Tuesday, October 14, 2008

complains about 37 activists on trails and FAO donation


The one-day appearances were closed to the general public, including the families of the accused, who protested against their exclusion.
The accused include several leaders of the 88 Generation Students movement, including Min Ko Naing. His trial was adjourned until October 27.
The accused face seven charges, including a provision of the criminal code covering crimes judged to threaten the stability of the government.
The trials are taking place in three locations—Insein Prison and court premises in Hlaing Tharyar Township and Kamaryut Township.
The accused also include Nilar Thein, a woman activist, and a prominent activist monk, Ashin Gambira, who were among the leaders of the September 2007 demonstrations, Htun Htun Oo, Maung Maung Latt, Aung Kyaw Moe, Si Thu Maung and Tar Tar Thet.
Gambira is charged with nine separate criminal offenses, including infringements of State Offence Act 505 A and B, Immigration Act 13/1, Illegal Organization Act 17/1, Electronic Act 303 A and Organization Act 6.
Gambira’s lawyer, Aung Thein, resigned his brief on October 1, complaining that he was not being allowed to prepare a proper defense
Another defense lawyer, Khin Maung Shein, said he would also resign his brief after the court refused to allow him to ask questions on behalf of his clients.
Both were asked by their clients to withdraw. “If we are asked by our clients to resign, then we have to [follow their instructions],” Khin Maung Shein said. “They asked us to resign not because they are not satisfied with our efforts but because they don’t want to cooperate with the courts’ schedule any longer.” Meanwhile, detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Kyi Win, said no reply had yet been received to the legal appeal against her continuing house arrest, which had been handed in at Naypyidaw on October 8.Suu Kyi’s latest five-year term of house arrest was extended in May for a further year—illegally, according to Kyi Win, because article 10 (b) of the Burmese State Protection Law 1975 stipulates that a person judged to be a “threat to the sovereignty and security of the State and the peace of the people” can only be detained for up to five years. Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 years of the past 19 years confined to her Rangoon home.


FAO To Donate More Cattle To Myanmar's Cyclone-hit Regions

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is making arrangements to donate more draught cattle to support the rehabilitation work of Myanmar cyclone victims, Xinhua news agency said, quoting the local "Weekly Eleven" report Tuesday.A total of 550 cows and cattle as well as 15,000 chickens and 60,000 ducks are set to be distributed by the UN organization in November and December this year to survived farmers for the resumption of their agricultural work.Besides, local and other international organizations are also planning to donate pigs, chickens and ducks for the victims.In July this year, purchasing from lesser-cyclone-hit region of Bago and cyclone-free northern region of Mandalay, the FAO had donated 600 cows and cattle for four cyclone-hit regions - Kungyankon, Mawlamyine, Ngaputaw and Phyapon to help restart agricultural cultivation.Earlier, local reports said altogether 1,400 draught buffaloes and cows have also been supplied by local organizations and well-wishers to the storm-hit areas for recultivation.Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on last May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.The storm has killed 84,537 people, leaving 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured, according to official statistics.Altogether 300,000 cows and cattle died in cyclone-hard-hit Ayeyawaddy and Yangon divisions.


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