Nearly a year since deadly inter-ethnic clashes in Rakhine state first broke out, conditions in displaced persons camps, combined with movement restrictions and ongoing segregation of Rakhine and Muslim communities, are severely impacting access to healthcare, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today. An estimated 140,000 people are still living in makeshift camps. According to official estimates, the vast majority of the displaced are from a Muslim minority referred to as the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a stateless minority group, not recognized as citizens by the government of Myanmar.
As well as the displaced, tens of thousands of people still in their homes have been almost entirely cut off from health facilities, food, markets, their fields, and in some cases even clean water.
“MSF has just returned from areas where whole villages are cut off from basic services,” said Ronald Kremer, MSF emergency coordinator in Rakhine state. “We have seen that movement restrictions are having a detrimental impact on people’s health. This includes TB patients unable to access the treatment they need to stay alive, and pregnant women dying because they have nowhere safe to deliver.” (Courtesy of msf.ca)
February 22, 2016
World Bank Vice President Meets with Key Leaders in Myanmar
The World Bank’s Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Axel van Trotsenburg, today reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s continued strong partnership with Myanmar in its pursuit of ending extreme poverty and promoting growth that will benefit more people in Myanmar. Three weeks after the swearing in of Myanmar’s new parliament, van Trotsenburg met National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders and senior government officials in Nay Pyi Taw and congratulated the country on the historic transition.
Van Trotsenburg met with the Chairperson of the NLD Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Ministry of Finance His Excellency (H.E.) U Win Shein, and Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw H.E. U Win Myint to discuss the World Bank Group’s current and future support to Myanmar. Van Trotsenburg expressed the World Bank Group’s gratitude for the partnership with Myanmar. (Courtesy of worldbank.org)
Van Trotsenburg met with the Chairperson of the NLD Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Ministry of Finance His Excellency (H.E.) U Win Shein, and Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw H.E. U Win Myint to discuss the World Bank Group’s current and future support to Myanmar. Van Trotsenburg expressed the World Bank Group’s gratitude for the partnership with Myanmar. (Courtesy of worldbank.org)
Myanmar cardinal calls for greater respect for religious liberty
As a new government assumes power in Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon expressed hope for national reconciliation, including forgiveness of the military leaders who ruled the nation from 1962 to 2011.
Speaking with the French news agency Églises d’Asie, the prelate called for greater respect for religious liberty in the officially Buddhist nation, including the return of Catholic schools confiscated by the military regime in the 1960s.
Acknowledging recent progress—including permission to register Catholic schools under individuals’ names—Cardinal Bo called for official recognition of the Church’s right to open schools. (Courtesy of Catholic Culture)
Speaking with the French news agency Églises d’Asie, the prelate called for greater respect for religious liberty in the officially Buddhist nation, including the return of Catholic schools confiscated by the military regime in the 1960s.
Acknowledging recent progress—including permission to register Catholic schools under individuals’ names—Cardinal Bo called for official recognition of the Church’s right to open schools. (Courtesy of Catholic Culture)
NLD leader calls region Speakers to Nay Pyi Taw
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will today meet her party’s Speakers from the state and regional parliaments in Nay Pyi Taw, although they say they are in the dark as to why they have been summoned to the capital.
The talks come ahead of a meeting tomorrow with all 14 regional Speakers – including those from Shan State and Rakhine State, who are not from the National League for Democracy – where they will discuss the formation of the Myanmar Parliamentary Union.
The MPU will comprise the Speakers and deputy speakers of each hluttaw and will be led by the chair of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. It is a new initiative from the NLD – no such body existed in the previous parliament – and is designed to improve coordination between the various legislative bodies, according to the NLD.
U Aung Kyaw Oo, Speaker of the Mandalay Region hluttaw, told The Myanmar Times that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet the Speakers today at an office in the parliamentary compound. He said he had not been told what was on the agenda and expected to spend most of the meeting listening.(Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The talks come ahead of a meeting tomorrow with all 14 regional Speakers – including those from Shan State and Rakhine State, who are not from the National League for Democracy – where they will discuss the formation of the Myanmar Parliamentary Union.
The MPU will comprise the Speakers and deputy speakers of each hluttaw and will be led by the chair of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. It is a new initiative from the NLD – no such body existed in the previous parliament – and is designed to improve coordination between the various legislative bodies, according to the NLD.
U Aung Kyaw Oo, Speaker of the Mandalay Region hluttaw, told The Myanmar Times that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet the Speakers today at an office in the parliamentary compound. He said he had not been told what was on the agenda and expected to spend most of the meeting listening.(Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Thailand Like Myanmar Before 2011: Thaksin
In comments certain to infuriate Thailand’s military government, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has likened the situation in his country to that in Myanmar under junta rule.
A draft constitution released last month by a panel appointed by Thailand’s junta was a “charade” to show the country was returning to normal, the Asian Wall Street Journal quoted Mr Thaksin as saying. “But in reality, it would be like Myanmar before its political reforms,” he said in the interview in Singapore on February 21.
“There would be a prime minister, but the real power would be in some politburo above him and the economy would suffer. No other government would want to touch Thailand.”
Mr Thaksin, who was also interviewed by the Financial Times, said the draft constitution was “a waste of time and a waste of manpower”.
