When our kids were young we spent a fair amount of time at zoos around the world. It was always with mixed emotions for me. Are animals supposed to be caged in? I also remember seeing high security prisons in different counties. Uninviting and foreboding they loom on the horizon making one decide there and then never to become a criminal deserving a life behind those walls. Rarely did I imagine normal moms, dads, kids, teens, uncles, aunts or grandparents having to live behind barbed wires of the same quality as the wires used to protect humans from Grizzlies in the zoo. I never thought that rice farmers, shop keepers, fishermen, teachers and lawyers needed to be kept enclosed the same way serial killers were enclosed on Alcatraz.
We went to spend time with people behind barbed wires today. I knew I was not a criminal, just a simple woman wanting to help starving people. Yet, I needed to brake several rules in order to get to them. Mr. Z is our trusted aid and picked us up fifteen minutes early. His baseball hat was on his head as usual, his sarong was tied tightly around his waist. He smiled a smile stained with red beetle nut juice and let me know not to worry about a thing. We just had to duck when passing check points and only get out of the vehicle when he said so. (Courtesy of oddnygumaer.com)
March 31, 2016
March 30, 2016
Leaders Respond to Suu Kyi’s Call for Second Panglong Conference
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s state counselor and de facto leader of the new National League for Democracy (NLD) government, met with the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee on Wednesday, calling for the convening of a “Panglong-style” peace conference within two months and encouraging all stakeholders to help make the suggestion a reality.
Of ethnic armed organizations that opted out of signing the so-called nationwide ceasefire [NCA] in 2015, Suu Kyi said that “even though they are not yet included, we will try to include them.”
“There is no reason that we can’t make it work if there is sincere empathy,” she added.
The Panglong Conference was convened in southern Shan State in 1947 by Suu Kyi’s father, Gen Aung San, and leaders from some of the country’s ethnic nationalities, in preparation for independence from Britain. It led to the signing of the famed agreement by the same name, which has been widely praised for the spirit of inclusiveness and cooperation that it fostered between the dominant Burman majority and ethnic minorities at the time.
The Irrawaddy’s Nang Seng Nom spoke to a diverse selection of leaders about Suu Kyi’s call for a second Panglong Conference, the likelihood of these talks occurring, and their expectations for them; their responses are below. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Of ethnic armed organizations that opted out of signing the so-called nationwide ceasefire [NCA] in 2015, Suu Kyi said that “even though they are not yet included, we will try to include them.”
“There is no reason that we can’t make it work if there is sincere empathy,” she added.
The Panglong Conference was convened in southern Shan State in 1947 by Suu Kyi’s father, Gen Aung San, and leaders from some of the country’s ethnic nationalities, in preparation for independence from Britain. It led to the signing of the famed agreement by the same name, which has been widely praised for the spirit of inclusiveness and cooperation that it fostered between the dominant Burman majority and ethnic minorities at the time.
The Irrawaddy’s Nang Seng Nom spoke to a diverse selection of leaders about Suu Kyi’s call for a second Panglong Conference, the likelihood of these talks occurring, and their expectations for them; their responses are below. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
March 26, 2016
Aung San Suu Kyi in anti-Muslim spat with BBC presenter
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi is globally revered for her patient, peaceful struggle for democracy, which will finally see her take power next week – but a clash revealed in a new biography of her paints a rather different picture.
According to the book, Ms Suu Kyi lost her temper after a robust interview with BBC Today programme presenter Mishal Husain and muttered off-air: “No-one told me I was going to be interviewed by a Muslim.”
The book reveals that the 70-year-old president of Burma's National League for Democracy refused to condemn anti-Islamic sentiment and massacres of Muslims in Burma when she was repeatedly asked to do so by Husain, the first Muslim presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, during the interview. (Courtesy of Telegraph)
According to the book, Ms Suu Kyi lost her temper after a robust interview with BBC Today programme presenter Mishal Husain and muttered off-air: “No-one told me I was going to be interviewed by a Muslim.”
The book reveals that the 70-year-old president of Burma's National League for Democracy refused to condemn anti-Islamic sentiment and massacres of Muslims in Burma when she was repeatedly asked to do so by Husain, the first Muslim presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, during the interview. (Courtesy of Telegraph)
March 25, 2016
Alarm sounded on Yangon air pollution
Air pollution is becoming more noticeable in Yangon and its effects can be seen throughout the former capital.
In 2015, looking from Mahabandoola Bridge across the bustling downtown area, it was possible to have a sharp, clear view of the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda.
These days the view of the city from bridge is not completely clear and the Shwedagon Pagoda is slightly obscured by the tiny particles that cause pollution.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere that can cause serious respiratory problems.
The minute particles in the air that contribute to pollution can include chemicals such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrochloride. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
In 2015, looking from Mahabandoola Bridge across the bustling downtown area, it was possible to have a sharp, clear view of the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda.
These days the view of the city from bridge is not completely clear and the Shwedagon Pagoda is slightly obscured by the tiny particles that cause pollution.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere that can cause serious respiratory problems.
The minute particles in the air that contribute to pollution can include chemicals such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrochloride. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Htin Kyaw to take oath on March 30
President-elect Htin Kyaw will take the oath of office and deliver a state of the union address at Parliament on March 30, according to Win Htein, a central executive member of the National League for Democracy.
Two vice-presidents and new ministers will take the oath on the same day. The power transfer will run as previously planned, he added.
Only six MPs from the NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are included in the list of 18 ministers proposed by Htin Kyaw.
“On March 30, Htin Kyaw is sworn in as president with the ministers. Afterwards, Htin Kyaw will deliver an address at the Parliament. Htin Kyaw and ministers will proceed to the presidential house. President Thein Sein and outgoing ministers will wait for them there. There will be a handover of insignia at the diplomatic hall. The outgoing president and ministers will introduce staff to the new comers. President Thein Sein will leave the house.” (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Two vice-presidents and new ministers will take the oath on the same day. The power transfer will run as previously planned, he added.
Only six MPs from the NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are included in the list of 18 ministers proposed by Htin Kyaw.
“On March 30, Htin Kyaw is sworn in as president with the ministers. Afterwards, Htin Kyaw will deliver an address at the Parliament. Htin Kyaw and ministers will proceed to the presidential house. President Thein Sein and outgoing ministers will wait for them there. There will be a handover of insignia at the diplomatic hall. The outgoing president and ministers will introduce staff to the new comers. President Thein Sein will leave the house.” (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Rakhine government talks to continue after no breakthrough
National League for Democracy (NLD) officials said the party had reiterated its position that the Rakhine chief minister would come from the ranks of the NLD despite ANP demands it should be given the top post. Talks are to continue next week, they said.
Tensions are rising in Rakhine State over the issue. Several hundred ANP supporters demonstrated in Sittwe on March 23 to press for the chief minister to be appointed from the ANP, which won a majority of the state’s elected MPs last November with its strong defence of Rakhine’s Buddhist community.
On the request of the ANP, MPs from both sides met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss formation of the government. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, looking tense, led the NLD team, reflecting the importance of the dispute. Their talks lasted more than an hour. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Tensions are rising in Rakhine State over the issue. Several hundred ANP supporters demonstrated in Sittwe on March 23 to press for the chief minister to be appointed from the ANP, which won a majority of the state’s elected MPs last November with its strong defence of Rakhine’s Buddhist community.
On the request of the ANP, MPs from both sides met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss formation of the government. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, looking tense, led the NLD team, reflecting the importance of the dispute. Their talks lasted more than an hour. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
UN extends mandate of special rapporteur
The United Nations agreed yesterday to extend the role of a human rights monitor for Myanmar for another year and called on the new government to strengthen rule of law and ensure better protections for minority groups.
The special rapporteur’s mandate, which was reviewed at the 31st Human Rights Council last week, was particularly contentious this year as she will be reporting on the National League for Democracy-backed government, which will take office on April 1.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed to investigate, monitor and report on human rights abuses. The outgoing government has argued vociferously that there is no need for such oversight and lobbied hard for the position to be abolished.
Some rights groups feared that in the wake of last November’s peaceful parliamentary election which the NLD won in a landslide, the special rapporteur for Myanmar would be given a downgraded role restricted to providing technical assistance. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The special rapporteur’s mandate, which was reviewed at the 31st Human Rights Council last week, was particularly contentious this year as she will be reporting on the National League for Democracy-backed government, which will take office on April 1.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed to investigate, monitor and report on human rights abuses. The outgoing government has argued vociferously that there is no need for such oversight and lobbied hard for the position to be abolished.
Some rights groups feared that in the wake of last November’s peaceful parliamentary election which the NLD won in a landslide, the special rapporteur for Myanmar would be given a downgraded role restricted to providing technical assistance. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Guest registration changes tipped to win NLD ‘goodwill’
On March 21, the NLD proposed abolishing the requirement to report overnight guests, a measure long used by Myanmar’s military to justify unannounced household inspections that infringed on privacy and created a climate of fear and intimidation.
The provision in the Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law was mainly used to target social and political activists, as the junta used it as a pretext to enter their houses in order to stifle dissent, and caused problems for people without household or identification papers.
For the broader population, the registration requirement is inconvenient and costly. Those living outside the residence stated on their household list – particularly common for migrants and renters – must register weekly with ward or village-tract officials, typically paying an under-the-table fee for permission. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The provision in the Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law was mainly used to target social and political activists, as the junta used it as a pretext to enter their houses in order to stifle dissent, and caused problems for people without household or identification papers.
For the broader population, the registration requirement is inconvenient and costly. Those living outside the residence stated on their household list – particularly common for migrants and renters – must register weekly with ward or village-tract officials, typically paying an under-the-table fee for permission. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Local support keeps north Rakhine curfew in place
Despite the uneasy calm that has descended on Rakhine State since the outbreak of communal violence in 2012, there is little pressure in the north of the state to raise the strict curfew imposed at that time. Even in the Muslim-majority townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the measure seems to be grudgingly accepted, local residents say.
After the 2012 conflict, most of northern Rakhine State, including the state capital, Sittwe, promulgated a dusk-to-dawn curfew that was lifted two years ago. But the night-time clampdown is still in force in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, seemingly with the agreement of local residents – both Buddhist and Muslim – who say they fear a resurgence of unrest if it is raised.
Ethnic Rakhine Buthidaung resident U Maung Kyaw Thar, 59, said security conditions were precarious. “Unrest could recur at any time if the curfew is lifted. There are potential troublemakers on both sides,” he said. “With a curfew, nobody can go out at night, so you don’t have to worry about crime.”
Security in the townships is mostly the responsibility of the Myanmar Police Force, which operates in urban areas, and the Myanmar Border Police – formerly known as Na Sa Ka – which is mostly focused on rural areas. While police numbers are low, 10 battalions of border police are stationed across the two districts. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
After the 2012 conflict, most of northern Rakhine State, including the state capital, Sittwe, promulgated a dusk-to-dawn curfew that was lifted two years ago. But the night-time clampdown is still in force in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, seemingly with the agreement of local residents – both Buddhist and Muslim – who say they fear a resurgence of unrest if it is raised.
Ethnic Rakhine Buthidaung resident U Maung Kyaw Thar, 59, said security conditions were precarious. “Unrest could recur at any time if the curfew is lifted. There are potential troublemakers on both sides,” he said. “With a curfew, nobody can go out at night, so you don’t have to worry about crime.”
Security in the townships is mostly the responsibility of the Myanmar Police Force, which operates in urban areas, and the Myanmar Border Police – formerly known as Na Sa Ka – which is mostly focused on rural areas. While police numbers are low, 10 battalions of border police are stationed across the two districts. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
UN urges NLD to take action in Rakhine
The United Nations yesterday called on Myanmar’s new government to “stabilise” Rakhine State for all residents in an effort to stem the outflow of migrants and refugees.
Speaking in Indonesia at the Bali Process ministerial meeting, a senior UN official suggested that the “drivers and root causes of displacement” could be resolved by the new administration in Myanmar, where a preponderance of the region’s refugees originate.
“Unlike other regions in the world, there is hope in Southeast Asia that one country that has generated refugee flows in the past will now create the conditions for safe and dignified return for most of its citizens and long-term residents,” said Volker Türk, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). “There are huge expectations for the new government in Myanmar.”
Mr Türk urged the government to recognise “an appropriate legal status” for all inhabitants of Rakhine State, to promote civil registration and access to identity documents, and to remove restrictions on basic freedoms. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Speaking in Indonesia at the Bali Process ministerial meeting, a senior UN official suggested that the “drivers and root causes of displacement” could be resolved by the new administration in Myanmar, where a preponderance of the region’s refugees originate.
“Unlike other regions in the world, there is hope in Southeast Asia that one country that has generated refugee flows in the past will now create the conditions for safe and dignified return for most of its citizens and long-term residents,” said Volker Türk, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). “There are huge expectations for the new government in Myanmar.”
Mr Türk urged the government to recognise “an appropriate legal status” for all inhabitants of Rakhine State, to promote civil registration and access to identity documents, and to remove restrictions on basic freedoms. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Rohingya Refugees Form Committee to Improve Refugee Plight
The initiative was formed with the collective ideas of all Rohingya Refugees including Women Members in New Dehli on March 20, 2016.
It was named Rohingya Refugee Committee (RRC) and is aimed to provide sufficient help and reduce the sufferings of the Refugees in India. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
It was named Rohingya Refugee Committee (RRC) and is aimed to provide sufficient help and reduce the sufferings of the Refugees in India. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
March 24, 2016
The Myanmar Muslims in China
About 50,000 Myanmar have found a new life in Ruili, a busy Chinese trading town of 140,000 people across the border from Muse in northern Shan State. Most of the Myanmar are Muslims involved in the jade business, who left their homeland to escape religious violence. They have rebuilt their lives, learned to communicate in Chinese and formed relationships with the locals. They never stray too far from the centre of the Myanmar community on Zhubao (Jewellery) Street, where they can gossip at teashops, eat mohinga for breakfast and buy betel at every corner.
This is their story.
When U Phone Kyaw moved to Ruili from Yangon in 1990, the Myanmar community numbered about a hundred. “Back then there was no Zhubao Street and it was very difficult to do business,” said U Phone Kyaw, 52. “The border control, the police, everyone is trying to give you trouble, but you have no choice but to sell jade on the street and risk getting caught,” he said in Chinese with a heavy Yunnanese accent. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
This is their story.
