The call was made yesterday by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS) as they released a joint report on the challenges faced by ex-political prisoners trying to reintegrate into society.
Advocates said at the report’s launch in Yangon that the government must take three steps to reduce the number of political prisoners: stop civil war, amend the constitution and other laws to remove unfair provisions, and establish a judiciary in which the people can place their trust. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
May 27, 2016
MYANMAR MIGRANTS IN HONG KONG LIMBO
The air onboard is stifling and the stench of decay fills every corner of the vessel. For more than six months, Ko Maung Yin Maung has been stranded on a casino ship in Hong Kong, enduring awful living conditions. It has been six months since he last spoke to his wife in Yangon, with a heart full of guilt and just a few dollars in his pocket. It was about six months ago that his employer stopped paying his monthly wage of US$450 (about K524,000).
Maung Yin Maung, 38, has been working on the New Imperial Star for eight months. He had previously worked on another casino ship for six months.
“The owner told the Burmese crew that they will be receiving a portion of their wages before Burmese new year,” said Maung Yin Maung. “I promised my family that I would come back home in the new year.”
It was not long after he was finally able to send some money to his wife, whom he had told at the last minute about his decision to work on a ship in Hong Kong, that his pay stopped. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Maung Yin Maung, 38, has been working on the New Imperial Star for eight months. He had previously worked on another casino ship for six months.
“The owner told the Burmese crew that they will be receiving a portion of their wages before Burmese new year,” said Maung Yin Maung. “I promised my family that I would come back home in the new year.”
It was not long after he was finally able to send some money to his wife, whom he had told at the last minute about his decision to work on a ship in Hong Kong, that his pay stopped. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Rohingya trafficking victims stuck in captivity, one year on
Hundreds of trafficking victims from Myanmar and Bangladesh remain detained in Malaysia a year after being rescued from near-certain death at sea during the Asian migration crisis.
In total, 390 trafficking victims – 325 Rohingya and 65 Bangladeshis – have spent the past year in detention, despite nominally being freed from captivity in May 2015, in research Amnesty will be publishing in the coming weeks.
Their plight drew the world’s attention this time last year after it was discovered that they had been abandoned by their traffickers and left to drift at sea on packed trawlers without any food. (Courtesy of theguardian.com)
In total, 390 trafficking victims – 325 Rohingya and 65 Bangladeshis – have spent the past year in detention, despite nominally being freed from captivity in May 2015, in research Amnesty will be publishing in the coming weeks.
Their plight drew the world’s attention this time last year after it was discovered that they had been abandoned by their traffickers and left to drift at sea on packed trawlers without any food. (Courtesy of theguardian.com)
Myanmar army chief meets with Prayut
THAILAND IS ready to work with the new government of Myanmar and expand cooperation in all aspects, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday told Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces.
The Myanmar general is in Bangkok for a three-day official visit ending today at the invitation of Thailand's Armed Forces.
Prayut told the general that the two countries' armies would cooperate more closely particularly on security and border development issues. The prime minister added that he was glad that senior officials of both countries met regularly to develop relations and cooperate for the benefit of people.
Min Aung Hlaing is the most senior Myanmar official to visit Thailand since the new government took power after the general election in November. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
The Myanmar general is in Bangkok for a three-day official visit ending today at the invitation of Thailand's Armed Forces.
Prayut told the general that the two countries' armies would cooperate more closely particularly on security and border development issues. The prime minister added that he was glad that senior officials of both countries met regularly to develop relations and cooperate for the benefit of people.
Min Aung Hlaing is the most senior Myanmar official to visit Thailand since the new government took power after the general election in November. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
EU Sanctions renewed until 2017
The European Union has renewed its sanctions on Myanmar until 30 April 2017. The measures impose an embargo on providingMyanmar with arms and goods that might be used for internal repression. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
Suu Kyi kick-starts peace process
Myanmar's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi in her role as state counsellor, is taking concrete steps to kick-start the country's beleaguered peace process and will address a newly appointed peace committee later today. Everything has been in abeyance, since eight ethnic groups signed a national ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the Thein Sein government last October, but some eight others refused to participate.
But before convening this new committee, which will oversee the peace talks and political discussions on making Myanmar a federal state, she had several secret meetings with four senior representatives of the military, including the army chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
But before convening this new committee, which will oversee the peace talks and political discussions on making Myanmar a federal state, she had several secret meetings with four senior representatives of the military, including the army chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
Myanmar Government to Let Blacklisted Democracy Activists Return From Exile
The Myanmar government will allow exiled opposition activists who are still on an official “no-entry” blacklist to return to the Southeast Asian country within 100 days, said deputy foreign affairs minister Kyaw Tin on Thursday.
