Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi is globally revered for her patient, peaceful struggle for democracy, which will finally see her take power next week – but a clash revealed in a new biography of her paints a rather different picture.
According to the book, Ms Suu Kyi lost her temper after a robust interview with BBC Today programme presenter Mishal Husain and muttered off-air: “No-one told me I was going to be interviewed by a Muslim.”
The book reveals that the 70-year-old president of Burma's National League for Democracy refused to condemn anti-Islamic sentiment and massacres of Muslims in Burma when she was repeatedly asked to do so by Husain, the first Muslim presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, during the interview. (Courtesy of Telegraph)
March 25, 2016
Alarm sounded on Yangon air pollution
Air pollution is becoming more noticeable in Yangon and its effects can be seen throughout the former capital.
In 2015, looking from Mahabandoola Bridge across the bustling downtown area, it was possible to have a sharp, clear view of the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda.
These days the view of the city from bridge is not completely clear and the Shwedagon Pagoda is slightly obscured by the tiny particles that cause pollution.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere that can cause serious respiratory problems.
The minute particles in the air that contribute to pollution can include chemicals such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrochloride. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
In 2015, looking from Mahabandoola Bridge across the bustling downtown area, it was possible to have a sharp, clear view of the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda.
These days the view of the city from bridge is not completely clear and the Shwedagon Pagoda is slightly obscured by the tiny particles that cause pollution.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere that can cause serious respiratory problems.
The minute particles in the air that contribute to pollution can include chemicals such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrochloride. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Htin Kyaw to take oath on March 30
President-elect Htin Kyaw will take the oath of office and deliver a state of the union address at Parliament on March 30, according to Win Htein, a central executive member of the National League for Democracy.
Two vice-presidents and new ministers will take the oath on the same day. The power transfer will run as previously planned, he added.
Only six MPs from the NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are included in the list of 18 ministers proposed by Htin Kyaw.
“On March 30, Htin Kyaw is sworn in as president with the ministers. Afterwards, Htin Kyaw will deliver an address at the Parliament. Htin Kyaw and ministers will proceed to the presidential house. President Thein Sein and outgoing ministers will wait for them there. There will be a handover of insignia at the diplomatic hall. The outgoing president and ministers will introduce staff to the new comers. President Thein Sein will leave the house.” (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Two vice-presidents and new ministers will take the oath on the same day. The power transfer will run as previously planned, he added.
Only six MPs from the NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are included in the list of 18 ministers proposed by Htin Kyaw.
“On March 30, Htin Kyaw is sworn in as president with the ministers. Afterwards, Htin Kyaw will deliver an address at the Parliament. Htin Kyaw and ministers will proceed to the presidential house. President Thein Sein and outgoing ministers will wait for them there. There will be a handover of insignia at the diplomatic hall. The outgoing president and ministers will introduce staff to the new comers. President Thein Sein will leave the house.” (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Rakhine government talks to continue after no breakthrough
National League for Democracy (NLD) officials said the party had reiterated its position that the Rakhine chief minister would come from the ranks of the NLD despite ANP demands it should be given the top post. Talks are to continue next week, they said.
Tensions are rising in Rakhine State over the issue. Several hundred ANP supporters demonstrated in Sittwe on March 23 to press for the chief minister to be appointed from the ANP, which won a majority of the state’s elected MPs last November with its strong defence of Rakhine’s Buddhist community.
On the request of the ANP, MPs from both sides met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss formation of the government. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, looking tense, led the NLD team, reflecting the importance of the dispute. Their talks lasted more than an hour. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Tensions are rising in Rakhine State over the issue. Several hundred ANP supporters demonstrated in Sittwe on March 23 to press for the chief minister to be appointed from the ANP, which won a majority of the state’s elected MPs last November with its strong defence of Rakhine’s Buddhist community.
On the request of the ANP, MPs from both sides met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss formation of the government. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, looking tense, led the NLD team, reflecting the importance of the dispute. Their talks lasted more than an hour. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
UN extends mandate of special rapporteur
The United Nations agreed yesterday to extend the role of a human rights monitor for Myanmar for another year and called on the new government to strengthen rule of law and ensure better protections for minority groups.