When U Phone Kyaw moved to Ruili from Yangon in 1990, the Myanmar community numbered about a hundred. “Back then there was no Zhubao Street and it was very difficult to do business,” said U Phone Kyaw, 52. “The border control, the police, everyone is trying to give you trouble, but you have no choice but to sell jade on the street and risk getting caught,” he said in Chinese with a heavy Yunnanese accent. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Myanmar finance minister nominee Kyaw Win has fake degree
Kyaw Win admitted buying the bogus PhD from a fictitious online university - Brooklyn Park in the US - which sold fake qualifications from Pakistan.
He was caught when the National League for Democracy party, which is forming the new government, made his CV public.
It remains to be seen if Kyaw Win remains on the list of cabinet ministers to take office next week.
A party spokesman told the BBC that the fake degree did not matter.
Confronted by the Myanmar Times newspaper, Kyaw Win admitted the degree was fake. (Courtesy of BBC)
He was caught when the National League for Democracy party, which is forming the new government, made his CV public.
It remains to be seen if Kyaw Win remains on the list of cabinet ministers to take office next week.
A party spokesman told the BBC that the fake degree did not matter.
Confronted by the Myanmar Times newspaper, Kyaw Win admitted the degree was fake. (Courtesy of BBC)
Protesters in Western Myanmar Demand The Right to Choose Chief Minister
About 500 protesters in western Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state demanded on Wednesday that they be allowed to choose their own chief minister from the state's strongest local ethnic political party, in an expression of discontent with the incoming government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The protestors marched through the state capital Sittwe, demanding that the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which Aung San Suu Kyi chairs, respect the Rakhine people’s wishes and not set up what they called a one-party dictatorship in the state.
The Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the interests of the predominantly Buddhist, ethnic Rakhine majority living in the state and in the Yangon region, won 22 seats in the country’s National Assembly in general elections last November that swept the NLD to victory over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
It also won 23 of 47 state parliament seats, but failed to gain a majority in the Arakan State legislature because a quarter of seats automatically went to military representatives, as they do in other state and regional parliaments as well as in the National Assembly. By contrast, the NLD won only eight seats in Rakhine’s legislature in the election.
“The Rakhine people’s votes were for the ANP,” Aung Ko Moe, one of the protest leaders, told RFA’s Myanmar Service. “We want an ANP government for Rakhine state because the ANP won in Rakhine in the last election.” (Courtesy of RFA)
The protestors marched through the state capital Sittwe, demanding that the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which Aung San Suu Kyi chairs, respect the Rakhine people’s wishes and not set up what they called a one-party dictatorship in the state.
The Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the interests of the predominantly Buddhist, ethnic Rakhine majority living in the state and in the Yangon region, won 22 seats in the country’s National Assembly in general elections last November that swept the NLD to victory over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
It also won 23 of 47 state parliament seats, but failed to gain a majority in the Arakan State legislature because a quarter of seats automatically went to military representatives, as they do in other state and regional parliaments as well as in the National Assembly. By contrast, the NLD won only eight seats in Rakhine’s legislature in the election.
“The Rakhine people’s votes were for the ANP,” Aung Ko Moe, one of the protest leaders, told RFA’s Myanmar Service. “We want an ANP government for Rakhine state because the ANP won in Rakhine in the last election.” (Courtesy of RFA)
Who’s who: Myanmar’s new cabinet
Take a look inside the National League for Democracy's new proposed government with insider profiles of the party's 18 candidates for ministerial posts:
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (foreign affairs; president’s office; education; energy and electric power)
The National League for Democracy leader needs little introduction. Has vowed to rule “above the president”, and with a reported four portfolios will hold a fair chunk of executive power. The only woman in the cabinet, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Kawhmu in November.
U Aung Thu (agriculture, irrigation and livestock)
A former rector of Yangon University, U Aung Thu served as a government officer for several decades before retiring in August last year to contest the election. He won a seat in the lower house for Yangon’s Latha township. He has worked in several universities across Myanmar, including a professor of mathematics at Taungoo University. Under his tenure, Yangon University boosted its cooperation with international educational institutions and expanded undergraduate teaching. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (foreign affairs; president’s office; education; energy and electric power)
The National League for Democracy leader needs little introduction. Has vowed to rule “above the president”, and with a reported four portfolios will hold a fair chunk of executive power. The only woman in the cabinet, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Kawhmu in November.
U Aung Thu (agriculture, irrigation and livestock)
A former rector of Yangon University, U Aung Thu served as a government officer for several decades before retiring in August last year to contest the election. He won a seat in the lower house for Yangon’s Latha township. He has worked in several universities across Myanmar, including a professor of mathematics at Taungoo University. Under his tenure, Yangon University boosted its cooperation with international educational institutions and expanded undergraduate teaching. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
March 23, 2016
US can't see ‘genocide’ when it might benefit: Analyst
The United States will not determine that the persecution of Rohingyas in Myanmar is genocide because its priorities are to eventually make the Southeast Asian nation a client state as part of its long term strategy of confronting China, an international lawyer and political analyst says.
Barry Grossman, who is based on the Indonesian island of Bali, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday, after the State Department acknowledged that Myanmar is persecuting Rohingya Muslims, but failed to call it genocide.
"While it's without question that they continue to face persecution, we did not determine that it was on the level of genocide," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. (Courtesy of Press TV)
Barry Grossman, who is based on the Indonesian island of Bali, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday, after the State Department acknowledged that Myanmar is persecuting Rohingya Muslims, but failed to call it genocide.
"While it's without question that they continue to face persecution, we did not determine that it was on the level of genocide," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. (Courtesy of Press TV)
Myanmar - and the road to Mandalay
Myanmar, formerly Burma, is in transition to "guided" democracy. I spent a week there this month to see how it was progressing. I had not been to Myanmar before so had no real idea what to expect. The main arrival airport is Yangon (formerly Rangoon) International Airport. The three letter airport identifier is still RGN.
Money changing at an airport and the taxi fare to town are usually good indicators of how an economy is progressing. At the airport there are several bank foreign currency exchange booths offering competing exchange rates, with preference for US dollars. There was little interest in Australian dollars unless one is prepared to accept a very poor exchange rate. US dollars have to be in mint condition to be accepted, which is somewhat paradoxical given the local kyat notes are invariably torn and grubby.
The taxi to the hotel was a fixed rate of 9000 kyat for the one-hour ride to downtown Yangon. That is about $A12 at the unfavourable exchange rate, or about $US7 at the favourable one. Getting around Yangon is cheap but slow because of the heavy traffic. A 10-kilometre taxi journey can take an hour. Taxis do not have meters so you negotiate the fare beforehand which means the passenger is not out of pocket for any delays. (Courtesy of TheAge)
Money changing at an airport and the taxi fare to town are usually good indicators of how an economy is progressing. At the airport there are several bank foreign currency exchange booths offering competing exchange rates, with preference for US dollars. There was little interest in Australian dollars unless one is prepared to accept a very poor exchange rate. US dollars have to be in mint condition to be accepted, which is somewhat paradoxical given the local kyat notes are invariably torn and grubby.
The taxi to the hotel was a fixed rate of 9000 kyat for the one-hour ride to downtown Yangon. That is about $A12 at the unfavourable exchange rate, or about $US7 at the favourable one. Getting around Yangon is cheap but slow because of the heavy traffic. A 10-kilometre taxi journey can take an hour. Taxis do not have meters so you negotiate the fare beforehand which means the passenger is not out of pocket for any delays. (Courtesy of TheAge)
Rohingya: Myanmar's ethnic timebomb
Myanmar’s newly-elected president has proposed the creation of a ministry aimed at solving the country's long-standing ethnic issues, but on a list of the country's 135 official ethnicities one minority is nowhere to be seen.
For years, the country's Muslim Rohingya community has been branded one of the most persecuted in the world, but Aung San Suu Kyi's election winning National League for Democracy (NLD) rarely dares to breath its name.
“If we talk about Rohingya Muslims, people won't listen to us,” a Western diplomat who did not wish to be named as he was not authorized to talk to media told Anadolu Agency this weekend. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
For years, the country's Muslim Rohingya community has been branded one of the most persecuted in the world, but Aung San Suu Kyi's election winning National League for Democracy (NLD) rarely dares to breath its name.
“If we talk about Rohingya Muslims, people won't listen to us,” a Western diplomat who did not wish to be named as he was not authorized to talk to media told Anadolu Agency this weekend. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
NLD plans to lift rule on overnight visitors in Myanmar
Myanmar's National League for Democracy is set to propose changes to a law that requires citizens to report overnight guests to their local ward administration office – a practice that activists say infringes on human rights, and the party argues is a “disgrace” to the country.
However, the draft amendment, which was handed out to parliament members on Monday, could bring the NLD into conflict with the military, which controls the security and administrative apparatus that implements the reporting requirements, the Myanmar Times reported on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post:News)
However, the draft amendment, which was handed out to parliament members on Monday, could bring the NLD into conflict with the military, which controls the security and administrative apparatus that implements the reporting requirements, the Myanmar Times reported on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post:News)
Domestic Workers from Myanmar Overworked in Thailand
In Thailand, thousands of unregistered domestic workers from Myanmar face daily abuse at the hands of their employees. But now, as Myanmar opens to reform, changes are coming slowly. Is it enough to draw back a future work force?
Every year, an estimated two million migrant workers from Myanmar join the Thai workforce seeking better pay and working conditions.
While the minimum wage has risen to about $10 a day, rights groups say female migrant domestic workers continue to face abuses behind closed doors. (Courtesy of VOA)
Every year, an estimated two million migrant workers from Myanmar join the Thai workforce seeking better pay and working conditions.
While the minimum wage has risen to about $10 a day, rights groups say female migrant domestic workers continue to face abuses behind closed doors. (Courtesy of VOA)
Blocked from presidency, Suu Kyi to be Myanmar foreign minister
Aung San Suu Kyi will be foreign minister in Myanmar's first civilian government for decades, her party said Tuesday, giving the democracy champion a formal post despite being blocked from the presidency.
The Nobel laureate has already vowed to rule above the man picked as president, Htin Kyaw, in the government which comes to power next week in the former army-ruled nation.
Suu Kyi was the sole woman and one of only six members of her National League for Democracy party in a cabinet list read out to lawmakers early Tuesday by the parliament speaker Mann Win Khaing Than, who did not specify which position she or others would hold. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
The Nobel laureate has already vowed to rule above the man picked as president, Htin Kyaw, in the government which comes to power next week in the former army-ruled nation.
Suu Kyi was the sole woman and one of only six members of her National League for Democracy party in a cabinet list read out to lawmakers early Tuesday by the parliament speaker Mann Win Khaing Than, who did not specify which position she or others would hold. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
Myanmar must stay united
Myanmar’s parliament this month elected a veteran National League for Democracy (NLD) official as the country’s new president. Together with two vice presidents, Htin Kyaw, a confidant of party chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi, will lead the nation’s first democratic government in more than 50 years upon assumption of office on April 1.
The election of the new president came four months after last November’s general elections, in which the NLD scored a landslide victory to put an end to the country’s military rule since 1962. Htin Kyaw was nominated to the top post by the NLD after rounds of discussion between Suu Kyi and top military leaders failed to yield a desirable result on the proposed amendment of the country’s 2008 constitution, which bars individuals whose spouses or children are foreign nationals from qualifying for the post of president.
Suu Kyi cannot be president herself because her children carry British passports. As the leader of the ruling party, however, she has said she will be “above the president” and is expected to govern the country through the new president. (Courtesy of The Japan Times)
The election of the new president came four months after last November’s general elections, in which the NLD scored a landslide victory to put an end to the country’s military rule since 1962. Htin Kyaw was nominated to the top post by the NLD after rounds of discussion between Suu Kyi and top military leaders failed to yield a desirable result on the proposed amendment of the country’s 2008 constitution, which bars individuals whose spouses or children are foreign nationals from qualifying for the post of president.
Suu Kyi cannot be president herself because her children carry British passports. As the leader of the ruling party, however, she has said she will be “above the president” and is expected to govern the country through the new president. (Courtesy of The Japan Times)
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi set to steer cabinet from within
Myanmar’s president-elect nominated Aung San Suu Kyi to join the incoming cabinet on Tuesday, giving the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader a formal role in the government that the constitution bars her from leading.
Suu Kyi guided the NLD to a historic landslide election win in November, but cannot assume the presidency under the charter drafted by the former junta because her two sons are British citizens, as was her late husband.
She has pledged to circumvent the ban by running the country through a proxy president, and last week the parliament nominated Suu Kyi’s confidant, Htin Kyaw, for the top job.
Until the cabinet nominations were read out to parliament by the speaker on Tuesday, it had been unclear whether Suu Kyi would join the executive or would chose to guide the government from outside as the leader of the ruling party. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Suu Kyi guided the NLD to a historic landslide election win in November, but cannot assume the presidency under the charter drafted by the former junta because her two sons are British citizens, as was her late husband.
She has pledged to circumvent the ban by running the country through a proxy president, and last week the parliament nominated Suu Kyi’s confidant, Htin Kyaw, for the top job.
Until the cabinet nominations were read out to parliament by the speaker on Tuesday, it had been unclear whether Suu Kyi would join the executive or would chose to guide the government from outside as the leader of the ruling party. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Myanmar’s president-elect gives first speech to parliament
Before a full house, Htin Kyaw clarified his plan to reorganise the country’s administration which cutting the number the ministries by a third.
He pledged job security for public servants.
Addressing parliament, Htin Kyaw said the decision will save money which can then be used in other areas.
“We can use that five billion kyats (more than four billion US dollars) which were saved by cutting back on ministries and ministers to improve our countrys education, health and rural development sectors,” Kyaw told parliament. (Courtesy of Euro News)
He pledged job security for public servants.
Addressing parliament, Htin Kyaw said the decision will save money which can then be used in other areas.
“We can use that five billion kyats (more than four billion US dollars) which were saved by cutting back on ministries and ministers to improve our countrys education, health and rural development sectors,” Kyaw told parliament. (Courtesy of Euro News)
March 22, 2016
Myanmar parliament approves gov't formation proposal
Myanmar's parliament on Monday approved President-elect U Htin Kyaw's plan of forming a new government with reduced ministries.
The proposal was approved by a vote of 611-3 with 21 abstentions.
