October 18, 2016
Aung San Suu Kyi should speak against the persecution of Rohingyas in Myanmar
The arrival of a Nobel Peace laureate in New Delhi should rouse our collective spirit; the very purpose of the prize is to amplify the recipient’s ability to inspire. But this can be a burden on laureates. Once ennobled, they are held to their own highest standard, and subject to closer international scrutiny than ever before in their lives. Under such intense examination, some are found wanting: Henry Kissinger was discovered to be an amoral war-monger; Kofi Annan did little to halt the Hutu-Tutsi genocide when he was head of the UN’s peacekeeping forces. Others fail to live up to the enhanced expectations: Barack Obama, awarded before he had done enough to deserve the prize, has not yet earned it; the European Union has been disgraced by the behaviour of many of its members toward Syrian refugees. (Courtesy of hindustantimes.com)
A senior humanitarian Rohingya was tortured to death in Maungdaw while in Police Custody
A respected senior humanitarian Rohingya man was tortured to death while in Maungdaw Police Custody.
On the 18th of October, 2016, A Rohingya man was tortured to death by the police while he was being interrogated in Maungdaw Police Custody. He was moved for burial by a dozen policemen by a car and taken to the cemetery of Kanyin Tan (Myoma) East Mosque. His family was not notified of his death or burial at this time.
The deceased man was named Karim Ullah, and he was a previously a humanitarian aid worker. Karim was 58 years old, and he was the son of Hashim (the late school teacher) from Reeda hamlet, Aung Sit Pyin Village tract, northern Maungdaw.
On 14 of October, 2016, Karim was arrested by Military forces who were raiding his home. He was arrested with his three young sons including a son of his elder brother, U Shwe Thar, a retired school teacher. They were detained for a couple of days in Kyein Chaung Police Station and were later taken to Maungdaw Police Custody during the past weekend. (Courtesy of rohingyablogger.com)
On the 18th of October, 2016, A Rohingya man was tortured to death by the police while he was being interrogated in Maungdaw Police Custody. He was moved for burial by a dozen policemen by a car and taken to the cemetery of Kanyin Tan (Myoma) East Mosque. His family was not notified of his death or burial at this time.
The deceased man was named Karim Ullah, and he was a previously a humanitarian aid worker. Karim was 58 years old, and he was the son of Hashim (the late school teacher) from Reeda hamlet, Aung Sit Pyin Village tract, northern Maungdaw.
On 14 of October, 2016, Karim was arrested by Military forces who were raiding his home. He was arrested with his three young sons including a son of his elder brother, U Shwe Thar, a retired school teacher. They were detained for a couple of days in Kyein Chaung Police Station and were later taken to Maungdaw Police Custody during the past weekend. (Courtesy of rohingyablogger.com)
Suu Kyi at “Dire” situation Asks For Patience At BIMSTEC Event
In her first public appearance in India since the National League for Democracy government came to power in Myanmar in March, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi appealed to “friends and neighbours” to understand the complexities of the volatile Arakan (Rakhine) state, noting that decades-old tensions cannot be resolved in a day in a “very young democracy” even at this Catastrophe.
Suu Kyi arrived in Goa on Sunday morning and in the evening spoke at the BRICS outreach event with leaders from the seven members of BIMSTEC.
“Our region is confronted by numerous challenges including security threats including rising terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, natural and man-made disasters and even the danger of nuclear proliferation,” Suu Kyi said at the roundtable meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Terming “rising terrorism’ as a source of “common concern”, Suu Kyi said that the international community must be “united in standing together against all forms of manifestations of violence extremism relating to religion, cultural and social intolerance”. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Suu Kyi arrived in Goa on Sunday morning and in the evening spoke at the BRICS outreach event with leaders from the seven members of BIMSTEC.
“Our region is confronted by numerous challenges including security threats including rising terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, natural and man-made disasters and even the danger of nuclear proliferation,” Suu Kyi said at the roundtable meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Terming “rising terrorism’ as a source of “common concern”, Suu Kyi said that the international community must be “united in standing together against all forms of manifestations of violence extremism relating to religion, cultural and social intolerance”. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Why Japan and India must be partners in Myanmar
Myanmar’s de factor leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is seeking to carefully balance relations with major powers as part of her commitment to revive the country’s tradition of employing a neutral foreign policy. Suu Kyi’s India visit this week follows trips to Beijing and Washington.
Myanmar’s geographic, cultural and geostrategic positioning between India and China makes it critical to the long-term interests of both these powers.
