Some of the world’s most influential voices on Burma participated in an urgently organised conference on Southeast Asia’s Rohingya migrant crisis in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, UN Special Rapporteur to Burma Prof. Yanghee Lee and Malaysia’s former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, were among those who took part in the ‘Oslo conference to end Myanmar’s persecution of Rohingya since 1976’, which was held at the Norwegian Institute and Vorksenaasan Conference Centre.
The recent influx of migrants into Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia who had been abandoned at sea following a Thai crackdown on trafficking has led to increased international attention on the situation of the Rohingya in recent weeks. The International Organization for Migration said that over 3,600 people had disembarked in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh since the beginning of the crisis. (Courtesy of dvb.no)
May 28, 2016
Debate Over Burma’s Household Guest Registration Law Intensifies
A bill to amend and repeal sections of Burma’s colonial-era law requiring citizens to report overnight guests continues to face hurdles in Parliament.
Drafted and submitted to the Upper House of Parliament by the Bill Committee in early May, a bill revoking all sections of the original Ward or Village Tract Administration Law referring to overnight guest registration was tabled by elected parliamentarians and military lawmakers from May 20 until May 24. It was met with divided opinions.
Maintaining that there was no need for the new bill, military lawmakers said that national security would be in jeopardy if the bill were approved, while National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers argued that the new bill aligned with democratic norms and preserved freedom of movement for citizens. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Drafted and submitted to the Upper House of Parliament by the Bill Committee in early May, a bill revoking all sections of the original Ward or Village Tract Administration Law referring to overnight guest registration was tabled by elected parliamentarians and military lawmakers from May 20 until May 24. It was met with divided opinions.
Maintaining that there was no need for the new bill, military lawmakers said that national security would be in jeopardy if the bill were approved, while National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers argued that the new bill aligned with democratic norms and preserved freedom of movement for citizens. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Suu Kyi: Development key to stabilizing Rakhine State
Myanmar’s state counselor-cum-foreign minister Aung San Suu Kyi has underlined that economic development is the key to stability in a troubled impoverished western state that is home to a majority of the country’s Rohingya Muslim population.
State media reported Saturday that the leader of the country's ruling National League for Democracy had discussed matters related to peace and tranquility in Rakhine, development undertakings and a citizenship verification process with cabinet members and the chief minister of the state's regional government in political capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
“Aung San Suu Kyi said she believes the peace and stability of Rakhine state depends on development,” a government official from the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population told Anadolu Agency on Saturday. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
State media reported Saturday that the leader of the country's ruling National League for Democracy had discussed matters related to peace and tranquility in Rakhine, development undertakings and a citizenship verification process with cabinet members and the chief minister of the state's regional government in political capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
“Aung San Suu Kyi said she believes the peace and stability of Rakhine state depends on development,” a government official from the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population told Anadolu Agency on Saturday. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
TOP UN OFFICIAL IN MYANMAR DENIES RAKHINE ALLEGATIONS
The United Nations resident coordinator, Ms Renata Lok-Dessallien, has denied that the UN was prioritising development over human rights in Rakhine State.
Ms Lok-Dessallien, the highest ranking UN official in Myanmar, was responding to a series of allegations published by VICE News on May 22.
The news website said the allegations were made in a independent report commissioned by the UN to review “the human rights implications” of its record in Rakhine, titled: “A slippery slope: Helping victims or supporting victims of abuse.”
The report found that the “situation in Rakhine state is forcing international institutions into complicity with systematic abuses” against Rohingya Muslims, partly because of “excessive self-censorship” on rights issues. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Ms Lok-Dessallien, the highest ranking UN official in Myanmar, was responding to a series of allegations published by VICE News on May 22.
The news website said the allegations were made in a independent report commissioned by the UN to review “the human rights implications” of its record in Rakhine, titled: “A slippery slope: Helping victims or supporting victims of abuse.”
The report found that the “situation in Rakhine state is forcing international institutions into complicity with systematic abuses” against Rohingya Muslims, partly because of “excessive self-censorship” on rights issues. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Manipur ambush update: Army combing operations across Indo-Myanmar border
Unconfirmed reports have arrived of army combing operations from across the border in Myanmar.
This comes post the militants’ ambush carried out which killed a junior commissioned officer and five soldiers of the Assam Rifles were in the afternoon of May 22. The Army has since said it will hit back hard on the militants and news now comes that the combing operations to nab insurgents responsible for gunning down the six personnel has crossed over the border where targets were hit.
It may be be noted that the Indo-Myanmar border is about 25-30 km from Joupi in Chandel district, where the Assam Rifles convoy was ambushed recently. (Courtesy of thenortheasttoday.com)
This comes post the militants’ ambush carried out which killed a junior commissioned officer and five soldiers of the Assam Rifles were in the afternoon of May 22. The Army has since said it will hit back hard on the militants and news now comes that the combing operations to nab insurgents responsible for gunning down the six personnel has crossed over the border where targets were hit.
It may be be noted that the Indo-Myanmar border is about 25-30 km from Joupi in Chandel district, where the Assam Rifles convoy was ambushed recently. (Courtesy of thenortheasttoday.com)
Investing in peace in Myanmar
International Alert has contributed to a two-day workshop with the private sector in Myanmar exploring how the adoption of responsible business practices is crucial to supporting sustainable development in the country.
