Reporters Without Borders released its 2008 Annual Report, in which systematic abuses of freedom of the press inside Burma are chronicled.
According to the group, the working conditions for journalists in Burma significantly deteriorated from mid-August of last year, when the first protests materialized in response to unannounced energy price hikes.
The report notes that 15 journalists were arrested as a result of covering the protests, while Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was killed and other foreign correspondents closely monitored.
Raising the cost of a satellite license from five to 800 dollars, pulling the plug on the Internet and restricting the sale of foreign periodicals in the days and months following the protests are all listed in the year’s summary as examples of infringements against media rights.
Additionally, Reporters Without Borders is concerned as to restrictions on mobile phones, used during the protests and subsequent crackdown to take pictures and video.
Nine journalists are listed as remaining in detention, including the 77-year old Win Tin, who has languished in a cell since 1989.
Others still behind bars include Ko Aung Gyi, former editorial head of 90 minutes, along with Ko Win Maw and Ko Aung Aung, all of whom are being held on suspicion of distributing pictures and information to international media sources during the 2007 uprising.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Pado Manh Sha Myanmar leader assassinated in Thailand
Bangkok:Prominent Leader of pro democracy movement in Myanmar"s Karen National Union who was also a key figure in the democracy movement was assassinated on Thursday at his home in Thailand, Thai police said.
Pado Manh Sha, 65, was the Karen Nationa Union secretary general based in the town of Mae Sot in Thailand. He was a critic of Myanmar"s military regime who coordinated between the ethnic Karen and the democracy movement in the Myanmar.
"His relatives who witnessed the killing said the first man went up to greet Pado Manh Sha while he was resting, but then shot him once. A second man came up and shot him again," Passawat said.
Pado Manh Sha could have been killed by a Karen splinter group or assassins ordered by the military as reported in the media.Political analyst says,It could be KNU internal problems as the Christian KNU and Buddhist groups battles with splinter group called the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
KNU is in embattled with Myanmar"s rulers from last six decades in one of the world"s longest-running insurgencies.KNU is the largest rebel group battling Myanmar"s armed forces and one of the few remaining ethnic insurgencies yet to sign a peace deal with the junta.
KNU once controlled broad swaths of eastern Myanmar but presently is reduced mainly to small bases pressed against the Thai border.
Six decades of continuous war with military junta has destroyed eastern Myanmar, more than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to reports by Human Rights.
In this eastern Thai border of Myanmar more than 150,000 Karen refugees live in camps along Thai"s border with Myanmar. Many of them have been there for more than 20 years.
he was also a critical link between the rebellion and the pro-democracy movement inside Myanmar.
KNU spokesman David Thaw said the group's leadership would gather Friday in Mae Sot to make funeral preparations and try to unravel the mystery of his killing. "There's a lot of confusion,"
"At the moment we think that it must be someone trying to create problems for the Karen, to create more disunity and divisions among each other," he said.
"It might be a professional killer, so someone might have hired this gunman. It is a very cold-blooded killer who can kill Pado Manh Sha at his house," he said.
"The gunshot was very accurate for someone to die instantly," he added.
Thai police said they were combing through Pado Manh Sha's double-storey house to search for clues but admitted they were struggling to find a solid lead.
"We are investigating to look for more evidence," a senior provincial police officer said.
A Thai military officer in Mae Sot said on condition of anonymity that investigators believe the killing was likely committed by a Karen splinter group like the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Most Karen are Christians, but the DKBA has broken away and aligned itself with Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962.
Pado Manh Sha, 65, was the Karen Nationa Union secretary general based in the town of Mae Sot in Thailand. He was a critic of Myanmar"s military regime who coordinated between the ethnic Karen and the democracy movement in the Myanmar.
"His relatives who witnessed the killing said the first man went up to greet Pado Manh Sha while he was resting, but then shot him once. A second man came up and shot him again," Passawat said.
Pado Manh Sha could have been killed by a Karen splinter group or assassins ordered by the military as reported in the media.Political analyst says,It could be KNU internal problems as the Christian KNU and Buddhist groups battles with splinter group called the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
KNU is in embattled with Myanmar"s rulers from last six decades in one of the world"s longest-running insurgencies.KNU is the largest rebel group battling Myanmar"s armed forces and one of the few remaining ethnic insurgencies yet to sign a peace deal with the junta.
KNU once controlled broad swaths of eastern Myanmar but presently is reduced mainly to small bases pressed against the Thai border.
Six decades of continuous war with military junta has destroyed eastern Myanmar, more than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to reports by Human Rights.
In this eastern Thai border of Myanmar more than 150,000 Karen refugees live in camps along Thai"s border with Myanmar. Many of them have been there for more than 20 years.
he was also a critical link between the rebellion and the pro-democracy movement inside Myanmar.
KNU spokesman David Thaw said the group's leadership would gather Friday in Mae Sot to make funeral preparations and try to unravel the mystery of his killing. "There's a lot of confusion,"
"At the moment we think that it must be someone trying to create problems for the Karen, to create more disunity and divisions among each other," he said.
"It might be a professional killer, so someone might have hired this gunman. It is a very cold-blooded killer who can kill Pado Manh Sha at his house," he said.
"The gunshot was very accurate for someone to die instantly," he added.
Thai police said they were combing through Pado Manh Sha's double-storey house to search for clues but admitted they were struggling to find a solid lead.
"We are investigating to look for more evidence," a senior provincial police officer said.
A Thai military officer in Mae Sot said on condition of anonymity that investigators believe the killing was likely committed by a Karen splinter group like the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Most Karen are Christians, but the DKBA has broken away and aligned itself with Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
US Ambassador to Thailand, Ralph Boyce US policy on Myanmer
US Ambassador to Thailand, Ralph Boyce, his term in Thailand to end also defended Washington’s policy on Burma, saying: “What I think is that our policy is important for the people who are struggling inside Burma. We don’t follow policy necessarily to try to impact the generals; they are fairly impervious—impermeable even— to outside pressure, for good or bad, it seems.
“Even some of the countries that people call ‘enablers’ or their ‘closest protectors’ or whatever—it’s unclear, at the end of the day, just how much influence even they can have.”
There has been growing criticism of the US’s image and their policies. Incoming Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan recently said that the US’s influence in the region was on the wane. And critics have pointed out that the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, twice canceled visits to attend Asean meetings where the US traditionally sends its highest State Department official.
Ambassador Boyce responded: “I think it would be a misinterpretation to suggest that Secretary Rice’s inability to attend the last two or three meetings was because of her lack of attentiveness. We have a lot on our policy agenda and there are geographic and time constraints that make it a huge investment for a US Secretary to come out for an Asean meeting. It’s not because we don’t take Asean seriously.”