Crippling U.S.-led sanctions since the late 1980s pushed resource-rich Myanmar into China’s strategic lap. Sanctions without engagement have never worked. During his 2010 Indian tour, U.S. President Barack Obama criticized India’s policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar, only to return home and pursue, within months, a virtually similar policy. The shift in U.S. policy helped to spur Myanmar’s reform process, thereby ending half a century of military-dominated rule. (Courtesy of japantimes.co.jp)
Myanmar’s geographic, cultural and geostrategic positioning between India and China makes it critical to the long-term interests of both these powers.
Crippling U.S.-led sanctions since the late 1980s pushed resource-rich Myanmar into China’s strategic lap. Sanctions without engagement have never worked. During his 2010 Indian tour, U.S. President Barack Obama criticized India’s policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar, only to return home and pursue, within months, a virtually similar policy. The shift in U.S. policy helped to spur Myanmar’s reform process, thereby ending half a century of military-dominated rule. (Courtesy of japantimes.co.jp)
China and Myanmar to Increase Practical Cooperation
China president, Xi Jinping has asked the Myanmar Council of State, Aung San Suu Kyi, to increase practical cooperation between the two countries in order to move ahead with strategic and comprehensive collaboration, according to a government statement.
Gathered in the Indian state of Goa, Xi told Suu Kyi that Beijing is willing to work with Yangon to continue their traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.
His comments came on Sunday in the framework of the annual summit of BRICS, where he gave some examples of current areas of cooperation: industrial parks, infrastructure construction, agriculture, water conservation, education, health care, tourism, Buddhism and local affairs.
He acknowledged that Myanmar is maintaining a good momentum of development and called on the Burmese people to continue making steady progress on a path to development which suits its own national conditions. (Courtesy of plenglish.com)
Gathered in the Indian state of Goa, Xi told Suu Kyi that Beijing is willing to work with Yangon to continue their traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.
His comments came on Sunday in the framework of the annual summit of BRICS, where he gave some examples of current areas of cooperation: industrial parks, infrastructure construction, agriculture, water conservation, education, health care, tourism, Buddhism and local affairs.
He acknowledged that Myanmar is maintaining a good momentum of development and called on the Burmese people to continue making steady progress on a path to development which suits its own national conditions. (Courtesy of plenglish.com)
CENTRHRA Wants Myanmar Government To Be Charged At ICC
The Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA) has urged international stakeholders to charge the Myanmar government at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing crimes of violence against the Rohingya minority.
CENTRA chief executive officer Azril Mohd Amin said the discrimination and oppression against the ethnic group persisted until today without any sanctions.
"We should not allow this. International laws needs to be deployed," he said in a press conference, here today.
According to Azril, under Article 5 of the Rome Statute, four types of international crimes are included under the jurisdiction of ICC, namely, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of intrusion.
He said, CENTHRA believed the actions of the Myanmar regime towards the Rohingya fell into the category of genocide and crimes against humanity. (Courtesy of malaysiandigest.com)
CENTRA chief executive officer Azril Mohd Amin said the discrimination and oppression against the ethnic group persisted until today without any sanctions.
"We should not allow this. International laws needs to be deployed," he said in a press conference, here today.
According to Azril, under Article 5 of the Rome Statute, four types of international crimes are included under the jurisdiction of ICC, namely, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of intrusion.
He said, CENTHRA believed the actions of the Myanmar regime towards the Rohingya fell into the category of genocide and crimes against humanity. (Courtesy of malaysiandigest.com)
Myanmar-China relations: Glass half-full
Situated between much larger powers and ruled for decades by a military junta, Myanmar is emerging anew under the de facto leadership of its state counsellor and foreign minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. For many of Myanmar’s neighbours, this transition has relatively few implications for the current balance of power – at least for now. The exception is China, for which Myanmar is an important investment destination both in itself and as an enabler via the China-India-Myanmar corridor. Two factors will be particularly influential for the future of Sino-Myanmar relations under Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership: the economic ties that bound the two nations and leveraging Chinese influence to solve Myanmar’s ethnic conflict.
