Parliamentarians from across Southeast Asia today called on ASEAN leaders to make good on commitments included in the Sunnylands Declaration, which was unveiled at the end of this week’s US-ASEAN Summit in California.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) specifically noted commitments to strengthen democracy, promote and protect human rights, and work toward inclusive economic development, but voiced wariness over the resolve of ASEAN leaders to follow through.
“ASEAN leaders have made these kinds of commitments before, including in the ASEAN Charter, but what has come of it? Up until now, we’ve seen backsliding, rather than progress,” said APHR Chairperson and Malaysian MP Charles Santiago.
“In order for things to be different this time, ASEAN leaders must step up to the plate and make good on their promises. That means taking concrete steps, including restoring democracy in Thailand and ending the persecution of opposition leaders in Cambodia and Malaysia, among many other to-dos.” (Courtesy of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights)
February 18, 2016
Trafficked Rohingya Woman Face Risk of Repartriation to Myanmar
A lonely and helpless Rohingya woman smuggled into India by human traffickers has been currently in a Government-Run’Ladies-Shelter’ home in Dehradun city, India.
The authorities of the shelter home who are willing to repatriate her to Arakan state, Myanmar, find it difficult to do so as she has lost contacts with her relatives for a long time. She is identified to be ‘Miss Najiba daughter of Syed Alam and Noor Bahar from Kyein Chaung (Boli Bazaar) village, Maungdaw Township.
“Kindly help us find her parents (mobile number, address, etc.) so that we can repatriate her to Burma and reunite with her parents.
She seems to be a victim of human trafficking and has been rescued by the Government of India,” says in a letter written to a Rohingya Vision by Manoj Chandran, an in-charge person of the shelter home. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
The authorities of the shelter home who are willing to repatriate her to Arakan state, Myanmar, find it difficult to do so as she has lost contacts with her relatives for a long time. She is identified to be ‘Miss Najiba daughter of Syed Alam and Noor Bahar from Kyein Chaung (Boli Bazaar) village, Maungdaw Township.
“Kindly help us find her parents (mobile number, address, etc.) so that we can repatriate her to Burma and reunite with her parents.
She seems to be a victim of human trafficking and has been rescued by the Government of India,” says in a letter written to a Rohingya Vision by Manoj Chandran, an in-charge person of the shelter home. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)
Burma President Thein Sein Cancels ASEAN Trip for Fear of Rohingya Genocide Charge
Last year in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, President Barack Obama announced that he would convene a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Late in December the White House set the date for the summit, Feb.15-16 2016 at the “Camp David of the West Coast,” Sunnylands, California. President Thein Sein of Burma was among the leaders who were confirmed for the summit. However, just four days before the summit began Thein Sein surprisingly canceled his trip and sent Vice President Nyan Htun in his place.
Originally, the reason given for the cancellation was that Thein Sein “had other business to attend to.” Since then the Burmese government has stated that President Thein Sein wouldn’t attend the two-day summit because he is committed to presiding over the “transition of political power” from his government’s military-backed rule to Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected National League for Democracy (NLD). (Courtesy of The Chicago Monitor)
Originally, the reason given for the cancellation was that Thein Sein “had other business to attend to.” Since then the Burmese government has stated that President Thein Sein wouldn’t attend the two-day summit because he is committed to presiding over the “transition of political power” from his government’s military-backed rule to Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected National League for Democracy (NLD). (Courtesy of The Chicago Monitor)
February 17, 2016
Suu Kyi meets Myanmar's military chief again as transition talks drag on
Aung San Suu Kyi met again with Myanmar's powerful commander-in-chief on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post by his office, as talks over a protracted political transition drag on and amid reports that the military chief has secured a five-year extension.
The meeting is the third between Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Suu Kyi since her National League for Democracy (NLD) won a sweeping victory at the Nov. 8 general election, securing some 80 percent of elected seats in parliament.
The post on the page of the commander-in-chief's office said that discussions in Naypyitaw, the capital, lasted just over an hour and focused on "the rule of law and achieving everlasting peace." Top aides from the NLD and military were both present.