President-elect U Htin Kyaw made his first public appearance by delivering a speech in the Union Parliament, clarifying the plan of forming a government with 21 ministries and 18 ministers, slashed from 36 and 32 respectively in the outgoing government. (Courtesy of Xinhua)
The proposal was approved by a vote of 611-3 with 21 abstentions.
President-elect U Htin Kyaw made his first public appearance by delivering a speech in the Union Parliament, clarifying the plan of forming a government with 21 ministries and 18 ministers, slashed from 36 and 32 respectively in the outgoing government. (Courtesy of Xinhua)
Myanmar president-elect says ethnic ministry 'vital' for peace
Myanmar's new president-elect told lawmakers Monday that plans to create a new ethnic affairs ministry were "vital" as he put efforts to heal relations with minorities at the heart of policy in a nation torn by civil wars and sectarian conflict.
Htin Kyaw, a close confidante of Aung San Suu Kyi who will rule as her proxy, indicated that tackling the legacy of half a century of civil wars in ethnic minority borderlands will be a major priority for his government, which officially takes power next week.
"A ministry of ethnic affairs is of vital importance for the future of the union (Myanmar), which needs peace, development and sustainability," he told lawmakers in his first address since being elected the first civilian leader in decades. (Courtesy of Daily Mail Online)
Htin Kyaw, a close confidante of Aung San Suu Kyi who will rule as her proxy, indicated that tackling the legacy of half a century of civil wars in ethnic minority borderlands will be a major priority for his government, which officially takes power next week.
"A ministry of ethnic affairs is of vital importance for the future of the union (Myanmar), which needs peace, development and sustainability," he told lawmakers in his first address since being elected the first civilian leader in decades. (Courtesy of Daily Mail Online)
Military Captain Arbitrarily Levy on Rohingya Fishermen
A newly appointed military captain at the camp located to the south of ‘Kodan Kauk’ Rakhine village summoned the Rohingya fishermen in ‘Angu Maw,’ ‘Kodan Kauk’ and ‘Shil Khali’ villages in Rathedaung on March 11, 2016.
In the meeting, the captain (of the camp, a camp under the commandment of Kyauk Pandu Military Battalion in southern Maungdaw) imposed inconsiderably high amount of duty charges on each of the Rohingya boat.
He imposed Kyat 20,000 each on a Peddle Boat, Kyat 50,000 each on an engine boat and Kyat 80,000 each on a big fishing trawler per outing to the sea respectively. He further ordered that the charges must be paid by 30th March or otherwise, there will be interest charged on the levies along with the punishments for the fishermen. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
In the meeting, the captain (of the camp, a camp under the commandment of Kyauk Pandu Military Battalion in southern Maungdaw) imposed inconsiderably high amount of duty charges on each of the Rohingya boat.
He imposed Kyat 20,000 each on a Peddle Boat, Kyat 50,000 each on an engine boat and Kyat 80,000 each on a big fishing trawler per outing to the sea respectively. He further ordered that the charges must be paid by 30th March or otherwise, there will be interest charged on the levies along with the punishments for the fishermen. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Military Motorcyclist Hit and Severely Injure Rohingya Woman
Three Myanmar’s (Burmese) military personnel riding on two motorcycles hit a Rohingya woman while she was walking along the road in Kyauktaw Township yesterday (i.e. 20th March 2016) evening, leaving her with severe injuries above her right-eyebrow and in left-leg broken.
The victim has been identified to be Ms. Shafika (daughter of) Khalu, 32, a mother of four children, hailing from ‘Fauktoli (Auk Paikthay Ywa Thit)’ hamlet of ‘Paikthay’ village tract. She was hit by the military personnel by their motorcyles on her way back home after her work at ‘a Brick Manufacturing Firm’ owned by a Rakhine man U Tin Mang from ‘Taung Pauk’ village. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
The victim has been identified to be Ms. Shafika (daughter of) Khalu, 32, a mother of four children, hailing from ‘Fauktoli (Auk Paikthay Ywa Thit)’ hamlet of ‘Paikthay’ village tract. She was hit by the military personnel by their motorcyles on her way back home after her work at ‘a Brick Manufacturing Firm’ owned by a Rakhine man U Tin Mang from ‘Taung Pauk’ village. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Around 25,000 Rohingya left Myanmar camps in past year – U.N.
Around 25,000 members of the Rohingya Muslim minority group have left camps for displaced people in western Myanmar and returned to the communities they fled during state sponsored violence in 2012, the United Nations said on Monday.
The number of people still in camps has fallen to around 120,000 from 145,000 in Arakan (Rakhine) State, Vivian Tan, regional spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency, told Reuters.
The move will bolster optimism among ethnic communities in Myanmar that their situation may improve under the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD won a landslide electoral win in November and is forming a government to take power on April 1.
The majority of Rohingya who have left the camps have rebuilt houses in their place of origin, Tan said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters. The move out of the camps started in March 2015 in a process led by the Myanmar government, she added. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
The number of people still in camps has fallen to around 120,000 from 145,000 in Arakan (Rakhine) State, Vivian Tan, regional spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency, told Reuters.
The move will bolster optimism among ethnic communities in Myanmar that their situation may improve under the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD won a landslide electoral win in November and is forming a government to take power on April 1.
The majority of Rohingya who have left the camps have rebuilt houses in their place of origin, Tan said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters. The move out of the camps started in March 2015 in a process led by the Myanmar government, she added. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Photo night reveals raw Myanmar
More than 1000 people gathered at the Institut Français de Birmanie on the night of March 19 for an event described as historic.
As the sun set over Yangon, a projector showed images that could have been prohibited just a matter of years ago: the real struggles and successes of everyday Myanmar people.
The Yangon Photo Night, part of the 8th Yangon Photo Festival, displayed 21 photo-stories by amateur and professional photographers from all across the country.
“This edition is very special as it is the first time the night is dedicated almost entirely to Myanmar photographers,” said artistic director of the Yangon Photo Festival Christophe Loviny.
“When we started eight years ago there were almost no photojournalists in Myanmar because it was just wasn’t allowed.”
The judging panel looks over professional and amateur entries.The judging panel looks over professional and amateur entries. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
As the sun set over Yangon, a projector showed images that could have been prohibited just a matter of years ago: the real struggles and successes of everyday Myanmar people.
The Yangon Photo Night, part of the 8th Yangon Photo Festival, displayed 21 photo-stories by amateur and professional photographers from all across the country.
“This edition is very special as it is the first time the night is dedicated almost entirely to Myanmar photographers,” said artistic director of the Yangon Photo Festival Christophe Loviny.
“When we started eight years ago there were almost no photojournalists in Myanmar because it was just wasn’t allowed.”
The judging panel looks over professional and amateur entries.The judging panel looks over professional and amateur entries. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
EU ends funding for MPC and says assets must stay
As a major donor to Myanmar’s peace process over the past five years, the EU expression of concern over what will happen to these assets follows reported moves by senior officials of the MPC, including its chair, government minister U Aung Min, to set up their own institution.
The state of uncertainty hanging over the MPC looks set to continue for some weeks as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s incoming government works out how to handle logistics and personnel involved in the peace process. The MPC remains deeply distrusted by the ethnic armed groups outside the ceasefire pact signed last year. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The state of uncertainty hanging over the MPC looks set to continue for some weeks as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s incoming government works out how to handle logistics and personnel involved in the peace process. The MPC remains deeply distrusted by the ethnic armed groups outside the ceasefire pact signed last year. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Witnessing Myanmar’s momentous change
Published by ANU Press, the book provides the first ‘on the ground’ account of the sweeping change carried out by a reform-minded faction within the country’s long-ruling military – adjustments that commenced in 1999 with modest experiments, and which eventually led to historic elections in November 2015.
Throughout the book Wilson, who served as Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar from 2000 to 2003 and who has been a close observer of the country ever since, provides his usual high-quality insight into what for too long has been a little-known and highly misunderstood nation. (Courtesy of asiapacific.anu.edu.au)
Throughout the book Wilson, who served as Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar from 2000 to 2003 and who has been a close observer of the country ever since, provides his usual high-quality insight into what for too long has been a little-known and highly misunderstood nation. (Courtesy of asiapacific.anu.edu.au)
Hope for change in Myanmar stems Rohingya migrant flow
Hope that the conditions will improve for the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar under Aung San Suu Kyi's new government has contributed to a slowdown in the number fleeing to Thailand and beyond, the United Nations and European Union said on Monday.
As the season that smuggling and trafficking ships typically ply their human cargoes across the Bay of Bengal comes to a close, the number of migrants leaving Myanmar is down sharply on the year, the U.N. refugee agency said on Monday.
"It is striking, there are many less people coming than last year," Volker Turk, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UNHCR, told Reuters after an event on refugees in Bangkok.
"It's a combination of factors. As well as the new government, there are stronger activities against smuggling and trafficking. And the discovery of the mass graves last year also shocked people."
Thai police launched a campaign in May 2015 following the discovery of 30 bodies in graves near a human-trafficking camp close to the Malaysian border. The crackdown led criminals to abandon ships at sea with thousands of migrants aboard.
Mass graves of suspected human-trafficking victims were also found on the Malaysian side of the border. (Courtesy of Daily Mail Online)
As the season that smuggling and trafficking ships typically ply their human cargoes across the Bay of Bengal comes to a close, the number of migrants leaving Myanmar is down sharply on the year, the U.N. refugee agency said on Monday.
"It is striking, there are many less people coming than last year," Volker Turk, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UNHCR, told Reuters after an event on refugees in Bangkok.
"It's a combination of factors. As well as the new government, there are stronger activities against smuggling and trafficking. And the discovery of the mass graves last year also shocked people."
Thai police launched a campaign in May 2015 following the discovery of 30 bodies in graves near a human-trafficking camp close to the Malaysian border. The crackdown led criminals to abandon ships at sea with thousands of migrants aboard.
Mass graves of suspected human-trafficking victims were also found on the Malaysian side of the border. (Courtesy of Daily Mail Online)
Australia accused of going ‘soft’ on Myanmar at UN rights council
The Australian government has been accused of wanting to downgrade United Nations monitoring of human rights in Myanmar, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on March 20.
It said Australia was supporting a move at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to move Myanmar from an “item 4” state, regarded as having serious human rights issues, to an “item 10” state needing only technical assistance.
The assistance provided to “item 10” states includes help with drafting legislation, the newspaper said.
It quoted Emily Howie, director of advocacy and research at the Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre, as saying Australia's position "severely underplays the extent and seriousness of the ongoing human rights abuses" in Myanmar.
"It reduces pressure at a critical time of the democratic transition and diminishes the ability of the international community, including our allies, to push for much needed change," Howie told the SMH. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
It said Australia was supporting a move at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to move Myanmar from an “item 4” state, regarded as having serious human rights issues, to an “item 10” state needing only technical assistance.
The assistance provided to “item 10” states includes help with drafting legislation, the newspaper said.
It quoted Emily Howie, director of advocacy and research at the Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre, as saying Australia's position "severely underplays the extent and seriousness of the ongoing human rights abuses" in Myanmar.
"It reduces pressure at a critical time of the democratic transition and diminishes the ability of the international community, including our allies, to push for much needed change," Howie told the SMH. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Britain and Myanmar: friends again
During the hard years of military dictatorship, relations between Britain and Myanmar were often tense. The BBC would get rough treatment from its Myanmar counterparts. Sometimes it was even accused of broadcasting a “sky full of lies”.
When Senior General Than Shwe made the big decision to move government from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw we understand that one of his justifications was the lingering colonial hangover. Even today, everywhere you look in parts of Yangon, there are indications of the former British presence.
Those who appreciate shambolic post-imperial vibes rejoice in Yangon’s old buildings and streetscapes. And, for all their resentment, it was only on rare occasions that Myanmar’s dictators worked actively to destroy the British heritage of bricks-and-mortar. (Source of Myanmar Times)
When Senior General Than Shwe made the big decision to move government from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw we understand that one of his justifications was the lingering colonial hangover. Even today, everywhere you look in parts of Yangon, there are indications of the former British presence.
Those who appreciate shambolic post-imperial vibes rejoice in Yangon’s old buildings and streetscapes. And, for all their resentment, it was only on rare occasions that Myanmar’s dictators worked actively to destroy the British heritage of bricks-and-mortar. (Source of Myanmar Times)
U.S. says Myanmar persecutes Rohingya, but not genocide
The U.S. State Department said on Monday it had determined that Myanmar is persecuting its Rohingya Muslims, but the government's treatment of the religious minority group does not constitute genocide.
"While it's without question that they continue to face persecution, we did not determine that it was on the level of genocide," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
In a report to Congress seen by Reuters, the State Department said the U.S. government is "gravely concerned" about abuses against the Rohingya, but did not determine that they constitute mass atrocities.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar since religious violence erupted there in 2012, prompting international calls for investigation into what some called "strong evidence" of genocide. (Courtesy of Reuters)
"While it's without question that they continue to face persecution, we did not determine that it was on the level of genocide," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
In a report to Congress seen by Reuters, the State Department said the U.S. government is "gravely concerned" about abuses against the Rohingya, but did not determine that they constitute mass atrocities.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar since religious violence erupted there in 2012, prompting international calls for investigation into what some called "strong evidence" of genocide. (Courtesy of Reuters)
March 21, 2016
Myanmar rebels pin hope on new civilian president
An ethnic rebel group locked in conflict with Myanmar's military is eager to broker peace with the new civilian president, a spokesman said yesterday, as the incoming government gears up to tackle the country's long-running insurgencies.
Myanmar's new leadership, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy Htin Kyaw, will take office at the end of the month, concluding a protracted power hand-off from the outgoing army-backed government.
One of their toughest tasks will be snuffing out civil wars between the national army and a patchwork of ethnic minorities in the resource-rich borderlands. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Myanmar's new leadership, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy Htin Kyaw, will take office at the end of the month, concluding a protracted power hand-off from the outgoing army-backed government.
One of their toughest tasks will be snuffing out civil wars between the national army and a patchwork of ethnic minorities in the resource-rich borderlands. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Acid test for new president
An ethnic rebel group locked in conflict with Myanmar’s military is eager to broker peace with the new civilian president, a spokesman said Saturday, as the incoming government gears up to tackle the country’s long-running insurgencies.
Myanmar’s new leadership, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy Htin Kyaw, will take office at the end of the month.
