The repatriation of some 120,000 refugees along the Thai-Burma border was discussed during a meeting of stakeholders last week, but an official from the United Nations’ refugee agency insists there remains no firm timetable on a large-scale return of the displaced despite talks on the matter between Burma’s new government and its Thai counterpart.
“The main focus of the meeting was on refugee registration and resettlement [to third-party countries], which is winding down after 11 years. The subject of voluntary return was not on the agenda but was prompted by a question,” said Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok.
Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) spokesperson Naw Blooming Night Zar confirmed that the April 27 meeting, which included officials from both governments, NGOs and representatives of the UNHCR and from refugee camps, did not focus on repatriation of those living in nine camps on the border. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
May 5, 2016
Asian nations top US list on religious repression
The deplorable treatment of Rohingya in Myanmar, anti-Christian and Muslim campaigns in China, and wholesale repression in North Korea saw the three Asian nations again top an annual U.S. government list of countries with the least religious freedom.
Released on May 2, the report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom rates Myanmar, China and North Korea among nine of the most severe violators — on an unranked list that includes Saudi Arabia and Iran. Vietnam is also listed as a "country of particular concern."
On lower tiers, but also noted as countries being monitored, are India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
In China, Christians and Muslims have both faced a steady barrage of abuse at the hands of state authorities. The report cites the case of pastor Bao Guohua—who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for opposing a government cross-removal campaign—as well as that of Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti, who was sentenced to life in prison on "separatism" charges. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
Released on May 2, the report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom rates Myanmar, China and North Korea among nine of the most severe violators — on an unranked list that includes Saudi Arabia and Iran. Vietnam is also listed as a "country of particular concern."
On lower tiers, but also noted as countries being monitored, are India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
In China, Christians and Muslims have both faced a steady barrage of abuse at the hands of state authorities. The report cites the case of pastor Bao Guohua—who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for opposing a government cross-removal campaign—as well as that of Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti, who was sentenced to life in prison on "separatism" charges. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
Broadcaster’s Terminology in Arakan Conflict Coverage Irks Military
Burma’s military, officially known as the Tatmadaw, strongly condemned a Burmese broadcaster for calling an ethnic armed organization the “Rakhine Tatmadaw” and referring to Tatmadaw troops as “government forces,” according to a military statement released Tuesday night.
MRTV-4, a private broadcaster affiliated with Burma’s Ministry of Information, aired a story on Friday in which it reported that 1,100 locals in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State, were recently displaced by fighting between the “Rakhine Tatmadaw”—in reference to the Arakan Army—and “government forces.”
The military took exception to the word “Tatmadaw” being used to describe any group that is not the state armed forces, officially translated as the Defense Services in English. Further stoking ire was the replacement of the word Tatmadaw with “government forces,” a term which the military apparently felt had diminished its authority. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
MRTV-4, a private broadcaster affiliated with Burma’s Ministry of Information, aired a story on Friday in which it reported that 1,100 locals in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State, were recently displaced by fighting between the “Rakhine Tatmadaw”—in reference to the Arakan Army—and “government forces.”
The military took exception to the word “Tatmadaw” being used to describe any group that is not the state armed forces, officially translated as the Defense Services in English. Further stoking ire was the replacement of the word Tatmadaw with “government forces,” a term which the military apparently felt had diminished its authority. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Iran, Myanmar don't come to mind as vacation hotspots but they should
A couple of months ago, my wife and I, along with several couples, had the opportunity to visit Iran. Almost a year ago, we had gone to Myanmar. Both countries were our first visits and we were low on expectation. One associates them as unsafe, fundamentalist, authoritarian, underdeveloped and destroyed by the present rulers and their mindsets.
Take Iran. What does the world think of it? A country run by the Ayatollahs, conservative, where women are burkha-clad and men carry beads in their hands chanting prayers. The country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the end of the Shah Pehlavi dynasty would be in disarray, the sanctions by the United States and most of the western world would have crippled the economy, the basics of life be denied to its people, and so on. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
Take Iran. What does the world think of it? A country run by the Ayatollahs, conservative, where women are burkha-clad and men carry beads in their hands chanting prayers. The country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the end of the Shah Pehlavi dynasty would be in disarray, the sanctions by the United States and most of the western world would have crippled the economy, the basics of life be denied to its people, and so on. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
Speaking Notes by Ex-MP U Shwe Maung at Parliament of Canada
Speaking Notes for the meeting of Parliament of Canada the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on “Current Human Rights Situation of Rohingya in Myanmar” at 13:00 to 14:00 EDT on May 3, 2016
Dear Mr. Chair,
First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak about Current Human Rights Situation of Rohingya in Myanmar to testify before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Let me introduce myself. My name is U Shwe Maung (a.k.a) Abdul Razak and I am a former Member of Parliament in Myanmar from 2010 to 2015.
