In comments certain to infuriate Thailand’s military government, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has likened the situation in his country to that in Myanmar under junta rule.
A draft constitution released last month by a panel appointed by Thailand’s junta was a “charade” to show the country was returning to normal, the Asian Wall Street Journal quoted Mr Thaksin as saying. “But in reality, it would be like Myanmar before its political reforms,” he said in the interview in Singapore on February 21.
“There would be a prime minister, but the real power would be in some politburo above him and the economy would suffer. No other government would want to touch Thailand.”
Mr Thaksin, who was also interviewed by the Financial Times, said the draft constitution was “a waste of time and a waste of manpower”.
“If this constitution is implemented, Thailand will be taking a step backwards,” he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
February 22, 2016
UN support still necessary in improving Burmese rights scenario: AI
As Burma (Myanmar) is going to have a new government at NayPieTaw by next few weeks with more non-military Parliamentarians, expectation for improving human rights across the southeast Asian country has been emerged. However, an international rights body cautioned that quasi-democratic nation still needs the supports from UN Human Rights Council.
“When it assumes power at the beginning of April 2016, Myanmar’s new government will be confronted with a wide range of human rights challenges, and it is unclear, at this stage, what capacity it will have to address them. The Council’s attention on the human rights situation in Myanmar is still necessary to ensure the new government receives the support it needs to fulfill its international human rights obligations and commitments,” said Amnesty International (AI).
An AI statement, issued recently by Laura Haigh, also added that the new NayPieTaw administration would need to take swift action to address discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, in particular the Rohingya and other Muslims. (Courtesy of Review Nepal News)
“When it assumes power at the beginning of April 2016, Myanmar’s new government will be confronted with a wide range of human rights challenges, and it is unclear, at this stage, what capacity it will have to address them. The Council’s attention on the human rights situation in Myanmar is still necessary to ensure the new government receives the support it needs to fulfill its international human rights obligations and commitments,” said Amnesty International (AI).
An AI statement, issued recently by Laura Haigh, also added that the new NayPieTaw administration would need to take swift action to address discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, in particular the Rohingya and other Muslims. (Courtesy of Review Nepal News)
Prison Food 101
Life is grim for prisoners in Myanmar, and the food is no exception. With the transfer of power to a National League for Democracy government imminent, many are hopeful that Myanmar’s remaining political prisoners will soon be free. Based on the fare served on the inside, one of the first things they’ll do when they get out is eat a decent meal.
“They give you enough to survive but that’s it,” said Ko Aung Hmaing San, who has been detained at Thayawady prison since the crackdown on student protestors and their supporters at Letpadan last March. “The food is so bad, it’s cooked badly… we need more nutrients and vitamins if we’re going to be healthy.”
Breakfast at Thayawady prison is plain congee, a flavourless gruel made from rice and water. Ko Aung Hmaing San called it “rice juice” and said the rice was of poor quality.
“At lunchtime we are treated to rice with bean soup and fish paste. The rice and the fish paste are really bad,” he added.
Meat or fish is available for non-vegetarians on Wednesdays and Sundays but dinner on other days is a watery vegetable soup containing “unidentified leaves”, he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
“They give you enough to survive but that’s it,” said Ko Aung Hmaing San, who has been detained at Thayawady prison since the crackdown on student protestors and their supporters at Letpadan last March. “The food is so bad, it’s cooked badly… we need more nutrients and vitamins if we’re going to be healthy.”
Breakfast at Thayawady prison is plain congee, a flavourless gruel made from rice and water. Ko Aung Hmaing San called it “rice juice” and said the rice was of poor quality.
“At lunchtime we are treated to rice with bean soup and fish paste. The rice and the fish paste are really bad,” he added.
Meat or fish is available for non-vegetarians on Wednesdays and Sundays but dinner on other days is a watery vegetable soup containing “unidentified leaves”, he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
OIL to conduct survey on Arakan basin in KA soon
Finally, state-run Oil India Ltd (OIL) will conduct a survey on Assam-Arakan basin in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district for exploration of huge deposit of oil and natural gas in the hill district, official sources informed here on Sunday.
A team of senior officials of the oil company comprising Diponjoy Daulaguphu, Tridip Hazarika, Diganta Borah, Pallav Borgohain and MR Deuri held two separate meetings with Karbi Anglong DC Mukul Gogoi and officials of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on February 4 and 5 to discuss various aspects of the survey work, especially on the security measures for the officials and the staff to be engaged in survey operations.