The ambassador added that the current US administration has upgraded its attention on Asean as an institution, as a region, and to the bilateral relationships it enjoys with each of the Asean partners.
He admitted that the Chinese were more influential in the region; however, he welcomed the strides China had taken.
“I think that Chinese diplomacy is very active in the region, as it should be,” he said. “Some people call it the emergence of China; it’s really the re-emergence of China. It’s a more natural state of things.”
Ambassador Boyce noted that the US had spent the last 50 years as “the preeminent power in the region.” That was, he said, very unusual in world history and had evolved after the Second World War because all the other major powers were preoccupied internally or elsewhere.
“What it means to the US is that it’s more challenging for us to maintain our influence and, if other countries are going to be more active in the region, it means that we have to be more active too,” he added.
On Burma, the ambassador said that the UN envoys’ visits to Burma were “extremely important.”
However, when asked if the US wished to send a special envoy to the region to deal with the Burmese generals, he replied: “Too many envoys spoil the broth.”
“The regime claims they will deal only with the UN, and they reject a regional approach: they certainly reject any intervention from actors like the US or the UK or the EU,” said Boyce.
He also praised Thailand for its long-term policy on dealing with refugees.
“Everyone has been very attentive over the last decades to rumors that there were going to be major push-backs—whether it was with Cambodians, Vietnamese, Lao of various types, or Burmese of various types,” he said, concluding: “Thailand’s record is, in fact, pretty good on that score.”
Asked if the US would be willing to engage with Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the Burmese regime, Ambassador Boyce pointed out that an unpublicized meeting between senior US State Department officials and Burmese ministers had taken place some months before in Beijing.
Details of the talks were unknown, but Western diplomats said that they were cordial. However, the US did request the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The ambassador said: “We engaged in Beijing—meetings that the Chinese brokered between the [Burmese] regime and ourselves; and as long as those discussions can produce something substantive as opposed to just ‘talk’—talking past each other—then I think we’re always ready to engage.”
Concluding the interview with a message of support to the people of Burma, the US ambassador said: “We are watching. Stay the course. We know the suffering. We will never change our policy about what is right in Burma. We are there.”
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?cat_id=2
“Even some of the countries that people call ‘enablers’ or their ‘closest protectors’ or whatever—it’s unclear, at the end of the day, just how much influence even they can have.”
There has been growing criticism of the US’s image and their policies. Incoming Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan recently said that the US’s influence in the region was on the wane. And critics have pointed out that the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, twice canceled visits to attend Asean meetings where the US traditionally sends its highest State Department official.
Ambassador Boyce responded: “I think it would be a misinterpretation to suggest that Secretary Rice’s inability to attend the last two or three meetings was because of her lack of attentiveness. We have a lot on our policy agenda and there are geographic and time constraints that make it a huge investment for a US Secretary to come out for an Asean meeting. It’s not because we don’t take Asean seriously.”
The ambassador added that the current US administration has upgraded its attention on Asean as an institution, as a region, and to the bilateral relationships it enjoys with each of the Asean partners.
He admitted that the Chinese were more influential in the region; however, he welcomed the strides China had taken.
“I think that Chinese diplomacy is very active in the region, as it should be,” he said. “Some people call it the emergence of China; it’s really the re-emergence of China. It’s a more natural state of things.”
Ambassador Boyce noted that the US had spent the last 50 years as “the preeminent power in the region.” That was, he said, very unusual in world history and had evolved after the Second World War because all the other major powers were preoccupied internally or elsewhere.
“What it means to the US is that it’s more challenging for us to maintain our influence and, if other countries are going to be more active in the region, it means that we have to be more active too,” he added.
On Burma, the ambassador said that the UN envoys’ visits to Burma were “extremely important.”
However, when asked if the US wished to send a special envoy to the region to deal with the Burmese generals, he replied: “Too many envoys spoil the broth.”
“The regime claims they will deal only with the UN, and they reject a regional approach: they certainly reject any intervention from actors like the US or the UK or the EU,” said Boyce.
He also praised Thailand for its long-term policy on dealing with refugees.
“Everyone has been very attentive over the last decades to rumors that there were going to be major push-backs—whether it was with Cambodians, Vietnamese, Lao of various types, or Burmese of various types,” he said, concluding: “Thailand’s record is, in fact, pretty good on that score.”
Asked if the US would be willing to engage with Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the Burmese regime, Ambassador Boyce pointed out that an unpublicized meeting between senior US State Department officials and Burmese ministers had taken place some months before in Beijing.
Details of the talks were unknown, but Western diplomats said that they were cordial. However, the US did request the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The ambassador said: “We engaged in Beijing—meetings that the Chinese brokered between the [Burmese] regime and ourselves; and as long as those discussions can produce something substantive as opposed to just ‘talk’—talking past each other—then I think we’re always ready to engage.”
Concluding the interview with a message of support to the people of Burma, the US ambassador said: “We are watching. Stay the course. We know the suffering. We will never change our policy about what is right in Burma. We are there.”
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?cat_id=2
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
NLD says no sign of any dialogue
Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
NLD says no dialogue -Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ashin Panyathami,U Indra Panya U MagindarMonks flee from Myanmar to evade arrest.
A Buddhist monk from Rangoon's Zathilaryama monastery, who took part in the September protests, fled from the manhunt launched by the Burmese military junta and arrived in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh.
Ashin Panyathami, a young monk from the Zathilaryama monastery in Rangoon, fled to Bangladesh along with more than 20 fellow monks, following the junta's relentless search to arrest and detain monks and protesters.
"As the authorities launched widespread search operations, more than 20 monks, had to hide near the Moe Yeik River for three days. After that we returned to our monastery but there the soldiers called more than 20 of us for interrogation," Ashin Panyathami, who arrived Cox Bazaar on December 5, told Mizzima during an interview.
"They took our photographs and asked us whether we had joined the protests. They told us not to join up again and threatened that we would be arrested if we did," added the young monk.
After arresting the abbot of their monastery, U Zarthila at the end of September, soldiers had continued their rampant crackdown by conducting raids in monasteries and had come to their monastery several times.
The young monk, who is an ethnic Arakan, said he left the monastery in Rangoon for his native home town in Arakan State for fear that authorities would continue raids and arrests.
Along with Ashin Panyathami, several monks went back to their native hometowns. However, authorities were reportedly looking for him to arrest as he possess photographs, which he had taken at the Maha Wizeyatheindaw monastery in Rangoon.
The young monk said, he finally left Burma for Bangladesh as authorities were conducting raids in several monasteries in Arakan searching for him. The monk said, he had to hide himself for five days and nights along Kin Chyaung River , and finally crossed the border to Bangladesh.
Similarly, on October 29, U Indra Panya and U Magindar from the Alodawpyih DamaSariya monastery, who had actively participated during the recent protests, fled to Bangladesh after authorities came in hot pursuit of the duo.