One of their toughest tasks will be snuffing out civil wars between the national army and a patchwork of ethnic minorities in the resource-rich borderlands. (Courtesy of The Star Online)
Myanmar’s new leadership, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy Htin Kyaw, will take office at the end of the month.
One of their toughest tasks will be snuffing out civil wars between the national army and a patchwork of ethnic minorities in the resource-rich borderlands. (Courtesy of The Star Online)
Fight between Myanmar crewmen aboard Thai fishing boat ends fatally at sea off Phuket
One Myanmar fishing boat crewman is dead and his “friend” being treated for a stab wound at hospital and facing a murder charge after the two got into a fight out at sea this morning off Phuket.
At 1pm today (March 20) Police Sub Lieutenant Saman Phromhom of Phuket City Police was alerted by Mr Ekachai Bunmai, 55, the captain of Thai fishing vessel Diengchai 11, about a fight that broke out at in the Andaman sea between two of his Myanmar crewmen, which resulted in one death and another critical injury.
Mr Ekaachai reported that he was en route to shore and would bring the dead injured to Por Pichai fishing pier in Rassada.
Shortly thereafter, police and rescue workers reported to the pier, where there was a large crowd of migrant workers gathered around the boat.
At the rear of the boat, authorities found the lifeless body of a man lying down and who was named as 19-year-old Yae-tui [transliterated]. (Courtesy of thephuketnews.com)
At 1pm today (March 20) Police Sub Lieutenant Saman Phromhom of Phuket City Police was alerted by Mr Ekachai Bunmai, 55, the captain of Thai fishing vessel Diengchai 11, about a fight that broke out at in the Andaman sea between two of his Myanmar crewmen, which resulted in one death and another critical injury.
Mr Ekaachai reported that he was en route to shore and would bring the dead injured to Por Pichai fishing pier in Rassada.
Shortly thereafter, police and rescue workers reported to the pier, where there was a large crowd of migrant workers gathered around the boat.
At the rear of the boat, authorities found the lifeless body of a man lying down and who was named as 19-year-old Yae-tui [transliterated]. (Courtesy of thephuketnews.com)
March 20, 2016
Support for radical Burmese monk is misplaced
Sad to say, but the Maha Chulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), a public Buddhist university in Thailand, is playing with fire.
The Dhammakaya Temple, whose abbot is in hot water with the law, reportedly gave an award to a radical anti-Muslim monk from Myanmar, also known as Burma, in recognition of his promotion of Buddhism in his country.
Prachathai news website quoted a Buddhist scholar, Somrit Luechai, as saying the kind of welcome that the Thai monks gave the controversial Burmese monk, Ashin Wirathu, has surprised and frightened him.
Somrit pointed to the anti-Muslim movement that Wirathu pushed in Burma and suggested that such action and activities have no place in Thailand.
The scary part is that "it seems as if this is normal", Somrit wrote.
Photos of Thai monks welcoming Wirathu were posted on social media with the words "We Love Wirathu".
According to Prachatai, on the same day, Lalita Harnwong, a Thai historian lecturing at Maha Sarakham University who also posted the same set of pictures on her Facebook page, wrote "the behaviour of Dhammakaya and CMU in opening their arms to welcome Wirathu shows the xenophobic logic and thoughts of certain Buddhist groups in Thailand". (Source of The Nation)
The Dhammakaya Temple, whose abbot is in hot water with the law, reportedly gave an award to a radical anti-Muslim monk from Myanmar, also known as Burma, in recognition of his promotion of Buddhism in his country.
Prachathai news website quoted a Buddhist scholar, Somrit Luechai, as saying the kind of welcome that the Thai monks gave the controversial Burmese monk, Ashin Wirathu, has surprised and frightened him.
Somrit pointed to the anti-Muslim movement that Wirathu pushed in Burma and suggested that such action and activities have no place in Thailand.
The scary part is that "it seems as if this is normal", Somrit wrote.
Photos of Thai monks welcoming Wirathu were posted on social media with the words "We Love Wirathu".
According to Prachatai, on the same day, Lalita Harnwong, a Thai historian lecturing at Maha Sarakham University who also posted the same set of pictures on her Facebook page, wrote "the behaviour of Dhammakaya and CMU in opening their arms to welcome Wirathu shows the xenophobic logic and thoughts of certain Buddhist groups in Thailand". (Source of The Nation)
Myanmar: Beauty hides repression
Ethnic cleansing. Concentration camps. Military road blocks.
Not topics you google when planning a winter getaway.
In January, my husband and I joined the small wave of tourists flowing into Myanmar as it emerges from its decades-long banishment as a pariah state. Our Lonely Planet guidebook was six years out of date, so we bolstered our research with Wikitravel and TripAdvisor.
As we planned our trip to the little-travelled Rakhine State, there was barely a whisper on the common travel sites about persecution against the minority Rohingya Muslims.
The information is out there, of course. But in our search for information about historic sites, beaches and good hotel rooms, we had not consulted Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International. (Courtesy of vancouversun.com)
Not topics you google when planning a winter getaway.
In January, my husband and I joined the small wave of tourists flowing into Myanmar as it emerges from its decades-long banishment as a pariah state. Our Lonely Planet guidebook was six years out of date, so we bolstered our research with Wikitravel and TripAdvisor.
As we planned our trip to the little-travelled Rakhine State, there was barely a whisper on the common travel sites about persecution against the minority Rohingya Muslims.
The information is out there, of course. But in our search for information about historic sites, beaches and good hotel rooms, we had not consulted Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International. (Courtesy of vancouversun.com)
No justice for Rohingyas?
ARTICLE 31 of the Constitution of Bangladesh categorically states that “To enjoy the protection of the law, and to be treated in accordance with law, and only in accordance with law …”, is not only the inalienable right of every citizen but also of “…of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh”. The Article further goes on to state that “no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with the law”. In other words, the supreme law of the land has accorded what the government terms as the right to access due process and equal protection of the law to the Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMN) currently staying in Bangladesh.
This important Article of the Constitution was premised on principles enshrined in a number of international instruments. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enjoins, “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law” (Article 6), that “all are entitled to equal protection against discrimination” (Article 7), and that “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals…” (Article 9). (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
This important Article of the Constitution was premised on principles enshrined in a number of international instruments. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enjoins, “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law” (Article 6), that “all are entitled to equal protection against discrimination” (Article 7), and that “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals…” (Article 9). (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Australia 'goes soft on egregious human rights abuses in Myanmar'
The Turnbull government wants to downgrade United Nations monitoring of human rights in Myanmar despite reports of ongoing repression by the country's military, which retains impunity from abuses.
Australia's stand at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva comes as rights groups accuse Myanmar government forces of committing serious violations during renewed fighting with several ethnic armies in remote border areas, including forced labour, torture and ill-treatment and sexual violence against woman.
Fighting since November in the remote hills of north-eastern Myanmar with the Shan State Army - North has displaced at least 10,000 villagers. (Courtesy of smh.com.au)
Australia's stand at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva comes as rights groups accuse Myanmar government forces of committing serious violations during renewed fighting with several ethnic armies in remote border areas, including forced labour, torture and ill-treatment and sexual violence against woman.
Fighting since November in the remote hills of north-eastern Myanmar with the Shan State Army - North has displaced at least 10,000 villagers. (Courtesy of smh.com.au)
March 19, 2016
Ethnic groups welcome new ministry
But as U Aye Maung, chair of the Arakan National Party, and others pointed out to The Myanmar Times, formation of the new ministry was a legal requirement under the 2015 Ethnic Nationalities Protection law.
“U Thein Sein’s government didn’t have enough time to set up that ministry. The ministry has not been formed because the [National League for Democracy] became the government. It was necessitated by law,” he said. Its broad remit would extend from handling the peace process to developing ethnic literature, he added.
Legal requirement or not, U Htun Htun Hein, spokesperson for the NLD ethnic affairs committee, said the ministry was needed to discuss federalism and deal with ethnic armed groups in the peace process. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
“U Thein Sein’s government didn’t have enough time to set up that ministry. The ministry has not been formed because the [National League for Democracy] became the government. It was necessitated by law,” he said. Its broad remit would extend from handling the peace process to developing ethnic literature, he added.
Legal requirement or not, U Htun Htun Hein, spokesperson for the NLD ethnic affairs committee, said the ministry was needed to discuss federalism and deal with ethnic armed groups in the peace process. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Flood-hit regions still need recovery and rehabilitation
A UN report issued today says Chin and Rakhine States which were hit by cyclone Komen are still suffering from food shortages even seven months after being flooded. The report warns that the people in these flood-hit regions will face severe food shortages in coming months and they badly need relief supplies.
The report urges cash aid been given directly to them rather than distributing food as there is an adequate supply of rice in the market.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) issued the report based on a survey conducted in November-December 2015 by the Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM).
Flooding initially damaged crops, especially paddy, but crops could be grown when the flood water receded.
CFSAM estimates rice production in 2015 fell 3% in comparison with 2014 and it will be 2% below the average of the last three years. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The report urges cash aid been given directly to them rather than distributing food as there is an adequate supply of rice in the market.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) issued the report based on a survey conducted in November-December 2015 by the Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM).
Flooding initially damaged crops, especially paddy, but crops could be grown when the flood water receded.
CFSAM estimates rice production in 2015 fell 3% in comparison with 2014 and it will be 2% below the average of the last three years. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Chief ministers to be named at the end of March, NLD official
The post-election suspense and secrecy over the incoming administration will continue for some time yet as the chief minister positions will not be announced until the last week of March, the National League for Democracy announced.
Under the 2008 constitution, the chief ministers are chosen by the president from among elected or appointed MPs, regardless of which party holds a majority in the state. The nominee is then confirmed by the state and region parliaments, which have very little scope to reject the president’s selection.
Despite pressure from the military and from ethnic minority parties in key areas like Rakhine, Shan and Kachin, the NLD has pledged to assign its own party representatives as chief minister in all 14 states and regions. The party did not win a majority in Shan and Rakhine states where it has deflected pressure to engage in power-sharing talks.
U Linn Htut, a senior NLD official who represents Lashio in the Shan State Hluttaw, was previously tipped as being in line for the chief spot. But party official who asked not to be named said the consensus was leaning instead toward a member of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Under the 2008 constitution, the chief ministers are chosen by the president from among elected or appointed MPs, regardless of which party holds a majority in the state. The nominee is then confirmed by the state and region parliaments, which have very little scope to reject the president’s selection.
Despite pressure from the military and from ethnic minority parties in key areas like Rakhine, Shan and Kachin, the NLD has pledged to assign its own party representatives as chief minister in all 14 states and regions. The party did not win a majority in Shan and Rakhine states where it has deflected pressure to engage in power-sharing talks.
U Linn Htut, a senior NLD official who represents Lashio in the Shan State Hluttaw, was previously tipped as being in line for the chief spot. But party official who asked not to be named said the consensus was leaning instead toward a member of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Burmese government urged to promote freedom of religion for all
In a joint statement with Jubilee Campaign at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) yesterday, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) urged the government of Burma to repeal or amend the 1982 Citizenship Law which discriminates against the Muslim Rohingya and to promote the right to freedom of religion or belief for all.
These and other human rights concerns were echoed by a multi-religious panel at an HRC side-event on 15 March on the future for ethnic and religious groups in Burma, organised by a coalition of NGOs including CSW. The speakers included Buddhist and Muslim activists, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Professor Yanghee Lee.
Cardinal Bo said: "Whatever the perspectives - and there are, within my country, a variety of perspectives - about the origin of the Rohingya people, there cannot be doubt that those who have lived in Myanmar for generations have a right to be regarded as citizens, and that all of them deserve to be treated humanely and in accordance with international human rights."
"We desperately need to work to defend rights without discrimination, to establish equal rights for all people in Myanmar, of every ethnicity and religion," said Cardinal Bo, adding, "We have a chance - for the first time in my lifetime - of making progress towards reconciliation and freedom as a nation." (Courtesy of Independent Catholic News)
These and other human rights concerns were echoed by a multi-religious panel at an HRC side-event on 15 March on the future for ethnic and religious groups in Burma, organised by a coalition of NGOs including CSW. The speakers included Buddhist and Muslim activists, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Professor Yanghee Lee.
Cardinal Bo said: "Whatever the perspectives - and there are, within my country, a variety of perspectives - about the origin of the Rohingya people, there cannot be doubt that those who have lived in Myanmar for generations have a right to be regarded as citizens, and that all of them deserve to be treated humanely and in accordance with international human rights."
"We desperately need to work to defend rights without discrimination, to establish equal rights for all people in Myanmar, of every ethnicity and religion," said Cardinal Bo, adding, "We have a chance - for the first time in my lifetime - of making progress towards reconciliation and freedom as a nation." (Courtesy of Independent Catholic News)
4 Things to Know About Thailand’s Trial of 92 Alleged Human Traffickers
Ninety-two people went on trial in Bangkok this week accused of being part of a transnational human trafficking network that held people in barbaric conditions in camps close to the Thai-Malaysian border.
The case was sparked by the gruesome discovery of 36 bodies buried in shallow graves at the site of one of seven prison camps uncovered in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla last year. The mostly Thai defendants — there are also four Rohingya Muslims and one Bangladeshi on trial — are facing charges including human trafficking, illegally holding others and concealing bodies. Among them are provincial government and law enforcement officials, including a former senior army General Manas Kongpan, who is accused of being the linchpin of the network. (Courtesy of Time)
The case was sparked by the gruesome discovery of 36 bodies buried in shallow graves at the site of one of seven prison camps uncovered in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla last year. The mostly Thai defendants — there are also four Rohingya Muslims and one Bangladeshi on trial — are facing charges including human trafficking, illegally holding others and concealing bodies. Among them are provincial government and law enforcement officials, including a former senior army General Manas Kongpan, who is accused of being the linchpin of the network. (Courtesy of Time)
New president in Myanmar, but same persecution of Rohingya?
On March 15, 2016, the Burmese parliament elected Htin Kyaw as Myanmar's first civilian president in 53 years. It was a historic day for the Burmese people and for democracy in the strife-ridden state, which has been controlled by the military since 1962.
Kyaw's election follows the National League for Democracy's (NLD) parliamentary victory in the fall of 2015. The 69-year-old has served as a longtime adviser and confidant to NLD President Aung San Suu Kyi, and is scheduled to take office April 1.
