About 400 Myanmar citizens are still in a prison at Indian’s Port Blair naval base, most of whom are workers in the fishing industry, said an official from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Myanmar fishermen have been jailed for a variety of reasons, though 249 of them will be released on May 31 and June 2. They are to be released after they have served their prison terms.
“More than 20 people have been released from the prison, but authorities are still checking their citizenship status,” said Sein Oo, director general of the Consular and Legal Affairs Department under the ministry. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
May 31, 2016
Burma’s ‘Rohingya Princess’ Has Met Obama, Why Not Aung San Suu Kyi?
When she talks about imprisoned Rohingya Muslims, her people, her pretty face changes; her eyes darken, her straight-backed posture grows tense, and her voice grows louder: “The government now deny that we even exist,” she says.
A walking symbol for discriminated minorities, Wai Wai Nu believes that the only way to convince her country’s newly elected government to include all ethnic minorities in the democratic process is by mobilizing, and pushing.
She says she is ready to turn into a monk for that, to live without any personal life, devoting herself only to one goal: to end the disaster for one of the most discriminated-against groups on the planet, to win freedom for more than 200,000 internally displaced people living in ghettos and camps surrounded by police checkpoints in Rakhine state. (Courtesy of thedailybeast.com)
A walking symbol for discriminated minorities, Wai Wai Nu believes that the only way to convince her country’s newly elected government to include all ethnic minorities in the democratic process is by mobilizing, and pushing.
She says she is ready to turn into a monk for that, to live without any personal life, devoting herself only to one goal: to end the disaster for one of the most discriminated-against groups on the planet, to win freedom for more than 200,000 internally displaced people living in ghettos and camps surrounded by police checkpoints in Rakhine state. (Courtesy of thedailybeast.com)
Protecting religious freedom a major challenge in Myanmar, Catholic cardinal says
A Catholic cardinal in Myanmar spoke at the U.K. Parliament in London on Wednesday, May 25 about the abuses against religious freedom, saying upholding people's rights to freely worship is one of the major challenges in his country today.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar's first cardinal, said there is a need to defend religious freedom, to fight discrimination and to ensure that everyone enjoys equal rights regardless of ethnicity and religion. (Courtesy of christiantimes.com)
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar's first cardinal, said there is a need to defend religious freedom, to fight discrimination and to ensure that everyone enjoys equal rights regardless of ethnicity and religion. (Courtesy of christiantimes.com)
Authorities arrest 8 ‘Bengalis’ for illegal entry into Magway
Ngape—Police have arrested eight ‘Bengalis’ who were smuggled from Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, into Ngape Township, Magway Region, on May 28, sources say. Bengalis are also known as Rohingya.
A police unit led by Police Captain Kyaw Myo from the Gokegyi Police Station, along with and villagers, checked cars from Rakhine State and stopped a car in front of the Natyaykan coffee plantation. However, the driver fled the scene and left his passengers near Linte Village. When they were found, the people being smuggled said they came by car. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
A police unit led by Police Captain Kyaw Myo from the Gokegyi Police Station, along with and villagers, checked cars from Rakhine State and stopped a car in front of the Natyaykan coffee plantation. However, the driver fled the scene and left his passengers near Linte Village. When they were found, the people being smuggled said they came by car. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
TNLA seeks dialogue with govt to end clashes
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA/PSLF) announced on May 28 that it will seek to hold political dialogue with the government to reach a ceasefire and return IDPs to their homes.
The TNLA/PSLF issued the statement in response to a demonstration held by local Shan nationals in Kyaukme Township. The demonstrators demanded an end to racial violence between the Ta’ang and Shan communities.
The TNLA said that due to successive dictatorships in Myanmar, peaceful discussions on political problems were never achieved, and as a result, the Ta’ang, Shan and Kachin communities suffered domestic instability.
Clashes frequently occur in Shan State between the TNLA and the Myanmar Defence Services. Also, the TNLA and the Shan State Restoration Council (RCSS), which signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), have been clashing since November 2015. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The TNLA/PSLF issued the statement in response to a demonstration held by local Shan nationals in Kyaukme Township. The demonstrators demanded an end to racial violence between the Ta’ang and Shan communities.
The TNLA said that due to successive dictatorships in Myanmar, peaceful discussions on political problems were never achieved, and as a result, the Ta’ang, Shan and Kachin communities suffered domestic instability.
Clashes frequently occur in Shan State between the TNLA and the Myanmar Defence Services. Also, the TNLA and the Shan State Restoration Council (RCSS), which signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), have been clashing since November 2015. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
`Midnight inspections’ set to end in Myanmar
House raids without a warrant are set to end in Myanmar under draft legislation supported by the ruling party and rights activists.
Members of the governing National League for Democracy (NLD), many of whom had been a victim of surprise house raids under the former military regime, are supporting the bill currently going through parliament.
