After the Holocaust, the world decried “never again,” yet reports of a persecuted religious minority group endure: the Rohingya Muslims’ loss of citizenship, forced displacement, and denial of basic human rights in Myanmar eerily parallel the notorious events that occurred in mid-twentieth century Germany.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), an opposition party to the decades-long military rulers of Myanmar, won a landslide victory in the country’s first democratically held elections in November 2015. Yet the party’s leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has repeatedly evaded questions addressing the persecution of the Rohingya. The United States needs to rally the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to press the NLD to reform policies of systematic oppression and violence. (Courtesy of iar-gwu.org)
May 26, 2016
Myanmar Government to Return Seized Land to Farmers in Sagaing Region
Myanmar’s government plans to return 2,500 acres of confiscated land to farmers in Tant-Se township in the country’s northwestern Sagaing region, more than 35 years after it was taken, an agriculture ministry official said Tuesday.
In 1980, the Burma Socialist Programme Party confiscated nearly 4,000 acres of the township’s land in Shwebo district for a government farm project named “Wet Toe,” Win Tun, deputy minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament in Naypyidaw.
The party was formed by the regime led by military commander Ne Win that seized power in 1962, and was the only political party legally permitted to exist from 1974 until it broke up after a popular uprising in 1988. It instituted socialist policies that included land seizures and control of agricultural production. (Courtesy of rfa.org)
In 1980, the Burma Socialist Programme Party confiscated nearly 4,000 acres of the township’s land in Shwebo district for a government farm project named “Wet Toe,” Win Tun, deputy minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament in Naypyidaw.
The party was formed by the regime led by military commander Ne Win that seized power in 1962, and was the only political party legally permitted to exist from 1974 until it broke up after a popular uprising in 1988. It instituted socialist policies that included land seizures and control of agricultural production. (Courtesy of rfa.org)
Time is running out for Rohingya minority
Poppy McPherson’s article (Report, 24 May) paints a vivid picture of the growing persecution faced by Rohingyas. A developing national pride in Myanmar seems to be going hand in hand with greater threats towards marginalised minorities. And the recent dispute between the US ambassador and Aung San Suu Kyi over using the term Rohingya has drawn attention to their easy dismissal in Myanmar, where they are seen as foreigners. (Courtesy of theguardian.com)
Forthcoming Govt Body Aims to Get More Aid to More People
Burma’s government intends to form a donor coordination body to scrutinize the country’s foreign aid so that it flows to where it is needed most.
According to the President’s Office, this new government body, set to be established soon, will be responsible for reviewing all international aid intended for use by the government for projects relating to national development and national planning.
“The donor coordination body will be formed by the government to ensure that aid, especially aid in the government sector, reaches its intended recipients,” said Zaw Htay, President’s Office spokesperson.
He added that this is also to avoid overlap and poor management of funds. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
According to the President’s Office, this new government body, set to be established soon, will be responsible for reviewing all international aid intended for use by the government for projects relating to national development and national planning.
“The donor coordination body will be formed by the government to ensure that aid, especially aid in the government sector, reaches its intended recipients,” said Zaw Htay, President’s Office spokesperson.
He added that this is also to avoid overlap and poor management of funds. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Embattled Ethnic Armed Groups Cast Doubt on Suu Kyi’s Peace Drive
The varying approaches of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing towards the peace process do not inspire confidence in its speedy resolution. But equally worrisome is the growing doubt over Suu Kyi’s mooted “21st Century Panglong Conference” displayed by key ethnic armed groups that have come under considerable attack from the Burma Army in the last six months.
Suu Kyi has signaled her desire to include all of Burma’s ethnic armed groups in the looming peace talks, but troops serving under Min Aung Hlaing have conducted intensifying campaigns against ethnic armed groups that refused to sign—or were excluded from signing—the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October last year. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Suu Kyi has signaled her desire to include all of Burma’s ethnic armed groups in the looming peace talks, but troops serving under Min Aung Hlaing have conducted intensifying campaigns against ethnic armed groups that refused to sign—or were excluded from signing—the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October last year. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
USDP Sets Sights On 2020 Comeback
Chairman of Burma’s previous ruling party, Thein Sein, urged the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) to reform in order to win the election in 2020—a clear statement that the USDP is trying to make a comeback after a humiliating election defeat at the hands of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) last year.
“Despite the many reasons [for our loss], the main cause is weakness in the party’s central and lower levels. We all have to collaborate to review those weaknesses and reform the party to achieve success in the next election,” said the former Burmese president during his meeting with more than 500 party members in Rangoon on Monday, according to the party’s mouthpiece, The Union Daily.
Thein Sein left office in late March when he handed over power to President Htin Kyaw of the NLD government. The USDP, mostly made up of high-ranking former army officers, contested seats in more than 1,000 constituencies but only won 116. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
“Despite the many reasons [for our loss], the main cause is weakness in the party’s central and lower levels. We all have to collaborate to review those weaknesses and reform the party to achieve success in the next election,” said the former Burmese president during his meeting with more than 500 party members in Rangoon on Monday, according to the party’s mouthpiece, The Union Daily.
Thein Sein left office in late March when he handed over power to President Htin Kyaw of the NLD government. The USDP, mostly made up of high-ranking former army officers, contested seats in more than 1,000 constituencies but only won 116. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
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