Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw today arrived at Bodh Gaya in Biharand offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple here.
Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddhais said to have attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee member ArvindKumar Singh said.
He also visited a Burmese monastery besides visiting a 80-feet tall Lord Buddha's statue and offered prayer there. (Courtesy of business-standard.com)
August 28, 2016
Actor jailed for overpass protest
Actor Tun Nge has been sentenced to two years and nine months in jail by Kamayut Township Court on August 26 for displaying a religious and national flag on his car, along with spray-painted abuse about the military. On March 1 he blocked Hledan overpass in Kamayut Township.
The actor was convicted under Section 505(b), Section 294, Section 295 and Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 16 of the Union Flag Law. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The actor was convicted under Section 505(b), Section 294, Section 295 and Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 16 of the Union Flag Law. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
USDP plays nationalist card on Annan commission
The Union Solidarity and Development Party issued a statement on August 25 criticising the formation of the advisory commission for Rakhine State ethnic tensions led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
The State Counsellor's Office is due to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon to establish the study of Buddhist-Muslim tensions in Rakhine State. It should include two other foreigners and six Myanmar nationals.
The former ruling party statement said: "The Rakhine issue is an internal affair only. Successive governments have been working on the restoration of peace and stability in Rakhine State. The inclusion of foreigners on the commission brings it to the international stage. The commission’s work will prioritise human rights and humanitarian aid, turning a blind eye to national affairs and state security," the statement said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The State Counsellor's Office is due to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon to establish the study of Buddhist-Muslim tensions in Rakhine State. It should include two other foreigners and six Myanmar nationals.
The former ruling party statement said: "The Rakhine issue is an internal affair only. Successive governments have been working on the restoration of peace and stability in Rakhine State. The inclusion of foreigners on the commission brings it to the international stage. The commission’s work will prioritise human rights and humanitarian aid, turning a blind eye to national affairs and state security," the statement said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Rebels still waiting for Panglong invite
The government is yet to invite the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA) to attend next week's Panglong conference, according to Colonel Tar Phone Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA, on August 25.
“The TNLA is ready to participate in the 21st-century Panglong conference. But, there was no official invitation from the government,” said Tar Phone Kyaw.
MNDAA and AA have also said they wish to participate in Panglong on August 31.
“We have had no negotiations with the government’s commission but only discussed it with other armed groups. We have had no direct discussion, only via other groups,” said Tar Phon Kyaw. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
“The TNLA is ready to participate in the 21st-century Panglong conference. But, there was no official invitation from the government,” said Tar Phone Kyaw.
MNDAA and AA have also said they wish to participate in Panglong on August 31.
“We have had no negotiations with the government’s commission but only discussed it with other armed groups. We have had no direct discussion, only via other groups,” said Tar Phon Kyaw. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
August 18, 2016
Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims banned from teaching Holy Quran to their children
Myanmar authorities have recently decided to prevent Rohingya Muslim minority from teaching the Holy Qur'an and principles of the Islamic religion to their children, in an escalating move described by local observers as a risk to the future of the Islamic presence in Arakan State.
Arakan News Agency reported that the authorities summoned dozens of Rohingya teachers in a number of neighborhoods, south of Maungdaw city, and forced them to sign a written pledge not to engage in the future in teaching the Qur'an or anything related to Islamic religion even inside their homes.
The agency stated that the authorities have threatened to punish the teachers with more than 10-year imprisonment in the event of violating this decision, and that they would remain under monitoring over the next period. It added that there are indications of the authorities' pursuit to circulate this decision to other neighborhoods and cities in Arakan State. (Courtesy of ummid.com)
Arakan News Agency reported that the authorities summoned dozens of Rohingya teachers in a number of neighborhoods, south of Maungdaw city, and forced them to sign a written pledge not to engage in the future in teaching the Qur'an or anything related to Islamic religion even inside their homes.
The agency stated that the authorities have threatened to punish the teachers with more than 10-year imprisonment in the event of violating this decision, and that they would remain under monitoring over the next period. It added that there are indications of the authorities' pursuit to circulate this decision to other neighborhoods and cities in Arakan State. (Courtesy of ummid.com)
August 17, 2016
MP David Anderson in Myanmar with International Delegation
Local MP David Anderson is in Myanmar from August 16th until the 20th.
Anderson is traveling as part of an international delegation which will address threats to the right of freedom of religion in the country.
The trip is based around a report of a Muslim minority group in Myanmar being persecuted.
The Member of Parliament says reports of witnesses calling the persecution a "Genocide" and "Ethnic Cleansing" is a very serious matter to address. (Courtesy of swiftcurrentonline.com)
Anderson is traveling as part of an international delegation which will address threats to the right of freedom of religion in the country.
The trip is based around a report of a Muslim minority group in Myanmar being persecuted.
The Member of Parliament says reports of witnesses calling the persecution a "Genocide" and "Ethnic Cleansing" is a very serious matter to address. (Courtesy of swiftcurrentonline.com)
Sittwe included in ‘ambitious’ Indian pipelines plan
India is planning to lay nearly 7,000 kilometres of gas pipelines linking West Bengal and many of its northeastern states with Bangladesh and Myanmar, media reports said last week.
The “ambitious” plan was outlined by the executive director of India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Mr S.C. Soni, during a visit to the Tripura capital, Agartala, on August 13, the Hindustan Times reported.
He told reporters up to 6,900 km of pipelines would link Siliguri and Durgapur in West Bengal, most northeastern states, Sittwe in Rakhine State and the Bangladesh port of Chittagong.
The pipelines project was part of India’s Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 policy to double oil and natural gas production in the northeastern states and make more effective use of the energy.
Large quantities of gas at fields in the energy-rich northeast were being burned off because it could not be piped to consumers, Soni said. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
The “ambitious” plan was outlined by the executive director of India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Mr S.C. Soni, during a visit to the Tripura capital, Agartala, on August 13, the Hindustan Times reported.
He told reporters up to 6,900 km of pipelines would link Siliguri and Durgapur in West Bengal, most northeastern states, Sittwe in Rakhine State and the Bangladesh port of Chittagong.
The pipelines project was part of India’s Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 policy to double oil and natural gas production in the northeastern states and make more effective use of the energy.
Large quantities of gas at fields in the energy-rich northeast were being burned off because it could not be piped to consumers, Soni said. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
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