Last week, the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) called for an end to fighting in Shan State and hit out at Myanmar’s army for bombing schools, shooting at civilians, and using rape as a weapon of war.
Chronic fighting has taken place in Kachin and Shan State in Northern Myanmar in recent weeks, with air attacks and skirmishes displacing thousands of civilians. Even in ceasefire areas, the Myanmar Army has not withdrawn its troops.
“These allegations, if true, are reprehensible, and we urge the Government of Burma to undertake a credible, independent investigation into these allegations, and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions,” said Katina Adams, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, according to Reuters.
The recent Myanmar Army offensive has displaced over 10,000 from Ke See, Mong Hsu, and Mong Nawng townships and other regions. Since October, seven out of the fifteen non-state ethnic armies have refused to sign a ceasefire agreement, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-North). This refusal has led to an aggressive offensive by the Myanmar Army.
Some non-state ethnic armies were excluded from the peace process in Naypyidaw altogether, including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Kokang, the Arakan Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The renewed conflict in Kachin State erupted on June 9, 2011 after a 17-year-long ceasefire agreement was broken between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) — the political wing of the KIA — and the Myanmar Army near the Ta-pein hydropower plant. The continuing conflict in Kachin and Shan State has displaced more than 100,000 since 2011. (Courtesy of The Diplomat)
December 8, 2015
NLD Must be Aware of the Risks of Taking Power
The next government of Myanmar will face herculean tasks. The health and education systems are underfunded, the peace process and the transition to a federal Union are nowhere near completion, the economy is controlled by elites, poverty is still pervasive and the tax base to pay for all that needs to be done is inadequate.
There is also potential for the further release of ethnic and religious census data to result in communal unrest, because it will reveal that the Muslim community comprises a much higher percentage of the population than it did in 1983, a fact that the nationalist monk-led movement, Ma Ba Tha, will be eager to exploit to the detriment of the incoming government.
In the meantime the outgoing parliament and government are fuelling inflation by allowing the deficit to grow and printing money to pay for it. They are leaving an onerous legacy for their successors.
The National League for Democracy must be aware of the risks associated with taking power, especially since its actual power to govern will be quite limited, as the army still controls the police, the judiciary and the civil service. It can also quite easily derail the peace process by unilaterally initiating clashes in ethnic areas.
There has been talk of the Union Solidarity and Development Party and the army being willing to suspend article 59(f) of the 2008 Constitution to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to become president.
This will be a tempting proposition for the NLD leader, who has long aspired to the role of head of state. But in a scenario in which she will have little power but must take the blame when problems occur, the presidency is a poisoned pill. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will rapidly lose her aura if she falls into the trap of governing Myanmar solo. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
There is also potential for the further release of ethnic and religious census data to result in communal unrest, because it will reveal that the Muslim community comprises a much higher percentage of the population than it did in 1983, a fact that the nationalist monk-led movement, Ma Ba Tha, will be eager to exploit to the detriment of the incoming government.
In the meantime the outgoing parliament and government are fuelling inflation by allowing the deficit to grow and printing money to pay for it. They are leaving an onerous legacy for their successors.
The National League for Democracy must be aware of the risks associated with taking power, especially since its actual power to govern will be quite limited, as the army still controls the police, the judiciary and the civil service. It can also quite easily derail the peace process by unilaterally initiating clashes in ethnic areas.
There has been talk of the Union Solidarity and Development Party and the army being willing to suspend article 59(f) of the 2008 Constitution to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to become president.
This will be a tempting proposition for the NLD leader, who has long aspired to the role of head of state. But in a scenario in which she will have little power but must take the blame when problems occur, the presidency is a poisoned pill. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will rapidly lose her aura if she falls into the trap of governing Myanmar solo. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
China Launches First Myanmar-Language Newspaper, in China
China’s first Myanmar-language newspaper was launched on December 4, targeting Myanmar nationals working in Yunnan province, the state-owned Xinhua reported Monday.
Paukphaw, a weekly, means “the friend” but specifically defines a “Chinese friend” in the Myanmar language.
The newspaper targets Myanmar people who are working in China’s southwest region Yunnan Province.
Paukphaw, owned by Tuanjie Newspaper of Dehong Dai and Jinpo Autonomous Prefecture, will be handed out free of charge. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar )
Paukphaw, a weekly, means “the friend” but specifically defines a “Chinese friend” in the Myanmar language.
The newspaper targets Myanmar people who are working in China’s southwest region Yunnan Province.
Paukphaw, owned by Tuanjie Newspaper of Dehong Dai and Jinpo Autonomous Prefecture, will be handed out free of charge. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar )
Myanmar National Airlines launches second international route
Myanmar National Airlines on 4 December began a new international service from Yangon (RGN) to Hong Kong (HKG). The 1,952-kilometre route will be operated four times weekly by the carrier with its 737-800s. The route is already served by Dragonair with daily flights. Hong Kong thus becomes the airline’s second international destination after Singapore, which was launched back on 17 August. (Courtesy of anna.aero )
Jobless youth recruited to Rakhine State police force to fight ‘insurgents’
SITTWE—With the aim of protecting Rakhine State, more than 150 jobless ethnic-minority youths will be trained as police officers to serve as security personnel. They will be employed by the Frontier Force and regional police force in Rakhine State.