Ashin Panyathami, a young monk from the Zathilaryama monastery in Rangoon, fled to Bangladesh along with more than 20 fellow monks, following the junta's relentless search to arrest and detain monks and protesters.
"As the authorities launched widespread search operations, more than 20 monks, had to hide near the Moe Yeik River for three days. After that we returned to our monastery but there the soldiers called more than 20 of us for interrogation," Ashin Panyathami, who arrived Cox Bazaar on December 5, told Mizzima during an interview.
"They took our photographs and asked us whether we had joined the protests. They told us not to join up again and threatened that we would be arrested if we did," added the young monk.
After arresting the abbot of their monastery, U Zarthila at the end of September, soldiers had continued their rampant crackdown by conducting raids in monasteries and had come to their monastery several times.
The young monk, who is an ethnic Arakan, said he left the monastery in Rangoon for his native home town in Arakan State for fear that authorities would continue raids and arrests.
Along with Ashin Panyathami, several monks went back to their native hometowns. However, authorities were reportedly looking for him to arrest as he possess photographs, which he had taken at the Maha Wizeyatheindaw monastery in Rangoon.
The young monk said, he finally left Burma for Bangladesh as authorities were conducting raids in several monasteries in Arakan searching for him. The monk said, he had to hide himself for five days and nights along Kin Chyaung River , and finally crossed the border to Bangladesh.
Similarly, on October 29, U Indra Panya and U Magindar from the Alodawpyih DamaSariya monastery, who had actively participated during the recent protests, fled to Bangladesh after authorities came in hot pursuit of the duo.
Bush Bans Gems wants San Suu Kyi to be released
President George Bush works out a strategy for the release of pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and for this the House of Representatives adopted sanctions against Burma's multi-million dollar gem and natural gas exports. Ms Suu Kyi's lawyer has called on Australia to take the regional lead in targeting sanctions against Burma's military.
United States sanctions on the economic interests of Burma's generals and companies conducting business in Burma are one step closer to being further strengthened, following the House of Representatives unanimous vote in favor of the JADE Act.
The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act, while focusing its attention on the trade of gemstones originating from Burma, looks to close significant holes existing in current sanctions policy.
"Millions of dollars in gemstones that are exported from Burma ultimately enter the United States but the Burmese regime attempts to conceal the origin of the gemstones in an effort to evade the sanctions in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003," according to the legislation.
"Burma's generals fund this repression of their own people by selling off the country's natural resources, especially oil and gems, leaving the Burmese people in poverty," said Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations.
If passed, the bill will ban the import of all gems originating from Burma.
In justification of the need for this bill, the House Committee on Foreign Relations states that while Burma is known to supply 90 percent of the world's rubies; only three percent of rubies entering the United States are listed as coming from Burma.
Further, 99 percent of a stone's value is said to come from the stone itself, with labor accounting for a mere one percent of the value. Therefore supporters of the legislation argue that the bill effectively targets economic interests of the Burmese state without significantly impacting the daily livelihood of Burma's citizens.
The Jewelers of America, representing over 11,000 stores nationwide, and several major retailers, have lent their support to the Act.
Another significant aspect of the bill is its targeting of the economic interests of Chevron Corporation, an American company actively engaged in the exploitation of Burma's energy resources.
The JADE Act will terminate tax deductions for Chevron's Burma investments. A move that it is hoped will prompt a domino effect among Chevron and its partners in Burma to desist in operations inside Burma due to rising costs and economic restrictions.
The regime's ability to make use of money laundering activities will also be negatively impacted by passage of the Act, in addition to a further freeze on assets associated with Burma's generals.
"The peaceful protesters of Burma are human rights heroes, and the reprehensible military dictators ruling them deserve to be nothing less than international pariahs for their dismal human rights record," reads a statement from Lantos' office. "I am deeply grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stood together today, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Burmese people as they struggle for freedom."
Upon final passage of the Act, Congressional annual review and renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 will no longer be necessary.
It is widely expected that both the Senate and President will offer their full support to the JADE Act, at which time the legislation will go into effect.
Jared Genser, legal counsel for Burma's Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi,says Well ultimately sanctions are only going to be as effective as the number of countries that are willing to put them on the military dictatorship. Historically the United States has had the strongest sanctions, although we are seeing stronger sanctions put in place by the European Union that were recently enacted and even tighter sanctions in this case in particular focusing on imports from Burma that go through third countries on their way here, such as gem stones which are polished in third countries. Australia has taken some important steps in recent weeks and I believe there's more that Australia can do, but what it has done already is put on a list of potential sanctions recipients, senior members of the military dictatorship, business owners who are tied into the military dictatorship as well to put in place financial sanctions against them to block assets they have in Australia and to prevent them from doing financial transactions through Australian banks. And that's a good first step.Australia has a critical role to play, obviously as a major power in the region and in its interacations with ASEAN and China.
China is Australia's top trading partner, the new Prime Minister Mr Rudd speaks fluent Mandarin, has extensive experience with the Chinese and therefore is very well placed to express his perspective to the Chinese government, and really the Howard government for some progress it might have made in other areas made virtually no progress on the question of Burma. The Australian government policy under Mr Howard had been a softly softly approach whereby engagement was the order of the day. But engagement didn't yield any substantive results and in his campaign for office Mr Rudd spoke publicly about the need to support US efforts to put further sanctions on Burma as well as put greater pressure on ASEAN and China to see real progress made in Burma. And so I think he needs to follow through on his campaign promises and lots of us around the world are watching closely to see how his new government takes shape.
United States sanctions on the economic interests of Burma's generals and companies conducting business in Burma are one step closer to being further strengthened, following the House of Representatives unanimous vote in favor of the JADE Act.
The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act, while focusing its attention on the trade of gemstones originating from Burma, looks to close significant holes existing in current sanctions policy.
"Millions of dollars in gemstones that are exported from Burma ultimately enter the United States but the Burmese regime attempts to conceal the origin of the gemstones in an effort to evade the sanctions in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003," according to the legislation.
"Burma's generals fund this repression of their own people by selling off the country's natural resources, especially oil and gems, leaving the Burmese people in poverty," said Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations.
If passed, the bill will ban the import of all gems originating from Burma.
In justification of the need for this bill, the House Committee on Foreign Relations states that while Burma is known to supply 90 percent of the world's rubies; only three percent of rubies entering the United States are listed as coming from Burma.
Further, 99 percent of a stone's value is said to come from the stone itself, with labor accounting for a mere one percent of the value. Therefore supporters of the legislation argue that the bill effectively targets economic interests of the Burmese state without significantly impacting the daily livelihood of Burma's citizens.
The Jewelers of America, representing over 11,000 stores nationwide, and several major retailers, have lent their support to the Act.