While Kyaw's election marks a significant divergence from Myanmar's political and economic past, an important question remains: What are its implications for the persecuted Rohingya minority?
The Rohingya have lived in western Myanmar for hundreds of years; however, the 1982 Citizenship Law maintains that the Rohingya are foreigners residing in Burmese territory, and it prohibits the Rohingya from acquiring citizenship. In effect, the Rohingya are not afforded any protection under the law, and are rendered stateless with no political, economic or social rights. (Courtesy of TheHill)
Kyaw's election follows the National League for Democracy's (NLD) parliamentary victory in the fall of 2015. The 69-year-old has served as a longtime adviser and confidant to NLD President Aung San Suu Kyi, and is scheduled to take office April 1.
While Kyaw's election marks a significant divergence from Myanmar's political and economic past, an important question remains: What are its implications for the persecuted Rohingya minority?
The Rohingya have lived in western Myanmar for hundreds of years; however, the 1982 Citizenship Law maintains that the Rohingya are foreigners residing in Burmese territory, and it prohibits the Rohingya from acquiring citizenship. In effect, the Rohingya are not afforded any protection under the law, and are rendered stateless with no political, economic or social rights. (Courtesy of TheHill)
March 18, 2016
Myanmar’s Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis
The persisting humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar has been a global concern after two bouts of organised mass violence against them in 2012. While the Rohingya persecution has been going on for nearly four decades, Myanmar’s reforms launched in 2011 facilitated the international media’s coverage of the mass violence.
Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya is an unmistakable breach of international human rights laws. Successive Burmese military governments have since early 1970s viewed the Rohingya Muslim minority, who live on their ancestral borderlands between the Islamic country of Bangladesh and Buddhist Myanmar, as “a threat to Myanmar’s national security and local Buddhist culture”.
The Rohingya persecution by the Myanmar military began in 1978 under the pretext of a crackdown on the illegal Bengali immigration into Western Myanmar from the then newly independent Bangladesh. The military used the Rohingya as a proxy population against the extremely nationalistic and anti-Myanmar Rakhine people, who resent Myanmar rule as a colonial occupation of their once sovereign nation. (Courtesy of Inter Press Service)
Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya is an unmistakable breach of international human rights laws. Successive Burmese military governments have since early 1970s viewed the Rohingya Muslim minority, who live on their ancestral borderlands between the Islamic country of Bangladesh and Buddhist Myanmar, as “a threat to Myanmar’s national security and local Buddhist culture”.
The Rohingya persecution by the Myanmar military began in 1978 under the pretext of a crackdown on the illegal Bengali immigration into Western Myanmar from the then newly independent Bangladesh. The military used the Rohingya as a proxy population against the extremely nationalistic and anti-Myanmar Rakhine people, who resent Myanmar rule as a colonial occupation of their once sovereign nation. (Courtesy of Inter Press Service)
Myanmar nationalists seek to depose new Christian VP
A group of Buddhist nationalists is seeking the support of a notorious group of monks responsible for laws deemed to target Myanmar’s Muslim community in its crusade to remove a Christian lawmaker newly elected as vice-president.
But the monks — the ultra-nationalist Ma Ba Tha — have so far refused to join a demonstration against the appointment of ethnic Chin Henry Van Thio, organized by the Buddha Gonyi religion protection group.
“We, Buddhist people, can live together with Christians peacefully as they are not hostile to people of other religions,” Ma Ba Tha monk Pamaukkha told Anadolu Agency on being asked Thursday if they were going to join the demo. (Courtesy of news.videonews.us)
But the monks — the ultra-nationalist Ma Ba Tha — have so far refused to join a demonstration against the appointment of ethnic Chin Henry Van Thio, organized by the Buddha Gonyi religion protection group.
“We, Buddhist people, can live together with Christians peacefully as they are not hostile to people of other religions,” Ma Ba Tha monk Pamaukkha told Anadolu Agency on being asked Thursday if they were going to join the demo. (Courtesy of news.videonews.us)
Myanmar Government Plan Includes New Ethnic Affairs Ministry
Myanmar's incoming government has released its plan for a new government, including a new ethnic-affairs ministry for the nation scarred by sectarian tensions and repression of some ethnic groups.
New president Htin Kyaw submitted his proposal Thursday, with a parliamentary debate on it scheduled for Friday.
The plan includes the ethnic ministry in a wider civil service reform plan aimed at streamlining the bureaucracy left behind by the military government that ruled Myanmar for decades. A Cabinet of 36 ministries is expected to be slimmed down to 21. (Courtesy of VOA News)
New president Htin Kyaw submitted his proposal Thursday, with a parliamentary debate on it scheduled for Friday.
The plan includes the ethnic ministry in a wider civil service reform plan aimed at streamlining the bureaucracy left behind by the military government that ruled Myanmar for decades. A Cabinet of 36 ministries is expected to be slimmed down to 21. (Courtesy of VOA News)
The least-worst option in Rakhine State
The entire raison d'être for 20 years of military rule — at least insofar as the official line went — was to ensure Myanmar was on a sustainable path to peace and reconciliation before the handover to a civilian government, thus avoiding the conflicts that beleaguered and ultimately brought down the U Nu administration in 1962. So why is it that after taking nearly two decades to draft, Myanmar’s Constitution reads like an instruction manual for provoking discord?
The Constitution, still in its infancy, is hardly a robust document. Military leaders have taken the broadest possible interpretation of Article 59(f) to disqualify Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, but raised no objection when departing President U Thein Sein was returned to the “honorary” chairmanship of the Union Solidarity and Development Party last August and campaigned in the November election, despite Article 64 barring incumbent heads of state from taking part in political activities. Ethnic seat allocations in state and regional assemblies (Article 161) are based on census data from more than 30 years ago and are without doubt disenfranchising ethnic communities in various parts of the country. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
The Constitution, still in its infancy, is hardly a robust document. Military leaders have taken the broadest possible interpretation of Article 59(f) to disqualify Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, but raised no objection when departing President U Thein Sein was returned to the “honorary” chairmanship of the Union Solidarity and Development Party last August and campaigned in the November election, despite Article 64 barring incumbent heads of state from taking part in political activities. Ethnic seat allocations in state and regional assemblies (Article 161) are based on census data from more than 30 years ago and are without doubt disenfranchising ethnic communities in various parts of the country. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
In Search Of A Home : Rohingya Refugees In New Delhi
The Rohingyas have been described as “one of the most persecuted minorities in the world” by the United Nations, yet the Rohingya refugee crisis is almost entirely absent from world headlines, and ignored even by many prominent international organisations and world governments. Rohingya Muslims belonging to Arakan region of Myanmar have been expelled from their homeland following the clashes with Rakhine Buddhist population. The seeds of this hostility were sown back in the 18th century when the Buddhist from the south of Burma conquered the Arakan region which had a considerable population of Muslims who were ultimately forced to flee to neighboring Bengal, then part of the British India. Again, to further their economy, Britishers sponsored a forced migration of many people from Bengal to the Arakan region (this included the Rohingyas and the native Bengalis) for farming purposes. Hence, perpetuating the conflict which escalated into a large scale violence, reaching its high point in 2012.
In the recent past, many Rohingyas have migrated to countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia etc, They have been living in poor conditions and have witnessed physical as well as psychological violence.
In India the Rohingyas are living in refugee camps in New Delhi, Hyderabad and elsewhere. In New Delhi, they stay in Kanchan Kunj area. The only mark of identification they have is an identity card provided by the UNHCR. The latter also looks into their grievances and immediate needs. The men of the camp work inside the camp in small constructions or are employed outside in local market. (Courtesy of thecitizen.in)
In the recent past, many Rohingyas have migrated to countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia etc, They have been living in poor conditions and have witnessed physical as well as psychological violence.
In India the Rohingyas are living in refugee camps in New Delhi, Hyderabad and elsewhere. In New Delhi, they stay in Kanchan Kunj area. The only mark of identification they have is an identity card provided by the UNHCR. The latter also looks into their grievances and immediate needs. The men of the camp work inside the camp in small constructions or are employed outside in local market. (Courtesy of thecitizen.in)
Ban welcomes election of first civilian Prez in Myanmar
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated Htin Kyaw for being elected as Myanmar's first civilian President in over five decades and expressed hope that the country will continue to be on the path of democracy and national reconciliation.
Following the historic national polls last November, Ban congratulated Kyaw, elected by the Myanmar Parliament.
"He welcomes this as a significant achievement towards advancing the democratic reforms ushered in by the outgoing Government," a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson said.
"The Secretary-General hopes the people of Myanmar will continue steadfastly on the path of democracy and national reconciliation and, at this defining moment of transition, calls upon President-elect U Htin Kyaw, as well as all other significant stakeholders, to work inclusively towards a smooth and peaceful consolidation of unity and stability in the country," it added. (Courtesy of Business Standard News)
Following the historic national polls last November, Ban congratulated Kyaw, elected by the Myanmar Parliament.
"He welcomes this as a significant achievement towards advancing the democratic reforms ushered in by the outgoing Government," a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson said.
"The Secretary-General hopes the people of Myanmar will continue steadfastly on the path of democracy and national reconciliation and, at this defining moment of transition, calls upon President-elect U Htin Kyaw, as well as all other significant stakeholders, to work inclusively towards a smooth and peaceful consolidation of unity and stability in the country," it added. (Courtesy of Business Standard News)
March 17, 2016
Myanmar refugees in China caught between political fault lines
The rebel Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which is comprised of ethnic Han Chinese, launched attacks against the army on 9 February 2015 in a failed bid to take over their historic homeland, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. Heavy fighting for control of the frontier region lasted for months. The fighting has died down now, but Kokang is still heavily militarized.
The conflict drove about 70,000 people over the border into China’s Yunnan Province, according to the United Nations.
The Kokang Refugee Assistance Program, a local group that collects donations and distributes food, said 27,000 refugees remain scattered in camps near the town of Nansan. The UN puts the figure at 4,000, but because it cannot visit Kokang or areas on the Chinese side of the border, it relies on civil society organisations for its statistics. (Courtesy of IRIN)
The conflict drove about 70,000 people over the border into China’s Yunnan Province, according to the United Nations.
The Kokang Refugee Assistance Program, a local group that collects donations and distributes food, said 27,000 refugees remain scattered in camps near the town of Nansan. The UN puts the figure at 4,000, but because it cannot visit Kokang or areas on the Chinese side of the border, it relies on civil society organisations for its statistics. (Courtesy of IRIN)
Myanmar’s new president might not be Aung San Suu Kyi, but he does represent progress
Myanmar parliament’s official confirmation on Tuesday that Aung San Suu Kyi’s aide – Htin Kyaw– is to be the presidential proxy ended months of hopeful speculation. Numerous articles and newspaper editorials had, excitedly, touched on the fairytale of a Burmese Mandela moment: the country’s most popular politician, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, assuming the highest office after years of relentless persecution, heroic perseverance and noble reconciliation.
For those of us Burmese who know the military’s institutionalised disdain towards the woman who most of the country call Ahmay, or Mother, we knew that western media was wasting ink on a foregone conclusion. The military will never let Aung San Suu Kyi be the head of state, nor hold the reins of state power. They did not accept her when she first emerged in 1988 and they still don’t accept her leadership, 28 years later, on the verge of her 71st birthday.
The generals used to give their approval to derogatory references to her that appeared in the numerous Burmese-language publications run by the military intelligence services. Because she was married to a Briton, she used to be called Kala maya (or wife of a white nigger), or, worse still, Kala ma (female nigger). Against the backdrop of the Arab spring and Barack Obama’s offer to decriminalise “rogue regimes” should they cooperate with the Americans, the generals decided to change their tack in dealing with their nemesis, the darling of the west. (Courtesy of The Guardian)
For those of us Burmese who know the military’s institutionalised disdain towards the woman who most of the country call Ahmay, or Mother, we knew that western media was wasting ink on a foregone conclusion. The military will never let Aung San Suu Kyi be the head of state, nor hold the reins of state power. They did not accept her when she first emerged in 1988 and they still don’t accept her leadership, 28 years later, on the verge of her 71st birthday.
The generals used to give their approval to derogatory references to her that appeared in the numerous Burmese-language publications run by the military intelligence services. Because she was married to a Briton, she used to be called Kala maya (or wife of a white nigger), or, worse still, Kala ma (female nigger). Against the backdrop of the Arab spring and Barack Obama’s offer to decriminalise “rogue regimes” should they cooperate with the Americans, the generals decided to change their tack in dealing with their nemesis, the darling of the west. (Courtesy of The Guardian)
Army chief pledges to cooperate with Htin Kyaw
Burma‘s powerful army chief congratulated incoming president Htin Kyaw and pledged cooperation on Wednesday, after the ally of Aung San Suu Kyi was elected as the country’s first head of state with no military background in decades.
Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office.
She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Tuesday the NLD-dominated parliament elected Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and is a trusted member of her inner circle.
Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Burma‘s most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962.
The armed forces hold a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. The army candidate, retired general Myint Swe, was elected first vice president on Tuesday. (Courtesy of DVB)
Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office.
She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Tuesday the NLD-dominated parliament elected Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and is a trusted member of her inner circle.
Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Burma‘s most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962.
The armed forces hold a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. The army candidate, retired general Myint Swe, was elected first vice president on Tuesday. (Courtesy of DVB)
Rohingya issue a regional threat, says Burma’s military chief
Rohingya Muslims represent an “unconventional threat” to the entire Southeast Asia region, according to the commander-in-chief of Burma’s armed forces, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Speaking at a gathering of his regional counterparts on Monday, the Burmese armed forces leader called for closer cooperation between the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the problem of Rohingya migration.
The senior general raised the issue at the 13th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, according the state-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar.
At the gathering, he stressed the need to work together to combat “terrorism” related to “the ‘Bengali’ [Rohingya] issue,” the newspaper reported. (Courtesy of DVB)
Speaking at a gathering of his regional counterparts on Monday, the Burmese armed forces leader called for closer cooperation between the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the problem of Rohingya migration.
The senior general raised the issue at the 13th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, according the state-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar.
At the gathering, he stressed the need to work together to combat “terrorism” related to “the ‘Bengali’ [Rohingya] issue,” the newspaper reported. (Courtesy of DVB)
NZ scholarships open up new world for Myanmar students
Ko Khin Maung Htwe’s first attempt to study in New Zealand ended inauspiciously, with a rejection letter from Victoria University. “My [Myanmar] university degree was not enough,” he explained.
