New Asian order: US Hillary way
20.07.2009 07:57:07 Hillary Clinton with her first Public appearance in India to establish Asian order here mere talk in Gurgaon giving bashing orders to India to reduce carbon emission norms look in tone of police officer asking the sovereign Indian government to follow the global norms to which She heads as the chief officer.Indian peoples are taken aback with such attitude of US Leaders making the statement in inimical style causing more harm to friendly ties which needs more sane diction and wordings.US efforts to bully India on Greehouse gas embission has given bad publicity to US in making firendly terms with India. India has categorically stated that it will not accept any legallybinding reductions in green house gas emissions.Young Union minister showed his maturity and put up his subject in
balance way with touch of responsibiliy of statesmanship.
(live-PR.com) - Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that New Delhi is not running away from its responsibilities and it has already launched a national plan to tackle the problem. Mr. Ramesh, flanked by the US Secretary of State Ms. Hillary Clinton, was talking to media persons after attending a conclave on Climate Change at Gurgaon. The Minister
asserted that India’s per capita emissions
will never exceed that of the developed countries. The Environment Minister agreed with Ms.Clinton that it is possible for the developed and developing countries to narrow their positions on climate change. He reiterated that India is willing to hold negotiations under the UN framework on climate
change. The framework exempts developing countries from taking any emission cuts while seeking such cut from the developed countries. He said the two countries have agreed on concrete partnerships in the area of energy efficiency during the discussions he had with Ms.Clinton. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said on July 15 that in India the secretary hopes to “broaden and strengthen the strategic partnership” between the United States and India,as well as highlight ongoing cooperation between Indians and Americans outside of government, in areas such as business, science and academia. Secretary Clinton and her Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, may be in a position to announce an agreement that allows U.S. companies to sell two nuclear reactors to India.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s from Monday onwards means business the United States looks forward to a broader engagement with India on global challenges such as climate change and nonproliferation.
Following stops in Mumbai and Delhi, Clinton’s July 17–23 trip will also take her to Thailand, where she will meet with her counterparts in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said July 15 that in India the secretary hopes to “broaden and strengthen the strategic partnership” between the United States and India, as well as highlight ongoing cooperation between Indians and Americans outside of government, in areas such as business, science and academia.
The United States and India are working on a monitoring agreement that would improve military-to-military cooperation and allow U.S. businesses to sell sensitive military equipment and technology to India. Under the agreement, the United States would be able to ensure that armaments it sells to India will be used as intended and the technology would not be leaked to third countries.“We hope to be able to sign that,” Blake said.
On July 20, Clinton and Krishna will announce “the elements of our new partnership,” Blake said. “Broadly speaking, what we’re going to do is continue the successful cooperation we’ve had on things like defense cooperation, counterterrorism, trade, while also forging new initiatives on things like agriculture, education, science and technology, and women’s empowerment.”
The civil nuclear agreement between the two countries remains “very much on track,” Blake said. In either July or August, India and the United States will likely begin talks on reprocessing uranium after India has filed a declaration of its safeguarded nuclear facilities with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
On climate change, the assistant secretary said both countries have been consulting on the United Nations climate change meeting scheduled for Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. The Indians have a chance to leapfrog older technologies and “adopt a clean-energy, low-carbon future,” Blake said.
Secretary Clinton will head the U.S. delegation to ASEAN’s regional forum in Phuket, Thailand, after meeting with Thai officials in Bangkok. U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel said that along with regional concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile activity, the forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss climate change, pandemic flu, and political repression in Burma.Thai Foreign Ministry, official Virasakdi Futrakul,chaired a working dinner on Saturday of ASEAN senior officials,told media that the officials discussed the plan during the meeting. Virasakdi said the plan will get approval from ASEAN foreign ministers who are scheduled to officially begin series of annual meetings on Monday on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket.
ASEAN foreign ministers schedule to begin series of annual meetings on Monday on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket.Indonesian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Imron Cotan said, "We have agreed to propose to our foreign ministers to issue a statement basically portraying that ASEAN countries are united to confront this act of terrorism." According to Virasakdi, the statement will say, "We condemn the act of terrorism that cause loss of innocent lives and urge the authorities to bring the culprits to justice." "We express the solidarity in supporting the Indonesian government and that ASEAN will remain steadfast in countering acts of terrorism in all manifestations," he added.
ASEAN officials were shocked by the tragic explosions which occurred at the tightly secured hotels, according to Virasakdi.Thailand has reinforced security in Phuket, which hosts some 1,000 delegates from the 10 ASEAN countries and 16 other countries for the annual meetings.More than 10,000 forces have been deployed after Thailand enacted an internal security act to quell antigovernment demonstrators.
Prohibitory act orders no demonstrations in the neighborhood of the meeting venue, covering six sub-districts of Thalang and the Kathu district of Phuket.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made no mention of Burma in her foreign policy speech in Washington this week, but she renewed the US offer to talk with the Iranian regime but the offer and opportunity would not remain indefinitely, she warned.Clinton is on her way to Asia this is her second trip to attend the 42th Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phuket. Whether she wants it or not, the Burma and North Korea issues will likely dominate the meeting. Clinton, who said she was deeply troubled by the decision by the Burmese regime to charge Suu Kyi with a baseless crime, is not unprepared to speak on the Burma issue, but a US policy review on Burma that began in February is still pending.US State Department officials said they expected the showdown over North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests and political repression in Myanmar to be among the leading topics that Clinton will discuss when she arrives.During her first trip to Jakarta, Clinton said, “Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn’t influenced the Burmese junta.” Then she added that the policy adopted by neighboring countries of “reaching out and trying to engage them has not influenced them, either.”The policy review on Burma is still pending, with the Obama administration wanting to take a different policy direction on Burma from the previous Bush administration. US new policy will probably be a mix of carrots and sticks, but recent events have complicated apparent indications favoring increased diplomacy and outreach from Washington towards Burma’s rulers.
Suu Kyi’s bizarre trial has played a role in the policy review other sensitive issues include the release of 2,100 political prisoners, the relationship with ethnic groups along the Burmese border with China and Thailand, and the upcoming election in 2010 then no doubt the issue of Burma’s shady relationship with North Korea will also play a part.
Though Washington’s policy review remains incomplete, the US is not without a policy and diplomatic tools. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Scot Marciel, assured that Clinton would bring up the issue of Burma during the meeting with Asean foreign ministers.“I don't want to try to predict exactly what Clinton going to say. I'm confident that she will raise Burma and express our concerns quite clearly,” Marciel said.
Secretary Clinton will head the U.S. delegation to ASEAN’s regional forum in Phuket, Thailand, after meeting with Thai officials in Bangkok. U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel said that along with regional concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile activity, the forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss climate change, pandemic flu, and political repression in Burma.
Marciel said the Obama administration’s review of its Burma policy is ongoing, and has been slowed by the military government’s recent arrests of opposition activists and the trial of National League for Democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. But he said the U.S. policy of promoting progress in Burma remains unchanged.
“By progress, I mean the beginning of a dialogue between the government and the opposition and the ethnic minority groups, release of political prisoners and improved governance and, we would hope, more of an opening to the international community,” he said.
In Phuket, Clinton will also hold a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to discuss Mekong River issues such as health and the environment. “This will be the first time that a secretary of state’s done such a meeting,” Marciel said.
Foreign ministers from the other five parties the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea will all be in Phuket.
ASEAN's conspicuous member Myanmar since joining the bloc in 1997, showed its defiance earlier this month by refusing to allow UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the opposition icon when he visited.ASEAN foreign ministers are further set to endorse a final version of the bloc's new human rights body, which has faced criticism for being unable to tackle persistent violators such as Myanmar.
Media agenies
Author:
Naresh Sagar
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Hillary Clinton to address Asean FM meet in Phuket
Thai Foreign Ministry, official Virasakdi Futrakul,chaired a working dinner of ASEAN senior officials,told media that the officials discussed the plan during the meeting. Virasakdi said the plan will get approval from ASEAN foreign ministers who are scheduled to officially begin series of annual meetings on Monday on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket.
ASEAN foreign ministers schedule to begin series of annual meetings on Monday on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket.Indonesian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Imron Cotan said, "We have agreed to propose to our foreign ministers to issue a statement basically portraying that ASEAN countries are united to confront this act of terrorism." According to Virasakdi, the statement will say, "We condemn the act of terrorism that cause loss of innocent lives and urge the authorities to bring the culprits to justice." "We express the solidarity in supporting the Indonesian government and that ASEAN will remain steadfast in countering acts of terrorism in all manifestations," he added.
ASEAN officials were shocked by the tragic explosions which occurred at the tightly secured hotels, according to Virasakdi.Thailand has reinforced security in Phuket, which hosts some 1,000 delegates from the 10 ASEAN countries and 16 other countries for the annual meetings.More than 10,000 forces have been deployed after Thailand enacted an internal security act to quell antigovernment demonstrators.
Prohibitory act orders no demonstrations in the neighborhood of the meeting venue, covering six sub-districts of Thalang and the Kathu district of Phuket.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made no mention of Burma in her foreign policy speech in Washington this week, but she renewed the US offer to talk with the Iranian regime—but the offer and opportunity would not remain indefinitely, she warned.
Clinton is on her way to Asia—this is her second trip—to attend the 42th Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phuket. Whether she wants it or not, the Burma and North Korea issues will likely dominate the meeting. Clinton, who said she was deeply troubled by the decision by the Burmese regime to charge Suu Kyi with a baseless crime, is not unprepared to speak on the Burma issue, but a US policy review on Burma that began in February is still pending.US State Department officials said they expected the showdown over North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests and political repression in Myanmar to be among the leading topics that Clinton will discuss when she arrives.
During her first trip to Jakarta, Clinton said, “Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn’t influenced the Burmese junta.” Then she added that the policy adopted by neighboring countries of “reaching out and trying to engage them has not influenced them, either.”The policy review on Burma is still pending, with the Obama administration wanting to take a different policy direction on Burma from the previous Bush administration. The new policy will probably be a mix of carrots and sticks, but recent events have complicated apparent indications favoring increased diplomacy and outreach from Washington towards Burma’s rulers.
Suu Kyi’s bizarre trial has played a role in the policy review—other sensitive issues include the release of 2,100 political prisoners, the relationship with ethnic groups along the Burmese border with China and Thailand, and the upcoming election in 2010—then no doubt the issue of Burma’s shady relationship with North Korea will also play a part.
Though Washington’s policy review remains incomplete, the US is not without a policy and diplomatic tools. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Scot Marciel, assured that Clinton would bring up the issue of Burma during the meeting with Asean foreign ministers.
“I don't want to try to predict exactly what she's [Clinton] going to say. I'm confident that she will raise Burma and express our concerns quite clearly,” Marciel said.
Secretary Clinton will head the U.S. delegation to ASEAN’s regional forum in Phuket, Thailand, after meeting with Thai officials in Bangkok. U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel said that along with regional concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile activity, the forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss climate change, pandemic flu, and political repression in Burma.
Marciel said the Obama administration’s review of its Burma policy is ongoing, and has been slowed by the military government’s recent arrests of opposition activists and the trial of National League for Democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. But he said the U.S. policy of promoting progress in Burma remains unchanged.
“By progress, I mean the beginning of a dialogue between the government and the opposition and the ethnic minority groups, release of political prisoners and improved governance and, we would hope, more of an opening to the international community,” he said.
In Phuket, Clinton will also hold a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to discuss Mekong River issues such as health and the environment. “This will be the first time that a secretary of state’s done such a meeting,” Marciel said.
Foreign ministers from the other five parties the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea will all be in Phuket.
ASEAN's conspicuous member Myanmar since joining the bloc in 1997, showed its defiance earlier this month by refusing to allow UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the opposition icon when he visited.ASEAN foreign ministers are further set to endorse a final version of the bloc's new human rights body, which has faced criticism for being unable to tackle persistent violators such as Myanmar.
ASEAN foreign ministers schedule to begin series of annual meetings on Monday on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket.Indonesian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Imron Cotan said, "We have agreed to propose to our foreign ministers to issue a statement basically portraying that ASEAN countries are united to confront this act of terrorism." According to Virasakdi, the statement will say, "We condemn the act of terrorism that cause loss of innocent lives and urge the authorities to bring the culprits to justice." "We express the solidarity in supporting the Indonesian government and that ASEAN will remain steadfast in countering acts of terrorism in all manifestations," he added.