The workshop was organised by the Kaw Lah Foundation, with technical assistance from the Peace Nexus Foundation and the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and aimed to raise awareness about conflict-sensitive business practices and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The importance of businesses engaging with their local communities to ensure they complied with the principles of “do no harm”, while also making positive contributions towards peace, was emphasised, with workshop facilitators using various tools and methods to ensure all participants understood the key messages. (Courtesy of international-alert.org)
The workshop was organised by the Kaw Lah Foundation, with technical assistance from the Peace Nexus Foundation and the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and aimed to raise awareness about conflict-sensitive business practices and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The importance of businesses engaging with their local communities to ensure they complied with the principles of “do no harm”, while also making positive contributions towards peace, was emphasised, with workshop facilitators using various tools and methods to ensure all participants understood the key messages. (Courtesy of international-alert.org)
Vietnam invites Suu Kyi to talks
Vietnam has invited Aung San Suu Kyi to attend the ninth joint commission meeting for bilateral cooperation it is hosting.
The invitation was made when the foreign minister, Suu Kyi, received the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vũ Hồng Nam at her office.
“We have regular bilateral meetings with Vietnam. The eighth meeting was held in Myanmar with the next in Vietnam. Our foreign minister was invited,” said Director General Kyaw Zaya from the foreign ministry. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The invitation was made when the foreign minister, Suu Kyi, received the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vũ Hồng Nam at her office.
“We have regular bilateral meetings with Vietnam. The eighth meeting was held in Myanmar with the next in Vietnam. Our foreign minister was invited,” said Director General Kyaw Zaya from the foreign ministry. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Unleashing Myanmar’s agricultural potential
Myanmar’s unusually fertile soils and abundant water source are legendary in Southeast Asia. It is even said that Myanmar has the most favorable agricultural conditions in all of Asia. Almost anything can be grown in the country, from fruits to vegetables, from rice to pulses. The agriculture sector dominates the economy, contributing 38% of GDP, and employing more than 60% of the workforce. The importance of agriculture in the economy and as an employer will diminish in coming years as a result of structural transformation. However, the sector will continue to play a remarkable role in reducing poverty in Myanmar for many years to come.
Myanmar’s farming systems are well diversified. A recent farm economics study by the World Bank and LIFT (Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund) found that most farms produce paddy during monsoon season but grow a variety of other crops such as beans and pluses, oil seeds, and maize during dry season. This is a very positive development as it helps to strengthen resilience of farming systems and effectively manage water during dry spells. In addition, the rice consumption per person is lower than reported in official statistics (132 kg instead of reported 175 kg). This shows that people’s food basket consists of more proteins or vegetables in addition to rice, which is very important to combat Myanmar’s high levels of malnutrition. (Courtesy of blogs.worldbank.org)
Myanmar’s farming systems are well diversified. A recent farm economics study by the World Bank and LIFT (Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund) found that most farms produce paddy during monsoon season but grow a variety of other crops such as beans and pluses, oil seeds, and maize during dry season. This is a very positive development as it helps to strengthen resilience of farming systems and effectively manage water during dry spells. In addition, the rice consumption per person is lower than reported in official statistics (132 kg instead of reported 175 kg). This shows that people’s food basket consists of more proteins or vegetables in addition to rice, which is very important to combat Myanmar’s high levels of malnutrition. (Courtesy of blogs.worldbank.org)
Last of initial Nauru refugees leaves Cambodia for Iran
An Iranian man who arrived in Cambodia last year as part of a group of refugees that took up a costly and controversial Australian resettlement offer has already left the Southeast Asian country after less than a year.
His departure, which was confirmed Friday by International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Joe Lowry, means none of that original group remains in Cambodia, where they were transferred after being detained by Australia on the South Pacific island of Nauru. (Courtesy of turkishweekly.net)
His departure, which was confirmed Friday by International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Joe Lowry, means none of that original group remains in Cambodia, where they were transferred after being detained by Australia on the South Pacific island of Nauru. (Courtesy of turkishweekly.net)
The Andaman Sea refugee crisis a year on: is the region now better prepared?
If progress toward a “fix” on future forced displacement crises such as that which took place in the Andaman Sea a year ago was measured in the number of regional meetings that have taken place, it would be plentiful.
Since the temporary resolution of the crisis was announced on May 29, 2015, at the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean in Bangkok, there have been an unprecedented number of meetings in the region. (Courtesy of theconversation.com)
Since the temporary resolution of the crisis was announced on May 29, 2015, at the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean in Bangkok, there have been an unprecedented number of meetings in the region. (Courtesy of theconversation.com)
36 Rohingya refugees resettled in the US
One year after landing in Malaysia, following a harrowing ordeal in the Bay of Bengal, 36 Rohingya refugees have been resettled in the United States.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the 36 refugees departed Malaysia early Thursday morning under its resettlement programme.
The refugees had been released from the Belantik Immigration Detention Centre the previous afternoon. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the 36 refugees departed Malaysia early Thursday morning under its resettlement programme.
The refugees had been released from the Belantik Immigration Detention Centre the previous afternoon. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
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