In my country, there was a historic election on November 8, 2015. National League for Democracy (NLD) Party, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a landslide victory. With effective from April 1, 2016, previous USDP government led by President U Thein Sein transferred the state power to the NLD. As NLD was unsuccessful to amend the 2008 Constitution in the previous parliamentary term, the core of state power is still in the hand of Myanmar Military. Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, Border Affairs, Immigration and Religious Affairs are under the command of Myanmar Military Chief. Then, The Region/State, District, Township Administrators and Myanmar Police Force are under the command of Home Ministry. What I am trying to say is the core of state power is still in the hand of Military Group although NLD formed a civilian government. In this situation, NLD submitted a bill for a post of State Counsellor for its Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the parliament as she is barred to become President and it was approved. Now she is The State Counsellor of Myanmar. She is leading NLD-Led Government and performing duties as if President of Myanmar. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Dear Mr. Chair,
First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak about Current Human Rights Situation of Rohingya in Myanmar to testify before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Let me introduce myself. My name is U Shwe Maung (a.k.a) Abdul Razak and I am a former Member of Parliament in Myanmar from 2010 to 2015.
In my country, there was a historic election on November 8, 2015. National League for Democracy (NLD) Party, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a landslide victory. With effective from April 1, 2016, previous USDP government led by President U Thein Sein transferred the state power to the NLD. As NLD was unsuccessful to amend the 2008 Constitution in the previous parliamentary term, the core of state power is still in the hand of Myanmar Military. Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, Border Affairs, Immigration and Religious Affairs are under the command of Myanmar Military Chief. Then, The Region/State, District, Township Administrators and Myanmar Police Force are under the command of Home Ministry. What I am trying to say is the core of state power is still in the hand of Military Group although NLD formed a civilian government. In this situation, NLD submitted a bill for a post of State Counsellor for its Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the parliament as she is barred to become President and it was approved. Now she is The State Counsellor of Myanmar. She is leading NLD-Led Government and performing duties as if President of Myanmar. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Chronology for Rohingya persecution Since 1990
May 1990 – The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi won 392 of the 485 seats in national parliamentary elections. The Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP), registered under a new name, the National Unity Party (NUP) won only 10 seats. The remainder of the seats were allocated to 23 other parties. Parties representing ethnic groups achieved particular success: the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy won 23 seats, and the Rakhine Democracy League 11. Despite efforts by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to weaken known leaders and eliminate dissidents, 93 parties presented a total of 2,297 candidates to contest the 485 constituencies.
Jul 1990 – The SLORC announced that the recent election was only intended to produce a constituent assembly, which is to draft a constitution providing a strong government, under the direction of a national convention to be established by the SLORC.
Aug 1990 – Troops killed four protestors at an anti-government protest at Mandalay, commemorating the deaths of thousands of demonstrators at the hands of the armed forces in 1988. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Jul 1990 – The SLORC announced that the recent election was only intended to produce a constituent assembly, which is to draft a constitution providing a strong government, under the direction of a national convention to be established by the SLORC.
Aug 1990 – Troops killed four protestors at an anti-government protest at Mandalay, commemorating the deaths of thousands of demonstrators at the hands of the armed forces in 1988. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Burmese Immigrant Raises Money to Help the Needy – Gets Stolen by Police
Muskogee County District Attorney Orvil Loge recently announced that the $53,234 in cash seized from 40-year-old Eh Wah, the tour manager for Burmese rock band Klo & Kweh Music Team, in February will be returned and the drug-related felony charges filed against would be dropped.
According to the Washington Post, Eh Wah, an innocent Oklahoma man was carrying money raised by the band for a Thai orphanage when he was pulled over by authorities due to a broken tail light.
The deputy who pulled him over searched the car due to suspicion that he was carrying drug money. Despite not finding any drugs or paraphernalia, officers still took the money.
Eh Wah, a Burmese refugee who became a U.S. citizen more than a decade ago, tried to air his explanation in broken English but was unsuccessful. (Courtesy of nextshark.com)
According to the Washington Post, Eh Wah, an innocent Oklahoma man was carrying money raised by the band for a Thai orphanage when he was pulled over by authorities due to a broken tail light.
The deputy who pulled him over searched the car due to suspicion that he was carrying drug money. Despite not finding any drugs or paraphernalia, officers still took the money.
Eh Wah, a Burmese refugee who became a U.S. citizen more than a decade ago, tried to air his explanation in broken English but was unsuccessful. (Courtesy of nextshark.com)
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