ASEAN officials were shocked by the tragic explosions which occurred at the tightly secured hotels, according to Virasakdi.Thailand has reinforced security in Phuket, which hosts some 1,000 delegates from the 10 ASEAN countries and 16 other countries for the annual meetings.More than 10,000 forces have been deployed after Thailand enacted an internal security act to quell antigovernment demonstrators.
Prohibitory act orders no demonstrations in the neighborhood of the meeting venue, covering six sub-districts of Thalang and the Kathu district of Phuket.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made no mention of Burma in her foreign policy speech in Washington this week, but she renewed the US offer to talk with the Iranian regime—but the offer and opportunity would not remain indefinitely, she warned.
Clinton is on her way to Asia—this is her second trip—to attend the 42th Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phuket. Whether she wants it or not, the Burma and North Korea issues will likely dominate the meeting. Clinton, who said she was deeply troubled by the decision by the Burmese regime to charge Suu Kyi with a baseless crime, is not unprepared to speak on the Burma issue, but a US policy review on Burma that began in February is still pending.US State Department officials said they expected the showdown over North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests and political repression in Myanmar to be among the leading topics that Clinton will discuss when she arrives.
During her first trip to Jakarta, Clinton said, “Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn’t influenced the Burmese junta.” Then she added that the policy adopted by neighboring countries of “reaching out and trying to engage them has not influenced them, either.”The policy review on Burma is still pending, with the Obama administration wanting to take a different policy direction on Burma from the previous Bush administration. The new policy will probably be a mix of carrots and sticks, but recent events have complicated apparent indications favoring increased diplomacy and outreach from Washington towards Burma’s rulers.
Suu Kyi’s bizarre trial has played a role in the policy review—other sensitive issues include the release of 2,100 political prisoners, the relationship with ethnic groups along the Burmese border with China and Thailand, and the upcoming election in 2010—then no doubt the issue of Burma’s shady relationship with North Korea will also play a part.
Though Washington’s policy review remains incomplete, the US is not without a policy and diplomatic tools. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Scot Marciel, assured that Clinton would bring up the issue of Burma during the meeting with Asean foreign ministers.
“I don't want to try to predict exactly what she's [Clinton] going to say. I'm confident that she will raise Burma and express our concerns quite clearly,” Marciel said.
Secretary Clinton will head the U.S. delegation to ASEAN’s regional forum in Phuket, Thailand, after meeting with Thai officials in Bangkok. U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel said that along with regional concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile activity, the forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss climate change, pandemic flu, and political repression in Burma.
Marciel said the Obama administration’s review of its Burma policy is ongoing, and has been slowed by the military government’s recent arrests of opposition activists and the trial of National League for Democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. But he said the U.S. policy of promoting progress in Burma remains unchanged.
“By progress, I mean the beginning of a dialogue between the government and the opposition and the ethnic minority groups, release of political prisoners and improved governance and, we would hope, more of an opening to the international community,” he said.
In Phuket, Clinton will also hold a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to discuss Mekong River issues such as health and the environment. “This will be the first time that a secretary of state’s done such a meeting,” Marciel said.
Foreign ministers from the other five parties the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea will all be in Phuket.
ASEAN's conspicuous member Myanmar since joining the bloc in 1997, showed its defiance earlier this month by refusing to allow UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the opposition icon when he visited.ASEAN foreign ministers are further set to endorse a final version of the bloc's new human rights body, which has faced criticism for being unable to tackle persistent violators such as Myanmar.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Free Aung San Suu Kyi
The NLD on Wednesday reiterated its call to the junta to release party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to kick-start a political dialogue for national reconciliation.
The NLD made the call in its eight-page statement issued at the end of the 19th anniversary commemorative ceremony of Burma’s last election held at the party head office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township.The Rangoon North District court sitting inside special court in Insein Prison is appointed by Burma Janta on trial for Noble Laureate and democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday rejected three witnesses submitted by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers, leaving just one remaining defense witness.
Nyan Win, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team, told Mizzima that a judge of the special court on Wednesday announced the rejection of three witnesses – Win Tin, Tin Oo and Khin Moe Moe – accepting just Kyi Win as a defense witness.
“There is nothing much I can say. The facts speak for themselves. The prosecution had fifteen witnesses examined and we are left only with one,” Nyan Win said.
On Wednesday, the court heard the testimony of Aung San Suu Kyi’s live-in party members Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma, in addition to American Yettaw.
Nyan Win said the court has fixed the next hearing for 10 a.m. (local time) Tuesday but he is not sure whether there will be any examination of the defense witness.
“I think a verdict might be possible by Friday,” said Nyan Win, adding that authorities are in a hurry to get the case over with.
“But we are determined to fight the case in a higher court if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is sentenced,” he added.U.S. President Barack Obama asked Burma's military government to free Democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and without conditions.A statement issued by the White House Tuesday, Mr. Obama condemned her continued house arrest. He said her current trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest is a "show trial based on spurious charges."
Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged during trial on Tuesday that she did not inform Burmese military authorities when an American intruder swam across a lake to be with her Rangoon home in the early morning hours of May 4.She said she allowed American John Yettaw "temporary shelter" until he left the next day for such incident prompted military authorities to charge her with violating terms of her house arrest.In court, the Nobel Peace laureate asserted her innocence.Critics say Burma's military leaders are using the trial as a pretext to keep the opposition leader under detention so she cannot participate in next year's elections. Asian and European Union foreign ministers meeting in Vietnam issued a joint statement Tuesday that mentioned Aung San Suu Kyi. The ministers wrote that, in light of her trial, they are calling for the early release of all those under detention in Burma and for the lifting of government restrictions on political parties.
Several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have expressed grave concern about Aung San Suu Kyi's trial. A group of ASEAN lawmakers called for Burma's membership in the regional bloc to be suspended if she continues to be detained.
The NLD made the call in its eight-page statement issued at the end of the 19th anniversary commemorative ceremony of Burma’s last election held at the party head office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township.The Rangoon North District court sitting inside special court in Insein Prison is appointed by Burma Janta on trial for Noble Laureate and democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday rejected three witnesses submitted by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers, leaving just one remaining defense witness.
Nyan Win, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team, told Mizzima that a judge of the special court on Wednesday announced the rejection of three witnesses – Win Tin, Tin Oo and Khin Moe Moe – accepting just Kyi Win as a defense witness.
“There is nothing much I can say. The facts speak for themselves. The prosecution had fifteen witnesses examined and we are left only with one,” Nyan Win said.
On Wednesday, the court heard the testimony of Aung San Suu Kyi’s live-in party members Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma, in addition to American Yettaw.
Nyan Win said the court has fixed the next hearing for 10 a.m. (local time) Tuesday but he is not sure whether there will be any examination of the defense witness.
“I think a verdict might be possible by Friday,” said Nyan Win, adding that authorities are in a hurry to get the case over with.
“But we are determined to fight the case in a higher court if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is sentenced,” he added.U.S. President Barack Obama asked Burma's military government to free Democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and without conditions.A statement issued by the White House Tuesday, Mr. Obama condemned her continued house arrest. He said her current trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest is a "show trial based on spurious charges."
Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged during trial on Tuesday that she did not inform Burmese military authorities when an American intruder swam across a lake to be with her Rangoon home in the early morning hours of May 4.She said she allowed American John Yettaw "temporary shelter" until he left the next day for such incident prompted military authorities to charge her with violating terms of her house arrest.In court, the Nobel Peace laureate asserted her innocence.Critics say Burma's military leaders are using the trial as a pretext to keep the opposition leader under detention so she cannot participate in next year's elections. Asian and European Union foreign ministers meeting in Vietnam issued a joint statement Tuesday that mentioned Aung San Suu Kyi. The ministers wrote that, in light of her trial, they are calling for the early release of all those under detention in Burma and for the lifting of government restrictions on political parties.
Several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have expressed grave concern about Aung San Suu Kyi's trial. A group of ASEAN lawmakers called for Burma's membership in the regional bloc to be suspended if she continues to be detained.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace Reconciliation to San Suu Kyi
Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been named recipient of Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation.
The award, which will be awarded at a ceremony to be held in Durban, South Africa on July 20, is given to those who inspire young people to make a commitment to non-violence, forgiveness and reconciliation by South Africa’s Gandhi Development Trust.
The award was inaugurated in 2003 to mark the centenary of the Indian Opinion, a newspaper published by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa.
The award, which will be awarded at a ceremony to be held in Durban, South Africa on July 20, is given to those who inspire young people to make a commitment to non-violence, forgiveness and reconciliation by South Africa’s Gandhi Development Trust.
The award was inaugurated in 2003 to mark the centenary of the Indian Opinion, a newspaper published by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa.
UN Security Council concern on Suu Kyi’s trial
Aung San Suu Kyi is currently facing imprisonment and trial in Burma. She was arrested last week and is now being held in Insein Prison, a prison notorious for its terrible conditions and horrific treatment of prisoners. Political prisoners in Burma are routinely subjected to torture and often denied medical treatment. We are very concerned for Aung San Suu Kyi’s health in these conditions, particularly as she was seriously ill last week, but denied medical care by the regime.
Aung San Suu Kyi is facing trial for supposedly violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam uninvited to her house and refused to leave. She faces a prison sentence of between three and five years.
United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed concern over the political impacts in relation to the charges and trial against Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The 15-member body, in a press statement, reiterates its call for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and urged the Burmese military junta to engage in a political dialogue.
The UN Security Council calls on the Burmese junta to create “necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.”
The UNSC’ statement came a day after the special court in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison on Friday said it has accepted the charge against Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She was charged for breaching her detention law.
The pro-democracy leader was taken from her lakeside home, where she had stayed more than 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest, to Insein prison and was charged after an American man allegedly swam across the Innya Lake and entered her house in early May.
She has been facing a court trial since May 18.
Nyan Win, her defense lawyer and spokesperson of her party – National League for Democracy, told Mizzima on Friday that the court has decided to accept the charge made against her.
But the Burmese Democracy Icon earlier told her lawyer that “I am innocent.”
Her trial, however, has ignited a chorus of international condemnation on the Burmese junta, saying it is trump-up case to try and continue detaining her, as her six-years of house arrest term will expire by the end of May.
Her International Lawyer, Jared Genser, who is also the president of US-based ‘Freedom Now’ calls the charges “Patently Ridiculous.”
The UNSC’s statement came after member states had an informal meeting earlier this week on Burma and the ongoing trial against the Burmese opposition leader.
While most of the council members agreed to issue a statement, China, a veto-wielding country, has opposed it saying the matter is Burma’s internal affairs. Japan and Russia have also appeared to be taking cautious position.
Friday’s press statement read out by the Council President Vitaly Churkin of Russia said, “The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar [Burma] and, in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar [Burma] lies in the hands of all of its people.”
On October 11, 2007 and on May 2, 2008 the council issued press statements on Burma and had called the ruling junta to release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to start a dialogue with her and all other political actors.
Aung San Suu Kyi is facing trial for supposedly violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam uninvited to her house and refused to leave. She faces a prison sentence of between three and five years.
United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed concern over the political impacts in relation to the charges and trial against Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The 15-member body, in a press statement, reiterates its call for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and urged the Burmese military junta to engage in a political dialogue.
The UN Security Council calls on the Burmese junta to create “necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.”
The UNSC’ statement came a day after the special court in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison on Friday said it has accepted the charge against Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She was charged for breaching her detention law.
The pro-democracy leader was taken from her lakeside home, where she had stayed more than 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest, to Insein prison and was charged after an American man allegedly swam across the Innya Lake and entered her house in early May.
She has been facing a court trial since May 18.
Nyan Win, her defense lawyer and spokesperson of her party – National League for Democracy, told Mizzima on Friday that the court has decided to accept the charge made against her.
But the Burmese Democracy Icon earlier told her lawyer that “I am innocent.”
Her trial, however, has ignited a chorus of international condemnation on the Burmese junta, saying it is trump-up case to try and continue detaining her, as her six-years of house arrest term will expire by the end of May.
Her International Lawyer, Jared Genser, who is also the president of US-based ‘Freedom Now’ calls the charges “Patently Ridiculous.”
The UNSC’s statement came after member states had an informal meeting earlier this week on Burma and the ongoing trial against the Burmese opposition leader.
While most of the council members agreed to issue a statement, China, a veto-wielding country, has opposed it saying the matter is Burma’s internal affairs. Japan and Russia have also appeared to be taking cautious position.
Friday’s press statement read out by the Council President Vitaly Churkin of Russia said, “The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar [Burma] and, in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar [Burma] lies in the hands of all of its people.”