Another significant aspect of the bill is its targeting of the economic interests of Chevron Corporation, an American company actively engaged in the exploitation of Burma's energy resources.
The JADE Act will terminate tax deductions for Chevron's Burma investments. A move that it is hoped will prompt a domino effect among Chevron and its partners in Burma to desist in operations inside Burma due to rising costs and economic restrictions.
The regime's ability to make use of money laundering activities will also be negatively impacted by passage of the Act, in addition to a further freeze on assets associated with Burma's generals.
"The peaceful protesters of Burma are human rights heroes, and the reprehensible military dictators ruling them deserve to be nothing less than international pariahs for their dismal human rights record," reads a statement from Lantos' office. "I am deeply grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stood together today, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Burmese people as they struggle for freedom."
Upon final passage of the Act, Congressional annual review and renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 will no longer be necessary.
It is widely expected that both the Senate and President will offer their full support to the JADE Act, at which time the legislation will go into effect.
Jared Genser, legal counsel for Burma's Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi,says Well ultimately sanctions are only going to be as effective as the number of countries that are willing to put them on the military dictatorship. Historically the United States has had the strongest sanctions, although we are seeing stronger sanctions put in place by the European Union that were recently enacted and even tighter sanctions in this case in particular focusing on imports from Burma that go through third countries on their way here, such as gem stones which are polished in third countries. Australia has taken some important steps in recent weeks and I believe there's more that Australia can do, but what it has done already is put on a list of potential sanctions recipients, senior members of the military dictatorship, business owners who are tied into the military dictatorship as well to put in place financial sanctions against them to block assets they have in Australia and to prevent them from doing financial transactions through Australian banks. And that's a good first step.Australia has a critical role to play, obviously as a major power in the region and in its interacations with ASEAN and China.
China is Australia's top trading partner, the new Prime Minister Mr Rudd speaks fluent Mandarin, has extensive experience with the Chinese and therefore is very well placed to express his perspective to the Chinese government, and really the Howard government for some progress it might have made in other areas made virtually no progress on the question of Burma. The Australian government policy under Mr Howard had been a softly softly approach whereby engagement was the order of the day. But engagement didn't yield any substantive results and in his campaign for office Mr Rudd spoke publicly about the need to support US efforts to put further sanctions on Burma as well as put greater pressure on ASEAN and China to see real progress made in Burma. And so I think he needs to follow through on his campaign promises and lots of us around the world are watching closely to see how his new government takes shape.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
UN envoy Gambari to arrive -Monks Protest central Myanmar
Burma Buddhist monks today once again took to the streets in a peaceful protest march, from the Sasana Wihmula Monastery, in Pakokku town in central Burma.
Today morning more than 70 Buddhist monks in Pakokku town in central Burma today once again took to the streets in a peaceful protest march, from the Sasana Wihmula Monastery, popularly known as the west monastery, began marching the streets at about 8:30 a.m. (local time) and headed east, chanting and reciting the Metta Sutta .
"The monks are mainly from the Bodhi Madaing and Mya Monasteries. They headed to Shwegu Pagoda and chanted the Metta Sutta at the pagoda," said a monk.
Gambari is currently in Singapore, having completed a tour of regional capitals and promoting the Secretary General's approach to Burma, which is centered on engaging all relevant parties in an ongoing dialogue.
United Nations Special Adviser to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is set to arrive in Burma on Saturday, November 3rd, the Secretary General's Envoy will be in Burma until the 8th of the month, visiting the senior leadership of the military junta in Naypyidaw on Sunday.
The renowned comedian, actor and director Ko Zargana (Tweezers) who was released from detention on the 17th this month.suffering from emphysema..
Saw Thura Soe (35) a photojournalist working for Germany based European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), was covering the peoples' protests in Rangoon, before he disappeared on September 29, said a fellow Karen journalist based in Thailand.
"He [Saw Thura Soe] has been missing and is not among those who fled. He was residing in Rangoon. It is mysterious as to how he disappeared," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw, a fellow journalist said.
"We don't know whether he is dead or not and it is also unconfirmed whether he is being detained in interrogation camps," added Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw.
The junta's brutal crack down on protesters in Rangoon and other cities of Myanmar on 26 September,reports of several activists, monks and ordinary peoples missing and disappeared is keeping the peoples of Myanmar on tenterhooks about their fate.
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Submitted by Nksagar on Wed, 2007-10-31 16:49.
Today morning more than 70 Buddhist monks in Pakokku town in central Burma today once again took to the streets in a peaceful protest march, from the Sasana Wihmula Monastery, popularly known as the west monastery, began marching the streets at about 8:30 a.m. (local time) and headed east, chanting and reciting the Metta Sutta .
"The monks are mainly from the Bodhi Madaing and Mya Monasteries. They headed to Shwegu Pagoda and chanted the Metta Sutta at the pagoda," said a monk.
Gambari is currently in Singapore, having completed a tour of regional capitals and promoting the Secretary General's approach to Burma, which is centered on engaging all relevant parties in an ongoing dialogue.
United Nations Special Adviser to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is set to arrive in Burma on Saturday, November 3rd, the Secretary General's Envoy will be in Burma until the 8th of the month, visiting the senior leadership of the military junta in Naypyidaw on Sunday.
The renowned comedian, actor and director Ko Zargana (Tweezers) who was released from detention on the 17th this month.suffering from emphysema..
Saw Thura Soe (35) a photojournalist working for Germany based European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), was covering the peoples' protests in Rangoon, before he disappeared on September 29, said a fellow Karen journalist based in Thailand.
"He [Saw Thura Soe] has been missing and is not among those who fled. He was residing in Rangoon. It is mysterious as to how he disappeared," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw, a fellow journalist said.
"We don't know whether he is dead or not and it is also unconfirmed whether he is being detained in interrogation camps," added Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw.
The junta's brutal crack down on protesters in Rangoon and other cities of Myanmar on 26 September,reports of several activists, monks and ordinary peoples missing and disappeared is keeping the peoples of Myanmar on tenterhooks about their fate.
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Submitted by Nksagar on Wed, 2007-10-31 16:49.
Drug kingpin Khun Sa dead at 74
Drug kingpin Khun Sa dead at 74
Khun Sa, as the highest profile drug warlord of the fabled Golden Triangle, is reported to have died in Rangoon.
His death as occurring between the dates of October 26 to 28, a police source in Rangoon said the drug kingpin died on Sunday at his residence.
Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Thailand based Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), said the former drug lord, age 74, was suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and was half paralyzed before his death.
"His body was cremated this morning at Yaywai cemetery in Rangoon without much ceremony," Jaiyen added.