“The [ethnic-minority police] will implement not only policing but also border security affairs. They must use fighting techniques developed to repel insurgents. Ethnic police strength will be reinforced to protect Rakhine State against the enemy. The police force is the second defensive wall after the army. Therefore, they must protect the people against insurgents. They must serve as the police members at the police battalions and frontier forces,” said Police Col Nay Myo from the Rakhine State Police Force.
New ethnic-minority police members are taking courses on policing and combat starting on December 7. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
For more information - Visit here.
“The [ethnic-minority police] will implement not only policing but also border security affairs. They must use fighting techniques developed to repel insurgents. Ethnic police strength will be reinforced to protect Rakhine State against the enemy. The police force is the second defensive wall after the army. Therefore, they must protect the people against insurgents. They must serve as the police members at the police battalions and frontier forces,” said Police Col Nay Myo from the Rakhine State Police Force.
New ethnic-minority police members are taking courses on policing and combat starting on December 7. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
For more information - Visit here.
Myanmar: Gov't candidate accused of stirring race fears
YANGON, Myanmar – A supporter of Myanmar’s military-backed ruling party has been accused of stoking anti-Muslim fears in an effort to weaken the National League for Democracy (NLD) vote during campaigning for the country’s historic election.
The accusation is just one of several allegations of misuse of religion during the election season in the Mandalay region, which last year was blighted by rioting between Buddhists and Muslims that left two dead.
Although Suu Kyi’s NLD won by a landslide and secured almost 80 percent of parliamentary seats nationwide, party candidate Kyaw Soe lost in his constituency of Pyawbwe, central Myanmar.
He alleges that his opponent from the ruling USDP party won following a smear campaign to convince voters that an NLD victory would mean “bad things” for Buddhism, the country’s majority religion.
“We have strong evidence that they used religion while canvassing for votes. We haven’t challenged the result yet, but we will proceed with the lawsuit,” Kyaw Soe told the Myanmar Times Tuesday.
He added that a village administrator’s wife had distributed pamphlets containing the allegations.
Under Myanmar’s election law, she faces up to a year in prison or a fine of 100,000 Kyat ($77), or both, if convicted. (Courtesy of Fulton News)
For more information - Visit here.
The accusation is just one of several allegations of misuse of religion during the election season in the Mandalay region, which last year was blighted by rioting between Buddhists and Muslims that left two dead.
Although Suu Kyi’s NLD won by a landslide and secured almost 80 percent of parliamentary seats nationwide, party candidate Kyaw Soe lost in his constituency of Pyawbwe, central Myanmar.
He alleges that his opponent from the ruling USDP party won following a smear campaign to convince voters that an NLD victory would mean “bad things” for Buddhism, the country’s majority religion.
“We have strong evidence that they used religion while canvassing for votes. We haven’t challenged the result yet, but we will proceed with the lawsuit,” Kyaw Soe told the Myanmar Times Tuesday.
He added that a village administrator’s wife had distributed pamphlets containing the allegations.
Under Myanmar’s election law, she faces up to a year in prison or a fine of 100,000 Kyat ($77), or both, if convicted. (Courtesy of Fulton News)
For more information - Visit here.
12 men jailed for training with 'Myanmar Muslim Army'
A group of Muslim men have been jailed in Myanmar for receiving training from an organization prosecutors refer to as the “Myanmar Muslim Army” -- a collective defense lawyers and security experts have suggested does not even exist.
The Myanmar Times reported Tuesday that the 12 men -- who are between 19 and 54 years old -- were given five year jail terms Monday at Aung Myay Thar San township court in Mandalay after being arrested and detained between late last year.
They were charged under section 5J of the Emergency Provisions Act, which makes it illegal to "affect the morality or conduct of the public in a way that would undermine the security of the Union".
A lawyer working with an international human rights organization immediately slammed the verdict, accusing the court of staging an unfair trial and saying the defendants were tortured into confessions.
“This is injustice. There was clearly no evidence to support this verdict,” Matthew Bugher, a consultant to Fortify Rights who has been monitoring the trial, said in a statement.
“This sentence reveals the lack of justice, accountability and fair process in the current government and the court system.”
Phil Roberston, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the men should “be released immediately on grounds that they didn't receive a free or fair trial”. (Courtesy of http://aa.com.tr)
For more information - Visit here.
The Myanmar Times reported Tuesday that the 12 men -- who are between 19 and 54 years old -- were given five year jail terms Monday at Aung Myay Thar San township court in Mandalay after being arrested and detained between late last year.
They were charged under section 5J of the Emergency Provisions Act, which makes it illegal to "affect the morality or conduct of the public in a way that would undermine the security of the Union".