On October 11, 2007 and on May 2, 2008 the council issued press statements on Burma and had called the ruling junta to release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to start a dialogue with her and all other political actors.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
IFDH : Aung San Suu Kyi’s Case to ICC
Noble laureate,the detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,complete six years of continuous detention on May 27 as per the Burmese law, she should be freed said Nyan Win spokesperson of the National League for Democracy. NLD the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, had appealed for her release through her lawyer and the appeal was rejected on May 1. Prime Minister’s office on May 1, handed a letter that rejected the appeal for Suu Kyi’s release to her lawyer Hla Myo Myint,” he said.
In the appeal, Hla Myo Myint had argued that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi must end by May 27, as the law of Burma does not permit detention of more than five years on charges of disturbing peace in the country.
Suu Kyi was last arrested on May 30, 2003, after her motorcade was attacked by junta-backed mobs in upper Burma during a political tour. She was then charged with disturbing the peace in the country and each year the junta continues to extend her detention period.Genser Jared, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer hired by her family members, said the Burmese regime was violating its own law by extending her house-arrest period each year.But the Janta Spokesperson has different view and said in accordance with the law of the country,Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be released.
Burma Lawyers’ Council in exile has said it is gathering evidence and collating ideas on how to produce the Burmese military generals in the International Criminal Court (ICC), for the crimes it had committed, including crimes against humanity.
The BLC, formed with Burmese lawyers in exile, on Tuesday said, it was looking for a way to file a case against the Burmese junta, for its crimes against the country’s citizens.
“We are looking at ways to determine how we can file a case against the junta, for their brutal actions against the Burmese people,” Thein Oo, Chairman of the BLC, told Mizzima.
He said, as a step towards looking for a way to bring the junta to the ICC, the BLC along with the International Federation for Human Rights (IFDH) is bringing together international experts, Burmese activists and others to a two-day seminar in Bangkok.
“This seminar is to brainstorm on how best to get justice for the suffering people in Burma and how the international community can take action against the brutal regime,” Thein Oo said.
The campaign to bring the Burmese military junta to the ICC began about two years ago, with a vague idea by the BLC. However, today, it has gained momentum and is able to draw the attention of international experts as well as the Burmese regime.Burma has not rectified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court in July 2002, the ICC does not have any jurisdiction over Burma.
However, a clause under the statute of Territorial Jurisdiction of the treaty allows the ICC to act on a case based on a referral by the United Nations Security Council. The clause says the court is allowed to exercise jurisdiction, “where a situation is referred to the court by the UN Security Council”.
Thein Oo said, “The case of the UN Security Council referring it to the ICC might not take place soon but we are already in the process of campaigning for it.”
He said, they would present the case to the UNSC explaining how Burma’s military regime’s actions were threatening peace and security in the region.
Rights groups have accused Burma’s military junta of systematically abusing the rights of its own citizens, causing outflow of a large number of refugees and migrants. The junta’s military actions in eastern Burma have also particularly caused thousands of people to become homeless and live in the jungles.
In the appeal, Hla Myo Myint had argued that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi must end by May 27, as the law of Burma does not permit detention of more than five years on charges of disturbing peace in the country.
Suu Kyi was last arrested on May 30, 2003, after her motorcade was attacked by junta-backed mobs in upper Burma during a political tour. She was then charged with disturbing the peace in the country and each year the junta continues to extend her detention period.Genser Jared, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer hired by her family members, said the Burmese regime was violating its own law by extending her house-arrest period each year.But the Janta Spokesperson has different view and said in accordance with the law of the country,Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be released.
Burma Lawyers’ Council in exile has said it is gathering evidence and collating ideas on how to produce the Burmese military generals in the International Criminal Court (ICC), for the crimes it had committed, including crimes against humanity.
The BLC, formed with Burmese lawyers in exile, on Tuesday said, it was looking for a way to file a case against the Burmese junta, for its crimes against the country’s citizens.
“We are looking at ways to determine how we can file a case against the junta, for their brutal actions against the Burmese people,” Thein Oo, Chairman of the BLC, told Mizzima.
He said, as a step towards looking for a way to bring the junta to the ICC, the BLC along with the International Federation for Human Rights (IFDH) is bringing together international experts, Burmese activists and others to a two-day seminar in Bangkok.
“This seminar is to brainstorm on how best to get justice for the suffering people in Burma and how the international community can take action against the brutal regime,” Thein Oo said.
The campaign to bring the Burmese military junta to the ICC began about two years ago, with a vague idea by the BLC. However, today, it has gained momentum and is able to draw the attention of international experts as well as the Burmese regime.Burma has not rectified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court in July 2002, the ICC does not have any jurisdiction over Burma.
However, a clause under the statute of Territorial Jurisdiction of the treaty allows the ICC to act on a case based on a referral by the United Nations Security Council. The clause says the court is allowed to exercise jurisdiction, “where a situation is referred to the court by the UN Security Council”.
Thein Oo said, “The case of the UN Security Council referring it to the ICC might not take place soon but we are already in the process of campaigning for it.”
He said, they would present the case to the UNSC explaining how Burma’s military regime’s actions were threatening peace and security in the region.
Rights groups have accused Burma’s military junta of systematically abusing the rights of its own citizens, causing outflow of a large number of refugees and migrants. The junta’s military actions in eastern Burma have also particularly caused thousands of people to become homeless and live in the jungles.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine Flu disease kills pigs in Burma
At least 100 pigs have died of an unidentified disease since April 26, said residents in Twante Township in Rangoon division, raising apprehensions following the outbreak of Swine Flu in Mexico.
About 25 pigs from piggeries in Thakhundine and Zeephyukone villages in Rangoon division’s Twante Township died since Saturday, local residents said.“Before the pigs died, they showed symptoms of poisoning. The bodies of the animals shook. And about two hours later they fell dead,” a local resident of Twante town told Mizzima.
“When we took the meat of the dead pigs the colour was dark and it looked as if it was dehydrated. And when people ate the meat, they started feeling dizzy. Some had to contend with loose motion,” he added.
The locals said, with little knowledge about the disease that the pigs were afflicted with, farm owners buried the pigs in the fields.
After the death of the animals came to the notice of local authorities, a doctor from the Twante hospital along with several officials from the health department came for inspection. But they failed to diagnose the disease that killed the pigs, he added.
“The doctors told us to keep them informed if more pigs died in other villages,” he said.
Piggery owners, who built the piggeries on fish ponds, usually sell their pigs to restaurants and to butchers.
A local resident of Zeephyukone village told Mizzima that many people in the village have piggeries and supply local meat shops as well as restaurants.
“I know one owner of a piggery, who had about 50 pigs in his farm, but since they died one after another only 22 are left. He did not bury the dead pigs but sold the meat to restaurants,” he added.
While the going price of a healthy pig in the market is about Kyat 4,500 (USD 3.75) per viss, the meat of dead pigs was sold only at Kyat 1,500 (USD per 1.25) per viss.
The strange death of pigs in Twante town comes even as the world anxiously watches the outbreak of Swine Flu that has already claimed over 100 lives and caused illness to more than one thousand.Countries across the globe including Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore and India, have become cautious and are conducting medical check-ups at international airports.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on April 26, issued a statement “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” warning the people of the outbreak of Swine Flu.
Similarly, Burma’s military authorities also issued orders on April 27 to check all entry points to the country such as airports, sea ports, and border check-points. But locals in the areas said, there has been no implementation of the order.
News mizzima.com
About 25 pigs from piggeries in Thakhundine and Zeephyukone villages in Rangoon division’s Twante Township died since Saturday, local residents said.“Before the pigs died, they showed symptoms of poisoning. The bodies of the animals shook. And about two hours later they fell dead,” a local resident of Twante town told Mizzima.
“When we took the meat of the dead pigs the colour was dark and it looked as if it was dehydrated. And when people ate the meat, they started feeling dizzy. Some had to contend with loose motion,” he added.
The locals said, with little knowledge about the disease that the pigs were afflicted with, farm owners buried the pigs in the fields.
After the death of the animals came to the notice of local authorities, a doctor from the Twante hospital along with several officials from the health department came for inspection. But they failed to diagnose the disease that killed the pigs, he added.
“The doctors told us to keep them informed if more pigs died in other villages,” he said.
Piggery owners, who built the piggeries on fish ponds, usually sell their pigs to restaurants and to butchers.
A local resident of Zeephyukone village told Mizzima that many people in the village have piggeries and supply local meat shops as well as restaurants.
“I know one owner of a piggery, who had about 50 pigs in his farm, but since they died one after another only 22 are left. He did not bury the dead pigs but sold the meat to restaurants,” he added.
While the going price of a healthy pig in the market is about Kyat 4,500 (USD 3.75) per viss, the meat of dead pigs was sold only at Kyat 1,500 (USD per 1.25) per viss.
The strange death of pigs in Twante town comes even as the world anxiously watches the outbreak of Swine Flu that has already claimed over 100 lives and caused illness to more than one thousand.Countries across the globe including Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore and India, have become cautious and are conducting medical check-ups at international airports.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on April 26, issued a statement “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” warning the people of the outbreak of Swine Flu.
Similarly, Burma’s military authorities also issued orders on April 27 to check all entry points to the country such as airports, sea ports, and border check-points. But locals in the areas said, there has been no implementation of the order.
News mizzima.com
Basic amentiies dream to Nargis victims
On May 2, it will be exactly a year after Nargis lashed Burma’s coastal regions of Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions. But many victims still continue to be threatened with insecurity in terms of food, not to mention reconstruction of their lives and getting back their normal livelihood, agencies said.Astrid Sehl, UN communication officer in Rangoon, told Mizzima that health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation for the victims are among the many areas that still need support.A good efforts by INGOs, the UN and even grassroots humanitarian assistant groups including local NGOs, said the need continues to be great with many of the victims, though they have received some form of aid and are still struggling for basic survival needs, a local aid worker said.“Many people in the delta are still struggling to get enough food to eat, even though they have received some form of aid. It is still insufficient,” he added.Sehl said, at least half a million people in the cyclone devastated areas are living in extremely vulnerable shelters, built for them by aid agencies, and might not withstand the coming monsoon.“Still, many people depend on food aid and live in emergency shelters…” said Sehl.
World Food Pragramme, which has three branch offices in the Irrawaddy delta of Bogale, Laputta and Pyapone Towns said scarcity of drinking water continues to be the primary concern of the victims, followed by shelter and rations for the people.
“Recent surveys have shown that levels of food insecurity - particularly in the southern and western areas of the delta - are still a serious concern,” said Chris Kaye, the country director for WFP in Burma.
The relief efforts of foreign aids to which Burma’s military rulers were initially reluctant to allow international agencies to provide aid to cyclone victims, the intervention by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon in mid-May persuaded the junta to start allowing aid agencies to help.Thereon Tripartite Core Group (TCG), formed with the UN, the Burmese government and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), spearheaded the relief and reconstruction efforts.According to the TCG, recovery from the devastation caused by Nargis will take up to three years and a funding of at least US 700 million.
Chris Kaye said WFP will continue providing food assistance for approximately 350,000 people in the delta, and as many as 250,000 people will continue to need their support until the end of November, which is the next harvest season.
“We continue to provide a standard food basket of rice, pulses, oil and salt,” said Kaye.WFP aid workers said they have reduced food distribution in Laputta. While they have distributed food to about 729 villages since May to December last year, they have reduced it to only 500 villages since January to April 2009.“We cut off aid distribution in some villages as they could manage by themselves but we have extended it to some. We want them to reduce their dependency on us,” said the WFP staff, who wished not to be named.
Similarly, Save the Children said it has continued providing assistance to the victims in sectors of education, health, clean water, sanitation, nutrition and livelihoods programmes and deployed about 800 staff in eight offices that the agency has opened in the delta.
“Save the Children has assisted a total of over 600,000 people, nearly one-quarter of them children, who were most affected by the cyclone,” Andrew Kirkwood, country director of the agency, told Mizzima.
He said the agency has helped 137,000 children go back to school; supported 40,000 families with cash grants to resume their livelihoods; and provided 60,000 people with drinking water through the height of the dry season, among other programmes.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it is shifting its focus on providing shelter for the victims at this moment.
Chris Lom, spokesman of IOM in Bangkok said, “We are now focusing on shelter and we will keep going as long as we have funding.”“We are currently working on shelter projects with funding from the European Community and others. The medical projects and social projects are going on,” he added.
