Questions and realities for a new Myanmar

Myanmar changed more than its government last week. For the first time in more than 50 years, a democratic and non-military President is in office. An historic new chapter begins for the country that some have dubbed Asia’s “last frontier economy”.

The focus is understandably on Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD). Among the new ministers and in Parliament, there are NLD stalwarts who have served years or even decades in prison or detention for political reasons.

Many are hoping to see a Cinderella-type overnight transformation in Myanmar. This is especially as the strong electoral mandate for NLD shows a broad desire for change. (Courtesy of TODAYonline)

Youth put lives on stage in play about Rohingya refugee crisis

 group of young people in Waterloo Region are putting their lives on display at the University of Waterloo's Theatre of the Arts on Saturday, as they perform in a play called I Am Rohingya.

The play is based on the true stories of all the actors, whose families fled Burma, also known as Myanmar, in the 1990s and eventually immigrated to Canada.

"Almost every part of the play reminds me of my past," said Ahmed Ullah, who at 22 is the oldest member of the cast.

Ullah said he was born in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, and that re-enacting that part of his life is painful.  (Courtesy of CBC News)

Interfaith Activists Sentenced To Two More Years In Prison

Amid news of charges being cleared against political detainees, in a court in Mandalay’s Chanayethazan Township, two Muslim interfaith activists were sentenced to two more years in prison—with labor—on Friday for allegedly associating with unlawful organizations.

Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were arrested for photos shared on social media which depicted a visit to across the Indo-Burma border to Mizoram State in 2014 and a charity trip to a war torn area of Kachin State.

In a picture, Zaw Zaw Latt posed with a M16 rifle as he met with some members of the Kachin Independance Army (KIA) during his visit to displaced people’s camps in the region in 2013.

“Although some courts that have dropped the charges against student activists, we believe there are some processes still working between the government and the court. We believe in Aunty Suu’s government that we will be finally free on New Year,” said Zaw Zaw Latt after the court appearance, referring to State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s announcement that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government would work to release political prisoners during the upcoming period of the Thingyan water festival. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)

Prisoners freed across Burma

Dozens were freed from jails across Burma on Friday morning, with expectant crowds hopeful that political prisoners will join them as day goes on.

Thirty were released from prison in Mandalay, while 29 were freed from Sittwe, Arakan State and groups of 17 and 30 freed from jails in the Pegu Division towns of Tharrawaddy and Taungoo, respectively. Over 100 have been released from Rangoon’s Insein Prison.

Large crowds remain gathered outside prisons across the country, including Insein, where a list has been published of prisoners set for release. One prisoner of conscience, protestor Thet Wai, was included among the names of those freed in the former capital on Monday.

Thet Wai greeted supporters outside the lock up, where he spent four months for protesting without permission.

“There are many political prisoners remaining inside. I can’t be satisfied yet, I feel terrible in my heart,” said Thet Wai, who staged a solo protest in Rangoon on 10 December last year calling for the release of fellow activist Nay Myo Zin. (Courtesy of DVB)