The special rapporteur’s mandate, which was reviewed at the 31st Human Rights Council last week, was particularly contentious this year as she will be reporting on the National League for Democracy-backed government, which will take office on April 1.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed to investigate, monitor and report on human rights abuses. The outgoing government has argued vociferously that there is no need for such oversight and lobbied hard for the position to be abolished.
Some rights groups feared that in the wake of last November’s peaceful parliamentary election which the NLD won in a landslide, the special rapporteur for Myanmar would be given a downgraded role restricted to providing technical assistance. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The special rapporteur’s mandate, which was reviewed at the 31st Human Rights Council last week, was particularly contentious this year as she will be reporting on the National League for Democracy-backed government, which will take office on April 1.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed to investigate, monitor and report on human rights abuses. The outgoing government has argued vociferously that there is no need for such oversight and lobbied hard for the position to be abolished.
Some rights groups feared that in the wake of last November’s peaceful parliamentary election which the NLD won in a landslide, the special rapporteur for Myanmar would be given a downgraded role restricted to providing technical assistance. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Guest registration changes tipped to win NLD ‘goodwill’
On March 21, the NLD proposed abolishing the requirement to report overnight guests, a measure long used by Myanmar’s military to justify unannounced household inspections that infringed on privacy and created a climate of fear and intimidation.
The provision in the Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law was mainly used to target social and political activists, as the junta used it as a pretext to enter their houses in order to stifle dissent, and caused problems for people without household or identification papers.
For the broader population, the registration requirement is inconvenient and costly. Those living outside the residence stated on their household list – particularly common for migrants and renters – must register weekly with ward or village-tract officials, typically paying an under-the-table fee for permission. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The provision in the Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law was mainly used to target social and political activists, as the junta used it as a pretext to enter their houses in order to stifle dissent, and caused problems for people without household or identification papers.
For the broader population, the registration requirement is inconvenient and costly. Those living outside the residence stated on their household list – particularly common for migrants and renters – must register weekly with ward or village-tract officials, typically paying an under-the-table fee for permission. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Local support keeps north Rakhine curfew in place
Despite the uneasy calm that has descended on Rakhine State since the outbreak of communal violence in 2012, there is little pressure in the north of the state to raise the strict curfew imposed at that time. Even in the Muslim-majority townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the measure seems to be grudgingly accepted, local residents say.
After the 2012 conflict, most of northern Rakhine State, including the state capital, Sittwe, promulgated a dusk-to-dawn curfew that was lifted two years ago. But the night-time clampdown is still in force in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, seemingly with the agreement of local residents – both Buddhist and Muslim – who say they fear a resurgence of unrest if it is raised.
Ethnic Rakhine Buthidaung resident U Maung Kyaw Thar, 59, said security conditions were precarious. “Unrest could recur at any time if the curfew is lifted. There are potential troublemakers on both sides,” he said. “With a curfew, nobody can go out at night, so you don’t have to worry about crime.”
Security in the townships is mostly the responsibility of the Myanmar Police Force, which operates in urban areas, and the Myanmar Border Police – formerly known as Na Sa Ka – which is mostly focused on rural areas. While police numbers are low, 10 battalions of border police are stationed across the two districts. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
After the 2012 conflict, most of northern Rakhine State, including the state capital, Sittwe, promulgated a dusk-to-dawn curfew that was lifted two years ago. But the night-time clampdown is still in force in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, seemingly with the agreement of local residents – both Buddhist and Muslim – who say they fear a resurgence of unrest if it is raised.
Ethnic Rakhine Buthidaung resident U Maung Kyaw Thar, 59, said security conditions were precarious. “Unrest could recur at any time if the curfew is lifted. There are potential troublemakers on both sides,” he said. “With a curfew, nobody can go out at night, so you don’t have to worry about crime.”
Security in the townships is mostly the responsibility of the Myanmar Police Force, which operates in urban areas, and the Myanmar Border Police – formerly known as Na Sa Ka – which is mostly focused on rural areas. While police numbers are low, 10 battalions of border police are stationed across the two districts. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
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