Challenges remains to feed the basic anebties to Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma’s Irrawaddy delta, the United Nations agencies point out that much needs to be done in terms of relief and reconstruction of the lives of victims.Best of efforts by INGOs, NGOs and the UN, relief and reconstruction activities have greatly suffered from the government’s restriction on the movement of aid workers and the flow of relief, local aid workers said.A volunteer aid worker, who also works with the Care International, said the government continues to impose restrictions ranging from restrictions to move into the delta to controlling the flow of relief materials, causing s few aid agencies to pull out as they are unable to work independently.The volunteer, who requested anonymity, however, did not wish to reveal the names of the few NGOs which have pulled out of Burma protesting against the government’s restrictions.“All aid agencies could only work within the government’s permitted areas. It is impossible for them to work in places where the government has imposed restrictions,” the aid worker added.He said, an NGO, which has been operating in the lower region of Pyea Dagaung village in Pathein Township had to stop since last month after Burma’s Ministry of Social-welfare, Relief and Resettlement stopped them from continuing to work in the village.
He added that Care International had also ceased work in some places including Kawhmu Township in Rangoon division after facing severe restrictions by the regime.
“There is still restriction on visa for international relief workers and it continues restriction on travel to the delta particularly for foreign aid workers,” he said.
“It is almost impossible to work without their [junta] involvement. So it’s not 100 per cent effective,” he said.
“But it is still better than doing nothing,” he added.
Beside government restrictions, shortage of fund remains the greatest challenge, agencies said.
While the TCG, in its Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) report, has estimated a need of US $ 700 million for the cost of three year mid-term recovery, so far it has only been able to generate about US $ 500 million.
The United Nations appeal for a total of US $ 477 million for emergency and recovery works until April could only generate only US$ 315 million, or 66 per cent of the appeal, according Astrid Sehl, the UN Communication Officer in Rangoon.
Chris Kaye of the WFP said though there are still a lot of sectors that need immediate attention, a major set back is shortage of funds.
“At least 250,000 people remain in need of ongoing food assistance in the absence of adequate livelihood support,” he added.
He said continued support from donors and the government remains essential and they have been receiving US$ 93 million or 80 per cent of their original request for funds of US$ 115 million.“The UN continues to call for support and engagement by the international community to help support all the 2.4 million affected people to recover fully,” said Astrid Sehl.
Save the Children said though most survivors have received some form of assistance, only a few have received enough assistance to enable them to fully recover.“More than 500,000 people including 200,000 children are still living in makeshift tents,” Andrew Kirkwood, director of Save the Children in Rangoon, told Mizzima.
World Food Pragramme, which has three branch offices in the Irrawaddy delta of Bogale, Laputta and Pyapone Towns said scarcity of drinking water continues to be the primary concern of the victims, followed by shelter and rations for the people.
“Recent surveys have shown that levels of food insecurity - particularly in the southern and western areas of the delta - are still a serious concern,” said Chris Kaye, the country director for WFP in Burma.
The relief efforts of foreign aids to which Burma’s military rulers were initially reluctant to allow international agencies to provide aid to cyclone victims, the intervention by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon in mid-May persuaded the junta to start allowing aid agencies to help.Thereon Tripartite Core Group (TCG), formed with the UN, the Burmese government and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), spearheaded the relief and reconstruction efforts.According to the TCG, recovery from the devastation caused by Nargis will take up to three years and a funding of at least US 700 million.
Chris Kaye said WFP will continue providing food assistance for approximately 350,000 people in the delta, and as many as 250,000 people will continue to need their support until the end of November, which is the next harvest season.
“We continue to provide a standard food basket of rice, pulses, oil and salt,” said Kaye.WFP aid workers said they have reduced food distribution in Laputta. While they have distributed food to about 729 villages since May to December last year, they have reduced it to only 500 villages since January to April 2009.“We cut off aid distribution in some villages as they could manage by themselves but we have extended it to some. We want them to reduce their dependency on us,” said the WFP staff, who wished not to be named.
Similarly, Save the Children said it has continued providing assistance to the victims in sectors of education, health, clean water, sanitation, nutrition and livelihoods programmes and deployed about 800 staff in eight offices that the agency has opened in the delta.
“Save the Children has assisted a total of over 600,000 people, nearly one-quarter of them children, who were most affected by the cyclone,” Andrew Kirkwood, country director of the agency, told Mizzima.
He said the agency has helped 137,000 children go back to school; supported 40,000 families with cash grants to resume their livelihoods; and provided 60,000 people with drinking water through the height of the dry season, among other programmes.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it is shifting its focus on providing shelter for the victims at this moment.
Chris Lom, spokesman of IOM in Bangkok said, “We are now focusing on shelter and we will keep going as long as we have funding.”“We are currently working on shelter projects with funding from the European Community and others. The medical projects and social projects are going on,” he added.
Challenges remains to feed the basic anebties to Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma’s Irrawaddy delta, the United Nations agencies point out that much needs to be done in terms of relief and reconstruction of the lives of victims.Best of efforts by INGOs, NGOs and the UN, relief and reconstruction activities have greatly suffered from the government’s restriction on the movement of aid workers and the flow of relief, local aid workers said.A volunteer aid worker, who also works with the Care International, said the government continues to impose restrictions ranging from restrictions to move into the delta to controlling the flow of relief materials, causing s few aid agencies to pull out as they are unable to work independently.The volunteer, who requested anonymity, however, did not wish to reveal the names of the few NGOs which have pulled out of Burma protesting against the government’s restrictions.“All aid agencies could only work within the government’s permitted areas. It is impossible for them to work in places where the government has imposed restrictions,” the aid worker added.He said, an NGO, which has been operating in the lower region of Pyea Dagaung village in Pathein Township had to stop since last month after Burma’s Ministry of Social-welfare, Relief and Resettlement stopped them from continuing to work in the village.
He added that Care International had also ceased work in some places including Kawhmu Township in Rangoon division after facing severe restrictions by the regime.
“There is still restriction on visa for international relief workers and it continues restriction on travel to the delta particularly for foreign aid workers,” he said.
“It is almost impossible to work without their [junta] involvement. So it’s not 100 per cent effective,” he said.
“But it is still better than doing nothing,” he added.
Beside government restrictions, shortage of fund remains the greatest challenge, agencies said.
While the TCG, in its Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) report, has estimated a need of US $ 700 million for the cost of three year mid-term recovery, so far it has only been able to generate about US $ 500 million.
The United Nations appeal for a total of US $ 477 million for emergency and recovery works until April could only generate only US$ 315 million, or 66 per cent of the appeal, according Astrid Sehl, the UN Communication Officer in Rangoon.
Chris Kaye of the WFP said though there are still a lot of sectors that need immediate attention, a major set back is shortage of funds.
“At least 250,000 people remain in need of ongoing food assistance in the absence of adequate livelihood support,” he added.
He said continued support from donors and the government remains essential and they have been receiving US$ 93 million or 80 per cent of their original request for funds of US$ 115 million.“The UN continues to call for support and engagement by the international community to help support all the 2.4 million affected people to recover fully,” said Astrid Sehl.
Save the Children said though most survivors have received some form of assistance, only a few have received enough assistance to enable them to fully recover.“More than 500,000 people including 200,000 children are still living in makeshift tents,” Andrew Kirkwood, director of Save the Children in Rangoon, told Mizzima.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Aung San Suu Kyi as “Beacon of Hope" Clinton
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on Thursday called Burma’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a “Beacon of Hope”, for people around the world.
Clinton in her speech, at the State Department on eve of Women’s History Month on Thursday, Clinton encouraged women globally to draw inspiration from courageous women, including Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.“Aung San Suu Kyi, whom I mentioned yesterday and I mention as often as I can, because having been in prison now for most of the past two decades, she still remains a beacon of hope, strength and liberty for people around the world,” Clinton said.
On Wednesday, during International Women’s Day celebrations, Clinton expressed solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and other Burmese women, who are prisoners of conscience.
Clinton said that she expressed her solidarity with “…especially Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest in Burma, for most of the past two decades, but continues to be a beacon of hope and strength to people around the world.”
“Her example has been especially important to other women in Burma, who have been imprisoned for their political beliefs, driven into exile, or subjected to sexual violence by the military,” Clinton added.
Clinton, with successive US governments, has time and again called on Burma’s military junta to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and kick-start an all inclusive and meaningful political dialogue.
The United States has also called on the junta to improve human rights conditions in the country, and as punishment for the junta’s failure has imposed strict economic sanctions on Burma.
Political critics pointing out the ineffectiveness of sanctions to induce desired behavioural change in the Burmese Junta, Clinton, during her first trip to Asia,after she took office in January, hinted that the US was reviewing its policy.
Burma’s ruling junta, who are poised with plans for a general election slated for 2010, said it was steadily implementing a seven-step roadmap to democracy.
Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections, has so far made no comment on their participation in the upcoming general elections, which is the fifth step of the junta roadmap.
Clinton in her speech, at the State Department on eve of Women’s History Month on Thursday, Clinton encouraged women globally to draw inspiration from courageous women, including Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.“Aung San Suu Kyi, whom I mentioned yesterday and I mention as often as I can, because having been in prison now for most of the past two decades, she still remains a beacon of hope, strength and liberty for people around the world,” Clinton said.
On Wednesday, during International Women’s Day celebrations, Clinton expressed solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and other Burmese women, who are prisoners of conscience.
Clinton said that she expressed her solidarity with “…especially Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest in Burma, for most of the past two decades, but continues to be a beacon of hope and strength to people around the world.”
“Her example has been especially important to other women in Burma, who have been imprisoned for their political beliefs, driven into exile, or subjected to sexual violence by the military,” Clinton added.
Clinton, with successive US governments, has time and again called on Burma’s military junta to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and kick-start an all inclusive and meaningful political dialogue.
The United States has also called on the junta to improve human rights conditions in the country, and as punishment for the junta’s failure has imposed strict economic sanctions on Burma.
Political critics pointing out the ineffectiveness of sanctions to induce desired behavioural change in the Burmese Junta, Clinton, during her first trip to Asia,after she took office in January, hinted that the US was reviewing its policy.
Burma’s ruling junta, who are poised with plans for a general election slated for 2010, said it was steadily implementing a seven-step roadmap to democracy.
Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections, has so far made no comment on their participation in the upcoming general elections, which is the fifth step of the junta roadmap.
French Minister Rama Yade visit Thailand
French government minister responsible for human rights issues,Rama Yade, on Thursday, an outspoken critic of the Burmese regime, began a three-day visit to Thailand on Thursday, during which she will discuss the Burma question with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. she will discuss the Burma question with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit PiromyaYade, Rama Yadea minister of state in the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, will also visit a refugee camp housing about 20,000 Burmese, most of them Karenni.
A French Foreign Ministry statement said that apart from bilateral issues Yade would discuss with Kasit the Burma situation.
The statement said the objective of her visit to Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp in northern Thailand’s Mae Hong Song Province was to strengthen cooperation between the Thai government and major donors of aid to refugees, including the European Union.
Rama Yade is a 32-year-old career politician who was born in Senegal, West Africa. She has made clear her concern for events in Burma at a number of international gatherings, and at an Asean summit in Singapore in November 2007, two months after the September uprising, she said it was time the grouping tackled the challenges posed by Burma.
“After the tragic hours of repression of the pro-democracy movement, fragile hope has appeared for the people of Burma,” Rama Yade said at the summit. “It is naturally for them to maintain and develop it by envisioning the prospects for the future.”
She said she was convinced the EU and Asean can work together for change in Burma. “I’m certain, at any rate, that we must do so, in the interest of the people of Burma,” she said.
In an article carried by the English-language daily Bangkok Post on Thursday, Yade said France and the EU, “far from preaching,” want to “stand alongside Asean, which at the Cha-am/Hua Hin summit recently reaffirmed its wishes for Burma: democracy, freedom and co-operation with the international community.”
France and the EU also wanted to “give the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General every chance,” she said.
“Expectations will, of course, remain high with respect to Burma, where we share the hope of a return to democracy and freedom, for Aung San Suu Kyi, for all political prisoners and for the population as a whole, and with freedom, the hope of a return to economic development,” she said in the article.
“We are willing to assist and support a genuine process of democratisation that respects the choices of the Burmese after an inclusive dialogue between the authorities and the opposition that everyone hopes for.
“We hold out our hand to people of goodwill in Burma to accompany it in the best possible way on its own path towards freedom.”
The regime’s refusal of cooperation angered the French government, and a joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Defense said: “France reiterates that in her eyes nothing can possibly justify disaster victims seeing themselves denied the basic right to benefit from the necessary aid and stresses her commitment to the implementation of the ‘responsibility to protect’ principle under all circumstances.”
