The recent meeting between U Htin Kyaw and Mr Vladimir Putin was the first between the heads of state of Myanmar and Russia, though there have long been high-level contacts between the armed forces of the two countries.
Htin Kyaw held talks with the Russian strongman on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on May 19. The meeting came a few days before State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and US Secretary of State Mr John Kerry held talks in Nay Pyi Taw.
The two meetings focused attention on a significant difference in the relationships between Myanmar and the two superpowers: Russia has developed close ties with senior members of the military establishment while the US has been an enthusiastic supporter of Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
June 10, 2016
Muslim Lawyers Association formed in Myanmar
Legal professions have established an association to provide legal assistance to the Muslim community to help them defend their basic rights in Myanmar, where anti-Muslim sentiment has been growing over the past few years.
Supreme Court Advocate Ko Ni -- a legal adviser to Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party -- told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that plans to form a “Myanmar Muslim Lawyers Association” were originally discussed six months ago.
“It aims to unite Myanmar Muslim lawyers and to protect against violations of the basic rights of Muslim citizens in the country,” he said by phone. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
Supreme Court Advocate Ko Ni -- a legal adviser to Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party -- told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that plans to form a “Myanmar Muslim Lawyers Association” were originally discussed six months ago.
“It aims to unite Myanmar Muslim lawyers and to protect against violations of the basic rights of Muslim citizens in the country,” he said by phone. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
Myanmar Muslim hospital offers hope in troubled times
From political activists freed after years in Myanmar's jails to stricken and impoverished families, all are welcome at Yangon's Muslim Free Hospital -- a symbol of unity in a country riven by religious unrest.
There is barely a space left unoccupied in the bustling medical centre. From the soot-smeared front steps, through dusty stairwells and into sweltering wards, people wait for treatments that would be beyond their reach elsewhere in Myanmar's desperately underfunded health system.
The throngs of people -- the hospital sees up to 500 outpatients a day -- are a testament to the diversity of the Buddhist-majority country's main city, with flashes of colour from Myanmar skirt-like longyis and Muslim headscarves. (Courtesy of health.asiaone.com)
There is barely a space left unoccupied in the bustling medical centre. From the soot-smeared front steps, through dusty stairwells and into sweltering wards, people wait for treatments that would be beyond their reach elsewhere in Myanmar's desperately underfunded health system.
The throngs of people -- the hospital sees up to 500 outpatients a day -- are a testament to the diversity of the Buddhist-majority country's main city, with flashes of colour from Myanmar skirt-like longyis and Muslim headscarves. (Courtesy of health.asiaone.com)
Kyaukpyu residents demand compensation
The demands of residents displaced by the Kyaukpyu deep-sea port, dating back to the previous government, are still unanswered, sources say.
However, a Chinese NGO is going to give residents vocational training and other aid, according to Khin Nyint, a resident of Kyaukpyu, Rakhine State.
“The government has yet to reply to us directly. But we’ve heard a Chinese NGO is going to give us job training which is one of our demands. We’re still waiting for the government’s answer,” he added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
However, a Chinese NGO is going to give residents vocational training and other aid, according to Khin Nyint, a resident of Kyaukpyu, Rakhine State.
“The government has yet to reply to us directly. But we’ve heard a Chinese NGO is going to give us job training which is one of our demands. We’re still waiting for the government’s answer,” he added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
NGOs Call on Thailand to Better Protect Rohingya Refugees, Victims of Trafficking
A group of NGOs has marked the anniversary of the 2015 Andaman Sea migration crisis by calling on Thailand to end “arbitrary and indefinite detention” of refugees from Myanmar who came ashore then, and do more to protect survivors and witnesses of human trafficking.
“Thailand’s policies and practices towards Rohingya refugees are putting lives at risk and must be addressed immediately,” Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, one of six NGOs that issued a joint statement after convening a one-day forum in Bangkok on Wednesday.
“The Thai government should ensure protection for Rohingya refugees and human trafficking survivors without delay.”
More than a year after close to 3,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and undocumented Bangladeshi migrants landed in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in May 2015, after human traffickers had abandoned them at sea, Rohingya refugees are still being held at Thai detention centers and state-run shelters, said the half-dozen NGOs that advocate human rights and rights for migrant workers and refugees. (Courtesy of benarnews.org)
“Thailand’s policies and practices towards Rohingya refugees are putting lives at risk and must be addressed immediately,” Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, one of six NGOs that issued a joint statement after convening a one-day forum in Bangkok on Wednesday.
“The Thai government should ensure protection for Rohingya refugees and human trafficking survivors without delay.”
More than a year after close to 3,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and undocumented Bangladeshi migrants landed in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in May 2015, after human traffickers had abandoned them at sea, Rohingya refugees are still being held at Thai detention centers and state-run shelters, said the half-dozen NGOs that advocate human rights and rights for migrant workers and refugees. (Courtesy of benarnews.org)
Aung San Suu Kyi Is in Power. So Why Is She Ignoring Her Country’s Most Vulnerable People?
As Burma’s new government gets down to business, one thing is increasingly clear — there won’t be much to look forward to for the country’s one million or so Rohingya people.