Suu Kyi’s first priority following the NLD’s sweeping and historic victory in November last year was arguably to cement relations with China. This work was clearly underway even before the election, with Suu Kyi accepting an invitation to go to Beijing in July 2015. Its importance was reinforced with another visit in August 2016, a notable first (outside Southeast Asia) in a series of overseas engagements for Suu Kyi. Much of the focus has been on allaying anxiety in Beijing that Myanmar’s normalisation of relations with the West, which began under Thein Sein’s leadership, would lead to a shift in foreign policy by the new government, given the NLD has been historically pro-West. (Courtesy of lowyinterpreter.org)
Suu Kyi’s first priority following the NLD’s sweeping and historic victory in November last year was arguably to cement relations with China. This work was clearly underway even before the election, with Suu Kyi accepting an invitation to go to Beijing in July 2015. Its importance was reinforced with another visit in August 2016, a notable first (outside Southeast Asia) in a series of overseas engagements for Suu Kyi. Much of the focus has been on allaying anxiety in Beijing that Myanmar’s normalisation of relations with the West, which began under Thein Sein’s leadership, would lead to a shift in foreign policy by the new government, given the NLD has been historically pro-West. (Courtesy of lowyinterpreter.org)
Letter To The UN Secretary General On Rohingya Persecution In Myanmar
I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the fate of the Rohingya people of Myanmar. I am certain you are familiar with their extremely precarious situation, as we have seen them teetering on the edge of genocide since at least 2012. Yet what prompts me to write this letter is the latest news coming out of Myanmar just in the last few days: a series of attacks against border guard outposts killed 9 Burmese policemen just over a week ago, the Rohingya were quickly deemed responsible, and the police and army in the local state of Rakhine/Arakan have already carried out over 100 indiscriminate extra-judicial killings of dozens of Rohingya - including old men, women and children.
The fear on the ground is that the violence may now escalate to at least the level of violence of 2012 or 2013, when dozens were killed, over 100,000 were displaced to internal camps and many more Rohingya were driven out of the country altogether, triggering the South East Asia Migration Crisis which culminated in the spring of last year. And that may be the optimistic scenario. This new upsurge of violence may ultimately prove to be the final trigger to outright genocide that the UN and many NGO observers have been dreading. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
The fear on the ground is that the violence may now escalate to at least the level of violence of 2012 or 2013, when dozens were killed, over 100,000 were displaced to internal camps and many more Rohingya were driven out of the country altogether, triggering the South East Asia Migration Crisis which culminated in the spring of last year. And that may be the optimistic scenario. This new upsurge of violence may ultimately prove to be the final trigger to outright genocide that the UN and many NGO observers have been dreading. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
Aung San Suu Kyi discusses Indo-Myanmar ties with Sonia Gandhi
Myanmar's Foreign Minister and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday at her residence in Delhi.
Myanmar's Foreign Minister drove to the 10, Janpath residence of Gandhi and spent sometime with the Congress President. She is learnt to have discussed the steps for strengthening of Indo-Myanmar ties. Senior Congress leader Karan Singh was also present at Gandhi's residence and greeted her along with Gandhi on her arrival. (Courtesy of dnaindia.com)
Myanmar's Foreign Minister drove to the 10, Janpath residence of Gandhi and spent sometime with the Congress President. She is learnt to have discussed the steps for strengthening of Indo-Myanmar ties. Senior Congress leader Karan Singh was also present at Gandhi's residence and greeted her along with Gandhi on her arrival. (Courtesy of dnaindia.com)
32 bodies found after Myanmar ferry sinking; death toll set to rise
At least 32 people have died after a ferry sank in a river in north-western Myanmar, with scores missing, rescue officials have said.
About 150 people had been rescued from the Chindwin River in the Sagaing region after the ferry capsized last Saturday, said Mr Sa Willy Frank, head of the regional relief department, who is overseeing the operation.
As of 4pm local time yesterday, 32 bodies had been recovered, leaving more than 60 people still unaccounted for amid a continuing salvage operation, he said.
Search teams, who are securing the boat with ropes so that it can be hauled out by a crane, fear that the death toll could go as high as 100. (Courtesy of straitstimes.com)
About 150 people had been rescued from the Chindwin River in the Sagaing region after the ferry capsized last Saturday, said Mr Sa Willy Frank, head of the regional relief department, who is overseeing the operation.
As of 4pm local time yesterday, 32 bodies had been recovered, leaving more than 60 people still unaccounted for amid a continuing salvage operation, he said.
Search teams, who are securing the boat with ropes so that it can be hauled out by a crane, fear that the death toll could go as high as 100. (Courtesy of straitstimes.com)
Mandalay journalist threatened after reporting on illegal logging
A journalist who says he was forced to flee his home for fear of reprisals from timber smugglers has accused local authorities in Mandalay Region of not coming to his aid. And another reporter, a freelancer, staged a one-man protest denouncing “corrupt officials”.
Ko Tin Zaw Oo, who works for The Voice Daily in Mandalay Region, says six men came to his home on October 6, the day after the paper carried a story he wrote on illegal sawmills in Thabeikkyin township.