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thailand exempts tourist visa fee for 42 countries
Thailand, which has been reeling under internal political turmoil since last year, decided to exempt the fee for tourist visa applications for 42 countries, including military-ruled Burma, as part of its promotion of tourism.
“It is about promoting tourism in Thailand, while it is facing the global economic crisis,” the immigration official told Mizzima on Wednesday.
An official at the Thai Immigration Bureau Head Office said, the exemption was part of Thailand’s plan to boost its tourism industry, which was severely affected by political unrest, particularly by the seizure of its international airport by demonstrators in November last year.
Currently, Thailand gives Visa on Arrival for citizens of 20 countries for a stay not exceeding 15 days and citizens of another 42 countries are given a visa-free stay in Thailand, for 30 days.
However, those who wish to stay longer than those periods are required to apply for visas, which give a standard 60 days, at the Thai embassies or diplomatic missions abroad before their arrival in Thailand, the official said.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry, in its press release on Wednesday, said the decision to exempt fees for tourist visas was passed by the Cabinet in January. And the exemption would be effective from March 5 to June 4.
Meanwhile, a Burmese tourist appreciated Thailand’s new plans but said it would not attract Burmese travellers, as the military-ruled country was also reeling under the global financial crisis.
"We appreciate it [exemption on tourist visa] but we have to wait and see how it goes,” the tourist said.
He added that only a few Burmese people visit Thailand officially with a Visa, while the larger majority cross over the borders and smuggle themselves into Thailand to seek better employment.Inputs Mizzima
“It is about promoting tourism in Thailand, while it is facing the global economic crisis,” the immigration official told Mizzima on Wednesday.
An official at the Thai Immigration Bureau Head Office said, the exemption was part of Thailand’s plan to boost its tourism industry, which was severely affected by political unrest, particularly by the seizure of its international airport by demonstrators in November last year.
Currently, Thailand gives Visa on Arrival for citizens of 20 countries for a stay not exceeding 15 days and citizens of another 42 countries are given a visa-free stay in Thailand, for 30 days.
However, those who wish to stay longer than those periods are required to apply for visas, which give a standard 60 days, at the Thai embassies or diplomatic missions abroad before their arrival in Thailand, the official said.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry, in its press release on Wednesday, said the decision to exempt fees for tourist visas was passed by the Cabinet in January. And the exemption would be effective from March 5 to June 4.
Meanwhile, a Burmese tourist appreciated Thailand’s new plans but said it would not attract Burmese travellers, as the military-ruled country was also reeling under the global financial crisis.
"We appreciate it [exemption on tourist visa] but we have to wait and see how it goes,” the tourist said.
He added that only a few Burmese people visit Thailand officially with a Visa, while the larger majority cross over the borders and smuggle themselves into Thailand to seek better employment.Inputs Mizzima
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Bombs explode in Rangoon
Two bombs exploded in the space of an hour in Padomma Park, Sanchaung, Rangoon and at the Hledan bus stop.The first bomb exploded in Padomma Park, Sanchaung on March 3 at 9:45 p.m. It was so loud that it could be heard from even half mile away but there was no casualty.
When the Mizzima reporter reached the blast scene, the area was being combed by security teams comprising MI personnel, traffic police and local policemen. Howeever security was not beeefed up so people from nearby places came and watched the combing operation.
But at about 11 p.m. after being alerted, the security team hurriedly left the place and rushed to Hledan junction.It is reported that another bomb exploded at Hledan bus stop on the Rangoon-Insein bus route.The Rangoon-Insein road was sealed as soon as the security team arrived at Hledan from Myenigon.An eyewitness said the bomb exploded at 10:50 p.m. and it could be heard from San Yeik Nyein bus stop, half a mile away from the blast.
The Insein Road was cut off near 'Win' restaurant between San Yeik Nyein bus stop and Hledan bus stop.It is learnt that this bomb exploded in front of a copier shop near the Traffic Police office at Hledan bus stop (Rangoon-Insein lane side, eastern side of the road). When the bomb exploded, a bus of route No. 97 coming from Rangoon downtown had just stopped at the bus stop with only eight passengers onboard. There was no casualty but the blast ripped off the roof of the bus stop which was flung a few feet, an eyewitness from a shop opposite the road said.
People from nearby places came to the blast site but they were pushed back by the police. Arguments and brawls were witnessed at the bomb blast site when the police started pushing them forcibly out of the scene.
'Whole Burma United Revolutionary Front' (WBURF), has claimed responsibility for yesterday's bomb blasts in Rangoon, according to a statement issued today.Their statement No. 2/2009 sent to Mizzima through email reveals these serial bomb blasts are the first stage of the 'battle cry' for toppling the military dictators and they were ready to escalate such attacks in future.Since the 'Burmese people' are devout citizens, they do not want terrorism. However, in the past, the ruling junta has ruthlessly killed peaceful demonstrators, who were struggling for freedom from their plight, the statement says.WBURF said that peaceful demonstrations, issuing statements, asking for concrete action from the UN and foreign governments, would not work towards the emergence of a civilian government and elimination of current general crises faced by the people in Burma. Therefore, they have launched this ‘retaliatory bomb blast’ measure, the statement says.They could not accept the proposed 2010 general elections, which would only help prolong military rule.They also did not accept the release of only a handful of political prisoners in the recent amnesty for over 6,000 prisoners. If the UN, foreign governments and NGOs blindly supported this move, they would be the most pitiful blind people groups in the world, the statement ironically said.
When the Mizzima reporter reached the blast scene, the area was being combed by security teams comprising MI personnel, traffic police and local policemen. Howeever security was not beeefed up so people from nearby places came and watched the combing operation.
But at about 11 p.m. after being alerted, the security team hurriedly left the place and rushed to Hledan junction.It is reported that another bomb exploded at Hledan bus stop on the Rangoon-Insein bus route.The Rangoon-Insein road was sealed as soon as the security team arrived at Hledan from Myenigon.An eyewitness said the bomb exploded at 10:50 p.m. and it could be heard from San Yeik Nyein bus stop, half a mile away from the blast.
The Insein Road was cut off near 'Win' restaurant between San Yeik Nyein bus stop and Hledan bus stop.It is learnt that this bomb exploded in front of a copier shop near the Traffic Police office at Hledan bus stop (Rangoon-Insein lane side, eastern side of the road). When the bomb exploded, a bus of route No. 97 coming from Rangoon downtown had just stopped at the bus stop with only eight passengers onboard. There was no casualty but the blast ripped off the roof of the bus stop which was flung a few feet, an eyewitness from a shop opposite the road said.
People from nearby places came to the blast site but they were pushed back by the police. Arguments and brawls were witnessed at the bomb blast site when the police started pushing them forcibly out of the scene.
'Whole Burma United Revolutionary Front' (WBURF), has claimed responsibility for yesterday's bomb blasts in Rangoon, according to a statement issued today.Their statement No. 2/2009 sent to Mizzima through email reveals these serial bomb blasts are the first stage of the 'battle cry' for toppling the military dictators and they were ready to escalate such attacks in future.Since the 'Burmese people' are devout citizens, they do not want terrorism. However, in the past, the ruling junta has ruthlessly killed peaceful demonstrators, who were struggling for freedom from their plight, the statement says.WBURF said that peaceful demonstrations, issuing statements, asking for concrete action from the UN and foreign governments, would not work towards the emergence of a civilian government and elimination of current general crises faced by the people in Burma. Therefore, they have launched this ‘retaliatory bomb blast’ measure, the statement says.They could not accept the proposed 2010 general elections, which would only help prolong military rule.They also did not accept the release of only a handful of political prisoners in the recent amnesty for over 6,000 prisoners. If the UN, foreign governments and NGOs blindly supported this move, they would be the most pitiful blind people groups in the world, the statement ironically said.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Aung San Suu Kyi,Tin Oo detention extended for one year
Burma government on Friday extended the house arrest of the deputy leader of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party, despite recent calls from the United Nations for the release of political prisoners.Policemen were seen visiting Tin Oo's house to inform him that the restrictions had been extended, according to a neighbor who asked not to be named for fear of government reprisal.The extension was for one year, said a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release such information. Burma's junta tightly controls the release of all news.
Tin Oo was released under general amnesty in 1980, after which he studied and received a degree in Law. On 2 September, 1988, he became the Vice Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and on December 20, the Chairman of NLD. From 20 July 1989 he was put under house arrest and from 22 December 1989, he was imprisoned for three years.On 30 May 2003, Tin Oo, travelling with the caravan of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD, was attacked in the northern village of Depayin by a government-sponsored mob, murdering and wounding many of her supporters.
Tin Oo was taken into detention along with Aung San Suu Kyi and was initially held in prison in Kalay in northwestern Myanmar. In February 2004 he was brought back to his home in Yangon, where he is held under house arrest.The junta extended his detention by one year on February 2007.Tin Oo, 8, of National League for Democracy, was arrested with Aung San Suu Kyi in May 2003, when a pro-government mob attacked their motorcade as they were making a political tour of northern Burma. Both party leaders have been in either prison or under house arrest since then.
The extension came less than two weeks after an official visit by the UN's visiting envoy earlier this month in an effort to promote political reform in the military-ruled country.
Special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who met with prime minister general Thein Sein, reportedly asked Burma's junta to release more political prisoners, to consider a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and to make the military-guided political process inclusive for all. But since the visit, there have been no signs of progress on promoting democracy and political reconciliation.
Tin Oo's detention had been extended several times since 2005. He is not allowed to receive visitors but has been allowed a medical checkup.
The junta took power in 1988 after violently suppressing mass pro-democracy protests. It held a general election in 1990, but refused to recognize the results after a landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyi's party.
The extension had been expected, since the military government has shown no signs of wishing to talk with Aung San Suu Kyi's party to resolve the country's political deadlock. Tin Oo was one of the party's founders in 1988.
Human rights groups say Burma now holds more than 2100 political prisoners, up sharply from nearly 1200 before mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 2007.
Tin Oo was released under general amnesty in 1980, after which he studied and received a degree in Law. On 2 September, 1988, he became the Vice Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and on December 20, the Chairman of NLD. From 20 July 1989 he was put under house arrest and from 22 December 1989, he was imprisoned for three years.On 30 May 2003, Tin Oo, travelling with the caravan of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD, was attacked in the northern village of Depayin by a government-sponsored mob, murdering and wounding many of her supporters.
Tin Oo was taken into detention along with Aung San Suu Kyi and was initially held in prison in Kalay in northwestern Myanmar. In February 2004 he was brought back to his home in Yangon, where he is held under house arrest.The junta extended his detention by one year on February 2007.Tin Oo, 8, of National League for Democracy, was arrested with Aung San Suu Kyi in May 2003, when a pro-government mob attacked their motorcade as they were making a political tour of northern Burma. Both party leaders have been in either prison or under house arrest since then.
The extension came less than two weeks after an official visit by the UN's visiting envoy earlier this month in an effort to promote political reform in the military-ruled country.
Special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who met with prime minister general Thein Sein, reportedly asked Burma's junta to release more political prisoners, to consider a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and to make the military-guided political process inclusive for all. But since the visit, there have been no signs of progress on promoting democracy and political reconciliation.
Tin Oo's detention had been extended several times since 2005. He is not allowed to receive visitors but has been allowed a medical checkup.
The junta took power in 1988 after violently suppressing mass pro-democracy protests. It held a general election in 1990, but refused to recognize the results after a landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyi's party.
The extension had been expected, since the military government has shown no signs of wishing to talk with Aung San Suu Kyi's party to resolve the country's political deadlock. Tin Oo was one of the party's founders in 1988.
Human rights groups say Burma now holds more than 2100 political prisoners, up sharply from nearly 1200 before mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 2007.
Myanmar's junta release prisoners in amnesty
2009-02-23 03:45:42 - Junta regime holds about 2,100 political detainees, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest. Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi prisoner for 13 years of the past 19 years still in detention without trial.Burmese military junta released 12 political prisoners from among over 6,000 prisoners languishing in jails around Burma, away from their families meant to be granted amnesty on Saturday.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, a Member of Parliament elected in the 1990 elections from Mandalay division's Amarapura township, and Phe Sein from the Moe Nyin township of Kachin state, were released on Saturday from Myitkyina prison in Kachin state, family members said.Thet Wai, chairman of San Chuang township NLD, was also released from Insein prison on Saturday, eyewitness said."They were
released at about 3:45 p.m. (local time). The prison authorities escorted them up to a guest house. Authorities said they are both physically fine, but Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said they will check with a doctor after they reach home to see if they are fine," a close family member of the two prisoners told Mizzima over telephone.