“If this constitution is implemented, Thailand will be taking a step backwards,” he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
A draft constitution released last month by a panel appointed by Thailand’s junta was a “charade” to show the country was returning to normal, the Asian Wall Street Journal quoted Mr Thaksin as saying. “But in reality, it would be like Myanmar before its political reforms,” he said in the interview in Singapore on February 21.
“There would be a prime minister, but the real power would be in some politburo above him and the economy would suffer. No other government would want to touch Thailand.”
Mr Thaksin, who was also interviewed by the Financial Times, said the draft constitution was “a waste of time and a waste of manpower”.
“If this constitution is implemented, Thailand will be taking a step backwards,” he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
UN support still necessary in improving Burmese rights scenario: AI
As Burma (Myanmar) is going to have a new government at NayPieTaw by next few weeks with more non-military Parliamentarians, expectation for improving human rights across the southeast Asian country has been emerged. However, an international rights body cautioned that quasi-democratic nation still needs the supports from UN Human Rights Council.
“When it assumes power at the beginning of April 2016, Myanmar’s new government will be confronted with a wide range of human rights challenges, and it is unclear, at this stage, what capacity it will have to address them. The Council’s attention on the human rights situation in Myanmar is still necessary to ensure the new government receives the support it needs to fulfill its international human rights obligations and commitments,” said Amnesty International (AI).
An AI statement, issued recently by Laura Haigh, also added that the new NayPieTaw administration would need to take swift action to address discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, in particular the Rohingya and other Muslims. (Courtesy of Review Nepal News)
“When it assumes power at the beginning of April 2016, Myanmar’s new government will be confronted with a wide range of human rights challenges, and it is unclear, at this stage, what capacity it will have to address them. The Council’s attention on the human rights situation in Myanmar is still necessary to ensure the new government receives the support it needs to fulfill its international human rights obligations and commitments,” said Amnesty International (AI).
An AI statement, issued recently by Laura Haigh, also added that the new NayPieTaw administration would need to take swift action to address discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, in particular the Rohingya and other Muslims. (Courtesy of Review Nepal News)
Prison Food 101
Life is grim for prisoners in Myanmar, and the food is no exception. With the transfer of power to a National League for Democracy government imminent, many are hopeful that Myanmar’s remaining political prisoners will soon be free. Based on the fare served on the inside, one of the first things they’ll do when they get out is eat a decent meal.
“They give you enough to survive but that’s it,” said Ko Aung Hmaing San, who has been detained at Thayawady prison since the crackdown on student protestors and their supporters at Letpadan last March. “The food is so bad, it’s cooked badly… we need more nutrients and vitamins if we’re going to be healthy.”
Breakfast at Thayawady prison is plain congee, a flavourless gruel made from rice and water. Ko Aung Hmaing San called it “rice juice” and said the rice was of poor quality.
“At lunchtime we are treated to rice with bean soup and fish paste. The rice and the fish paste are really bad,” he added.
Meat or fish is available for non-vegetarians on Wednesdays and Sundays but dinner on other days is a watery vegetable soup containing “unidentified leaves”, he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
“They give you enough to survive but that’s it,” said Ko Aung Hmaing San, who has been detained at Thayawady prison since the crackdown on student protestors and their supporters at Letpadan last March. “The food is so bad, it’s cooked badly… we need more nutrients and vitamins if we’re going to be healthy.”
Breakfast at Thayawady prison is plain congee, a flavourless gruel made from rice and water. Ko Aung Hmaing San called it “rice juice” and said the rice was of poor quality.
“At lunchtime we are treated to rice with bean soup and fish paste. The rice and the fish paste are really bad,” he added.
Meat or fish is available for non-vegetarians on Wednesdays and Sundays but dinner on other days is a watery vegetable soup containing “unidentified leaves”, he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
OIL to conduct survey on Arakan basin in KA soon
Finally, state-run Oil India Ltd (OIL) will conduct a survey on Assam-Arakan basin in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district for exploration of huge deposit of oil and natural gas in the hill district, official sources informed here on Sunday.
A team of senior officials of the oil company comprising Diponjoy Daulaguphu, Tridip Hazarika, Diganta Borah, Pallav Borgohain and MR Deuri held two separate meetings with Karbi Anglong DC Mukul Gogoi and officials of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on February 4 and 5 to discuss various aspects of the survey work, especially on the security measures for the officials and the staff to be engaged in survey operations.
The OIL will conduct the survey in search of the Assam-Arakan basin at Dilaji, Doldoli, Dhansiri, Rongapahar and Maisibailam to assess the details stock of the oil deposit.
Both officials of KAAC and district administration assured the officials of OIL for giving full cooperation and help in conducting the survey, sources said. (Courtesy of Nagaland Post)
A team of senior officials of the oil company comprising Diponjoy Daulaguphu, Tridip Hazarika, Diganta Borah, Pallav Borgohain and MR Deuri held two separate meetings with Karbi Anglong DC Mukul Gogoi and officials of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on February 4 and 5 to discuss various aspects of the survey work, especially on the security measures for the officials and the staff to be engaged in survey operations.
The OIL will conduct the survey in search of the Assam-Arakan basin at Dilaji, Doldoli, Dhansiri, Rongapahar and Maisibailam to assess the details stock of the oil deposit.
Both officials of KAAC and district administration assured the officials of OIL for giving full cooperation and help in conducting the survey, sources said. (Courtesy of Nagaland Post)
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