Born in 1933, Khun Sa is best known for operating a massive drug operation in a virtually autonomous stretch of territory in eastern Shan State and along the Thai-Burmese border from the mid-1970s to mid-1990s, maintaining a command center in the northern Thai town of Ban Hin Taek.
The establishment of Shan United Army, called himself as a freedom fighter in opposition to the central Burmese government, fighting for the rights and autonomy of the Shan provice and its peoples.
In year 1996 Khun Sa dissolved his fiefdom and is said to have "surrendered" to Burmese authorities. with tacit understanding,a well known that he continued to live out his days in Rangoon, with no irk or hassle from Burmese authorities.
Khuensai Jaiyen, a former secretary of Khun Sa with connections to Shan ethnic minority guerrilla groups, yesterday confirmed that his former boss died aged 74 in Rangoon on October 26.
His "surrender" came seven years after he was indicted by a New York court for drug trafficking, and at a time when Burmese authorities were keen to make a public show for their efforts in combating the trade in illegal narcotics.
The existing financial interests of Khun Sa and his family are not known in full, but his relations are rumored to continue to hold significant financial portfolios in Burma's urban centers as well as in Khun Sa's old hunting grounds along the Thai-Burmese border, including investment in a casino in the Burmese border town of Myawaddy.
Khun Sa presided over a narcotics kingdom spread over of jungle valleys, complete with latest logistics as satellite television, schools and surface-to-air missiles in the Golden Triangle region where Burma, Thailand and Laos meet.
For four decades the Robinhood style, warlord claimed to be fighting for autonomy for the Shan procince, one of many ethnic minorities who have battled Burma's central government for decades.
But global narcotics agents used terms like the "Prince of Death" as designate. United States offered a reward of $2 million for his arrest. He is estimated to have control up to 60 per cent of the world's heroin supply was refined from opium in his area at his peak.
Posted by Nksagar at 8:06 PM
Khun Sa, as the highest profile drug warlord of the fabled Golden Triangle, is reported to have died in Rangoon.
His death as occurring between the dates of October 26 to 28, a police source in Rangoon said the drug kingpin died on Sunday at his residence.
Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Thailand based Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), said the former drug lord, age 74, was suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and was half paralyzed before his death.
"His body was cremated this morning at Yaywai cemetery in Rangoon without much ceremony," Jaiyen added.
Born in 1933, Khun Sa is best known for operating a massive drug operation in a virtually autonomous stretch of territory in eastern Shan State and along the Thai-Burmese border from the mid-1970s to mid-1990s, maintaining a command center in the northern Thai town of Ban Hin Taek.
The establishment of Shan United Army, called himself as a freedom fighter in opposition to the central Burmese government, fighting for the rights and autonomy of the Shan provice and its peoples.
In year 1996 Khun Sa dissolved his fiefdom and is said to have "surrendered" to Burmese authorities. with tacit understanding,a well known that he continued to live out his days in Rangoon, with no irk or hassle from Burmese authorities.
Khuensai Jaiyen, a former secretary of Khun Sa with connections to Shan ethnic minority guerrilla groups, yesterday confirmed that his former boss died aged 74 in Rangoon on October 26.
His "surrender" came seven years after he was indicted by a New York court for drug trafficking, and at a time when Burmese authorities were keen to make a public show for their efforts in combating the trade in illegal narcotics.
The existing financial interests of Khun Sa and his family are not known in full, but his relations are rumored to continue to hold significant financial portfolios in Burma's urban centers as well as in Khun Sa's old hunting grounds along the Thai-Burmese border, including investment in a casino in the Burmese border town of Myawaddy.
Khun Sa presided over a narcotics kingdom spread over of jungle valleys, complete with latest logistics as satellite television, schools and surface-to-air missiles in the Golden Triangle region where Burma, Thailand and Laos meet.
For four decades the Robinhood style, warlord claimed to be fighting for autonomy for the Shan procince, one of many ethnic minorities who have battled Burma's central government for decades.
But global narcotics agents used terms like the "Prince of Death" as designate. United States offered a reward of $2 million for his arrest. He is estimated to have control up to 60 per cent of the world's heroin supply was refined from opium in his area at his peak.
Posted by Nksagar at 8:06 PM
Friday, October 26, 2007
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Aung Kyi
Today at the eastern gate of the famed Shwedagon pagodain and streets of Rangoon hundred of riot police force and tear gas shell seen around the Rangoon Buddhist monasteries as barbed wire was erected around the area while police also took up positions near the Sule Pagoda in the heart of the city and other sites of earlier protests to curb any possible protests to mark the one-month pro democracy Buddhist and civil protests last month on 25 September 25.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was taken today from her well known location of house arrest at 54 University Avenue to a state run guesthouse, reports diplomatic sources.she met with Aung Kyi,Liaison Minister recently appointed by Senior General Than Shwe to act coordinator between junta regime and the National League for Democracy leader.
State media reported that the meeting was held at Seinle Kantha Guest House and lasted from 2pm to 3.15pm.The guesthouse has previously served as a venue for when Suu Kyi has been allowed to receive foreign diplomats and visitors.
U Lwin, spokesperson for Aung San Suu Kyi's party - National League for Democracy - citing an eyewitness foreign diplomat said, "[Aung San Suu Kyi] was taken from her residence to the state guesthouse today at about 2 p.m. [local time]."
"We welcome the move though we still will have to wait and see what comes out of it," U Lwin said.
Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, was appointed prime minister on Wednesday, state radio and television reported.
Thein Sein had been serving as acting prime minister since May, filling in for ailing Gen. Soe Win, who died on Oct. 12.
The prime minister's job holds little independent power because the
military controls the state through the junta, officially known as the
State Peace and Development Council.
No change in policy is expected with the appointment, because policy
is set by the top leaders of the junta, who -- despite rumors of
rivalries -- act in concert, with no public disagreements.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was taken today from her well known location of house arrest at 54 University Avenue to a state run guesthouse, reports diplomatic sources.she met with Aung Kyi,Liaison Minister recently appointed by Senior General Than Shwe to act coordinator between junta regime and the National League for Democracy leader.
State media reported that the meeting was held at Seinle Kantha Guest House and lasted from 2pm to 3.15pm.The guesthouse has previously served as a venue for when Suu Kyi has been allowed to receive foreign diplomats and visitors.
U Lwin, spokesperson for Aung San Suu Kyi's party - National League for Democracy - citing an eyewitness foreign diplomat said, "[Aung San Suu Kyi] was taken from her residence to the state guesthouse today at about 2 p.m. [local time]."
"We welcome the move though we still will have to wait and see what comes out of it," U Lwin said.
Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, was appointed prime minister on Wednesday, state radio and television reported.
Thein Sein had been serving as acting prime minister since May, filling in for ailing Gen. Soe Win, who died on Oct. 12.
The prime minister's job holds little independent power because the
military controls the state through the junta, officially known as the
State Peace and Development Council.