“One day after I covered the story, they came to my home. They told me that they had come from the forest to see me, as I was well-known. Then they told me to follow them. I asked them to wait, as I was writing a story for the newspaper. While they were waiting I called the deputy head of the township police, but he told me to call the chief of police. Just then, a government official turned up, and the men left. My neighbours rallied around the whole night, and the next morning I fled to Mandalay for my safety,” he said. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Ko Tin Zaw Oo, who works for The Voice Daily in Mandalay Region, says six men came to his home on October 6, the day after the paper carried a story he wrote on illegal sawmills in Thabeikkyin township.
“One day after I covered the story, they came to my home. They told me that they had come from the forest to see me, as I was well-known. Then they told me to follow them. I asked them to wait, as I was writing a story for the newspaper. While they were waiting I called the deputy head of the township police, but he told me to call the chief of police. Just then, a government official turned up, and the men left. My neighbours rallied around the whole night, and the next morning I fled to Mandalay for my safety,” he said. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Myanmar ranked last in evaluation of 17 Asia-Pacific economies
Myanmar has been ranked last of 17 Asia-Pacific economies evaluated for their efforts to combat illicit trade on an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Myanmar received a score of 10.8 on the 100-point Illicit Trade Environment Index, after Laos (12.9), Cambodia (23.9) and Indonesia (46.1).
Australia topped the list with 85.2, followed by New Zealand (81.8), Hong Kong (81.4) and Japan (75.9).
The index, commissioned by the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (ranked eighth on 69.8) and released on October 12, evaluated the economies in four main categories: intellectual property, transparency and trade, customs, and supply and demand.
In an accompanying report, EIU acknowledged the challenges of compiling the index. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Myanmar received a score of 10.8 on the 100-point Illicit Trade Environment Index, after Laos (12.9), Cambodia (23.9) and Indonesia (46.1).
Australia topped the list with 85.2, followed by New Zealand (81.8), Hong Kong (81.4) and Japan (75.9).
The index, commissioned by the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (ranked eighth on 69.8) and released on October 12, evaluated the economies in four main categories: intellectual property, transparency and trade, customs, and supply and demand.
In an accompanying report, EIU acknowledged the challenges of compiling the index. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Dozens dead, scores missing in Myanmar ferry disaster
Rescue teams have recovered at least 32 bodies as they intensify search operations following the sinking of an overloaded ferry sank in central Myanmar.
A total of 154 people were rescued alive after the ferry sank early Saturday on the Chindwin River, about 72km north of the city of Monywa.
But rescuers have found only bloated corpses floating in the water since then, and fear the death toll could reach 100 once they raise the boat from the riverbed.
"So far we have recovered 32 dead bodies," Sa Willy Frient, director of the local relief and resettlement department who is overseeing the operation, told AFP news agency on Sunday.
"We are trying to raise the boat using a crane after tying it with strong ropes. After we lift it out, the death toll will be higher." (Courtesy of aljazeera.com)
A total of 154 people were rescued alive after the ferry sank early Saturday on the Chindwin River, about 72km north of the city of Monywa.
But rescuers have found only bloated corpses floating in the water since then, and fear the death toll could reach 100 once they raise the boat from the riverbed.
"So far we have recovered 32 dead bodies," Sa Willy Frient, director of the local relief and resettlement department who is overseeing the operation, told AFP news agency on Sunday.
"We are trying to raise the boat using a crane after tying it with strong ropes. After we lift it out, the death toll will be higher." (Courtesy of aljazeera.com)
Myanmar's new economic zone attracts foreign interest but local ire
Looking north from Myint Win's farm, across rice paddies and past bamboo huts, a massive new industrial development on the outskirts of Myanmar's biggest city gleams in the distance.
The buildings sprang up during the first phase of developing the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a 6,200 acre (2,500-hectare) industrial project that is a joint venture between the governments of Myanmar and Japan and some private consortia.
The factories that have been built produce everything from children's toys to clothing, medical supplies to electronics.
For developing nations like Myanmar - which emerged from decades of economic isolation in 2011 when the military stepped back from direct control of the country - special economic zones are a way of attracting foreign investment and creating jobs.
Next month the second phase of the $1.5 billion development begins on a site of around 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) that includes Myint Win's farm. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
The buildings sprang up during the first phase of developing the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a 6,200 acre (2,500-hectare) industrial project that is a joint venture between the governments of Myanmar and Japan and some private consortia.
The factories that have been built produce everything from children's toys to clothing, medical supplies to electronics.
