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)
March 19, 2016
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)
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