The OIL will conduct the survey in search of the Assam-Arakan basin at Dilaji, Doldoli, Dhansiri, Rongapahar and Maisibailam to assess the details stock of the oil deposit.
Both officials of KAAC and district administration assured the officials of OIL for giving full cooperation and help in conducting the survey, sources said. (Courtesy of Nagaland Post)
A team of senior officials of the oil company comprising Diponjoy Daulaguphu, Tridip Hazarika, Diganta Borah, Pallav Borgohain and MR Deuri held two separate meetings with Karbi Anglong DC Mukul Gogoi and officials of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on February 4 and 5 to discuss various aspects of the survey work, especially on the security measures for the officials and the staff to be engaged in survey operations.
The OIL will conduct the survey in search of the Assam-Arakan basin at Dilaji, Doldoli, Dhansiri, Rongapahar and Maisibailam to assess the details stock of the oil deposit.
Both officials of KAAC and district administration assured the officials of OIL for giving full cooperation and help in conducting the survey, sources said. (Courtesy of Nagaland Post)
February 21, 2016
Despite a hopeful election, full democracy is still uncertain in Myanmar
The sight of hundreds of freely elected members of Myanmar's Parliament — former political prisoners among them — at the opening of its legislative session earlier this month was testament to the Southeast Asian country's extraordinary journey from military-run pariah state to would-be democracy. Only five years ago, Myanmar was under the control of a military junta with little respect for elections. But last November, the opposition National League for Democracy Party, led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, won an astonishing 80% of the contested seats in Parliament.
This transition is far from complete, however, and its most difficult tests lie ahead. Per Myanmar's constitution, the military still controls 25% of the seats in Parliament and three top ministerial posts. The constitution also forbids anyone with a spouse or child of foreign citizenship from becoming president. This stricture was intended to bar Suu Kyi — a former political prisoner whose late husband was a British citizen and whose two sons are as well — from becoming president, even though she has been the face of Myanmar's democracy movement for nearly three decades. Suu Kyi's party certainly has the votes in Parliament to pick the president it wants — except Suu Kyi. A member of Parliament herself, she has made no secret of her desire to be president. In fact, she has indicated that if she isn't chosen, she intends to exert great control over whoever is. (Courtesy of LA Times)
This transition is far from complete, however, and its most difficult tests lie ahead. Per Myanmar's constitution, the military still controls 25% of the seats in Parliament and three top ministerial posts. The constitution also forbids anyone with a spouse or child of foreign citizenship from becoming president. This stricture was intended to bar Suu Kyi — a former political prisoner whose late husband was a British citizen and whose two sons are as well — from becoming president, even though she has been the face of Myanmar's democracy movement for nearly three decades. Suu Kyi's party certainly has the votes in Parliament to pick the president it wants — except Suu Kyi. A member of Parliament herself, she has made no secret of her desire to be president. In fact, she has indicated that if she isn't chosen, she intends to exert great control over whoever is. (Courtesy of LA Times)
US embassy raises alarm at fighting in northern Myanmar
The U.S. embassy in Yangon said it was "deeply concerned" over clashes involving ethnic armed groups and the military in northern Myanmar that have displaced thousands of people, warning that the violence threatened to unravel the country's delicate peace process.
Heavy bouts of fighting broke out last week in Shan state between two ethnic rebel groups in the region, the Restoration Council for Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The flare-up of violence comes during a complicated political transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party, which dominated historic polls last year.
"The U.S. embassy is deeply concerned about ongoing clashes in Shan State involving the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the military," the embassy said in a statement published Friday evening. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Heavy bouts of fighting broke out last week in Shan state between two ethnic rebel groups in the region, the Restoration Council for Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The flare-up of violence comes during a complicated political transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party, which dominated historic polls last year.
"The U.S. embassy is deeply concerned about ongoing clashes in Shan State involving the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the military," the embassy said in a statement published Friday evening. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Ethnic Media Conference demands equal opportunity for media
Ethnic media reporters, editors and publication owners are calling on the Myanmar government, parliament and legislative assembles across the country to recognize them like the mainstream media as they are also working in the role of fourth estate.
The fourth ethnic media conference was held in Mrauk U, Rakhine State from February 14 to 16 under the theme, “Peace and Reconciliation through Ethnic Media.”
A total of over 200 representatives attended, with the opening speech given by Rakhine State Chief Minister Mya Aung. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The fourth ethnic media conference was held in Mrauk U, Rakhine State from February 14 to 16 under the theme, “Peace and Reconciliation through Ethnic Media.”
A total of over 200 representatives attended, with the opening speech given by Rakhine State Chief Minister Mya Aung. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
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