The sight of hundreds of freely elected members of Myanmar's Parliament — former political prisoners among them — at the opening of its legislative session earlier this month was testament to the Southeast Asian country's extraordinary journey from military-run pariah state to would-be democracy. Only five years ago, Myanmar was under the control of a military junta with little respect for elections. But last November, the opposition National League for Democracy Party, led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, won an astonishing 80% of the contested seats in Parliament.
This transition is far from complete, however, and its most difficult tests lie ahead. Per Myanmar's constitution, the military still controls 25% of the seats in Parliament and three top ministerial posts. The constitution also forbids anyone with a spouse or child of foreign citizenship from becoming president. This stricture was intended to bar Suu Kyi — a former political prisoner whose late husband was a British citizen and whose two sons are as well — from becoming president, even though she has been the face of Myanmar's democracy movement for nearly three decades. Suu Kyi's party certainly has the votes in Parliament to pick the president it wants — except Suu Kyi. A member of Parliament herself, she has made no secret of her desire to be president. In fact, she has indicated that if she isn't chosen, she intends to exert great control over whoever is. (Courtesy of LA Times)
February 21, 2016
US embassy raises alarm at fighting in northern Myanmar
The U.S. embassy in Yangon said it was "deeply concerned" over clashes involving ethnic armed groups and the military in northern Myanmar that have displaced thousands of people, warning that the violence threatened to unravel the country's delicate peace process.
Heavy bouts of fighting broke out last week in Shan state between two ethnic rebel groups in the region, the Restoration Council for Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The flare-up of violence comes during a complicated political transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party, which dominated historic polls last year.
"The U.S. embassy is deeply concerned about ongoing clashes in Shan State involving the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the military," the embassy said in a statement published Friday evening. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Heavy bouts of fighting broke out last week in Shan state between two ethnic rebel groups in the region, the Restoration Council for Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The flare-up of violence comes during a complicated political transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party, which dominated historic polls last year.
"The U.S. embassy is deeply concerned about ongoing clashes in Shan State involving the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the military," the embassy said in a statement published Friday evening. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Ethnic Media Conference demands equal opportunity for media
Ethnic media reporters, editors and publication owners are calling on the Myanmar government, parliament and legislative assembles across the country to recognize them like the mainstream media as they are also working in the role of fourth estate.
The fourth ethnic media conference was held in Mrauk U, Rakhine State from February 14 to 16 under the theme, “Peace and Reconciliation through Ethnic Media.”
A total of over 200 representatives attended, with the opening speech given by Rakhine State Chief Minister Mya Aung. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The fourth ethnic media conference was held in Mrauk U, Rakhine State from February 14 to 16 under the theme, “Peace and Reconciliation through Ethnic Media.”
A total of over 200 representatives attended, with the opening speech given by Rakhine State Chief Minister Mya Aung. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Kachin leader says all armed groups are struggling
The chairperson of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) General N Ban La of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has told the organisation that every ethnic armed group is struggling.
The UNFC is made up of groups which did not sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement last October.
He said: “The extended meeting of the UNFC is being held and all groups have many struggles. We have to discuss problems very patiently in order to get the correct result. We have to be careful because sometimes we find that the meetings make decisions too easily. We are working for the sake of our nationalities and regions. Our actions greatly affect our people and we need to aware of that. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
The UNFC is made up of groups which did not sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement last October.
He said: “The extended meeting of the UNFC is being held and all groups have many struggles. We have to discuss problems very patiently in order to get the correct result. We have to be careful because sometimes we find that the meetings make decisions too easily. We are working for the sake of our nationalities and regions. Our actions greatly affect our people and we need to aware of that. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
The NLD and the Rohingya
The new parliament has convened and an overwhelming National League for Democracy majority means it can draft or pass any bill except those seeking to amend the constitution. With the NLD poised to assume legislative and executive power after the new government takes office on April 1, questions are emerging about how it will address the sensitive issue involving Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and the Muslim community generally.
The international community is especially concerned to know how the NLD and its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will address the issue of the Rohingya.
The NLD government under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will implement reforms cautiously and patiently.
The first priority of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in this transition period is to ensure the smooth running of the new parliament and government. Her second priority might be to become president, but we don’t know that yet. It is highly likely that the NLD will wait until the parliament is functioning smoothly and it has a firm hold on government power before it begins to address issues such as minority rights. It has no intention of tackling such sensitive issues hastily. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
The international community is especially concerned to know how the NLD and its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will address the issue of the Rohingya.
The NLD government under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will implement reforms cautiously and patiently.
The first priority of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in this transition period is to ensure the smooth running of the new parliament and government. Her second priority might be to become president, but we don’t know that yet. It is highly likely that the NLD will wait until the parliament is functioning smoothly and it has a firm hold on government power before it begins to address issues such as minority rights. It has no intention of tackling such sensitive issues hastily. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Myanmar strategic opportunity for both India, China: Former Indian ambassador
Preet Malik, the former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, says the country presents a 'strategic opportunity' for India and China.
In his recently published memoirs “My Myanmar years - A Diplomat’s Account of India’s Relations with the Region”, Malik says, “the external relations of Myanmar shall continue to rest on the poles of China and India as its great and immediate neighbouring powers hold the significant capacity to contribute to its economy and institutional development.”
Malik says the US, Japan and ASEAN will be the three other 'poles' for Myanmar's foreign relations.
He said that by trying to develop Myanmar, both India and China can improve the lot of its people in frontier regions, some of them in ferment.
“For India, the development of infrastructure and economic links for its north-eastern region with Myanmar and through Myanmar are of great strategic importance,” Malik says in his 200-page memoirs. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
In his recently published memoirs “My Myanmar years - A Diplomat’s Account of India’s Relations with the Region”, Malik says, “the external relations of Myanmar shall continue to rest on the poles of China and India as its great and immediate neighbouring powers hold the significant capacity to contribute to its economy and institutional development.”
Malik says the US, Japan and ASEAN will be the three other 'poles' for Myanmar's foreign relations.
He said that by trying to develop Myanmar, both India and China can improve the lot of its people in frontier regions, some of them in ferment.
“For India, the development of infrastructure and economic links for its north-eastern region with Myanmar and through Myanmar are of great strategic importance,” Malik says in his 200-page memoirs. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
NGO calls on NLD-led government to tackle the Rohingya crisis
The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK this week published a new briefing paper calling on the NLD-led government, which will take power in April, to take four practical steps to start addressing human rights violations against the Rohingya.
In a press release, dated February 18, the NGO said that addressing the root causes of prejudice and human rights violations against the Muslim Rohingya will take many years.
But, they say, in order to start this process, and to have an immediate impact saving lives and reducing human rights violations, there are practical steps an NLD government can take in its first six months.
The four points put forward by the NGO are as follows:
1) Action against hate-speech and extremists - Take action to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence, and demonstrate moral leadership, with Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders personally and specifically speaking out against prejudice and hatred, and challenging the extreme nationalist narrative. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
In a press release, dated February 18, the NGO said that addressing the root causes of prejudice and human rights violations against the Muslim Rohingya will take many years.
But, they say, in order to start this process, and to have an immediate impact saving lives and reducing human rights violations, there are practical steps an NLD government can take in its first six months.
The four points put forward by the NGO are as follows:
1) Action against hate-speech and extremists - Take action to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence, and demonstrate moral leadership, with Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders personally and specifically speaking out against prejudice and hatred, and challenging the extreme nationalist narrative. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)