RANGOON — Taungup Township administrator Lu Maw said local police arrested two Arakan Army soldiers found in possession of 50 walkie-talkies near the town’s outskirts on Saturday.
“Both of them are from AA [Arakan Army] but I can’t provide detailed information,” said Lu Maw, who referred The Irrawaddy to the township police.
Contacted on Monday, police officer Sithu Htike confirmed the detention of two men but declined to discuss their case, saying he did not have official permission to speak to the media.
Elsewhere in Arakan State, more than 200 people have taken shelter at monasteries in Kyauktaw and Mrauk Oo townships in recent weeks, according to Khiang Kaung San of the Wunlark Development Foundation, one of several civil society groups providing rice and other food supplies as well as blankets to the displaced.
In April of last year, the Arakan Army and government troops clashed and at least 20 locals were detained by police in Kyauktaw, with the suspects accused of unlawful association with the ethnic armed group. In addition, 18 Arakan Army soldiers were arrested, according to Kyauktaw Township police chief Win Kyi. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
January 11, 2016
Suu Kyi govt must not continue state persecution of Rohingya
On Tuesday, Burma’s lame duck government led by President Thein Sein and backed by the country’s military is holding a national conference ostensibly to foster peace. The dialogue will bring together the Burmese military and the representatives of the eight ethnic armed groups that agreed to the partial ceasefire agreement in October.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi – which will come to power at the end of March – has officially declared that “establishing peace with minorities will be the single most important goal” for her government.
However, neither the most powerful stakeholder, namely the military, nor Suu Kyi’s NLD will address the need to end the systematic persecution of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority living in their own ancestral borderlands between Burma and Bangladesh, whose persecution has repeatedly hit international news headlines.
Already, her top deputy on the Central Executive Committee, the ex-army officer Win Htein, has made it clear that ending the suffering of the Rohingya – estimated at 1.33 million in western Arakan State and an equal number in diaspora – is not on the party’s agenda.
By all indications so far Suu Kyi’s government shares with the Burmese military a racist view towards the Rohingya Muslims. They will most likely continue the current policies of systematic persecution and discrimination. (Courtesy of DVB)
The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi – which will come to power at the end of March – has officially declared that “establishing peace with minorities will be the single most important goal” for her government.
However, neither the most powerful stakeholder, namely the military, nor Suu Kyi’s NLD will address the need to end the systematic persecution of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority living in their own ancestral borderlands between Burma and Bangladesh, whose persecution has repeatedly hit international news headlines.
Already, her top deputy on the Central Executive Committee, the ex-army officer Win Htein, has made it clear that ending the suffering of the Rohingya – estimated at 1.33 million in western Arakan State and an equal number in diaspora – is not on the party’s agenda.
By all indications so far Suu Kyi’s government shares with the Burmese military a racist view towards the Rohingya Muslims. They will most likely continue the current policies of systematic persecution and discrimination. (Courtesy of DVB)
Tatmadaw rejects Arakan Army offer of talks
The guns have fallen silent in western Rakhine State, at least for the moment, but the Tatmadaw has rejected an offer of dialogue from Arakan Army (AA) insurgents.
“The refugee numbers aren’t rising lately. We assume the situation in Kyauktaw is calm,” said U Wai Hun Aung, a member of Wan Lark Foundation which is helping more than 200 refugees who fled fighting in remote areas of Kyauktaw township for refuge in monasteries in Mrauk-U.
No new flood of refugees has reached the shelters in recent days, nor has any sign of a stand-down.
“The military hasn’t retreated,” said U Khaing Kaung San, also a Wan Lark activist. “If they move back we can see them. Our camp is situated in the main route to the conflict zone.”
He said the continuing military presence leaves the displaced stranded in the camps.
Last week the Tatmadaw charged the ethnic armed group with destabilising the region following the recent round of conflict which reportedly began on December 27. It vowed on January 7 to “eliminate” the AA “for the security of people’s life and property”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
“The refugee numbers aren’t rising lately. We assume the situation in Kyauktaw is calm,” said U Wai Hun Aung, a member of Wan Lark Foundation which is helping more than 200 refugees who fled fighting in remote areas of Kyauktaw township for refuge in monasteries in Mrauk-U.