Perseverance paid off, however, and more than two years later, the 31-year-old is at the helm of the newly opened New Zealand Scholarship Centre in Yangon, and holds a master’s degree in public policy from Victoria University. He said there was never any question that he would return to Myanmar after completing his degree.
“Most of the ASEAN Scholar alumni see the different worlds and they have that feeling that ‘we should go back to our own country’,” he said in a recent interview. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Perseverance paid off, however, and more than two years later, the 31-year-old is at the helm of the newly opened New Zealand Scholarship Centre in Yangon, and holds a master’s degree in public policy from Victoria University. He said there was never any question that he would return to Myanmar after completing his degree.
“Most of the ASEAN Scholar alumni see the different worlds and they have that feeling that ‘we should go back to our own country’,” he said in a recent interview. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
White House hails election of Myanmar's new president
President Barack Obama's White House on Tuesday welcomed Htin Kyaw's election as Myanmar's first civilian president in half a century, saying it was "an important step" in the country's democratization.
Senior Obama advisor Ben Rhodes hailed the move and noted that the 69-year-old was a "close associate" of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi, a popular Nobel laureate, is herself barred from becoming president by the military drafted constitution. She is widely expected to wield power behind in an unofficial capacity.
Rhodes, who has led rapprochement with Myanmar, said Htin Kyaw's appointment was "an important step forward in Burma's democratic transition."
"We look forward to working with his govt," he wrote on Twitter. (Courtesy of MSN)
Senior Obama advisor Ben Rhodes hailed the move and noted that the 69-year-old was a "close associate" of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi, a popular Nobel laureate, is herself barred from becoming president by the military drafted constitution. She is widely expected to wield power behind in an unofficial capacity.
Rhodes, who has led rapprochement with Myanmar, said Htin Kyaw's appointment was "an important step forward in Burma's democratic transition."
"We look forward to working with his govt," he wrote on Twitter. (Courtesy of MSN)
Myanmar journalist's home targeted in bomb attack
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an independent, high-level investigation into the bombing of a journalist's home in western Myanmar and for the perpetrators to be swiftly identified and brought to justice.
Min Min, chief editor and general manager of the online Root Investigative Agency, a collective of local freelance journalists based in Sittwe, the capital of the western state of Rakhine, told reporters on Tuesday that a bomb exploded at his home in the late evening of March 10, according to local reports.
Min Min and his family were traveling at the time of the bombing, and nobody was injured in the attack, news reports said. The residence, which also serves as a Root Investigative Agency office, was not seriously damaged by the blast, reports said. A local Kamayut Media video report on the attack's aftermath showed several deep holes in the wall surrounding the residence's compound.(Courtesy of cpj.org)
Min Min, chief editor and general manager of the online Root Investigative Agency, a collective of local freelance journalists based in Sittwe, the capital of the western state of Rakhine, told reporters on Tuesday that a bomb exploded at his home in the late evening of March 10, according to local reports.
Min Min and his family were traveling at the time of the bombing, and nobody was injured in the attack, news reports said. The residence, which also serves as a Root Investigative Agency office, was not seriously damaged by the blast, reports said. A local Kamayut Media video report on the attack's aftermath showed several deep holes in the wall surrounding the residence's compound.(Courtesy of cpj.org)
‘Myanmar, now stands on the threshold of hope’ Cardinal Charles Maung Bo
Speaking at a side event at a meeting of the United Nations Human Right’s Council in Geneva yesterday, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yangon Charles Maung Bo gave the following address.
“My country, Myanmar, now stands on the threshold of hope. After over half a century of brutal oppression at the hands of a succession of military regimes, and after more than sixty years of civil war, we now have the possibility to begin to build a new Myanmar, to develop the values of democracy, to better protect and promote human rights, to work for peace. Myanmar has woken to a new dawn, with the first democratically elected government led by our Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. We have a chance – for the first time in my lifetime – of making progress towards reconciliation and freedom as a nation. There is a vibrant civil society and a freer media. We know that while evil has an expiry date, hope has no expiry date.
And yet there is a very, very long way to go; there are many, many challenges to confront; and no one should think that the election of the new government means that our struggle is over. It is just the very beginning. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
“My country, Myanmar, now stands on the threshold of hope. After over half a century of brutal oppression at the hands of a succession of military regimes, and after more than sixty years of civil war, we now have the possibility to begin to build a new Myanmar, to develop the values of democracy, to better protect and promote human rights, to work for peace. Myanmar has woken to a new dawn, with the first democratically elected government led by our Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. We have a chance – for the first time in my lifetime – of making progress towards reconciliation and freedom as a nation. There is a vibrant civil society and a freer media. We know that while evil has an expiry date, hope has no expiry date.
And yet there is a very, very long way to go; there are many, many challenges to confront; and no one should think that the election of the new government means that our struggle is over. It is just the very beginning. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
March 16, 2016
Myanmar’s anti-Islam monks see an ally in Donald Trump
On Sunday, The Daily Beast reported on an upsurge of support for presidential hopeful Donald Trump from an unlikely place: Buddhist temples in Burma. The infamous organization known as Ma Ba Tha, a group of Islamophobic, sexist, violent monks, apparently likes Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric.
A 34-year-old youth group leader affiliated with Ma Ba Tha, named Win Ko Ko Latt, said, “I like Donald Trump because he understands the danger posed by Muslims. It shows that our struggle is a global one and that Islam isn’t just a threat to Myanmar but to the entire world.”
Myanmar’s anti-Muslim movement is led by Ashin Wirathu, the famous monk who TIME Magazine dubbed “The Face of Buddhist Terror.” Last month, The Myanmar Times ran a column titled, “Who said it: Trump or Wirathu?” The column asked readers to guess who said “There are people that shouldn’t be in our country. They flow in like water.” (That’s from Trump.) (Courtesy of Lion's Roar)
A 34-year-old youth group leader affiliated with Ma Ba Tha, named Win Ko Ko Latt, said, “I like Donald Trump because he understands the danger posed by Muslims. It shows that our struggle is a global one and that Islam isn’t just a threat to Myanmar but to the entire world.”
Myanmar’s anti-Muslim movement is led by Ashin Wirathu, the famous monk who TIME Magazine dubbed “The Face of Buddhist Terror.” Last month, The Myanmar Times ran a column titled, “Who said it: Trump or Wirathu?” The column asked readers to guess who said “There are people that shouldn’t be in our country. They flow in like water.” (That’s from Trump.) (Courtesy of Lion's Roar)
From legislative issues to citizenship for Rohingyas, Suu Kyi has an uphill task in reforming Myanmar
As Myanmar’s parliament elected its first-ever civilian president, a UN expert on Myanmar said that even though there have been wide-ranging reforms since 2011 “hundreds of laws remain on the book” that do not comply with international standards and that need immediate attention.
“Hundreds of laws remain on the book that do not comply with Myanmar’s human rights obligations and some of these laws are very outdated — old laws — while others have been recently enacted,” Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, told reporters on Tuesday.
In her annual report that she presented to the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 14 March, Lee notes 30 legislations that need to be “re-looked at, amended, repealed or rescinded”.
Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept the historic elections on 8 November, 2015, won 360 of the 652 votes cast in the two houses of parliament. This is Myanmar’s first-ever civilian president after half a century of military rule. (Courtesy of Firstpost)
“Hundreds of laws remain on the book that do not comply with Myanmar’s human rights obligations and some of these laws are very outdated — old laws — while others have been recently enacted,” Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, told reporters on Tuesday.
In her annual report that she presented to the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 14 March, Lee notes 30 legislations that need to be “re-looked at, amended, repealed or rescinded”.
Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept the historic elections on 8 November, 2015, won 360 of the 652 votes cast in the two houses of parliament. This is Myanmar’s first-ever civilian president after half a century of military rule. (Courtesy of Firstpost)
UN rights official sets tough targets for new government
Myanmar's United Nations-appointed human rights investigator has given the new government a 100-day challenge. The task list – starting from its first day in office next month – includes lifting restrictions on freedom of movement in Rakhine State, meeting a 30 percent quota for women participating in the peace process and stopping the use of landmines.
Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council on March 14, Myanmar’s special rapporteur on human rights Yanghee Lee presented a summary of her observations throughout the country over her year-long mandate.
Ms Lee began her assessment by noting the success of the November 8 election, calling it a “watershed moment” in the country’s reform process.
“It is a testament to the scale of change that over 100 political prisoners once of concern to this council are now sitting in parliament,” she said.
However, she also urged that celebrations of the polls not eclipse ongoing rights issues, reminding the council that hundreds of thousands of voters were disenfranchised, and not one Muslim lawmaker currently represents the largest minority religious group. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council on March 14, Myanmar’s special rapporteur on human rights Yanghee Lee presented a summary of her observations throughout the country over her year-long mandate.
Ms Lee began her assessment by noting the success of the November 8 election, calling it a “watershed moment” in the country’s reform process.
“It is a testament to the scale of change that over 100 political prisoners once of concern to this council are now sitting in parliament,” she said.
However, she also urged that celebrations of the polls not eclipse ongoing rights issues, reminding the council that hundreds of thousands of voters were disenfranchised, and not one Muslim lawmaker currently represents the largest minority religious group. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Rohingya refugee back in hospital, friend says
Mohammed Yusuf, who said he was like a “brother” to unwell refugee Mohammed Rashid, yesterday said Rashid had been taken to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on Sunday, after a three-day hospitalisation last week.
Rashid is one of only two remaining refugees who moved to the Kingdom under the A$55 million scheme, which Interior Ministry refugee department director Kerm Sarin defended yesterday.
“We have the obligation to give them protection .The refugees from Nauru have to come [here] voluntarily; we could not force them,” he said.
Sarin said he was “not concerned” about the $8,000 payment Australia promised refugees to entice them, and which Rashid said he had not received in full. Referring to the A$40 million in aid given to Cambodia, he added: “I don’t know exactly what the money is for.” (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Rashid is one of only two remaining refugees who moved to the Kingdom under the A$55 million scheme, which Interior Ministry refugee department director Kerm Sarin defended yesterday.
“We have the obligation to give them protection .The refugees from Nauru have to come [here] voluntarily; we could not force them,” he said.
Sarin said he was “not concerned” about the $8,000 payment Australia promised refugees to entice them, and which Rashid said he had not received in full. Referring to the A$40 million in aid given to Cambodia, he added: “I don’t know exactly what the money is for.” (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Rohingya Representative meets Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee at the UN Human Rights Council
Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), met with Ms. Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma in Geneva today. She presented her new report to UN Human Rights Council yesterday afternoon.
BROUK welcome her new report in which she calls upon the new Government “to take steps to put an end to highly discriminatory policies and practices against the Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Rakhine State. In practice, these policies deny affected populations some of their most fundamental rights. Of particular importance is the need to restore freedom of movement for all, which in turn could facilitate the process of return and reintegration of communities. On-going discriminatory restrictions to freedom of movement are largely used to control the Rohingya population.”
Tun Khin discussed the four key steps proposed by BROUK to the incoming NLD-led government to start addressing the Rohingya crisis. These are: action against hate-speech and extremists, ensure humanitarian access, reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law, and justice and accountability, including an investigation into human rights violations against Rohingya in Rakhine State.
Tun Khin also spoke at a side event at the UN Human Rights Council, along with Chris Lewa, Director of the Arakan Project. The event was attended by diplomats, UN officials, Burmese civil society representatives and other NGOs. (Courtesy of Rohingyablogger)
BROUK welcome her new report in which she calls upon the new Government “to take steps to put an end to highly discriminatory policies and practices against the Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Rakhine State. In practice, these policies deny affected populations some of their most fundamental rights. Of particular importance is the need to restore freedom of movement for all, which in turn could facilitate the process of return and reintegration of communities. On-going discriminatory restrictions to freedom of movement are largely used to control the Rohingya population.”
Tun Khin discussed the four key steps proposed by BROUK to the incoming NLD-led government to start addressing the Rohingya crisis. These are: action against hate-speech and extremists, ensure humanitarian access, reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law, and justice and accountability, including an investigation into human rights violations against Rohingya in Rakhine State.
Tun Khin also spoke at a side event at the UN Human Rights Council, along with Chris Lewa, Director of the Arakan Project. The event was attended by diplomats, UN officials, Burmese civil society representatives and other NGOs. (Courtesy of Rohingyablogger)
No easy road ahead for Myanmar
Though difficult times no doubt still lie ahead, the citizens of Myanmar today awoke to a new dawn, far different from what was implied in the cynical name of the country's leading state-run newspaper. Today they have a democratically elected leader following decades of military rule.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in November's election, but that triumph brings with it formidable responsibility. Citizens from all walks of life will now be counting on them to deliver tangible benefits to daily life under civilian rule.
"The Lady", as she's called admiringly, will not, however, be taking the helm herself. Four months of negotiations failed to remove or amend an article in country's contribution prohibiting Suu Kyi from becoming president. The NLD had no choice but to put forward alternatives for the president and vice-president's posts, choosing among the best and brightest remaining in its ranks. (Courtesy of The Nation)
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in November's election, but that triumph brings with it formidable responsibility. Citizens from all walks of life will now be counting on them to deliver tangible benefits to daily life under civilian rule.
"The Lady", as she's called admiringly, will not, however, be taking the helm herself. Four months of negotiations failed to remove or amend an article in country's contribution prohibiting Suu Kyi from becoming president. The NLD had no choice but to put forward alternatives for the president and vice-president's posts, choosing among the best and brightest remaining in its ranks. (Courtesy of The Nation)
Myanmar military questions Suu Kyi picks ahead of presidential vote
Myanmar's powerful military questioned Aung San Suu Kyi's picks for president and vice president on Monday as tension simmered between the two sides a day before parliament votes on who should get the top job.
Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success or otherwise of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962, even though the constitution bars her from taking the presidency.
The democracy leader says she will run the country whoever becomes president, and her choice looks certain to be confirmed by parliament as her National League for Democracy (NLD) holds a sizeable majority after winning a landslide victory in a general election in November.
Last week, the NLD picked a close friend of Suu Kyi, Htin Kyaw, as its presidential candidate and Henry Van Thio to be a vice president to represent numerous ethnic minorities. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success or otherwise of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962, even though the constitution bars her from taking the presidency.
