were press-ganged into the Burma Army. Amnesty International estimates that up to 7,000 child soldiers serve in the government military and other ethnic forces in the country.

Cabinet Reshuffles Again

Burma’s government reshuffled several cabinet positions on November 5. Minister of Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing and Minister of Labor Tin Winn, who also served as a minister in the prime minister’s office, were “permitted to retire” according to an official statement. Four deputy ministers also got the boot: Brig-Gen Khin Maung (Agriculture and Irrigation), Brig-Gen Kyaw Win (Industry-1), Aung Thein (Livestock and Fisheries), and Nyi Hla Nge (Science and Technology). Maj-Gen Maung Oo was appointed the new Minister for Home Affairs. U Thaung, the current science minister was also named the new Minister of Labor, and Kyaw Soe was appointed Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. The order was signed by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lt-Gen Thein Sein.

Burmese Ruby at Smithsonian

The world’s largest ruby, which comes from Burma, is now on public display for the first time at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The 23.1 carat stone was mined at Mogoke, Mandalay Division in the 1930s. The gem, described by the Smithsonian as being of “a richly saturated homogenous red color combined with an exceptional degree of transparency”, is set in a platinum ring with diamonds and sapphires. The 23.1-carat ruby was privately owned until it was donated by American businessman and philanthropist Dr Peter Buck in memory of his wife Carmen L๚cia Buck.

Death Toll Rises in Southern Thai Violence 

This year’s death toll from violence in southern Thailand reached 540 by November 16, according to a report by Associated Press. Several bomb blasts and attacks on Buddhist civilians followed the deaths of 78 Muslims in military custody in late October. Police reported that remote-control bombs were set off using mobile phones. Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed regret over the deaths of detainees, offering compensation to victims’ families but insisting that Thai security forces acted appropriately.

Renowned Journalist Passes Away

Veteran journalist and politician Htain Linn died of heart failure at Rangoon General Hospital on November 4, aged 79. At the age of 17 Htain Linn joined the Burma National Army, then in 1947 became a member of Pyithu Yebaw Ahphwe (People’s Volunteer Organization, or PVO). In July 1948 the leftist “White Band” faction of the PVO went into rebellion against Rangoon and Htain Linn followed. He was captured in 1953 and spent four years in jail. After his release in 1957, he joined the National United Front of Union of Burma, a leftist political party, known by its Burmese acronym Pa Ma Nya Ta. The following year Htain Linn started working as a journalist at Botataung newspaper and became editor-in-chief in 1964. He was arrested again in the 1960s. In the 1990s Htain Linn became known to Burmese-language shortwave radio listeners for the daring sound-bites he made during phone-in interviews.

Italian Tourists Drown