The main committee monitoring last year’s nationwide ceasefire accord is set to resume its work in Nay Pyi Taw today but without any representatives of Myanmar’s new government.
Members of the Union-level Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) said its two-day meeting would go ahead and that it was likely that delegates appointed by the former military-backed government would attend the talks.
Observers of Myanmar’s stalled peace process say structures put in place by former president U Thein Sein are ticking over pending an announcement by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of how her government intends to proceed. A government spokesperson said over the weekend that a public statement revealing the new policies will be announced “very soon”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
April 27, 2016
Dispatches: Burma’s Rohingya Muslims in Desperate Straits
Last week’s tragic boat accident off the coast of Burma’s Arakan State killed an estimated 20 Rohingya Muslims, including nine children, and left another 20 missing. The government-controlled newspaper, Global New Light of Myanmar, made a rare admission that the tragedy, in which a packed boat capsized in heavy seas, resulted from government travel restrictions that prevent Rohingya from traveling overland, forcing them to travel by boat even when conditions are dangerous.
The accident underscores the serious plight of Burma’s long-persecuted Rohingya minority. The boat was making a regular trip from an internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camp in Pauktaw to the markets near camps around the state capital, Sittwe. (Courtesy of Hunma Rights Watch)
The accident underscores the serious plight of Burma’s long-persecuted Rohingya minority. The boat was making a regular trip from an internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camp in Pauktaw to the markets near camps around the state capital, Sittwe. (Courtesy of Hunma Rights Watch)
Three Armed Groups Opt Out of Talks With Former Govt Peace Delegation
Three ethnic armed organizations actively fighting the Burma Army have decided against meeting a former government peace delegation in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai next month, according to a leader from one of the groups.
Tar Bong Kyaw, the general secretary of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that his group, as well as two allies—the Arakan Army (AA) and the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)—would not meet with the representatives led by former Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo.
The TNLA general explained that they were opting out of the talks because they would not be considered “official.” (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Tar Bong Kyaw, the general secretary of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that his group, as well as two allies—the Arakan Army (AA) and the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)—would not meet with the representatives led by former Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo.
The TNLA general explained that they were opting out of the talks because they would not be considered “official.” (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Myanmar parliament speaker's son resigns as personal assistant
The son of Mann Win Khaing Than, the Myanmarese parliament's new speaker, has resigned as his father's personal assistant and has been replaced by the deputy director in the House of Nationalities, a media report said on Tuesday.
The resignation came a day after the president's office issued a directive banning cabinet members from appointing as personal assistants their spouses, children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews and grand children, Xinhua news agency reported.
Only public servants can occupy such posts, the directive said.
According to the reports, former speaker of the House of Nationalities Khin Aung Myint appointed his son as his personal assistant and he served for five years. (Courtesy of Business Standard News)
IS MYANMAR IN 2016 LIKE SPAIN IN 1936?
I have been reflecting on two recent commentaries from the online edition of the New York Times, to which I have signed up for the daily op-eds. One was by Republican Senator John McCain, and it was not about the US presidential race. McCain eulogised the American volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). The last American volunteer, Delmer Berg, who served in the International Brigades, died recently at the age of 100. The other piece is a review of Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, by Adam Hochschild.
The Spanish Civil War was a nasty little war (little only by comparison to the world wars because half a million people died) and was seen as a dress rehearsal for World War II. Atrocities were committed by both sides.
In “Salute to a Communist”, published on March 24, McCain writes:
They fought on the Republican side, in defense of the democratically-elected leftist government of Spain, and against the Nationalists, the military rebels led by Gen. Francisco Franco. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
The Spanish Civil War was a nasty little war (little only by comparison to the world wars because half a million people died) and was seen as a dress rehearsal for World War II. Atrocities were committed by both sides.
In “Salute to a Communist”, published on March 24, McCain writes:
They fought on the Republican side, in defense of the democratically-elected leftist government of Spain, and against the Nationalists, the military rebels led by Gen. Francisco Franco. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Double marginalisation of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities
For the first time in over half a century, Myanmar has a government with a popular mandate, led by the National League for Democracy. Although the armed forces still have extensive political powers under the 2008 constitution, and may seriously curtail the independent action of the new government, the inauguration of President U Htin Kyaw represents a radical increase in the internal and international legitimacy of the Myanmar state.
Paradoxically, this coincides with a setback for the ethnic minorities and their struggle for autonomous status within a federal state, to be negotiated as part of a national political dialogue. Myanmar’s ethnic minority organisations now face a double marginalisation – militarily as well as politically.
There are two main tiers in Myanmar’s peace process. The first is the process of negotiations between the government and the many ethnic armed groups. The second tier is a wider process of including ethnic minorities in political decision-making at the Union, state and regional levels, transforming the existing political structure from within. The success of the first tier is tremendously important for the second. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Paradoxically, this coincides with a setback for the ethnic minorities and their struggle for autonomous status within a federal state, to be negotiated as part of a national political dialogue. Myanmar’s ethnic minority organisations now face a double marginalisation – militarily as well as politically.
