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)
March 23, 2016
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)
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