The West has rejoiced at the election of a new government dominated by the National League for Democracy (NLD) and headed, in effect, by the party’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner. But for the Muslims of western Rakhine state — described by the United Nations as the “most persecuted minority in the world” — Burma’s new era is already turning out to be a disappointment. There is almost certainly worse to come.Burma’s new era is already turning out to be a disappointment. There is almost certainly worse to come. (Courtesy of foreignpolicy.com)
The West has rejoiced at the election of a new government dominated by the National League for Democracy (NLD) and headed, in effect, by the party’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner. But for the Muslims of western Rakhine state — described by the United Nations as the “most persecuted minority in the world” — Burma’s new era is already turning out to be a disappointment. There is almost certainly worse to come.Burma’s new era is already turning out to be a disappointment. There is almost certainly worse to come. (Courtesy of foreignpolicy.com)
China Woos Suu Kyi, Seeking a Fresh Start in Myanmar
Dong Yunfei, manager of a Chinese state-run copper mine here in the heat-baked center of Myanmar, says his company owes its success to an unlikely ally: Aung San Suu Kyi, the former dissident who is now the country’s de facto leader.
The mine, a symbol of the sort of Chinese links to Myanmar’s brutal former military junta that made it unpopular among the Burmese, was halted by villager protests in 2012. Now, it is yielding its first batches of copper after Mr. Dong’s Wanbao Mining embraced conditions set by a Suu Kyi-led panel for the project to restart, including working closely with the local community.
“We have had a turnaround in our situation,” Mr. Dong said. “Our charm offensive…has paid off.” (Courtesy of wsj.com)
The mine, a symbol of the sort of Chinese links to Myanmar’s brutal former military junta that made it unpopular among the Burmese, was halted by villager protests in 2012. Now, it is yielding its first batches of copper after Mr. Dong’s Wanbao Mining embraced conditions set by a Suu Kyi-led panel for the project to restart, including working closely with the local community.
“We have had a turnaround in our situation,” Mr. Dong said. “Our charm offensive…has paid off.” (Courtesy of wsj.com)
New Commission Formed to Investigate Alleged Gems Association Embezzlement
A new investigation commission will be formed to look into the Myanmar Gems Traders Association’s financial scandal, involving allegations of more than US$100 million that went missing from their bank account, according to the organization’s chairman.
At a press conference at the association’s headquarters on Wednesday, chairman Yone Mu told reporters that the decision to form a new commission to further investigate the unexplained loss was made during a meeting of the gems traders on Tuesday. A previous review was conducted and finalized this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation but complainants still want to know who is to blame.
“Actions will be taken against anyone who misappropriated funds,” said Yone Mu. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
At a press conference at the association’s headquarters on Wednesday, chairman Yone Mu told reporters that the decision to form a new commission to further investigate the unexplained loss was made during a meeting of the gems traders on Tuesday. A previous review was conducted and finalized this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation but complainants still want to know who is to blame.
“Actions will be taken against anyone who misappropriated funds,” said Yone Mu. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
S’pore can help Myanmar by lending expertise: PM
Myanmar needs to catch up with the rest of South-east Asia, as well as play a role in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), even though its focus now is on domestic issues, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (June 9).
And Singapore can help, both in terms of lending expertise, as well as in assisting Myanmar in playing its role within Asean, said Mr Lee, who wrapped up his official visit to the country with an interview with Singaporean media.
“It (has) a long journey to go ... because I think over the years, Myanmar has fallen behind the rest of South-east Asia,” he said. (Courtesy of todayonline.com)
And Singapore can help, both in terms of lending expertise, as well as in assisting Myanmar in playing its role within Asean, said Mr Lee, who wrapped up his official visit to the country with an interview with Singaporean media.
“It (has) a long journey to go ... because I think over the years, Myanmar has fallen behind the rest of South-east Asia,” he said. (Courtesy of todayonline.com)
Myanmar’s Peace Prize Winner and Crimes Against Humanity
SOON the world will witness a remarkable sight: a beloved Nobel Peace Prize winner presiding over 21st-century concentration camps.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s genuine heroes, won democracy for her country, culminating in historic elections in November that her party won in a landslide. As winner, Aung San Suu Kyi is also inheriting the worst ethnic cleansing you’ve never heard of, Myanmar’s destruction of a Muslim minority called the Rohingya.
A recent Yale study suggested that the abuse of the more than one million Rohingya may amount to genocide; at the least, a confidential United Nations report to the Security Council says it may constitute “crimes against humanity under international criminal law.” (Courtesy of nytimes.com)
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s genuine heroes, won democracy for her country, culminating in historic elections in November that her party won in a landslide. As winner, Aung San Suu Kyi is also inheriting the worst ethnic cleansing you’ve never heard of, Myanmar’s destruction of a Muslim minority called the Rohingya.
A recent Yale study suggested that the abuse of the more than one million Rohingya may amount to genocide; at the least, a confidential United Nations report to the Security Council says it may constitute “crimes against humanity under international criminal law.” (Courtesy of nytimes.com)
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