The democracy leader says she will run the country whoever becomes president, and her choice looks certain to be confirmed by parliament as her National League for Democracy (NLD) holds a sizeable majority after winning a landslide victory in a general election in November.
Last week, the NLD picked a close friend of Suu Kyi, Htin Kyaw, as its presidential candidate and Henry Van Thio to be a vice president to represent numerous ethnic minorities. (Courtesy of Reuters)
March 15, 2016
Shelter versus shielded borders
In May 2015, three boats with more than 1800 people onboard reached Aceh after a long, hazardous trip. Although the Indonesian navy had tried to prevent at least one boat from landing by first equipping it with fuel and food and then forcing it back out to sea, eventually these people were allowed to come on land. Not least, because Acehnese fishermen had ignored the military’s orders and rescued many of these desperate people. Following a trilateral crisis meeting of the foreign ministers of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the latter two promised to provide the Rohingya boat people with shelter for up to a year, provided that all costs would be covered by external agencies and the Rohingya would be resettled to third countries in the meantime, a stipulation impossible to meet.
Rohingya count as one of the most persecuted ethnic minorities in Asia, as they do not have citizen rights in their home country of Myanmar. Political and religious persecution, but also extreme poverty, drive them across the borders into Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia, the latter is the most sought after destination country as Rohingya can find work there. Indonesia is not just a transit country for the Rohingya, but for displaced people from more than 40 countries in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. As a non-signatory of the Refugee Convention, Indonesia has no obligation to accept asylum seekers and integrate recognised refugees, but based on humanitarian considerations it respects and protects the human rights of those who stay temporarily and thus provides some form of accommodation and basic care for asylum seekers and refugees. (Courtesy of Courtesy of Inside Indonesia)
Rohingya count as one of the most persecuted ethnic minorities in Asia, as they do not have citizen rights in their home country of Myanmar. Political and religious persecution, but also extreme poverty, drive them across the borders into Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia, the latter is the most sought after destination country as Rohingya can find work there. Indonesia is not just a transit country for the Rohingya, but for displaced people from more than 40 countries in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. As a non-signatory of the Refugee Convention, Indonesia has no obligation to accept asylum seekers and integrate recognised refugees, but based on humanitarian considerations it respects and protects the human rights of those who stay temporarily and thus provides some form of accommodation and basic care for asylum seekers and refugees. (Courtesy of Courtesy of Inside Indonesia)
Myanmar parliament elects first civilian president in decades
Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the next president, the first civilian to lead the country after more than 50 years of military rule.
Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November.
He beat another NLD candidate and one put forward by the military.
Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post due to a constitutional clause, but has said she would be above the president. (Courtesy of BBC)
Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November.
He beat another NLD candidate and one put forward by the military.
Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post due to a constitutional clause, but has said she would be above the president. (Courtesy of BBC)
David I. Steinberg: Myanmar civil society -- new politics, new rules?
In much of the Western world, civil society is considered an important antidote, even a panacea, to societal woes. These non-profit organizations -- often portraying themselves as apolitical -- bring people together, help to redeem governments gone astray, act as watchdogs against waste and maleficence, and are ideally the "thousand points of light," as President George H.W. Bush once put it, in the darkness of social troubles.
In the early 19th century, the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville wrote of them as a unique and positive American phenomenon. Most recently, President Barack Obama lauded their potential during his summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in California in February. In a sense, these organizations are the "monitors" of democratic governance. But increasingly, they are being treated unrealistically as a critical element in, or even potential savior of, the democratization processes -- as if they were the U.S. cavalry coming to the rescue of beleaguered settlers in some American B-movie. (Courtesy of Nikkei Asian Review)
In the early 19th century, the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville wrote of them as a unique and positive American phenomenon. Most recently, President Barack Obama lauded their potential during his summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in California in February. In a sense, these organizations are the "monitors" of democratic governance. But increasingly, they are being treated unrealistically as a critical element in, or even potential savior of, the democratization processes -- as if they were the U.S. cavalry coming to the rescue of beleaguered settlers in some American B-movie. (Courtesy of Nikkei Asian Review)
Myanmar army releases 46 underage recruits: U.N.
Myanmar's military released 46 children and young people from service, the United Nations said in a statement on Monday, in its first discharge of underage recruits this year.
The army has released 745 underage recruits since signing up to a joint action plan with the U.N. in June 2012 to end the use of children in the military.
Human rights groups have long accused Myanmar's military of abuses such as using child soldiers, forcibly recruiting conscripts and confiscating land. (Courtesy of Reuters)
The army has released 745 underage recruits since signing up to a joint action plan with the U.N. in June 2012 to end the use of children in the military.
Human rights groups have long accused Myanmar's military of abuses such as using child soldiers, forcibly recruiting conscripts and confiscating land. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Some government bodies have no regard for our commission
The Myanmar Human Rights Commission was set up in September 2011 by appointment of President Thein Sein as part of the sweeping democratic reforms his quasi-civilian government initiated in Myanmar following decades of army rule.
Khine Khine Win joined the 11-member commission as a director in 2014, and part of her job responsibilities include raising awareness of the commission and arranging human rights trainings for the government and army officials.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Myanmar and a doctorate degree in agronomy from Japan’s Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Prior to joining the commission, the 41-year-old worked at the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. Recently, she visited Myanmar Now’s office for an interview. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Khine Khine Win joined the 11-member commission as a director in 2014, and part of her job responsibilities include raising awareness of the commission and arranging human rights trainings for the government and army officials.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Myanmar and a doctorate degree in agronomy from Japan’s Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Prior to joining the commission, the 41-year-old worked at the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. Recently, she visited Myanmar Now’s office for an interview. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Myint Swe VP pick prompts public backlash
Myanmar's army sparked public criticism Saturday after it nominated a retired general still blacklisted by the United States to be vice president of the country's first civilian government in decades.
Hardliner Myint Swe, 64, is seen as a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe and comes from a military establishment that pummelled the Southeast Asian country into poverty under decades of isolationist rule.
A parliament dominated by Aung Sang Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is days away from confirming a president after sweeping to power in November elections, but the still-strong army has the right to nominate a candidate.
Though the NLD's nominee Htin Kyaw is all but guaranteed to clinch the top post, the army's Myint Swe would still become one of two vice presidents.
Social media sites and comment boards were flooded with criticism after his nomination was announced, with many expressing regret over the military's continuing political influence. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Hardliner Myint Swe, 64, is seen as a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe and comes from a military establishment that pummelled the Southeast Asian country into poverty under decades of isolationist rule.
A parliament dominated by Aung Sang Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is days away from confirming a president after sweeping to power in November elections, but the still-strong army has the right to nominate a candidate.
Though the NLD's nominee Htin Kyaw is all but guaranteed to clinch the top post, the army's Myint Swe would still become one of two vice presidents.
Social media sites and comment boards were flooded with criticism after his nomination was announced, with many expressing regret over the military's continuing political influence. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Presidential result won’t fulfil people’s wishes: prominent monk
The desires of the majority of the country – to see the democracy icon as president – have not been heeded, according to U Parmaukkha, a Ma Ba Tha central executive committee member.
The issue of constitutional reform to enable the National League for Democracy leader to become president sent seismic rifts through the nationalist Buddhist lobby.
The Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion, known by its Myanmar-language acronym Ma Ba Tha, officially said it would remain neutral on the subject. However, that did not stop leading members from taking a side.
U Parmaukkha has previously spoken in support of a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi presidency, and even suggested that amending the constitution clause that bars her would be justifiable considering her popular backing. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The issue of constitutional reform to enable the National League for Democracy leader to become president sent seismic rifts through the nationalist Buddhist lobby.
The Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion, known by its Myanmar-language acronym Ma Ba Tha, officially said it would remain neutral on the subject. However, that did not stop leading members from taking a side.
U Parmaukkha has previously spoken in support of a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi presidency, and even suggested that amending the constitution clause that bars her would be justifiable considering her popular backing. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Top secret no longer: Currency designer reveals hidden art
The artists who designed the nation’s currency painted the treasure of the entire nation. But until recently, hardly anybody knew who they were.
U Aye Myint, now 86, was the man who put Bogyoke Aung San in the nation’s pockets and purses. With his team, he designed the K25 and K1 notes released in 1972 and the K5 and K10 notes that came out the following year.
U Aye Myint, trained in the traditional design skills of Myanmar, worked in the Security Printing Works in Wazi, Chauk township. The printing agency was established in 1972 with technical direction from the German firm Giesecke & Devrient. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
U Aye Myint, now 86, was the man who put Bogyoke Aung San in the nation’s pockets and purses. With his team, he designed the K25 and K1 notes released in 1972 and the K5 and K10 notes that came out the following year.
U Aye Myint, trained in the traditional design skills of Myanmar, worked in the Security Printing Works in Wazi, Chauk township. The printing agency was established in 1972 with technical direction from the German firm Giesecke & Devrient. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Universities in a democratic Myanmar
Given her background and interests, this makes complete sense. It is her Oxford education that she credits with a broad-minded “respect for the best in human civilisation”.
As a result, she is at home in scholarly circles. During the 1970s and 1980s, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s life outside Burma had a distinctively academic tone.
Then, from 1988 onward, university staff and students were counted among her most ardent supporters, both at home and abroad. The National League for Democracy draws much of its activist strength from its association with Myanmar’s long history of student agitation. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
As a result, she is at home in scholarly circles. During the 1970s and 1980s, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s life outside Burma had a distinctively academic tone.
Then, from 1988 onward, university staff and students were counted among her most ardent supporters, both at home and abroad. The National League for Democracy draws much of its activist strength from its association with Myanmar’s long history of student agitation. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Thailand demands catch certificates from Myanmar fishermen
The EU now requires Thailand – a major global supplier of seafood – to prove where its fish have been caught when exporting internationally, said industry insiders, after a number of serious abuses were uncovered including forced labour and violence.
Catch certificates should help to combat illegal fishing and ensure the security of workers, said U Sein Thaung, deputy director of the Department of Fisheries in MyeIk district.
Thailand has been warned twice by the EU to crack down on illegal fishing or face a trade ban on seafood imports. An EU embargo could also forbid European ships from fishing in Thailand’s seas.
To try to avoid this, Thailand is making serious efforts at reform, and now requires Myanmar suppliers to provide certification, said U San Maung, a director at Myeik Public Corporation. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Catch certificates should help to combat illegal fishing and ensure the security of workers, said U Sein Thaung, deputy director of the Department of Fisheries in MyeIk district.
Thailand has been warned twice by the EU to crack down on illegal fishing or face a trade ban on seafood imports. An EU embargo could also forbid European ships from fishing in Thailand’s seas.
To try to avoid this, Thailand is making serious efforts at reform, and now requires Myanmar suppliers to provide certification, said U San Maung, a director at Myeik Public Corporation. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
ANP expels six senior officials in rift
Analysts in Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State and an ANP stronghold, said the expulsions would result in a more hard-line approach towards the NLD but risked splitting the party, which was formed as a merger of two rival groups two years ago.
The expulsion decision followed an urgent closed-door meeting of its central committee held in Pann Nilar village outside Sittwe on March 12.
The crisis was prompted by a press conference held in Yangon on March 6 in which members of the former Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), which merged with the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) to form the ANP, announced that they would not support the party policy of opposing the NLD. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The expulsion decision followed an urgent closed-door meeting of its central committee held in Pann Nilar village outside Sittwe on March 12.
The crisis was prompted by a press conference held in Yangon on March 6 in which members of the former Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), which merged with the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) to form the ANP, announced that they would not support the party policy of opposing the NLD. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Family from Myanmar become Hamilton citizens
When Min Aung fled his country with his family he left behind some memories he didn't want to dwell on.
So he's kept busy since settling in Hamilton about five-and-a-half years ago.
And on Monday, the Aung family from Myanmar officially became New Zealand citizens at a Hamilton City Council's Civic Reception Lounge.
"New Zealand saved our life," Aung said. (Courtesy of Stuff.co.nz)
So he's kept busy since settling in Hamilton about five-and-a-half years ago.
And on Monday, the Aung family from Myanmar officially became New Zealand citizens at a Hamilton City Council's Civic Reception Lounge.
"New Zealand saved our life," Aung said. (Courtesy of Stuff.co.nz)
March 14, 2016
Myanmar's President to Be Selected Tuesday
Myanmar's parliament votes Tuesday to pick the country's next president from a group of three final candidates, including a front runner who is a longtime confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won overwhelming majorities in both houses of parliament in a Nov. 8 general election and its lawmakers are expected to confirm party nominee Htin Kyaw as the country's next leader.
The new president is to take office on April 1.
Myanmar's constitution, written under the former military junta's direction, blocks Suu Kyi from becoming president because of a clause that excludes anyone with a foreign spouse or children. Suu Kyi's two sons are British, as was her late husband. The clause is widely seen as having been written by the military with Suu Kyi in mind. (Courtesy of ABC News)
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won overwhelming majorities in both houses of parliament in a Nov. 8 general election and its lawmakers are expected to confirm party nominee Htin Kyaw as the country's next leader.
The new president is to take office on April 1.
Myanmar's constitution, written under the former military junta's direction, blocks Suu Kyi from becoming president because of a clause that excludes anyone with a foreign spouse or children. Suu Kyi's two sons are British, as was her late husband. The clause is widely seen as having been written by the military with Suu Kyi in mind. (Courtesy of ABC News)
March 13, 2016
Finland gives 4M Euros to UNDP for Myanmar development
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has received 4 million Euros (approx. US$ 4.4 M) from the Finland government to support the agency’s work in Myanmar in the areas of democratic governance, local development and environmental sustainability.
Jarmo Kuuttila, Chargé d' Affaires of the Diplomatic Mission of Finland said his government looked forward to deepening their partnership with UNDP.
“One of Finland’s development priorities is to support the democratization of political institutions and to improve equal opportunities of all people to participate in political decision-making. Similarly we aim to support the strengthening of public administration and the judiciary to produce better public services that are accessible to people," he said. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Jarmo Kuuttila, Chargé d' Affaires of the Diplomatic Mission of Finland said his government looked forward to deepening their partnership with UNDP.