A lawyer working with an international human rights organization immediately slammed the verdict, accusing the court of staging an unfair trial and saying the defendants were tortured into confessions.
“This is injustice. There was clearly no evidence to support this verdict,” Matthew Bugher, a consultant to Fortify Rights who has been monitoring the trial, said in a statement.
“This sentence reveals the lack of justice, accountability and fair process in the current government and the court system.”
Phil Roberston, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the men should “be released immediately on grounds that they didn't receive a free or fair trial”. (Courtesy of http://aa.com.tr)
For more information - Visit here.
Border Guard Police Shoot Young Rohingya Man to Death
Buthidaung, Arakan State (Rohingya Vision) – The Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) shot a young Rohingya man to death in Maungdaw Township last night, according to the local reliable sources.
The victim is identified to be Musaa @Maung Maung (son of) Master Abul Kalam, 25, hails from Quarter 4, Buthidaung Township. He was shot down by the BGP at Aung Mingalar village’s Check-post — before Maung Nama (Mondama) village around 10:00PM last night.
“It was around 10:00PM last night he was on his way back to Buthidaung from northern Maungdaw. He was coming by a mini-van driven by a Rakhine (Magh) man, reportedly a friend/business partner of his. There were other four Rakhines on the van as well.
The BGP at the ‘Aung Mingalar’ Check-post — before Maung Nama (Mondama) village — asked the car to stop. However, the van driver stopped it.
Suddenly, there was a gun-shot. When we saw towards there, the bullet straightly hit on the head of the young Rohingya and he died on the spot. We don’t know anything else after that,” said an eyewitness.
It has been learnt the Rakhine van-driver and other Rakhines have later gone into hiding. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
For more information - Visit here.
The victim is identified to be Musaa @Maung Maung (son of) Master Abul Kalam, 25, hails from Quarter 4, Buthidaung Township. He was shot down by the BGP at Aung Mingalar village’s Check-post — before Maung Nama (Mondama) village around 10:00PM last night.
“It was around 10:00PM last night he was on his way back to Buthidaung from northern Maungdaw. He was coming by a mini-van driven by a Rakhine (Magh) man, reportedly a friend/business partner of his. There were other four Rakhines on the van as well.
The BGP at the ‘Aung Mingalar’ Check-post — before Maung Nama (Mondama) village — asked the car to stop. However, the van driver stopped it.
Suddenly, there was a gun-shot. When we saw towards there, the bullet straightly hit on the head of the young Rohingya and he died on the spot. We don’t know anything else after that,” said an eyewitness.
It has been learnt the Rakhine van-driver and other Rakhines have later gone into hiding. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
For more information - Visit here.
Myanmar’s new leaders can end Rohingya conflict – Anthony Ware and Ronan Lee
Beset by communal violence and frequently denied their human rights, life for many in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is desperately grim. But our fieldwork suggests there is a path towards peace.
Rakhine State was virtually unknown in the West until torn asunder by communal strife in 2012. It borders Bangladesh and is frequently the point of departure for tens of thousands of Muslim refugees who traverse the Bay of Bengal in rickety boats, hoping to seek asylum in Thailand, Malaysia or even Australia.
It is Myanmar’s second-poorest state, with a poverty rate close to twice the national average.
These Muslims, who call themselves “Rohingya”, bore the worst of the 2012 conflict with the local majority Buddhist “Rakhine”. Three years later, more than 140,000 Muslims still live in internal displacement camps. (Courtesy of The Malaysian Insider)
For more information - Visit here.
Rakhine State was virtually unknown in the West until torn asunder by communal strife in 2012. It borders Bangladesh and is frequently the point of departure for tens of thousands of Muslim refugees who traverse the Bay of Bengal in rickety boats, hoping to seek asylum in Thailand, Malaysia or even Australia.
It is Myanmar’s second-poorest state, with a poverty rate close to twice the national average.
These Muslims, who call themselves “Rohingya”, bore the worst of the 2012 conflict with the local majority Buddhist “Rakhine”. Three years later, more than 140,000 Muslims still live in internal displacement camps. (Courtesy of The Malaysian Insider)
For more information - Visit here.
Samuel L. Jackson speaks out against racial profiling of Muslims: 'I feel sorry for everybody who looks Middle Eastern'
Samuel L. Jackson said he “feels sorry for everybody who looks Middle Eastern” following the wave of Islamophobia in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shooting.
During a press conference to promote his new film Hateful Eight, the actor expressed concern for those who may face prejudice or racism after such attacks, reports the Daily Beast.
“I feel sorry for everybody who looks Middle Eastern right now because that’s going to happen”, Jackson said. (Courtesy of The Independent)
For more information - Visit here.
During a press conference to promote his new film Hateful Eight, the actor expressed concern for those who may face prejudice or racism after such attacks, reports the Daily Beast.
“I feel sorry for everybody who looks Middle Eastern right now because that’s going to happen”, Jackson said. (Courtesy of The Independent)
For more information - Visit here.
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