Eleven prisoners including Thet Wai and five Buddhist monks were released from Rangoon Insein jail, and four prisoners including Dr. Zaw Myint Maung were released from Myikyina jail in Kachin State.
In the first batch on Saturday Myitkyina prison authorities released 30 prisoners at about 3:45 p.m. (local time) including 11 elderly women, eyewitnesses said.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung was arrested in 1990 on charges of planning to form a parallel government and in 1991 he was sentenced to 25 years on charges of committing high-treason against the state.
And in 1997, authorities handed down an extra 12 years on charges of passing on information to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) on the situation in prisons in Burma.He was serving a total of 37 years in prison.
Phe Sein, member of Burma's main opposition party - National League for Democracy - was arrested along with fellow members Kyaw Maung and Ne Win and sentenced to two years each for participating in the 2007 September protests in Myitkyina town in Kachin state.
Though Phe Sein was released on Saturday, his two friends Ne Win and Kyaw Maung remain detained in Myitkyina prison. "I asked about U Ne Win, but they said he is not in the list to be released," Ne Win's wife told Mizzima.
Similarly, Thet Wai, who was arrested in 2008 for complaining about the use of child soldiers to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), was released at about 4:45 p.m. (local time) from Rangoon's notorious Insein prison.
"I saw a prison vehicle move out from the prison at about 4:45 p.m. and saw U Thet Wai was on the vehicle. He peeped out and shouted that 11 had been freed. But I could not recognise the rest of them," said an eyewitness, who closely monitors
political prisoners in Insein prison.Along with Thet Wai, nine other political prisoners were released from Insein prison on Saturday, according to the source.
The political prisoners are four monks from Rangoon's Bakara monastery, two monks from Kaing Kone Monastery, and a monk from Sandar Thuria monastery and a student activist Tun Tun of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions and Khaing Ba Myint from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP).Burma military rulers on Saturday has started the process of release prisoners across the country, to prove its amnesty to 6,313 prisoners, who the junta said had shown 'Good Conduct and Discipline'.Junta, on Friday announced that the prisoners would be released "on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of showing sympathy towards their family," and "to enable them to serve the interests of the nation and to participate in the fair elections to be held in the year 2010."
Junta, who has persistently denied the presence of political prisoners in the country, did not mention whether the release would include any of the estimated 2000 political prisoners, who were languishing in prisons across the country.
Besides, the junta's announcement carried by state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar, justified its decisions for sentenced activists and politicians to long prison terms, in recent months saying, they were sentenced for violating the existing law."In building the new nation, the government handed down sentences to those who violated the existing laws, to prison terms in accordance with the law to ensure peace and tranquility and prevalence of law and order," the paper said.
Since August 2008, courts in Burma, have handed down long prison terms to activists, and even their lawyers.But the opposition source in Rangoon said, a few political prisoners in remote prisons of the country, are likely to be among those released. However, so far no one has come out of the prisons. Mizzima reports:
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, a Member of Parliament elected in the 1990 elections from Mandalay division's Amarapura township, and Phe Sein from the Moe Nyin township of Kachin state, were released on Saturday from Myitkyina prison in Kachin state, family members said.Thet Wai, chairman of San Chuang township NLD, was also released from Insein prison on Saturday, eyewitness said."They were
released at about 3:45 p.m. (local time). The prison authorities escorted them up to a guest house. Authorities said they are both physically fine, but Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said they will check with a doctor after they reach home to see if they are fine," a close family member of the two prisoners told Mizzima over telephone.
Eleven prisoners including Thet Wai and five Buddhist monks were released from Rangoon Insein jail, and four prisoners including Dr. Zaw Myint Maung were released from Myikyina jail in Kachin State.
In the first batch on Saturday Myitkyina prison authorities released 30 prisoners at about 3:45 p.m. (local time) including 11 elderly women, eyewitnesses said.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung was arrested in 1990 on charges of planning to form a parallel government and in 1991 he was sentenced to 25 years on charges of committing high-treason against the state.
And in 1997, authorities handed down an extra 12 years on charges of passing on information to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) on the situation in prisons in Burma.He was serving a total of 37 years in prison.
Phe Sein, member of Burma's main opposition party - National League for Democracy - was arrested along with fellow members Kyaw Maung and Ne Win and sentenced to two years each for participating in the 2007 September protests in Myitkyina town in Kachin state.
Though Phe Sein was released on Saturday, his two friends Ne Win and Kyaw Maung remain detained in Myitkyina prison. "I asked about U Ne Win, but they said he is not in the list to be released," Ne Win's wife told Mizzima.
Similarly, Thet Wai, who was arrested in 2008 for complaining about the use of child soldiers to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), was released at about 4:45 p.m. (local time) from Rangoon's notorious Insein prison.
"I saw a prison vehicle move out from the prison at about 4:45 p.m. and saw U Thet Wai was on the vehicle. He peeped out and shouted that 11 had been freed. But I could not recognise the rest of them," said an eyewitness, who closely monitors
political prisoners in Insein prison.Along with Thet Wai, nine other political prisoners were released from Insein prison on Saturday, according to the source.
The political prisoners are four monks from Rangoon's Bakara monastery, two monks from Kaing Kone Monastery, and a monk from Sandar Thuria monastery and a student activist Tun Tun of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions and Khaing Ba Myint from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP).Burma military rulers on Saturday has started the process of release prisoners across the country, to prove its amnesty to 6,313 prisoners, who the junta said had shown 'Good Conduct and Discipline'.Junta, on Friday announced that the prisoners would be released "on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of showing sympathy towards their family," and "to enable them to serve the interests of the nation and to participate in the fair elections to be held in the year 2010."
Junta, who has persistently denied the presence of political prisoners in the country, did not mention whether the release would include any of the estimated 2000 political prisoners, who were languishing in prisons across the country.
Besides, the junta's announcement carried by state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar, justified its decisions for sentenced activists and politicians to long prison terms, in recent months saying, they were sentenced for violating the existing law."In building the new nation, the government handed down sentences to those who violated the existing laws, to prison terms in accordance with the law to ensure peace and tranquility and prevalence of law and order," the paper said.
Since August 2008, courts in Burma, have handed down long prison terms to activists, and even their lawyers.But the opposition source in Rangoon said, a few political prisoners in remote prisons of the country, are likely to be among those released. However, so far no one has come out of the prisons. Mizzima reports:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Myanmar's junta release prisoners in amnesty
Burmese military junta released 12 political prisoners from among over 6,000 prisoners meant to be granted amnesty on Saturday
Myanmar military rulers on Saturday has started the process of release prisoners across the country, to prove its amnesty to 6,313 prisoners, who the junta said had shown 'Good Conduct and Discipline'.
Junta, on Friday announced that the prisoners would be released "on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of showing sympathy towards their family," and "to enable them to serve the interests of the nation and to participate in the fair elections to be held in the year 2010."
However, the junta, who has persistently denied the presence of political prisoners in the country, did not mention whether the release would include any of the estimated 2000 political prisoners, who were languishing in prisons across the country.
Besides, the junta's announcement carried by state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar, justified its decisions for sentenced activists and politicians to long prison terms, in recent months saying, they were sentenced for violating the existing law.
"In building the new nation, the government handed down sentences to those who violated the existing laws, to prison terms in accordance with the law to ensure peace and tranquility and prevalence of law and order," the paper said.
Since August 2008, courts in Burma, have handed down long prison terms to activists, and even their lawyers.
But the opposition source in Rangoon said, a few political prisoners in remote prisons of the country, are likely to be among those released. However, so far no one has come out of the prisons.
Myanmar military rulers on Saturday has started the process of release prisoners across the country, to prove its amnesty to 6,313 prisoners, who the junta said had shown 'Good Conduct and Discipline'.
Junta, on Friday announced that the prisoners would be released "on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of showing sympathy towards their family," and "to enable them to serve the interests of the nation and to participate in the fair elections to be held in the year 2010."
However, the junta, who has persistently denied the presence of political prisoners in the country, did not mention whether the release would include any of the estimated 2000 political prisoners, who were languishing in prisons across the country.
Besides, the junta's announcement carried by state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar, justified its decisions for sentenced activists and politicians to long prison terms, in recent months saying, they were sentenced for violating the existing law.
"In building the new nation, the government handed down sentences to those who violated the existing laws, to prison terms in accordance with the law to ensure peace and tranquility and prevalence of law and order," the paper said.
Since August 2008, courts in Burma, have handed down long prison terms to activists, and even their lawyers.
But the opposition source in Rangoon said, a few political prisoners in remote prisons of the country, are likely to be among those released. However, so far no one has come out of the prisons.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
UNHR expert Quintana meets Myanmar prisoners
Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN rights expert on Saturday arrived in Rangoon, a six-day mission to take stock of situation in Burma's human rights situation.He last visited the country in August last year.He visited Karen state, where UN and human rights groups say the Myanmar junta committed atrocities against rebels and minorities. He intends to visit Rakhine state - home to the Rohingya Muslim minority, Burma's military government will let him see the detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the UN said.
United Nations Human Rights expert Tomas Ojea Quintana on Monday met five political prisoners in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison as part of his second trip to assess the situation of human rights in military-ruled Burma."He met five political prisoners, but we still don't know who they are," said the source, who is close to Insein prison.Quintana on Monday was escorted to the notorious Insein prison in Rangoon by a convoy of security personnel and security was beefed up in and around the prison.Quintana, who went into the prison at about 3:30 p.m. (local time), was seen leaving the Insein prison from the front gate at about 7:20 p.m. (local time), the source said.The source said, "6 p.m. (local time) is usually the time for prisoners to have dinner and it could be that he is observing the food given to the prisoners."But the source said, with prison authorities well prepared for the visit of the UN envoy, Quintana might be fooled if he judges the prison conditions by appearances.Prison authorities in Burma, according to sources, are reportedly busy cleaning up prison cells, supplying cleaner uniforms and better meals to prisoners as the United Nations Human Rights expert began prison visits on Sunday, sources said.The source said authorities have cleaned up the compound, re-painted the walls and supplied new uniforms to security personnel as well as to the prisoners reports burma media agencies.
On Sunday, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN rights expert, visited the Pa-an prison, capital of Karen State in eastern Burma, where there are at least nine prisoners of conscience including popular blogger Nay Phone Latt, a prison official on Monday told Mizzima.
"Yesterday, Quintana came here and stayed around one hour from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m." the official said.
Thereon he had advised Myanmar rulers to revise domestic laws giving space to fundamental human rights and release an estimated 2,000 prisoners of conscience currently in detention. But jail sentences imposed on politicians, artists, bloggers and activists, to a maximum of ranging up to 65 years.
Burma generals advocate implemention of a seven-step road map to democracy,turn the country into a democratic nation after multiparty general elections in 2010.
Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, not satisfied and is disappointment with a recent visit by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who failed to secure a meeting with Burma's top military leaders.
United Nations Human Rights expert Tomas Ojea Quintana on Monday met five political prisoners in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison as part of his second trip to assess the situation of human rights in military-ruled Burma."He met five political prisoners, but we still don't know who they are," said the source, who is close to Insein prison.Quintana on Monday was escorted to the notorious Insein prison in Rangoon by a convoy of security personnel and security was beefed up in and around the prison.Quintana, who went into the prison at about 3:30 p.m. (local time), was seen leaving the Insein prison from the front gate at about 7:20 p.m. (local time), the source said.The source said, "6 p.m. (local time) is usually the time for prisoners to have dinner and it could be that he is observing the food given to the prisoners."But the source said, with prison authorities well prepared for the visit of the UN envoy, Quintana might be fooled if he judges the prison conditions by appearances.Prison authorities in Burma, according to sources, are reportedly busy cleaning up prison cells, supplying cleaner uniforms and better meals to prisoners as the United Nations Human Rights expert began prison visits on Sunday, sources said.The source said authorities have cleaned up the compound, re-painted the walls and supplied new uniforms to security personnel as well as to the prisoners reports burma media agencies.
On Sunday, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN rights expert, visited the Pa-an prison, capital of Karen State in eastern Burma, where there are at least nine prisoners of conscience including popular blogger Nay Phone Latt, a prison official on Monday told Mizzima.
"Yesterday, Quintana came here and stayed around one hour from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m." the official said.
Thereon he had advised Myanmar rulers to revise domestic laws giving space to fundamental human rights and release an estimated 2,000 prisoners of conscience currently in detention. But jail sentences imposed on politicians, artists, bloggers and activists, to a maximum of ranging up to 65 years.