The meetings between Suu Kyi and Min Aung Hlaing, the last of which took place in late January, have been closely watched by the Myanmar public, but neither side has divulged the content of the talks. (Courtesy of Reuters)
The meeting is the third between Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Suu Kyi since her National League for Democracy (NLD) won a sweeping victory at the Nov. 8 general election, securing some 80 percent of elected seats in parliament.
The post on the page of the commander-in-chief's office said that discussions in Naypyitaw, the capital, lasted just over an hour and focused on "the rule of law and achieving everlasting peace." Top aides from the NLD and military were both present.
The meetings between Suu Kyi and Min Aung Hlaing, the last of which took place in late January, have been closely watched by the Myanmar public, but neither side has divulged the content of the talks. (Courtesy of Reuters)
Parliament Not for Self-Promotion, Suu Kyi Tells MPs
National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told Union MPs that they are not to use their positions to further themselves or their own interests, at an international training programme for freshman lawmakers in Myanmar’s capital on Monday.
Addressing hundreds of newly-minted MPs in the Union parliament building, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that those assembled had been elected to represent the national interest.
“MPs are in the parliament to represent the people, not representing themselves,” she said. “The Hluttaw is not a place for self-interest or self-promotion. It is not a boxing ring to host fights between people of different opinions. It is a place for all to work together for the benefit of the country.” (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Addressing hundreds of newly-minted MPs in the Union parliament building, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that those assembled had been elected to represent the national interest.
“MPs are in the parliament to represent the people, not representing themselves,” she said. “The Hluttaw is not a place for self-interest or self-promotion. It is not a boxing ring to host fights between people of different opinions. It is a place for all to work together for the benefit of the country.” (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Thousands displaced in Myanmar rebel clashes: UN
Heavy fighting in the northern state of Shan broke out last week between the Restoration Council for Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta?ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
It is a rare instance of the country's ethnic armed groups turning on each other and comes during a complicated transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.
"We are receiving reports that more than 3,000 people have been displaced in the past week," said Mark Cutts, country head of the UN?s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
He said most of them were being housed in monasteries in the town of Kyaukme and receiving help from local groups and the Myanmar Red Cross.
Kyaukme's lower-house MP Sai Tun Aung told parliament in an emergency debate on the issue that locals have reported teachers and students fleeing on foot to escape arrests, killings and arson attacks being carried out by "an armed group moving around the region". (Courtesy of Yahoo 7)
It is a rare instance of the country's ethnic armed groups turning on each other and comes during a complicated transition from an army-backed government to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.
"We are receiving reports that more than 3,000 people have been displaced in the past week," said Mark Cutts, country head of the UN?s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
He said most of them were being housed in monasteries in the town of Kyaukme and receiving help from local groups and the Myanmar Red Cross.
Kyaukme's lower-house MP Sai Tun Aung told parliament in an emergency debate on the issue that locals have reported teachers and students fleeing on foot to escape arrests, killings and arson attacks being carried out by "an armed group moving around the region". (Courtesy of Yahoo 7)
Aung Myo Min: ‘Treat Us as Human Beings, Not as a Problem’
U Aung Myo Min is one of Myanmar’s best-known LGBT activists. He fled to Thailand after the 1988 anti-government uprising, joining the All Burma Students Democratic Front movement, before studying human rights at Columbia University in New York.
In 2012, he returned to Myanmar for the first time in 23 years, where he devoted his attention to the issues facing the country’s LGBT people. His story – which includes the torture and death of his partner during the anti-government struggle – is documented in the award-winning movie “This Kind of Love”.
What is some of the work Equality Myanmar is currently doing in Myanmar?
We have three strategies. First is the empowerment of LGBT people, so we are working on community-based activities and social events, for example hosting the IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) on May 17.
The second part is through the media. We educate non-LGBT people about how to understand what LGBT is, and about discrimination of people based on sexual orientation. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
In 2012, he returned to Myanmar for the first time in 23 years, where he devoted his attention to the issues facing the country’s LGBT people. His story – which includes the torture and death of his partner during the anti-government struggle – is documented in the award-winning movie “This Kind of Love”.
What is some of the work Equality Myanmar is currently doing in Myanmar?
We have three strategies. First is the empowerment of LGBT people, so we are working on community-based activities and social events, for example hosting the IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) on May 17.
The second part is through the media. We educate non-LGBT people about how to understand what LGBT is, and about discrimination of people based on sexual orientation. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)