For developing nations like Myanmar - which emerged from decades of economic isolation in 2011 when the military stepped back from direct control of the country - special economic zones are a way of attracting foreign investment and creating jobs.
Next month the second phase of the $1.5 billion development begins on a site of around 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) that includes Myint Win's farm. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
Myanmar Fires Border Police Chief Over Deadly Insurgent Attacks
Myanmar has fired the police official charged with guarding its troubled border with Bangladesh, officials said on Monday, after deadly attacks that sparked fighting with insurgents allegedly inspired by Islamist militants.
Nine police officers were killed when three police posts in northern Rakhine State were overrun on Oct. 9 by attackers wielding automatic weapons, sticks and knives, and believed to belong to the mostly stateless Rohingya Muslim group.
"Necessary action will be taken against the responsible police officials for their negligence, which led to the loss of the lives of police personnel and the loss of weapons," said Major General Aung Soe, deputy minister for home affairs.
Aung Soe did not give specifics, but Police Brigadier General Maung Maung Khin, the border chief in Maungdaw township, the site of the attack, has been fired, said an official at police headquarters and an official of the Rakhine State government. (Courtesy of voanews.com)
Nine police officers were killed when three police posts in northern Rakhine State were overrun on Oct. 9 by attackers wielding automatic weapons, sticks and knives, and believed to belong to the mostly stateless Rohingya Muslim group.
"Necessary action will be taken against the responsible police officials for their negligence, which led to the loss of the lives of police personnel and the loss of weapons," said Major General Aung Soe, deputy minister for home affairs.
Aung Soe did not give specifics, but Police Brigadier General Maung Maung Khin, the border chief in Maungdaw township, the site of the attack, has been fired, said an official at police headquarters and an official of the Rakhine State government. (Courtesy of voanews.com)
End to US Sanctions a Boon Myanmar Economy, but Woes Remain
KFC's grinning Colonel Sanders and his goatee are among the few prominent signs of U.S. brands or business in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon.
That will likely change after President Barack Obama ended most remaining U.S. sanctions against this fledgling democracy on Oct. 7. But much hinges on how the government led by former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi revamps the country's outdated laws and other policies.
The U.S. had earlier broad prohibitions on investment and trade imposed on this Southeast Asian country of about 60 million over the past two decades. The more targeted restrictions that ended earlier this month were mostly on dealings with army-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. A ban on imports of jadeite and rubies from Myanmar also ended.
Up to now, the rush to invest in Myanmar has been dominated by Asian countries, especially China, its main investor and trading partner during its years of isolation. Most U.S. businesses and many other Western ones stayed away, mindful of fines potentially in the millions of dollars and jail terms of up to 20 years. (Courtesy of abcnews.go.com)
That will likely change after President Barack Obama ended most remaining U.S. sanctions against this fledgling democracy on Oct. 7. But much hinges on how the government led by former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi revamps the country's outdated laws and other policies.
The U.S. had earlier broad prohibitions on investment and trade imposed on this Southeast Asian country of about 60 million over the past two decades. The more targeted restrictions that ended earlier this month were mostly on dealings with army-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. A ban on imports of jadeite and rubies from Myanmar also ended.
Up to now, the rush to invest in Myanmar has been dominated by Asian countries, especially China, its main investor and trading partner during its years of isolation. Most U.S. businesses and many other Western ones stayed away, mindful of fines potentially in the millions of dollars and jail terms of up to 20 years. (Courtesy of abcnews.go.com)
Genocide of Rohingya in Myanmar may be entering new and deadly phase
The International State Crime Initiative (ISCI) at Queen Mary University of London has warned that reports of attacks against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar may signal a new phase in what ISCI researchers say is genocide.
The alleged reprisals against the Rohingya minority come after attacks on three Myanmar police posts in Northern Rakhine State, near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on 9 October.
ISCI researchers say that credible reports are emerging of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and raids on Rohingya homes by Myanmar security forces. They caution that verifiable information is difficult to obtain, due to the notorious isolation and militarisation of Northern Rakhine State - and the intense persecution of those deemed critical of the government. (Courtesy of qmul.ac.uk)
The alleged reprisals against the Rohingya minority come after attacks on three Myanmar police posts in Northern Rakhine State, near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on 9 October.
ISCI researchers say that credible reports are emerging of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and raids on Rohingya homes by Myanmar security forces. They caution that verifiable information is difficult to obtain, due to the notorious isolation and militarisation of Northern Rakhine State - and the intense persecution of those deemed critical of the government. (Courtesy of qmul.ac.uk)
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