“One of Finland’s development priorities is to support the democratization of political institutions and to improve equal opportunities of all people to participate in political decision-making. Similarly we aim to support the strengthening of public administration and the judiciary to produce better public services that are accessible to people," he said. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Moving Myanmar’s media industry forward
Although reforms made by the outgoing Union Solidarity and Development Party improved press freedom in Myanmar – most notably by abolishing pre-publication censorship and granting licences to daily newspapers in 2012 – there’s no doubting that much, much more needs to be achieved. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists’ Freedom Index of 2015, Myanmar is the ninth most censored nation in the world.
With the first democratically elected government in 50 years poised to take over the reins on April 1, the country’s media industry is eager – and expectant – that further relaxations will be granted. However a certain level of anxiety exists as to the details of such reforms, and how soon they can be implemented. The National League for Democracy has an overflowing plate of competing priorities to attend to, which may leave the country’s journalists and media house owners champing at the bit. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
With the first democratically elected government in 50 years poised to take over the reins on April 1, the country’s media industry is eager – and expectant – that further relaxations will be granted. However a certain level of anxiety exists as to the details of such reforms, and how soon they can be implemented. The National League for Democracy has an overflowing plate of competing priorities to attend to, which may leave the country’s journalists and media house owners champing at the bit. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Myanmar bid to tap investors
Myanmar is seeking investments from India in various sectors, mainly in pharmaceuticals and food processing.
"Myanmar is a growing agrarian economy with a heavy emphasis on industrial and technological development. Hence, we invite businesses in all sectors but our focus is on pharmaceuticals, food processing and to some extent tourism," said Than Htwe, consul-general of Myanmar, at an event organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce here today. (Courtesy of telegraphindia)
"Myanmar is a growing agrarian economy with a heavy emphasis on industrial and technological development. Hence, we invite businesses in all sectors but our focus is on pharmaceuticals, food processing and to some extent tourism," said Than Htwe, consul-general of Myanmar, at an event organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce here today. (Courtesy of telegraphindia)
Helping Myanmar to play by the rules
These are heady days in Myanmar as the country emerges from decades of isolation under military rule and the southeast Asian nation gets ready to resume its place in the international community. A handful of Irish lawyers are playing their part in educating Myanmar’s nascent legal community to establish a legal framework.
This emerging country of 53 million people has only 49,000 or so lawyers, and only a few of these have any commercial experience. Many are in their 70s, having studied law before the start of military rule, in 1962.
Myanmar’s legal system, which is descended from English common law, saw little development between independence, in the late 1940s, and 2011, when the reform process under the military leader Thein Sein, who is now the country’s president, started to open up Myanmar (which used to be known as Burma). (Courtesy of irishtimes)
This emerging country of 53 million people has only 49,000 or so lawyers, and only a few of these have any commercial experience. Many are in their 70s, having studied law before the start of military rule, in 1962.
Myanmar’s legal system, which is descended from English common law, saw little development between independence, in the late 1940s, and 2011, when the reform process under the military leader Thein Sein, who is now the country’s president, started to open up Myanmar (which used to be known as Burma). (Courtesy of irishtimes)
Suu Kyi's ally on track to be Myanmar's president
Mr Htin Kyaw, a respected writer and intellectual who is trusted by Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, sailed through the first round of a parliamentary vote yesterday, remaining on course to become the country's first civilian president in decades.
Mr Htin Kyaw, 69, received 274 votes from 330 civilian lawmakers in the Lower House.
The candidate put forward by army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Dr Sai Mauk Kham, received just 29 votes.
Meanwhile, in the Upper House, ethnic Chin MP Henry Van Thio, nominated by Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) for one of two vice-presidential slots, was also endorsed, leaving the USDP nominee a distant second.
Mr Htin Kyaw, whose friendship with Ms Suu Kyi goes back to their parents' generation, is all but certain to be Myanmar's next president, as a proxy for Ms Suu Kyi. (Courtesy of The Straits Times)
Mr Htin Kyaw, 69, received 274 votes from 330 civilian lawmakers in the Lower House.
The candidate put forward by army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Dr Sai Mauk Kham, received just 29 votes.
Meanwhile, in the Upper House, ethnic Chin MP Henry Van Thio, nominated by Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) for one of two vice-presidential slots, was also endorsed, leaving the USDP nominee a distant second.
Mr Htin Kyaw, whose friendship with Ms Suu Kyi goes back to their parents' generation, is all but certain to be Myanmar's next president, as a proxy for Ms Suu Kyi. (Courtesy of The Straits Times)
March 12, 2016
Rights groups demand end to indefinite detention of Rohingya
Human rights advocates have called for the governments of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to end the indefinite detention of Rohingya refugees in immigration facilities and government-operated shelters and camps.
Nearly a year after the regional refugee crisis involving Rohingya migrants made headlines across the globe, no durable solution has been found to end their plight, representatives from the non-profit organisation Fortify Rights and the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) said yesterday. They released a joint report, drawing attention to the refugees' continued lack of protection.
Those who landed safely on shore were shuffled away to immigration detention centres (IDCs) and are still being held there, said Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post: News)
Nearly a year after the regional refugee crisis involving Rohingya migrants made headlines across the globe, no durable solution has been found to end their plight, representatives from the non-profit organisation Fortify Rights and the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) said yesterday. They released a joint report, drawing attention to the refugees' continued lack of protection.
Those who landed safely on shore were shuffled away to immigration detention centres (IDCs) and are still being held there, said Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post: News)
What now for Myanmar's Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy?
Htin Kyaw, a former driver for Aung San Suu Kyi and a close friend, was nominated to be Myanmar's first civilian president in decades Thursday.
He will act as a proxy for Suu Kyi who is barred from the presidency by the military-drafted constitution because she has foreign-born children.
So what now for Suu Kyi and the impoverished but hopeful nation she plans to lead from behind the scenes?
What happens next?
Htin Kyaw has been nominated but still needs to be assessed for suitability by the same constitution that bars Suu Kyi and then voted into office by Myanmar's two legislatures over the coming days.
Barring last minute upsets, that vote should be a forgone conclusion -- both houses are comfortably dominated by Suu Kyi's party.
He will take over from outgoing army-backed president Thein Sein on March 31. In the meantime, Suu Kyi will pick her cabinet and her government will start operating in earnest from early April. (Courtesy of AFP)
He will act as a proxy for Suu Kyi who is barred from the presidency by the military-drafted constitution because she has foreign-born children.
So what now for Suu Kyi and the impoverished but hopeful nation she plans to lead from behind the scenes?
What happens next?
Htin Kyaw has been nominated but still needs to be assessed for suitability by the same constitution that bars Suu Kyi and then voted into office by Myanmar's two legislatures over the coming days.
Barring last minute upsets, that vote should be a forgone conclusion -- both houses are comfortably dominated by Suu Kyi's party.
He will take over from outgoing army-backed president Thein Sein on March 31. In the meantime, Suu Kyi will pick her cabinet and her government will start operating in earnest from early April. (Courtesy of AFP)
Suu Kyi's candidates for Myanmar president pass the first test
The upper and lower houses of the Burmese parliament on Friday chose as presidential nominees Htin Kyaw and Henry Van Thoi, candidates vetted by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party.
It is expected that Myanmar's Armed Forces will propose their candidate early next week, when the nominations for the presidential elections will be concluded.
In a plenary session held next week, the parliament is to decide who will become the next Myanmar president for the next five years.
Kyaw, elected by the lower house and Thoi,chosen by the upper house, met the expectations of today since the National League for Democracy has a majority in both legislative bodies after its landslide election win on Nov. 8, 2015.
Members of the Armed Forces, who have a quarter of seats reserved in the parliament under the 2008 Constitution, did not participate in the nominations since the military has its own candidate. (Courtesy of laprensasa)
It is expected that Myanmar's Armed Forces will propose their candidate early next week, when the nominations for the presidential elections will be concluded.
In a plenary session held next week, the parliament is to decide who will become the next Myanmar president for the next five years.
Kyaw, elected by the lower house and Thoi,chosen by the upper house, met the expectations of today since the National League for Democracy has a majority in both legislative bodies after its landslide election win on Nov. 8, 2015.
Members of the Armed Forces, who have a quarter of seats reserved in the parliament under the 2008 Constitution, did not participate in the nominations since the military has its own candidate. (Courtesy of laprensasa)
Htin Kyaw, Henry Van Thio Confirmed as VP Nominees
As expected, the Union parliament on Friday morning confirmed National League for Democracy members U Htin Kyaw and U Henry Van Thio as vice-presidential candidates.
U Htin Kyaw received the endorsement of 274 of the 330 civilian lawmakers in the Pyithu Hluttaw. The Lower House’s 110 military lawmakers are currently caucusing separately to determine their vice-presidential nominee.
Outgoing vice-president Dr Sai Mauk Kham, who was nominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party, received 29 votes, one vote short of the USDP’s current Pyithu representation after the party’s crushing election defeat last November. The vote had 14 invalid ballots and 13 absences.
In the Amyotha Hluttaw, Henry Van Thio, elected to represent the chamber’s Chin-3 constituency last year, received an emphatic endorsement of 148 votes from a total of 168 civilian lawmakers. USDP candidate U Khin Aung Myint, the Amyotha Hluttaw speaker during the last term of parliament, received 13 votes, with 6 invalid ballots cast.
Former government minister U Soe Thane, who successfully contested Kayah-9 as an independent last year, was the sole absence. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
U Htin Kyaw received the endorsement of 274 of the 330 civilian lawmakers in the Pyithu Hluttaw. The Lower House’s 110 military lawmakers are currently caucusing separately to determine their vice-presidential nominee.
Outgoing vice-president Dr Sai Mauk Kham, who was nominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party, received 29 votes, one vote short of the USDP’s current Pyithu representation after the party’s crushing election defeat last November. The vote had 14 invalid ballots and 13 absences.
In the Amyotha Hluttaw, Henry Van Thio, elected to represent the chamber’s Chin-3 constituency last year, received an emphatic endorsement of 148 votes from a total of 168 civilian lawmakers. USDP candidate U Khin Aung Myint, the Amyotha Hluttaw speaker during the last term of parliament, received 13 votes, with 6 invalid ballots cast.
Former government minister U Soe Thane, who successfully contested Kayah-9 as an independent last year, was the sole absence. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
UNESCO facilitates consultation on Right to Information Law in Myanmar
UNESCO and the Ministry of Information facilitated a consultation meeting on the Right to Information (RTI) Law in Yangon on 9 March 2016, the UN body said in a statement. The meeting was widely attended by diverse stakeholders, including News Media Council (NMC), journalist associations, media houses, national and international Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and senior representatives of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
The meeting was opened by Sardar Umar Alam, Head of Office, UNESCO Myanmar, who noted that the objective of the consultation was to provide a platform to build a common understanding on the core principles comprising the Right to Information (RTI) Law for Myanmar, and to deliberate on the strengths and weaknesses of the draft prepared by the Ministry of Information. The draft law was shared with CSOs and Media stakeholders prior to the meeting, and various stakeholders including Centre for Law and Democracy, Article 19, SEAPA, Mizzima Media Group and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative provided in-depth technical feedback, and recommendations to overcome the gaps and shortfalls of the draft law for further discussion at the meeting. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The meeting was opened by Sardar Umar Alam, Head of Office, UNESCO Myanmar, who noted that the objective of the consultation was to provide a platform to build a common understanding on the core principles comprising the Right to Information (RTI) Law for Myanmar, and to deliberate on the strengths and weaknesses of the draft prepared by the Ministry of Information. The draft law was shared with CSOs and Media stakeholders prior to the meeting, and various stakeholders including Centre for Law and Democracy, Article 19, SEAPA, Mizzima Media Group and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative provided in-depth technical feedback, and recommendations to overcome the gaps and shortfalls of the draft law for further discussion at the meeting. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
March 11, 2016
Myanmar and the 'War on Terror'
On November 21, 2015, five individuals were arrested in Myanmar for publishing materials “that could damage national security.” Their offense? Printing calendars. It sounds surreal but such is the reality in the age of the “War on Terror.” Daily and mundane activities can and have been prosecuted by states under the rubric of “protecting national security,” targeting not only dissidents but regular civilians going about their daily lives.
That’s what happened to Kyaw Kyaw, the owner of a printing company in the capital city of Yangon, when he and four of his colleagues were detained, made to plead guilty and pay a fine of $1 million Khyat ($770 USD) after which they were released. The release was short lived: the five were rearrested only three days later on charges that they violated article 505(b) of the Burmese penal code, which states that publishing material “with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.” (Courtesy of The Diplomat)
That’s what happened to Kyaw Kyaw, the owner of a printing company in the capital city of Yangon, when he and four of his colleagues were detained, made to plead guilty and pay a fine of $1 million Khyat ($770 USD) after which they were released. The release was short lived: the five were rearrested only three days later on charges that they violated article 505(b) of the Burmese penal code, which states that publishing material “with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.” (Courtesy of The Diplomat)
Myanmar’s NLD Nominates Aung San Suu Kyi Confidant for President
The selection of one of Aung San Suu Kyi’s most trusted allies as her party’s choice for Myanmar’s president signals the importance she is placing on absolute loyalty in her top ranks as negotiations with the still-powerful military have reached a stalemate.
On Thursday, the National League for Democracy nominated Htin Kyaw, a writer and confidant of Ms. Suu Kyi, as the candidate who will almost certainly be confirmed head of state in a vote next week by parliament. The Nobel laureate is barred from holding the position herself, but has vowed to control the president from behind the scenes.
Mr. Htin Kyaw, son of a poet and son-in-law of an NLD co-founder, has spent decades at Ms. Suu Kyi’s side. When she was under house arrest at her lakeside home following elections in 1990 that the military scrapped when she won in a landslide, Mr. Htin Kyaw acted as interlocutor with the outside world, providing her with food, medicines and other necessities, according to senior party members. (Courtesy of WSJ)
On Thursday, the National League for Democracy nominated Htin Kyaw, a writer and confidant of Ms. Suu Kyi, as the candidate who will almost certainly be confirmed head of state in a vote next week by parliament. The Nobel laureate is barred from holding the position herself, but has vowed to control the president from behind the scenes.
Mr. Htin Kyaw, son of a poet and son-in-law of an NLD co-founder, has spent decades at Ms. Suu Kyi’s side. When she was under house arrest at her lakeside home following elections in 1990 that the military scrapped when she won in a landslide, Mr. Htin Kyaw acted as interlocutor with the outside world, providing her with food, medicines and other necessities, according to senior party members. (Courtesy of WSJ)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)