There are two main tiers in Myanmar’s peace process. The first is the process of negotiations between the government and the many ethnic armed groups. The second tier is a wider process of including ethnic minorities in political decision-making at the Union, state and regional levels, transforming the existing political structure from within. The success of the first tier is tremendously important for the second. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Gambira Convicted on Immigration Offences in Mandalay
Mandalay’s Maha Aung Myay Township Court on Tuesday afternoon sentenced U Nyi Nyi Lwin, better known by his ordination name U Gambira, to six months’ imprisonment for violation of the Immigration Act.
The former monk, one of the leaders of the 2007 popular protests known internationally as the Saffron Revolution, was arrested on January 21 and accused of violating Section 13.1 of the Act, prohibiting individuals from remaining in Myanmar after the expiry of their legal entry.
Travelling through the Tachileik border crossing on January 16, Gambira’s entrance into the country was approved by Myanmar immigration officers and he was allowed to travel on to Mandalay without incident, before a large contingent of police officers arrested him five days later.
Though residing in Thailand for several years after his release from prison in 2012, Gambira never relinquished his claim to Myanmar citizenship. His Australian wife, Marie Siochana, told Frontier last month that her husband still possessed valid identification documents that proved he was a lawful citizen of Myanmar. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
The former monk, one of the leaders of the 2007 popular protests known internationally as the Saffron Revolution, was arrested on January 21 and accused of violating Section 13.1 of the Act, prohibiting individuals from remaining in Myanmar after the expiry of their legal entry.
Travelling through the Tachileik border crossing on January 16, Gambira’s entrance into the country was approved by Myanmar immigration officers and he was allowed to travel on to Mandalay without incident, before a large contingent of police officers arrested him five days later.
Though residing in Thailand for several years after his release from prison in 2012, Gambira never relinquished his claim to Myanmar citizenship. His Australian wife, Marie Siochana, told Frontier last month that her husband still possessed valid identification documents that proved he was a lawful citizen of Myanmar. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
New agreement brings no end to war on drugs in ASEAN
A global meeting on drugs failed to deliver a highly anticipated shift from a punitive approach to narcotics, disappointing Myanmar advocacy groups.
The outcome of the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs held last week in New York instead resulted in a draft resolution that brings little new to the table, experts said.
Nang Pann Ei, a coordinator of the Drug Policy Advocacy Groups, called the UNGASS meeting significant because Myanmar civil society was able to speak up for opium farmers facing the constant threat of crop eradication. But she voiced disappointment about the resulting policy document, saying it has “some serious gaps”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The outcome of the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs held last week in New York instead resulted in a draft resolution that brings little new to the table, experts said.
Nang Pann Ei, a coordinator of the Drug Policy Advocacy Groups, called the UNGASS meeting significant because Myanmar civil society was able to speak up for opium farmers facing the constant threat of crop eradication. But she voiced disappointment about the resulting policy document, saying it has “some serious gaps”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Yangon among Myanmar’s ‘industrial’ hubs
Yangon, Bago, Mandalay and Sagaing have been labelled potential “industrial hubs” by Myanmar’s Industry Ministry.
These cities are highlighted thanks to their location, the ministry said.
According to its report completed after a nationwide survey, the four cities possess transport facilities and relatively developed infrastructure.
Industrial growth in the cities is also expected to boost economic activities in nearby areas.
The government is urged to prioritise regions for industrial development, taking into account the availability of skilled labour, raw materials and transport networks. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
These cities are highlighted thanks to their location, the ministry said.
According to its report completed after a nationwide survey, the four cities possess transport facilities and relatively developed infrastructure.
Industrial growth in the cities is also expected to boost economic activities in nearby areas.
The government is urged to prioritise regions for industrial development, taking into account the availability of skilled labour, raw materials and transport networks. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
Why we should care about Rohingyas
It is almost a year to the climax of last year’s Rohingya refugee crisis, the aftermath of a crackdown by Thai authorities on land-smuggling routes that led to the surge of boats packed with Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees and economic migrants crossing the Andaman Sea. Many, if not all, were sailing for Malaysia.
Readers will remember the gripping headlines and even more gripping photos and videos of desperate, emaciated individuals on rickety boats, in some cases abandoned by their smugglers, begging for food, water and shelter.
Policymakers feared being “swarmed” and Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian navies were involved in “human ping-pong pushbacks” of refugee boats.
Individuals, non-governmental organisations and fishermen took it upon themselves to seek out boats and provide help.
There was also criticism by international organisations of the initial reluctance of the three countries to accept refugees.
Overall, it made for a tragic yet riveting media circus. (Courtesy of nst.com.my)
Readers will remember the gripping headlines and even more gripping photos and videos of desperate, emaciated individuals on rickety boats, in some cases abandoned by their smugglers, begging for food, water and shelter.
Policymakers feared being “swarmed” and Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian navies were involved in “human ping-pong pushbacks” of refugee boats.
Individuals, non-governmental organisations and fishermen took it upon themselves to seek out boats and provide help.
There was also criticism by international organisations of the initial reluctance of the three countries to accept refugees.
Overall, it made for a tragic yet riveting media circus. (Courtesy of nst.com.my)
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