Burma generals advocate implemention of a seven-step road map to democracy,turn the country into a democratic nation after multiparty general elections in 2010.
Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, not satisfied and is disappointment with a recent visit by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who failed to secure a meeting with Burma's top military leaders.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Bring back democracy in Myanmar
2009-02-07 07:39:09 - Today Vice President Hamid Ansari on the second day of his four-day visit to Myanmar drove around the huge complex of the the under-constructed Parliament building with a pagoda-type roof yesterday, he joined a growing list of foreign dignitaries to be shown the structure, that is set to be the temple of democracy in this country, on their visit here.But when shall Burmese have right to have government of the people,for the people,by the people is question haunting the world leaders.Vice-President Mohd. Hamid Ansari paid homage at the historic Bahardur Shah Zafar mazar at Yangon in Myanmar on Saturday.Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President said that Bahadur Shah Jafar occupies a special place in history. Describing him as a saintly figure, Mohd Ansari said that Jafar will remain in our hearts forever.
Global diplomacy has failed in Burma to bring back democracy and envoy of Ban Ki-moon recent visit has not proved fruitful for restoration of democracy themoot purpose and peoples even blogging with present Junta regime are put on prison for more than twenty years which needs UN attention.
Myanmar once most vibrant economy in Asean countries is one of the poor
economy with its major population living below poverty line of WHO standards.
Johnny Chatterton friend of mine from UK writes,A United Nations envoy has just returned from Burma and has yet again failed to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's 2,130 other political prisoners. UN envoys have now made 38 visits to Burma and have consistently failed to achieve any progress towards democracy and human rights.
He further adds that Stronger action is needed. These prisoners have done nothing wrong. They have been imprisoned for calling for freedom and human rights. The United Nations Security Council must bring in a binding resolution to ensure that Burma's political prisoners are released. We need your help to make this happen.
Burma media repports,This week Burma's imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed out of her house arrest for a few short minutes to meet with the UN Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, and the Central Executive Committee of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Suu Kyi called on the UN to prioritise the release of all 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.She once more bravely stated that she is willing to talk to the Burmese regime at any time, but the regime is refusing to come to the negotiating table.Aung San Suu Kyi is only kept safe because of her high international profile. You, as one of her supporters are helping to keep her safe.
Vice-President will reach Mandalay in Myanmar on Saturday afternoon. His wide -ranging bilateral talks with the Senior General of the Myanmar Government, Mr. Than Shawe and Senior Vice-General Moung Aya on cross-border cooperation are set for agenda.
Media reports that India and Myanmar have agreed to enhance cooperation in the hydrocarbon and hydropower sectors. Agricultural technology
and supply of railway wagons to Myanmar have been identified as new areas of cooperation. India will soon launch a working plan to carry forward these objects.
Amid growing international pressure on it to expedite restoration of civilian rule, Myanmar government is struggling to get eased the sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries on it.During Ansari's talks with Myanmar's top military Generals Than Shwe and Maung Aye, it was conveyed to him that the junta was committed to holding fresh elections next year.
The road leading to a new Parliament building in Myanmar's capital city is as smooth as silk but will the journey back to democracy in this military-ruled country be the same? The military government has drawn up a seven-step road map to restoration of democracy, of which four steps have been completed.
With more queries, a number of key questions remain unanswered which included: whether jailed icon of pro-democracy movement Aung Saan Su Kyi will be released before that and if political parties will be allowed to contest. PTI
Global diplomacy has failed in Burma to bring back democracy and envoy of Ban Ki-moon recent visit has not proved fruitful for restoration of democracy themoot purpose and peoples even blogging with present Junta regime are put on prison for more than twenty years which needs UN attention.
Myanmar once most vibrant economy in Asean countries is one of the poor
economy with its major population living below poverty line of WHO standards.
Johnny Chatterton friend of mine from UK writes,A United Nations envoy has just returned from Burma and has yet again failed to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's 2,130 other political prisoners. UN envoys have now made 38 visits to Burma and have consistently failed to achieve any progress towards democracy and human rights.
He further adds that Stronger action is needed. These prisoners have done nothing wrong. They have been imprisoned for calling for freedom and human rights. The United Nations Security Council must bring in a binding resolution to ensure that Burma's political prisoners are released. We need your help to make this happen.
Burma media repports,This week Burma's imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed out of her house arrest for a few short minutes to meet with the UN Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, and the Central Executive Committee of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Suu Kyi called on the UN to prioritise the release of all 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.She once more bravely stated that she is willing to talk to the Burmese regime at any time, but the regime is refusing to come to the negotiating table.Aung San Suu Kyi is only kept safe because of her high international profile. You, as one of her supporters are helping to keep her safe.
Vice-President will reach Mandalay in Myanmar on Saturday afternoon. His wide -ranging bilateral talks with the Senior General of the Myanmar Government, Mr. Than Shawe and Senior Vice-General Moung Aya on cross-border cooperation are set for agenda.
Media reports that India and Myanmar have agreed to enhance cooperation in the hydrocarbon and hydropower sectors. Agricultural technology
and supply of railway wagons to Myanmar have been identified as new areas of cooperation. India will soon launch a working plan to carry forward these objects.
Amid growing international pressure on it to expedite restoration of civilian rule, Myanmar government is struggling to get eased the sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries on it.During Ansari's talks with Myanmar's top military Generals Than Shwe and Maung Aye, it was conveyed to him that the junta was committed to holding fresh elections next year.
The road leading to a new Parliament building in Myanmar's capital city is as smooth as silk but will the journey back to democracy in this military-ruled country be the same? The military government has drawn up a seven-step road map to restoration of democracy, of which four steps have been completed.
With more queries, a number of key questions remain unanswered which included: whether jailed icon of pro-democracy movement Aung Saan Su Kyi will be released before that and if political parties will be allowed to contest. PTI
Insurgency free NE border:Myanmar
Insurgency free NE border:Myanmar
2009-02-07 05:09:50 - Myanmar which shares border with the north-eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland,visiting Vice President of India Hamid raised security issue due to increased insurgency during a meeting with Gen Maung Aye, the number two in ruling military regime on Thursday.Aye said Myanmar not to allow its soil to be used by NE insurgents.
On the second day of his four-day visit to Myanmar, Ansari held "extremely comprehensive" talks with the head of military junta Gen Than Shwe at Nay Pyi Taw on Friday after which the two countries took "concrete decisions" to enhance cooperation in security, hydrocarbon and power sectors and agreed to widen its ambit to agriculture and railways.
At the delegation-level talks
between the two sides, which followed a brief one-to-one meeting between Ansari and Gen Aye on Thursday, the Myanmarese side acknowledged India's security concerns but conveyed that the north-east insurgents would not be permitted to use its territory to target India, sources said.Since India began engaging the Myanmarese military junta, there has been cooperation between security forces of the two countries in flushing out the north-eastern insurgents.Myanmar's assurance regarding north-eastern insurgents assumed significance as India, which had kept the military junta at arms length for a long time after the 1988 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, changed tack when it found its security interests in north-eastern states were in jeopardy.
"We have taken concrete decisions on how to enhance economic cooperation in the areas of hydrocarbon, security and power," Ansari told journalists accompanying him on board Air India's special aircraft on his way from Myanmar's administrative capital at Nay Pyi Taw to the country's business hub Yangon after talks with Gen Shwe.He, however, did not specify what the decisions were."I had extremely fruitful and extremely comprehensive discussions covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations with Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye and Senior General Than Shwe. All bilateral issues were discussed," Ansari said wrapping up the most substantive part of his four-day visit to Myanmar after arriving at Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.
The Vice President said the two countries have resolved to move further ahead expeditiously for the economic cooperation.Ansari's remarks about "concrete decisions" came after his talks with Gen Shwe that went on for more than an hour as against the scheduled time of half an hour. "Concrete decisions" on India, Myanmar cooperation: Ansari
India and Myanmar have taken "concrete decisions" to enhance cooperation in security, hydrocarbon and power sectors and decided to widen its ambit to agriculture and railways.
Vice President Hamid Ansari held "extremely comprehensive" talks with the head of the country's military junta Gen Than Shwe on Friday.
"We have taken concrete decisions on how to enhance economic cooperation in the areas of hydrocarbon, security and power," Ansari told journalists accompanying him on board Air India's special aircraft on his way from Myanmar's administrative capital here to the country's business hub Yangon after talks with Gen Shwe. He, however, did not specify what the decisions were.
"I had extremely fruitful and extremely comprehensive discussions covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations with Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye and Senior General Than Shwe.
All bilateral issues were discussed," Ansari said wrapping up the most substantive part of his four-day visit to Myanmar after arriving in Myanmar on Thursday.
The Vice President said the two countries have resolved to move further ahead expeditiously for the economic cooperation.
Ansari's remarks about "concrete decisions" came after his talks with Gen Shwe that went on for more than an hour as against the scheduled time of half an hour.Besides hydrocarbon, security, power and telecom sectors, the Myanmar military ruler is understood to have raised the issue of India's assistance in toning up his country's infrastructure sector, particularly in road construction where India already has a presence.Several ministers of Myanmar cabinet were also present at the meeting between Ansari and Gen Shwe which came a day after the Vice President held talks with Gen Maung Aye, the number two in ruling military regime.
At the meeting between Ansari and Aye on Thursday, Myanmar had assured India that it will not allow its territory to be used by northeastern Indian insurgents for targetting India.The assurance came after the security issue was raised by India at the delegation-level talks headed by Ansari and Gen Aye in the midst of media reports that some of the insurgent groups are shifting their bases from Bangladesh following the return of Sheikha Hasina-led government to Bhutan and Myanmar.Myanmar and India have also identified two new areas of cooperation - agriculture and railway. Myanmar sought India's assistance in agriculture and farm technology and in strengthening its railway network expressing keen interest to buy locomotives.Gen Maung Aye, with whom Ansari had extensive discussions covering all aspects of bilateral relations on Thursday, noted the great progress made by India in the field of agriculture and farm technology and wanted cooperation in this area, Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vivek Katju said.
The officials of the two countries will now get down to identifying specific areas of cooperation in agriculture, Katju told Indian journalists accompanying the Vice President in Myanmar on Thursday night.
"We have to work out plans for specific areas of cooperation in agriculture," said Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Aloke Sen.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
2009-02-07 05:09:50 - Myanmar which shares border with the north-eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland,visiting Vice President of India Hamid raised security issue due to increased insurgency during a meeting with Gen Maung Aye, the number two in ruling military regime on Thursday.Aye said Myanmar not to allow its soil to be used by NE insurgents.
On the second day of his four-day visit to Myanmar, Ansari held "extremely comprehensive" talks with the head of military junta Gen Than Shwe at Nay Pyi Taw on Friday after which the two countries took "concrete decisions" to enhance cooperation in security, hydrocarbon and power sectors and agreed to widen its ambit to agriculture and railways.
At the delegation-level talks
between the two sides, which followed a brief one-to-one meeting between Ansari and Gen Aye on Thursday, the Myanmarese side acknowledged India's security concerns but conveyed that the north-east insurgents would not be permitted to use its territory to target India, sources said.Since India began engaging the Myanmarese military junta, there has been cooperation between security forces of the two countries in flushing out the north-eastern insurgents.Myanmar's assurance regarding north-eastern insurgents assumed significance as India, which had kept the military junta at arms length for a long time after the 1988 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, changed tack when it found its security interests in north-eastern states were in jeopardy.
"We have taken concrete decisions on how to enhance economic cooperation in the areas of hydrocarbon, security and power," Ansari told journalists accompanying him on board Air India's special aircraft on his way from Myanmar's administrative capital at Nay Pyi Taw to the country's business hub Yangon after talks with Gen Shwe.He, however, did not specify what the decisions were."I had extremely fruitful and extremely comprehensive discussions covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations with Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye and Senior General Than Shwe. All bilateral issues were discussed," Ansari said wrapping up the most substantive part of his four-day visit to Myanmar after arriving at Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.
The Vice President said the two countries have resolved to move further ahead expeditiously for the economic cooperation.Ansari's remarks about "concrete decisions" came after his talks with Gen Shwe that went on for more than an hour as against the scheduled time of half an hour. "Concrete decisions" on India, Myanmar cooperation: Ansari
India and Myanmar have taken "concrete decisions" to enhance cooperation in security, hydrocarbon and power sectors and decided to widen its ambit to agriculture and railways.
Vice President Hamid Ansari held "extremely comprehensive" talks with the head of the country's military junta Gen Than Shwe on Friday.