No change in policy is expected with the appointment, because policy
is set by the top leaders of the junta, who -- despite rumors of
rivalries -- act in concert, with no public disagreements.
India, China, Russia oppose sanctions on Myanmar call open dialogue
Harbin (China), Oct 24 Pranab Mukherjee in today's media report opposed imposing sanctions on Myanmar and pleaded for encouraging all stakeholders to advance political reforms and national reconciliation, a call jointly supported by China and Russia."We believe that the initiative taken by the UN Secretary General (Ban-Ki Moon) to open dialogue amongst the various stakeholders in Myanmar should be encouraged," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a joint press conference after the end of the third standalone meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia here.
Mukherjee said India has also suggested that the process of political reform and national reconciliation should be expedited on a broad base and equally among all stakeholders.
"We believe that Myanmar authorities should be encouraged to engage in the process of dialogue with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, the initiative which he has taken should be encouraged to take it to the logical conclusion and there should not be any sanctions at this stage," the minister emphasised.
Mukherjee acknowledged that the Myanmar issue had figured prominently during the trilateral meeting and they exchanged views on it.
Ultimately, the issue of Myanmar should be resolved by the Myanmarese government and the country's people, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.
He said China believes that the parties concerned will conduct dialogue to help Myanmar restore stability and improve the life of the people and promote democracy and development in Myanmar.
Lawmakers in the US Senate has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to join the international community in exerting pressure on Myanmar's military regime for restoration of democracy and release of all political prisoners.
"As the world's largest democracy, India should use its influence to put pressure on the regime to stop the violence against pro-democracy activists, release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and begin a true national dialogue on national reconciliation that will lead to a restoration of democratic government," the Senate Women's Caucus on Burma said in a letter to Singh.
"We are writing to ask your government to join the growing international condemnation of Burma's military government and its brutal repression of its own citizens," the Caucus led by Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from California, and Bailey Hutchison, Republican from Texas, said. PTI
Mukherjee said India has also suggested that the process of political reform and national reconciliation should be expedited on a broad base and equally among all stakeholders.
"We believe that Myanmar authorities should be encouraged to engage in the process of dialogue with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, the initiative which he has taken should be encouraged to take it to the logical conclusion and there should not be any sanctions at this stage," the minister emphasised.
Mukherjee acknowledged that the Myanmar issue had figured prominently during the trilateral meeting and they exchanged views on it.
Ultimately, the issue of Myanmar should be resolved by the Myanmarese government and the country's people, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.
He said China believes that the parties concerned will conduct dialogue to help Myanmar restore stability and improve the life of the people and promote democracy and development in Myanmar.
Lawmakers in the US Senate has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to join the international community in exerting pressure on Myanmar's military regime for restoration of democracy and release of all political prisoners.
"As the world's largest democracy, India should use its influence to put pressure on the regime to stop the violence against pro-democracy activists, release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and begin a true national dialogue on national reconciliation that will lead to a restoration of democratic government," the Senate Women's Caucus on Burma said in a letter to Singh.
"We are writing to ask your government to join the growing international condemnation of Burma's military government and its brutal repression of its own citizens," the Caucus led by Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from California, and Bailey Hutchison, Republican from Texas, said. PTI
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Myanmar seeks early visit of UN envoy
The volatile situation in Myanmar propelled Myanmar's military junta agreed to allow the UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to prepone his visit to Burma during which he hopes to initiate the kickstart a dialogue between government and pro-democracy opposition.
Nobel laureates from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa published a letter Wednesday to mark the 12th year of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest.They called the detention of their fellow laureate the most visible sign of the brutality of Burma's military government, which they accuse of gross human rights violations.
The association of Women Laureate has written to UN to pursue to get their colleague Aung San Suu Kyi released of her house arrest from Junta regime and asked United Nations to take decisive action in this regards to secure the release of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Originally, Gambari was to visit Myanmar in the second week of November but junta told the UN that he could come in first week though dates were yet to be announced.
This is the second concession announced by the military government in as many days, having earlier agreed to the visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the Secretary-General's Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, after denying him access for four years.
Gambari, who is the in Asian region urging neighbouring nations to press junta to start dialogue with the opposition, is expected to go straight to Myanmar following his mission instead of returning to report to the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and delivered a personal message from the Secretary-General. Earlier, he had talked to Singh on phone on the issue. PTI
Nobel laureates from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa published a letter Wednesday to mark the 12th year of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest.They called the detention of their fellow laureate the most visible sign of the brutality of Burma's military government, which they accuse of gross human rights violations.
The association of Women Laureate has written to UN to pursue to get their colleague Aung San Suu Kyi released of her house arrest from Junta regime and asked United Nations to take decisive action in this regards to secure the release of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Originally, Gambari was to visit Myanmar in the second week of November but junta told the UN that he could come in first week though dates were yet to be announced.
This is the second concession announced by the military government in as many days, having earlier agreed to the visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the Secretary-General's Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, after denying him access for four years.
Gambari, who is the in Asian region urging neighbouring nations to press junta to start dialogue with the opposition, is expected to go straight to Myanmar following his mission instead of returning to report to the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and delivered a personal message from the Secretary-General. Earlier, he had talked to Singh on phone on the issue. PTI
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari concrete action about democracy in Myanmar
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari concrete action about democracy in Myanmar
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UN envoy on his six nation tour to Asian countries to stimulate Asian nations play important role in resolving Myanmar crisis in pursuing, stressing the need of Burma to restore to democracy in wake of sanctions imposed by European union and United States of America for the citizen of Myanmar to enjoy peaceful political and socio life.
UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari today asked India to act with concrete action in regard to bringing about democracy in Myanmar.
Gambari, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, said he had conveyed a message from UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon with regard to early solution to the problem in Myanmar.
"Theoretically, all of us can do more," he told reporters here when asked about his expectations from India in resolving the crisis in Myanmar.
He said he expects India to continue to encourage the authorities in Yangon to work with the United Nations to achieve the common objective of peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar that embarks on a national reconciliation process.
Gambari said he was "very satisfied" by India's response and stressed on the need for "qualitative results" for accelerated democratisation process.
UN envoy will visit China next as a part of his six-nation tour to urge Asian countries to take lead in resolving the crisis in Myanmar in the wake of enhance sanctions from the US and the European Union.
Praising China for its efforts in Myanmar, he said "China has been quite helpful to the secretary general and to me personally by getting consent of the government of Myanmar for my last visit during the crisis and also to allow to me stay longer. I am going to Beijing to acknowledge that." Gambari said he was counting on China and others to work with the Government of Myanmar. PTI
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Submitted by Nksagar on Tue, 2007-10-23 13:30.
