For many of us, casting a ballot in the primary election was a routine task – a simple way to fulfill our civic obligation. But for one group of Fort Wayne residents, it was a first-ever opportunity to have a voice in selecting elected representatives.
Minn Myint Nan Tin, director of the Burmese Advocacy Center, joined a group of about two dozen new American citizens exercising their right to vote for the first time.
“Due to 26 years of totalitarian rule in Burma, the majority of Burmese immigrants never had a chance to choose the government officer of their own,” she shared in an email. “Coming from a country that did not practice the election process, and for the people who struggle to restore democracy in native country, this is the process that (they) would not want to miss out (on).”
The Burmese Advocacy Center assisted residents in registering earlier this year. Kyaw That, a member of the group, registered months earlier but didn’t receive a confirmation letter. When he joined the group at the Rousseau Centre for early voting last Saturday, he learned he was qualified and happily cast his first vote. Another resident, May Than Shein, was recently hospitalized for pneumonia but didn’t want to miss her chance to vote, Nan Tin said. (Courtesy of journalgazette.net)
May 8, 2016
Sultan meets Rohingya families at refugee centre
The international community must pay attention to the suffering of refugees around the world, His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said during his recent visit to UNHCR’s Harmony Refugee Learning Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
He visited the refugee learning centre with his wife, Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.
During the visit, Dr Shaikh Sultan interacted with the refugee children and called on the world to move seriously towards providing the refugees with the means for a dignified life, including shelter, food, health and education. (Courtesy of gulfnews.com)
He visited the refugee learning centre with his wife, Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.
During the visit, Dr Shaikh Sultan interacted with the refugee children and called on the world to move seriously towards providing the refugees with the means for a dignified life, including shelter, food, health and education. (Courtesy of gulfnews.com)
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Accused of Ethnic Segregation
Representatives of nearly 19 ethnic groups in Myanmar accused today the State Counselor and Minister of State Aung San SuuKyi due to the prohibition of Rohingya term.
That is the name of an ethnic minority (Islamic) persecuted for decades by a radical wing of Buddhism.
Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs demanded to avoid the term 'Rohingya and use instead 'Bengalis'. (Courtesy of plenglish.com)
That is the name of an ethnic minority (Islamic) persecuted for decades by a radical wing of Buddhism.
Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs demanded to avoid the term 'Rohingya and use instead 'Bengalis'. (Courtesy of plenglish.com)
What’s at stake with Obama’s decision on whether to renew sanctions for Myanmar
On May 20, 2016, the national emergency that underpins the remaining U.S. sanctions on Myanmar will expire unless renewed by President Obama. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) provides most of the legal authority for U.S. sanctions for Myanmar. The statute grants the President broad authority to regulate transactions subject to U.S. jurisdiction. However, the President must first trigger those authorities by declaring a national emergency with respect to “any unusual and extraordinary threat…to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”
Three presidents have renewed the national emergency 17 times already, suggesting that the 18th would be a fairly routine step to maintain the existing measures. President Clinton declared such a threat for Myanmar in 1997 and determined that the government of Myanmar had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Myanmar and that the actions and policies of the government of Myanmar constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat. Presidents Bush and Obama subsequently expanded the scope of that national emergency based on the developing situation in Myanmar. (Courtesy of Asia Times)
Three presidents have renewed the national emergency 17 times already, suggesting that the 18th would be a fairly routine step to maintain the existing measures. President Clinton declared such a threat for Myanmar in 1997 and determined that the government of Myanmar had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Myanmar and that the actions and policies of the government of Myanmar constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat. Presidents Bush and Obama subsequently expanded the scope of that national emergency based on the developing situation in Myanmar. (Courtesy of Asia Times)
GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR MUST RECOGNIZE THE ROHINGYA
“As members of an ethnic minority whose own right to exist has been questioned throughout history, we call on the newly elected government of Myanmar to recognize the existence of its own most oppressed minority, the Rohingya Muslims.
“We are disappointed that the newly elected democratic government of Myanmar has asked the new U.S. ambassador to refrain from using the term Rohingya, explaining that this group is not officially recognized by the government as an ethnic minority. (Courtesy of AJWS)
“We are disappointed that the newly elected democratic government of Myanmar has asked the new U.S. ambassador to refrain from using the term Rohingya, explaining that this group is not officially recognized by the government as an ethnic minority. (Courtesy of AJWS)
Hundreds protest restart of China-backed copper mine in Myanmar
Hundreds of villagers in Myanmar protested on Friday against the resumption of operations at a Chinese-backed copper mine, in one of the first tests for the new government's ability to deal with public anger.
The protests have gathered momentum since Wednesday when some people broke through police barriers protecting the mine, operated by Myanmar Wanbao, a unit of a Chinese weapons maker, residents of the area told Reuters by telephone.
Myanmar Wanbao runs the Letpadaung mine in a joint venture with a conglomerate controlled by the Myanmar military, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (Courtesy of Reuters)
The protests have gathered momentum since Wednesday when some people broke through police barriers protecting the mine, operated by Myanmar Wanbao, a unit of a Chinese weapons maker, residents of the area told Reuters by telephone.
Myanmar Wanbao runs the Letpadaung mine in a joint venture with a conglomerate controlled by the Myanmar military, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Landslide of jade mining waste kills at least 13 in Myanmar
At least 13 people have been killed by a landslide of jade mining waste in northern Myanmar, a hospital said Friday. More people may still be buried under the waste.
The accident occurred late Thursday in Hpakant, the center of Myanmar's lucrative jade mining industry in Kachin state.
Jade is mined with heavy equipment that leaves behind small pieces in waste soil that is piled into huge mounds. People who settle near the mounds to scavenge pieces from the towering piles are at risk when landslides occur.
Sai Nyunt Lwin of the Hpakant township hospital said 13 bodies had been brought there from Seng Tawng jade mining village. (Courtesy of SFGate)
The accident occurred late Thursday in Hpakant, the center of Myanmar's lucrative jade mining industry in Kachin state.
Jade is mined with heavy equipment that leaves behind small pieces in waste soil that is piled into huge mounds. People who settle near the mounds to scavenge pieces from the towering piles are at risk when landslides occur.
Sai Nyunt Lwin of the Hpakant township hospital said 13 bodies had been brought there from Seng Tawng jade mining village. (Courtesy of SFGate)
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