Myanmar is pushing back against a report the U.S. will demote the country to the lowest level on Washington’s human trafficking index.
Placing Myanmar alongside Iran, North Korea and Syria -- among the worst offenders in human trafficking – would be a mistake according to a government official in Naypyitaw.
Later this week, the U.S. State Department is to release its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report and Myanmar could be dropped to the lowest Tier 3. (Courtesy of turkishweekly.net)
June 29, 2016
Suu Kyi calls for establishing federal union in Myanmar
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday invited all nationalities residing in the country to establish a genuine federal union, saying it is the sole aim of the new government.
Meeting with a peace process leading group in Nay Pyi Taw, Suu Kyi expressed belief that if working for peace actively, the group would undoubtedly overcome the matter of worry, inviting all stake-holders to help establish the union with trust and respect, XInhua news agency reported.
"Myanmar can only develop when there is peace and it should explore a way of peace based on unity," she said, adding that "the country will prosper only when peace is achieved". (Courtesy of business-standard.com)
Meeting with a peace process leading group in Nay Pyi Taw, Suu Kyi expressed belief that if working for peace actively, the group would undoubtedly overcome the matter of worry, inviting all stake-holders to help establish the union with trust and respect, XInhua news agency reported.
"Myanmar can only develop when there is peace and it should explore a way of peace based on unity," she said, adding that "the country will prosper only when peace is achieved". (Courtesy of business-standard.com)
Nepalese-Myanmar drug ring busted
Three members of a transnational drug ring, two Myanmar nationals and a Nepalese man, have been arrested in a joint operation involving several agencies, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board announced.
Other agencies also involved in the operation, which targeted trafficking of drugs through Suvarnabhumi airport, were the Customs Department, the airport's anti-drugs police, and the Armed Forces Security Centre, the NCB statement said.
First, a Myanmar man identified only as Anil, 22, was arrested with 7.3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine found hidden in a false compartment in his baggage on his arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport from Yangon on June 25. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
Other agencies also involved in the operation, which targeted trafficking of drugs through Suvarnabhumi airport, were the Customs Department, the airport's anti-drugs police, and the Armed Forces Security Centre, the NCB statement said.
First, a Myanmar man identified only as Anil, 22, was arrested with 7.3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine found hidden in a false compartment in his baggage on his arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport from Yangon on June 25. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
Myanmar court lays new charges against Saffron Revolution leader
A Myanmar court laid additional charges against a former monk and leader of the 2007 "Saffron Revolution" anti-junta uprising on Tuesday, accusing him of trespass and "mischief" committed four years ago.
Nyi Nyi Lwin, better known as Gambira, was arrested in January for illegally entering Myanmar from neighboring Thailand.
The new charges relate to the reopening of monasteries that were sealed off after the monk-led protests. The alleged violations took place in 2012, after Gambira's release from prison where he had served time for his involvement in the demonstrations. (Courtesy of reuters.com)
Nyi Nyi Lwin, better known as Gambira, was arrested in January for illegally entering Myanmar from neighboring Thailand.
The new charges relate to the reopening of monasteries that were sealed off after the monk-led protests. The alleged violations took place in 2012, after Gambira's release from prison where he had served time for his involvement in the demonstrations. (Courtesy of reuters.com)
Citizenship verification continues in Rakhine State
Myanmar will continue carrying out the citizenship verification process in Rakhine State in accordance with the 1982 Citizenship Law, said Union Minister for the State Counsellor's Office Kyaw Thint Swe while explaining the government's 100-day plan.
The Rakhine State Peace, Stability and Development Implementation Central Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The committee is subdivided into four working committees.
"Members of those committees have paid visits to Rakhine State. We are also visiting the area to learn the real situation and to compile a priority list. Currently, we are prioritising the peace issue and the issuance of national identity cards. Meanwhile, we will continue the citizenship verification process in line with the Citizenship Law," said Kyaw Tint Swe. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The Rakhine State Peace, Stability and Development Implementation Central Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The committee is subdivided into four working committees.
"Members of those committees have paid visits to Rakhine State. We are also visiting the area to learn the real situation and to compile a priority list. Currently, we are prioritising the peace issue and the issuance of national identity cards. Meanwhile, we will continue the citizenship verification process in line with the Citizenship Law," said Kyaw Tint Swe. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Several Myanmar migrant workers dismissed after Suu Kyi’s visit
A total of 16 Myanmar migrant workers have submitted complaints to the Aid Alliance Committee for Myanmar Workers (AAC) as some Myanmar migrant workers who went to welcome State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were soon thereafter dismissed, according to the committee.
“The workers worked at a factory that produces canned fish, and they were dismissed from their jobs for travelling to meet Aung San Suu Kyi without permission from their factory. We are negotiating with the employers by cooperating with Thai authorities,” said Ye Min from the AAC on June 27. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
“The workers worked at a factory that produces canned fish, and they were dismissed from their jobs for travelling to meet Aung San Suu Kyi without permission from their factory. We are negotiating with the employers by cooperating with Thai authorities,” said Ye Min from the AAC on June 27. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Myanmar Takes a Tumble on Annual U.S. Human Trafficking Report
The United States has downgraded Myanmar in its annual human trafficking report, citing the Southeast Asian nation’s failure to reduce the practice of using child soldiers primarily by the government army, the head of Myanmar’s anti-human trafficking force said Tuesday.
“The U.S. pointed out some points that we police have been working on. It also pointed out the child soldier issue, which the military is working on,” said Lieutenant Colonel Thet Naung, national head of the police Anti-Human Trafficking Team.