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UN envoy on his six nation tour to Asian countries to stimulate Asian nations play important role in resolving Myanmar crisis in pursuing, stressing the need of Burma to restore to democracy in wake of sanctions imposed by European union and United States of America for the citizen of Myanmar to enjoy peaceful political and socio life.
UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari today asked India to act with concrete action in regard to bringing about democracy in Myanmar.
Gambari, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, said he had conveyed a message from UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon with regard to early solution to the problem in Myanmar.
"Theoretically, all of us can do more," he told reporters here when asked about his expectations from India in resolving the crisis in Myanmar.
He said he expects India to continue to encourage the authorities in Yangon to work with the United Nations to achieve the common objective of peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar that embarks on a national reconciliation process.
Gambari said he was "very satisfied" by India's response and stressed on the need for "qualitative results" for accelerated democratisation process.
UN envoy will visit China next as a part of his six-nation tour to urge Asian countries to take lead in resolving the crisis in Myanmar in the wake of enhance sanctions from the US and the European Union.
Praising China for its efforts in Myanmar, he said "China has been quite helpful to the secretary general and to me personally by getting consent of the government of Myanmar for my last visit during the crisis and also to allow to me stay longer. I am going to Beijing to acknowledge that." Gambari said he was counting on China and others to work with the Government of Myanmar. PTI
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Submitted by Nksagar on Tue, 2007-10-23 13:30.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
China will establish free trade zone ASEAN: 2010
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have seen fast growth in bilateral trade with the volume being expected to reach 190 billion U.S. dollars this year.
"The figure is expected to top 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, two years earlier than our expectation," said Zhang Xiaoqin, secretary general of China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat.
China and ASEAN are now each other's fourth largest trading partners. Zhang said, the China-ASEAN trade volume was 160.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, while in the first eight months this year, the bilateral trade hit 127.95 billion U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile, China and the 10 ASEAN members are speeding up the tariff reduction to facilitate the establishment of China-ASEAN free trade zone.
China's average tariff on ASEAN countries' goods was slashed from 9.9 percent to 5.8 percent now and will continue to drop to 2.4 percent in 2009, and finally in 2010, which is the scheduled time for the establishment of the free trade zone, 93 percent of products from ASEAN countries will be tariff-free.
By 2010, China will establish free trade zone with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, while Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar can enjoy five more years of transition.
Besides pushing the development of good trade, China and ASEAN countries have also speed up cooperation and investment on service trade since the two sides signed the negotiation on service trade in January this year.
"China and ASEAN have entered a new stage in terms of economic cooperation and trade ties," said Zhang.
To boost bilateral economic and trade cooperation, China and ASEAN countries have held the annual China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since 2004. The fourth CAEXPO is planned to open on Oct. 28 this year.
"The figure is expected to top 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, two years earlier than our expectation," said Zhang Xiaoqin, secretary general of China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat.
China and ASEAN are now each other's fourth largest trading partners. Zhang said, the China-ASEAN trade volume was 160.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, while in the first eight months this year, the bilateral trade hit 127.95 billion U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile, China and the 10 ASEAN members are speeding up the tariff reduction to facilitate the establishment of China-ASEAN free trade zone.
China's average tariff on ASEAN countries' goods was slashed from 9.9 percent to 5.8 percent now and will continue to drop to 2.4 percent in 2009, and finally in 2010, which is the scheduled time for the establishment of the free trade zone, 93 percent of products from ASEAN countries will be tariff-free.
By 2010, China will establish free trade zone with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, while Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar can enjoy five more years of transition.
Besides pushing the development of good trade, China and ASEAN countries have also speed up cooperation and investment on service trade since the two sides signed the negotiation on service trade in January this year.
"China and ASEAN have entered a new stage in terms of economic cooperation and trade ties," said Zhang.
To boost bilateral economic and trade cooperation, China and ASEAN countries have held the annual China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since 2004. The fourth CAEXPO is planned to open on Oct. 28 this year.
Global Aid Groups Ask Junta for peoples Care
Thirteen humanitarian global organizations working in Burma made a request to the military government to allow international aid groups to help to care the poorest members of society for their adequate health, education and food.
Inger Sandberg, an adviser to Norwegian People’s Aid, said, “The situation is getting worse, particularly for the poorest people after the oil and commodities price increases in Burma.”
The consortium said the military regime's policies have depleted the ability of local communities to give aid to the members of society who have fallen below subsistence levels.
Aid group called for a more open working environment for local and international humanitarian organizations and a significant build up of economical and health facilities,humanitarian assistance to directly address the needs of the poor.
Presently, international and local humanitarian groups cannot respond to people's needs because of constraints put in place by the military government, sources said.
Consortium that signed the statement include the Action Contre la Faim, Aide Medicale Internationale, Asian Harm Reduction Network, Cooperazione e Sviluppo onlus, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe/German Agro Action, Enfants du Monde Droits de l'Hommes, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Malteser International, Medecins du Monde, Norwegian People's Aid, Population Services International, Save the Children and Terre des Hommes Italia.
Aid group also urged the international community to increase efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.
The recent increase in fuel prices and commodities have exacerbated the already fragile living conditions faced by many Burmese citizens, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued a plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma.
About 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each yea
Inger Sandberg, an adviser to Norwegian People’s Aid, said, “The situation is getting worse, particularly for the poorest people after the oil and commodities price increases in Burma.”
The consortium said the military regime's policies have depleted the ability of local communities to give aid to the members of society who have fallen below subsistence levels.
Aid group called for a more open working environment for local and international humanitarian organizations and a significant build up of economical and health facilities,humanitarian assistance to directly address the needs of the poor.
Presently, international and local humanitarian groups cannot respond to people's needs because of constraints put in place by the military government, sources said.
Consortium that signed the statement include the Action Contre la Faim, Aide Medicale Internationale, Asian Harm Reduction Network, Cooperazione e Sviluppo onlus, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe/German Agro Action, Enfants du Monde Droits de l'Hommes, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Malteser International, Medecins du Monde, Norwegian People's Aid, Population Services International, Save the Children and Terre des Hommes Italia.
Aid group also urged the international community to increase efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.
The recent increase in fuel prices and commodities have exacerbated the already fragile living conditions faced by many Burmese citizens, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued a plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma.
About 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each yea
Crackdown continues even Bush announce sanctions
US President George Bush on Friday announced additional strong sanctions against the leaders of the Burmese junta and their business cronies while warning that more sanctions would be applied if the military regime fails to make progress in moving toward democracy.Troops raided a house in Tamwe Township in Rangoon early Friday morning, arresting five people who are connected to the 88 Generation Students’ group.