"Previous governments used this law to arrest political activists. As the ruling party, the NLD wants to amend this law in line with human rights standards," party spokesman Win Htein said Monday.
"The new law will end warrant less household inspections," he told dpa by phone.
Myanmar’s upper house last week discussed the proposed bill to amend the 2012 Ward or Village Tract Administration Law, which has required residents to inform government officials when visitors spend the night in their homes. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
Members of the governing National League for Democracy (NLD), many of whom had been a victim of surprise house raids under the former military regime, are supporting the bill currently going through parliament.
"Previous governments used this law to arrest political activists. As the ruling party, the NLD wants to amend this law in line with human rights standards," party spokesman Win Htein said Monday.
"The new law will end warrant less household inspections," he told dpa by phone.
Myanmar’s upper house last week discussed the proposed bill to amend the 2012 Ward or Village Tract Administration Law, which has required residents to inform government officials when visitors spend the night in their homes. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
News Agency Denounces Nationalist Monks For Obstructing Reporter
In what it has called an assault on press freedom, Burmese news agency Myanmar Cable News has publicly condemned the Myanmar Patriotic Monks Union, one of several hardline Buddhist nationalist groups in Burma, for allegedly obstructing and intimidating one of its junior reporters.
The reporter was covering a meeting between the monk’s union and the management of the luxury Sedona Hotel in Rangoon. According to the news agency’s statement issued on Monday, members of the monk’s union stopped the reporter from filming the meeting, and attempted to delete the footage taken, even though the news agency had obtained permission from the hotel to film the meeting. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
The reporter was covering a meeting between the monk’s union and the management of the luxury Sedona Hotel in Rangoon. According to the news agency’s statement issued on Monday, members of the monk’s union stopped the reporter from filming the meeting, and attempted to delete the footage taken, even though the news agency had obtained permission from the hotel to film the meeting. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Monk says denigrating other religions is against Buddhism
A Senior monk has spoken out against fellow clerics who criticise other religions. U Sandi Marbhivamsa, secretary of the State Sangha Nayaka Committee, spoke to The Myanmar Times shortly after returning from an interfaith conference held in Indonesia.
He said the Buddha did not attack other religions or races, but some monks were venturing into politics with their criticisms. “Some monks court political popularity with such views. That kind of provocation is not conducive to peace in the country,” he said.
His recent experience in Indonesia had shown him that the majority- Muslim population there, one of the biggest in the world, had no prejudice against Buddhists, said U Sandi Marbhivamsa. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
He said the Buddha did not attack other religions or races, but some monks were venturing into politics with their criticisms. “Some monks court political popularity with such views. That kind of provocation is not conducive to peace in the country,” he said.
His recent experience in Indonesia had shown him that the majority- Muslim population there, one of the biggest in the world, had no prejudice against Buddhists, said U Sandi Marbhivamsa. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Eight militants killed in ambush by Indian army in Myanmar for the second time in a year
Indian troops are said to have entered Myanmarese territory for the second time in less than a year in pursuit of militants responsible for the May 22 deadly ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur , officials familiar with the matter said. Initial reports suggested that at least eight militants were killed in the operation late Friday, they said.
"The AR (Assam Rifles) has informed us that besides killing eight, they have picked up 18 militants who were later handed over to the Myanmar authorities," said an official from the security establishment. (Courtesy of economictimes.indiatimes.com)
"The AR (Assam Rifles) has informed us that besides killing eight, they have picked up 18 militants who were later handed over to the Myanmar authorities," said an official from the security establishment. (Courtesy of economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Burma: Human Rights Now Is Not a Slogan
In Burma, the urgency for just leadership is intensifying. Leadership defines a nation. Some leaders take their country higher and some take their country lower. Those on the lower side are forgotten and those on the high side are remembered; legacy counts. I strongly believe that Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) is coming to a fork in the road for her career. In the last election, she won every district. Her nation believes in her. Despite her house arrest, her people stayed with her for 16 years and never wavered. Her numerous international honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize, prove the world believes in her. But moments come that define leadership. No one asks for these moments but they do come. Nelson Mandela chose a positive path and Robert Mugabe took the lower path. I hope ASSK takes the higher path. Let me explain. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
Suu Kyi to Visit Thailand in June
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s state counselor and foreign minister, will visit Thailand in June, according to the President’s Office.
Zaw Htay, the office’s spokesperson, confirmed that the trip would take place next month but said the exact dates of travel are still being negotiated.
Zaw Htay declined to comment on whether Htin Kyaw, Burma’s president, would join Suu Kyi on the trip.
However, inside sources said the trip would be between June 23-25, and that Htin Kyaw would be joining. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Zaw Htay, the office’s spokesperson, confirmed that the trip would take place next month but said the exact dates of travel are still being negotiated.
Zaw Htay declined to comment on whether Htin Kyaw, Burma’s president, would join Suu Kyi on the trip.
However, inside sources said the trip would be between June 23-25, and that Htin Kyaw would be joining. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
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