The move is the latest effort by the new civilian-led government under President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to make right the wrongs of the past in their push for democratic reform and development in Myanmar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on granting full rights and protections to those who return, the same as they have received in the countries where they have been living, as well as remove their names from the country’s immigration blacklist, Kyaw Tin said. (Courtesy of rfa.org)
The move is the latest effort by the new civilian-led government under President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to make right the wrongs of the past in their push for democratic reform and development in Myanmar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on granting full rights and protections to those who return, the same as they have received in the countries where they have been living, as well as remove their names from the country’s immigration blacklist, Kyaw Tin said. (Courtesy of rfa.org)
Shells hit Indian border bridge
Residents have called for tighter border security after both heavy and light weapons were fired at Nanthalet bridge between Mintha and Myothit villages in Tamu district, Sagaing Region, on the Indian border on May 25. No casualties were reported.
"Villagers told me by phone that the weapons were fired from India at the bridge when people were crossing it. Shells were also found there. A dog died but no one lives there," said Myint Zaw, chairman of Tamu Township National League for Democracy.
He said the bridge had been damaged three times, in 2012, 2014 and now. Before 2012, there was a checkpoint near the bridge and villagers wanted security measures to return, he added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
"Villagers told me by phone that the weapons were fired from India at the bridge when people were crossing it. Shells were also found there. A dog died but no one lives there," said Myint Zaw, chairman of Tamu Township National League for Democracy.
He said the bridge had been damaged three times, in 2012, 2014 and now. Before 2012, there was a checkpoint near the bridge and villagers wanted security measures to return, he added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Farewell reception for the Indian Ambassador
Indian Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya says he will miss Myanmar.
Speaking at a farewell reception on Tuesday, he said: “I almost feel astrologically connected to this country.”
The Indian ambassador will soon leave office after completing his three-year-mission in Myanmar and return to India. Apparently touched by this experience he underlined the kindness and loveliness of the country and its people. “I feel very much at home here,” he said. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
Speaking at a farewell reception on Tuesday, he said: “I almost feel astrologically connected to this country.”
The Indian ambassador will soon leave office after completing his three-year-mission in Myanmar and return to India. Apparently touched by this experience he underlined the kindness and loveliness of the country and its people. “I feel very much at home here,” he said. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
Minister to meet student representatives
Student Unions and the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) have formed the Nationwide Federation of Student Unions which will meet Education Minister Dr Myo Thein Gyi at the Higher Education Department on May 29.
The new federation is asking to discuss student participation in the Advanced Education Bill, to allow student unions to form officially and to establish cooperation with the government, said representative Zeyar Lwin.
“It’s the first meeting between the new government and students. The minister invited us,” Zeyar Lwin said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The new federation is asking to discuss student participation in the Advanced Education Bill, to allow student unions to form officially and to establish cooperation with the government, said representative Zeyar Lwin.
“It’s the first meeting between the new government and students. The minister invited us,” Zeyar Lwin said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Some Myanmar citizens reject Suu Kyi's call to avoid terms like 'Rohingya' and 'Bengali'
Some Myanmar citizens have rejected their State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s suggestion to avoid the use of terms like "Rohingya" or "Bengali" to describe the beleaguered community.
Ms Suu Kyi said the terms will not help resolve the discrimination against them. The Rohingyas have said they should be recognised as one Myanmar's ethnic groups, while the government said they are Bengalis, who are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
“The reason why I said we have got to be very firm about not using emotive terms is because emotive terms make it very difficult for us to find a peaceful and sensible resolution of our problems,” said Ms Suu Kyi. She did not offer an alternative name for the community.
Some Rohingyas are concerned about the repercussions of not being able to use the term. (Courtesy of channelnewsasia.com)
Ms Suu Kyi said the terms will not help resolve the discrimination against them. The Rohingyas have said they should be recognised as one Myanmar's ethnic groups, while the government said they are Bengalis, who are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
“The reason why I said we have got to be very firm about not using emotive terms is because emotive terms make it very difficult for us to find a peaceful and sensible resolution of our problems,” said Ms Suu Kyi. She did not offer an alternative name for the community.
Some Rohingyas are concerned about the repercussions of not being able to use the term. (Courtesy of channelnewsasia.com)
Speaker nixes proposals to debate recent fighting
Two MPs who tried to urge parliament to act to stop outbreaks of fighting in Rakhine and Shan states say they have been sidelined by the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker. Last week, Daw Khin Saw Wai, an Arakan National Party MP for Rathedaung township, Rakhine State, tried to submit an urgent proposal pressing the government to support the delivery of aid to displaced people in the north of the state. Speaker U Win Myint rejected the proposal.
And when Shan State’s Manton township MP Daw Nan Moe made a similar proposal on May 23 for aid to displaced families, the Speaker asked her to frame her remarks in a way that would not oblige the government to act.
“When I was about to submit an urgent proposal about displaced people and about education for displaced children, the Speaker asked me to change my proposal into a question,” Daw Nan Moe told The Myanmar Times on May 25. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
And when Shan State’s Manton township MP Daw Nan Moe made a similar proposal on May 23 for aid to displaced families, the Speaker asked her to frame her remarks in a way that would not oblige the government to act.
“When I was about to submit an urgent proposal about displaced people and about education for displaced children, the Speaker asked me to change my proposal into a question,” Daw Nan Moe told The Myanmar Times on May 25. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
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