The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, to be released Thursday, ranks 188 countries on how they handle human trafficking and assigns them one of four rankings—Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List, and Tier 3—based on whether they meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, as mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). (Courtesy of rfa.org)
“The U.S. pointed out some points that we police have been working on. It also pointed out the child soldier issue, which the military is working on,” said Lieutenant Colonel Thet Naung, national head of the police Anti-Human Trafficking Team.
The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, to be released Thursday, ranks 188 countries on how they handle human trafficking and assigns them one of four rankings—Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List, and Tier 3—based on whether they meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, as mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). (Courtesy of rfa.org)
Myanmar, Netherlands revise aviation treaty
Myanmar and the Netherlands have signed an aviation treaty that was revised on June 27 at the Department for Civil Aviation, sources say.
The agreement was signed by Kyaw Myo, deputy minister for transport and communications, and by the Dutch ambassador to Myanmar.
The aviation agreement between Myanmar and the Netherlands was originally signed in 1951 and was revised in 1977. This is the third time the agreement has been revised to accommodate current trends. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The agreement was signed by Kyaw Myo, deputy minister for transport and communications, and by the Dutch ambassador to Myanmar.
The aviation agreement between Myanmar and the Netherlands was originally signed in 1951 and was revised in 1977. This is the third time the agreement has been revised to accommodate current trends. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Aung San Suu Kyi meets ethnic armed organisations
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday met with representatives from ethnic armed groups involved in peace talks to discuss how to move forward with national reconciliation.
Suu Kyi, who is also Myanmar's Foreign Minister has proposed a '21st century Panglong Conference' for late July with all ethnic militants - including at least four which have still not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) adopted in October 2015, EFE News reported.
The Panglong Agreement was first signed in 1947 between the Burmese government and Shan, Kachin and Chin minorities to grant "frontier areas" occupied by minorities autonomy under an arrangement with the federal government. (Courtesy of firstpost.com)
Suu Kyi, who is also Myanmar's Foreign Minister has proposed a '21st century Panglong Conference' for late July with all ethnic militants - including at least four which have still not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) adopted in October 2015, EFE News reported.
The Panglong Agreement was first signed in 1947 between the Burmese government and Shan, Kachin and Chin minorities to grant "frontier areas" occupied by minorities autonomy under an arrangement with the federal government. (Courtesy of firstpost.com)
The new Myanmar is starting to look too much like the old Myanmar
In the November 2015 election, Myanmar's long-standing opposition, the National League for Democracy (NLD), swept into office, promising change and new freedoms for the masses after a half-century of military rule. That the party is led by Aung San Suu Kyi, a widely revered Nobel Prize winner and long-time dissident, only added to expectations of dramatic change.
So far, though, things don't appear to be turning out that way. Upon taking power, the NLD promptly proposed legislation that would reinstall some of the junta's draconian restrictions on peaceful protest. And while many political prisoners have been released, the new government continues to pursue charges against some of the country's most dedicated activists - such as Harn Win Aung, who has led resistance to a notorious copper mine built on land grabbed from displaced farmers. The NLD even censored a film at a human rights festival for portraying the military in a critical light. (Courtesy of the-journal.com)
So far, though, things don't appear to be turning out that way. Upon taking power, the NLD promptly proposed legislation that would reinstall some of the junta's draconian restrictions on peaceful protest. And while many political prisoners have been released, the new government continues to pursue charges against some of the country's most dedicated activists - such as Harn Win Aung, who has led resistance to a notorious copper mine built on land grabbed from displaced farmers. The NLD even censored a film at a human rights festival for portraying the military in a critical light. (Courtesy of the-journal.com)
Refugees ask governments not to forcibly repatriate them
Refugees at Mae La, the largest Myanmar refugee camp in Thailand, have urged the Thai and Myanmar governments not to forcibly send refugees on the Thai side of the Thai-Myanmar border to Myanmar.
At a ceremony to mark World Refugee Day held at Mae La Refugee Camp on 20 June the camp’s chairman, Saw Honest, told KIC News that he does not want the Thai government to make any decisions about forcibly returning refugees to Myanmar and that they want the Thai Government to follow the previous agreement on refugees.
He said: “We don’t want the Thai government to forcibly send us, the refugees, back. We are making this request to both the Thai and Myanmar governments. We want to live like normal human beings without any wars and human rights violations, as we [previously] decided. We need peace and unity.” (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
At a ceremony to mark World Refugee Day held at Mae La Refugee Camp on 20 June the camp’s chairman, Saw Honest, told KIC News that he does not want the Thai government to make any decisions about forcibly returning refugees to Myanmar and that they want the Thai Government to follow the previous agreement on refugees.
He said: “We don’t want the Thai government to forcibly send us, the refugees, back. We are making this request to both the Thai and Myanmar governments. We want to live like normal human beings without any wars and human rights violations, as we [previously] decided. We need peace and unity.” (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
More Thai airline plans to fly Myanmar
One more Thai airline, the Thai Lion Air (TLA), is planning to fly between Bangkok and Yangon starting from July 22, Myanmar state media reported on Tuesday.
The low-cost airline is one of the subsidiaries of Indonesia's Lion Air group which registered in Thailand.
TLA will operate twice daily from Bangkok to Yangon, offering free 30 kg checked-in baggage and free 15 kg of sport equipment to every passenger, the state media quoted Captain Darsito Hendrosepputro, managing director of TLA, as saying. (Courtesy of news.xinhuanet.com)
The low-cost airline is one of the subsidiaries of Indonesia's Lion Air group which registered in Thailand.
TLA will operate twice daily from Bangkok to Yangon, offering free 30 kg checked-in baggage and free 15 kg of sport equipment to every passenger, the state media quoted Captain Darsito Hendrosepputro, managing director of TLA, as saying. (Courtesy of news.xinhuanet.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)