No new flood of refugees has reached the shelters in recent days, nor has any sign of a stand-down.
“The military hasn’t retreated,” said U Khaing Kaung San, also a Wan Lark activist. “If they move back we can see them. Our camp is situated in the main route to the conflict zone.”
He said the continuing military presence leaves the displaced stranded in the camps.
Last week the Tatmadaw charged the ethnic armed group with destabilising the region following the recent round of conflict which reportedly began on December 27. It vowed on January 7 to “eliminate” the AA “for the security of people’s life and property”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Myanmar Government Speeds Through Contracts, Legislation
YANGON, Myanmar—The military-linked government here, in its final weeks in power, is passing legislation that benefits departing lawmakers and awarding large business contracts, including one to a Chinese-led group to build a sea port.
The legislation includes a pension plan for departing lawmakers, most of whom belong to the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party, which was defeated in the country’s historic election in November. Another proposal would protect former presidents from prosecution related to acts taken in office and provide them with bodyguards.
The government of President Thein Sein has awarded multiple contracts, which in Myanmar don’t need legislative approval, without consulting the National League for Democracy or its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, party officials say. Mr. Thein Sein’s administration also transferred five idle manufacturing plants last month from the civilian-led ministry of industry to the military-controlled ministry of defense. None of these actions are prohibited under Myanmar’s political system. (Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)
The legislation includes a pension plan for departing lawmakers, most of whom belong to the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party, which was defeated in the country’s historic election in November. Another proposal would protect former presidents from prosecution related to acts taken in office and provide them with bodyguards.
The government of President Thein Sein has awarded multiple contracts, which in Myanmar don’t need legislative approval, without consulting the National League for Democracy or its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, party officials say. Mr. Thein Sein’s administration also transferred five idle manufacturing plants last month from the civilian-led ministry of industry to the military-controlled ministry of defense. None of these actions are prohibited under Myanmar’s political system. (Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)
Crimes against humanity in Myanmar
Soon the world will witness a remarkable sight: a beloved Nobel Peace Prize winner presiding over 21st-century concentration camps.
Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s genuine heroes, won democracy for her country, culminating in historic elections in November that her party won in a landslide. As winner, Suu Kyi is also inheriting the worst ethnic cleansing you’ve never heard of, Myanmar’s destruction of a Muslim minority called the Rohingya.
A recent Yale study suggested that the abuse of the more than one million Rohingya may amount to genocide; at the least, a confidential UN report to the Security Council says it may constitute “crimes against humanity under international criminal law”.
Yet Suu Kyi seems to plan to continue this Myanmar version of apartheid. She is now a politician, and oppressing a minority like the Rohingya is popular with mostly Buddhist voters. (Courtesy of GulfNews)
Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s genuine heroes, won democracy for her country, culminating in historic elections in November that her party won in a landslide. As winner, Suu Kyi is also inheriting the worst ethnic cleansing you’ve never heard of, Myanmar’s destruction of a Muslim minority called the Rohingya.
A recent Yale study suggested that the abuse of the more than one million Rohingya may amount to genocide; at the least, a confidential UN report to the Security Council says it may constitute “crimes against humanity under international criminal law”.
Yet Suu Kyi seems to plan to continue this Myanmar version of apartheid. She is now a politician, and oppressing a minority like the Rohingya is popular with mostly Buddhist voters. (Courtesy of GulfNews)
Myanmar expands defence industrial production capabilities
Myanmar's defence industrial capabilities are expected to be boosted by the acquisition of five heavy manufacturing facilities owned by the country's Ministry of Industry, local media has reported.
Citing a memo published by the Ministry of Industry on 7 January media in Myanmar said the factories would be transferred to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 'strategic' reasons. (Courtesy of IHS Jane's 360)
Citing a memo published by the Ministry of Industry on 7 January media in Myanmar said the factories would be transferred to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 'strategic' reasons. (Courtesy of IHS Jane's 360)
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