"We have taken concrete decisions on how to enhance economic cooperation in the areas of hydrocarbon, security and power," Ansari told journalists accompanying him on board Air India's special aircraft on his way from Myanmar's administrative capital here to the country's business hub Yangon after talks with Gen Shwe. He, however, did not specify what the decisions were.
"I had extremely fruitful and extremely comprehensive discussions covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations with Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye and Senior General Than Shwe.
All bilateral issues were discussed," Ansari said wrapping up the most substantive part of his four-day visit to Myanmar after arriving in Myanmar on Thursday.
The Vice President said the two countries have resolved to move further ahead expeditiously for the economic cooperation.
Ansari's remarks about "concrete decisions" came after his talks with Gen Shwe that went on for more than an hour as against the scheduled time of half an hour.Besides hydrocarbon, security, power and telecom sectors, the Myanmar military ruler is understood to have raised the issue of India's assistance in toning up his country's infrastructure sector, particularly in road construction where India already has a presence.Several ministers of Myanmar cabinet were also present at the meeting between Ansari and Gen Shwe which came a day after the Vice President held talks with Gen Maung Aye, the number two in ruling military regime.
At the meeting between Ansari and Aye on Thursday, Myanmar had assured India that it will not allow its territory to be used by northeastern Indian insurgents for targetting India.The assurance came after the security issue was raised by India at the delegation-level talks headed by Ansari and Gen Aye in the midst of media reports that some of the insurgent groups are shifting their bases from Bangladesh following the return of Sheikha Hasina-led government to Bhutan and Myanmar.Myanmar and India have also identified two new areas of cooperation - agriculture and railway. Myanmar sought India's assistance in agriculture and farm technology and in strengthening its railway network expressing keen interest to buy locomotives.Gen Maung Aye, with whom Ansari had extensive discussions covering all aspects of bilateral relations on Thursday, noted the great progress made by India in the field of agriculture and farm technology and wanted cooperation in this area, Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vivek Katju said.
The officials of the two countries will now get down to identifying specific areas of cooperation in agriculture, Katju told Indian journalists accompanying the Vice President in Myanmar on Thursday night.
"We have to work out plans for specific areas of cooperation in agriculture," said Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Aloke Sen.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hamid Ansari VP India on four-day visit to Burma
Vice-President of India M. Hamid Ansari will begin a four-day official visit to military-ruled Burma on Thursday in a bid to give a leg up to bilateral relations between the two countries."He will begin the four-day trip Thursday," an official at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs told media on Wednesday.
According to a document at the MEA, during his visit Ansari will inaugurate the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) in Rangoon. India and Burma in July 2004 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set-up the India-Myanmar EDC (MIEDC).
Ansari in Mandalay, will inaugurate the Optical Fibre Link between India's border town of Moreh in Manipur state, northeast India and the ancient capital city of Mandalay in central Burma, set-up by the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL).
India under, the project, has sanctioned US $ 7 million through its Export and Import (EXIM) Bank to Burma. With the Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication (MPT) acting as the executing agent on the Burmese side, ADSL2+2 systems have been installed in at least 80 locations across Burma, the document said.
While it is still not clear, who in Burma, the Indian Vice-President will meet during his visit, Ansari is slated to witness the signing of two MoUs - setting up of India-Burma Industrial Training Centre and Centre for English Language Training (CELT).
The ITC, which will be located in Central Burma's Pakokku Town, will be a joint venture between India's HNT (International) and the Burmese government. The CELT will be set-up under the Association of Southeast Asian Nation-India (Asean-India) project.
Ansari's trip to Burma will be the first Indian high-level official visit to the military-ruled country in 2009. Ansari will be accompanied by a business delegation, according to MEA.India's export to Burma for the same fiscal year stood at US $ 173.46 million.
India and Burma in recent years have stepped up bilateral relationship and cosied up in terms of trade cooperation. According to statistics released by the MEA, Indo-Burmese bilateral trade for 2007-08 stood at US $ 901.3 million with Burma's export to India standing at US $ 727.85 million.
According to a document at the MEA, during his visit Ansari will inaugurate the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) in Rangoon. India and Burma in July 2004 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set-up the India-Myanmar EDC (MIEDC).
Ansari in Mandalay, will inaugurate the Optical Fibre Link between India's border town of Moreh in Manipur state, northeast India and the ancient capital city of Mandalay in central Burma, set-up by the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL).
India under, the project, has sanctioned US $ 7 million through its Export and Import (EXIM) Bank to Burma. With the Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication (MPT) acting as the executing agent on the Burmese side, ADSL2+2 systems have been installed in at least 80 locations across Burma, the document said.
While it is still not clear, who in Burma, the Indian Vice-President will meet during his visit, Ansari is slated to witness the signing of two MoUs - setting up of India-Burma Industrial Training Centre and Centre for English Language Training (CELT).
The ITC, which will be located in Central Burma's Pakokku Town, will be a joint venture between India's HNT (International) and the Burmese government. The CELT will be set-up under the Association of Southeast Asian Nation-India (Asean-India) project.
Ansari's trip to Burma will be the first Indian high-level official visit to the military-ruled country in 2009. Ansari will be accompanied by a business delegation, according to MEA.India's export to Burma for the same fiscal year stood at US $ 173.46 million.
India and Burma in recent years have stepped up bilateral relationship and cosied up in terms of trade cooperation. According to statistics released by the MEA, Indo-Burmese bilateral trade for 2007-08 stood at US $ 901.3 million with Burma's export to India standing at US $ 727.85 million.
UN efforts in Myanmar fail for democracy
2009-02-05 04:35:21 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is on a visit to Pakistan and India. Gambari arrived in Yangon over the weekend for a four-day visit, his fifth in the past year and a half but has made little headway in getting a dialogue for reconciliation started and persuade the military government to move towards democracy.
UN's inability to prevail upon the ruling military junta to expedite democratic reforms in the country.During an hour long meeting with a top UN official, Ibrahim Gambari, Suu Kyi said that despite his efforts he failed to get pro-democracy leaders released or even convince the junta to put the country on the path of democracy.A spokesman for National League for
Democracy (NLD) was quoted as saying, that 63 year old, Suu Kyi is prepared to meet anyone but there has to be some outcome.During Gambari's last visit also, Suu Kyi had expressed displeasure with the efforts of the UN official and refused to meet him. The military Junta had come to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who has spent 13 of last 19 years in detention, stressed that the talks should aim at achieving reforms which would lead to a democratic set up.UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon had visited Myanmar in May, after Cyclone Nargis struck the country.
UN spokesperson would not go beyond confirming the meeting of Gambari who is visiting Myanmar as part of the mandate given to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the General Assembly to use his good office to bring about national reconciliation in the country.
Ban Ki-moon in Kabul
Ban Ki-moon paid surprise visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Wednesday and as the United States prepares to send in more troops in the country in the face of a resurgent Taliban, Ban said the United Nations was strongly committed to delivering peace in the country.Ban said he is to give Afghanistan the UN's full support ensuing General elections due in August this year.'This year is going to be a very important and a crucial year for the Afghanistan people and government in many aspects, in addressing security challenges and also establishing fuller democracy and development and prosperity,' Ban said at a joint media conference with president Hamid Karzai.
Ban Ki‑Moon in Pakistan
UN chief said he was aware that the issue of her assassination was a matter of great importance to the people of Pakistan.'On the basis of our extensive consultations with the government of Pakistan and members of the Security Council, I intend to establish very shortly an independent commission of inquiry headed by a very distinguished person, whom I am going to nominate soon,' Secretary-General Ban said at a banquet hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Ambassador of Chile to the UN, Mr Heraldo Munoz, would lead the three-member UN inquiry commission.Mr Dar Usman of Indonesia will be a member of the commission and the third member will be from Sweden whose name still to be ascertained.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki‑Moon on Wednesday stressed the need for resumption of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all bilateral issues including the Kashmir dispute. Talking to reporters at the PM House, alongwith Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ban Ki‑Moon said cordial relations between the two south Asian neighbours were beneficial for peace and stability in the subcontinent.'The cooperative and friendly relations between India and Pakistan are not only beneficial for the two countries but also desirable for peace and stability in the subcontinent.'He urged Pakistan to fully cooperate with Indian government in its investigation into Mumbai attacks. He was appreciative of Pakistan government enacting a law which will punish those involved in terrorist activities even outside Pakistan.
'That is very commendable..I hope this will be emulated by other countries in the world,' he said.Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said such a law already existed and there was no need for fresh legislation in this regard.
He reiterated that Pakistan will never allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against any country.He said in order to curb the menace of terrorism, there is a need to expedite the Biden‑Lugar bill for setting of ROZs in troubled areas of FATA and war on terror could not be won by force alone.In reply to a question Prime Minister Gilani said that drone attacks were counter productive in the war against terror and stressed that instead there is a need to win the minds and hearts of the people in tribal areas.He said without the support of these people, this war cannot be won. The militants, he added, should also be isolated from the local tribes.
The UN Secretary General said the world community must demonstrate concerted commitment in combating terrorism.He said security and development were interrelated therefore these issues should be addressed in a comprehensive way.In this regard he also called for starting interfaith dialogue and lauded Saudi Arabia for launching a similar initiative.
UN's inability to prevail upon the ruling military junta to expedite democratic reforms in the country.During an hour long meeting with a top UN official, Ibrahim Gambari, Suu Kyi said that despite his efforts he failed to get pro-democracy leaders released or even convince the junta to put the country on the path of democracy.A spokesman for National League for
Democracy (NLD) was quoted as saying, that 63 year old, Suu Kyi is prepared to meet anyone but there has to be some outcome.During Gambari's last visit also, Suu Kyi had expressed displeasure with the efforts of the UN official and refused to meet him. The military Junta had come to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who has spent 13 of last 19 years in detention, stressed that the talks should aim at achieving reforms which would lead to a democratic set up.UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon had visited Myanmar in May, after Cyclone Nargis struck the country.
UN spokesperson would not go beyond confirming the meeting of Gambari who is visiting Myanmar as part of the mandate given to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the General Assembly to use his good office to bring about national reconciliation in the country.
Ban Ki-moon in Kabul
Ban Ki-moon paid surprise visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Wednesday and as the United States prepares to send in more troops in the country in the face of a resurgent Taliban, Ban said the United Nations was strongly committed to delivering peace in the country.Ban said he is to give Afghanistan the UN's full support ensuing General elections due in August this year.'This year is going to be a very important and a crucial year for the Afghanistan people and government in many aspects, in addressing security challenges and also establishing fuller democracy and development and prosperity,' Ban said at a joint media conference with president Hamid Karzai.
Ban Ki‑Moon in Pakistan
UN chief said he was aware that the issue of her assassination was a matter of great importance to the people of Pakistan.'On the basis of our extensive consultations with the government of Pakistan and members of the Security Council, I intend to establish very shortly an independent commission of inquiry headed by a very distinguished person, whom I am going to nominate soon,' Secretary-General Ban said at a banquet hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Ambassador of Chile to the UN, Mr Heraldo Munoz, would lead the three-member UN inquiry commission.Mr Dar Usman of Indonesia will be a member of the commission and the third member will be from Sweden whose name still to be ascertained.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki‑Moon on Wednesday stressed the need for resumption of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all bilateral issues including the Kashmir dispute. Talking to reporters at the PM House, alongwith Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ban Ki‑Moon said cordial relations between the two south Asian neighbours were beneficial for peace and stability in the subcontinent.'The cooperative and friendly relations between India and Pakistan are not only beneficial for the two countries but also desirable for peace and stability in the subcontinent.'He urged Pakistan to fully cooperate with Indian government in its investigation into Mumbai attacks. He was appreciative of Pakistan government enacting a law which will punish those involved in terrorist activities even outside Pakistan.
'That is very commendable..I hope this will be emulated by other countries in the world,' he said.Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said such a law already existed and there was no need for fresh legislation in this regard.
He reiterated that Pakistan will never allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against any country.He said in order to curb the menace of terrorism, there is a need to expedite the Biden‑Lugar bill for setting of ROZs in troubled areas of FATA and war on terror could not be won by force alone.In reply to a question Prime Minister Gilani said that drone attacks were counter productive in the war against terror and stressed that instead there is a need to win the minds and hearts of the people in tribal areas.He said without the support of these people, this war cannot be won. The militants, he added, should also be isolated from the local tribes.
The UN Secretary General said the world community must demonstrate concerted commitment in combating terrorism.He said security and development were interrelated therefore these issues should be addressed in a comprehensive way.In this regard he also called for starting interfaith dialogue and lauded Saudi Arabia for launching a similar initiative.
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