Soe Tun, a spokesperson of the 88 Generation Students group, told The Irrawaddy on Saturday that recent raids and arrests have sometimes involved the arrests of an activist's family members who are taken hostage in exchange for the activist who is in hiding.current state of affairs, Soe Tun said, “The junta appointed a liaison officer to mediate a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, but the generals are still going forward with their road map to democracy. It is not a positive sign. If they want dialogue, first they must stop crackdowns and arrests and release political prisoners. At the least, the junta should allow the ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross) to meet with political prisoners.”
Pokpong Lawansiri, the Southeast Asia program officer with the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, said the continuing crackdown shows the military junta does not care about the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council or the calls for dialogue by the international community.
“It also means the international community, particularly Burma’s neighboring countries, do not work hard enough for the Burmese people,” he said. “The Asean reaction was very weak. The Asean countries need to take more concrete actions critical of the junta.”
Soe Tun, a spokesperson of the 88 Generation Students group, told The Irrawaddy on Saturday that recent raids and arrests have sometimes involved the arrests of an activist's family members who are taken hostage in exchange for the activist who is in hiding.current state of affairs, Soe Tun said, “The junta appointed a liaison officer to mediate a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, but the generals are still going forward with their road map to democracy. It is not a positive sign. If they want dialogue, first they must stop crackdowns and arrests and release political prisoners. At the least, the junta should allow the ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross) to meet with political prisoners.”
Pokpong Lawansiri, the Southeast Asia program officer with the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, said the continuing crackdown shows the military junta does not care about the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council or the calls for dialogue by the international community.
“It also means the international community, particularly Burma’s neighboring countries, do not work hard enough for the Burmese people,” he said. “The Asean reaction was very weak. The Asean countries need to take more concrete actions critical of the junta.”
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Million Burmese starving: WFP
Million Burmese starving: WFP
Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel nd trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
2007-10-19 21:29:44 - WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable persons in Myanmar including HIV/AIDS and TB patients under treatment and school children in marginalised areas of the country.Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
'WFP food assistance is desperately needed by so many people, but it is only reaching a fraction of them,- he said.
Even with greater funding for aid agencies, humanitarian assistance alone will not be enough to transform the lives of the millions of vulnerable persons in Myanmar who need help, said Banbury.
The Myanmar government should immediately pursue the reforms needed to lift Myanmar's people out of poverty and hunger, and allow them to reach their full potential,- he said.
Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
'WFP food assistance is desperately needed by so many people, but it is only reaching a fraction of them,- he said.
Even with greater funding for aid agencies, humanitarian assistance alone will not be enough to transform the lives of the millions of vulnerable persons in Myanmar who need help, said Banbury.
Operating in Myanmar in collaboration with 22 UN and NGO cooperating partners, WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable persons in Myanmar including HIV/AIDS and TB patients under treatment and school children in marginalised areas of the country.
A programme giving nutritionally-enriched foods to mothers and children addresses acute malnutrition rates that prevail in several operational areas.
'The Myanmar government should immediately pursue the reforms needed to lift Myanmar's people out of poverty and hunger, and allow them to reach their full potential,- he said.
Contact Information:
Enkaysagar Holdings Pvt Ltd
Contact Person:
Nksagar
Chairman
Phone: 9810974027
email: email
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Press Information:
Enkaysagar Holdings Pvt Ltd
Contact Person:
Nksagar
Chairman
Phone: 9810974027
email: email
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel nd trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
2007-10-19 21:29:44 - WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable persons in Myanmar including HIV/AIDS and TB patients under treatment and school children in marginalised areas of the country.Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
'WFP food assistance is desperately needed by so many people, but it is only reaching a fraction of them,- he said.
Even with greater funding for aid agencies, humanitarian assistance alone will not be enough to transform the lives of the millions of vulnerable persons in Myanmar who need help, said Banbury.
The Myanmar government should immediately pursue the reforms needed to lift Myanmar's people out of poverty and hunger, and allow them to reach their full potential,- he said.
Myanmar and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions in lives of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State,- said Banbury.
'WFP food assistance is desperately needed by so many people, but it is only reaching a fraction of them,- he said.
Even with greater funding for aid agencies, humanitarian assistance alone will not be enough to transform the lives of the millions of vulnerable persons in Myanmar who need help, said Banbury.
Operating in Myanmar in collaboration with 22 UN and NGO cooperating partners, WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable persons in Myanmar including HIV/AIDS and TB patients under treatment and school children in marginalised areas of the country.
A programme giving nutritionally-enriched foods to mothers and children addresses acute malnutrition rates that prevail in several operational areas.
'The Myanmar government should immediately pursue the reforms needed to lift Myanmar's people out of poverty and hunger, and allow them to reach their full potential,- he said.
Contact Information:
Enkaysagar Holdings Pvt Ltd
Contact Person:
Nksagar
Chairman
Phone: 9810974027
email: email
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Press Information:
Enkaysagar Holdings Pvt Ltd
Contact Person:
Nksagar
Chairman
Phone: 9810974027
email: email
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Five million Burmese starving: WFP
October 19, 2007 - Its vast natural agricultural potential notwithstanding, one in ten Burmese remains hungry, the UN food agency said citing the ruling junta's refusal to pursue economic reforms as the root cause of starvations in the country.
Tony Banbury, Regional Director for Asia of the World Food Programme, who last week visited Burma, said on Thursday at least five million people, of the estimated 50 million population is short of food while numerous others wallow in extreme poverty.
"Myanmar [ Burma] and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions to a life of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State," Banbury said in a statement.
The people of Burma, a country once known as the rice-bowl of Southeast Asia, are struggling hard to survive on meager meals, said Banbury.
While the WFP provides food to about 500,000 vulnerable people in Burma, the agency is also suffering from fund constraints and it cannot supply the required amount of food, Banbury said.
"Humanitarian organizations can help, but we are faced with insufficient funding, and whatever we manage to accomplish in the current circumstances will only scratch the surface," added the WFP's regional director.
The Burmese junta needs to immediately pursue economic reforms in order to lift people out of poverty and hunger, as humanitarian assistance from aid agencies alone will not be sufficient to transform the lives of millions of vulnerable Burmese people, Banbury added.
Tony Banbury, Regional Director for Asia of the World Food Programme, who last week visited Burma, said on Thursday at least five million people, of the estimated 50 million population is short of food while numerous others wallow in extreme poverty.
"Myanmar [ Burma] and its people have tremendous potential. But the government's policies, its harsh travel and trade restrictions, unnecessarily trap millions to a life of poverty and malnutrition, even in food surplus areas such as Shan State," Banbury said in a statement.
The people of Burma, a country once known as the rice-bowl of Southeast Asia, are struggling hard to survive on meager meals, said Banbury.
While the WFP provides food to about 500,000 vulnerable people in Burma, the agency is also suffering from fund constraints and it cannot supply the required amount of food, Banbury said.
"Humanitarian organizations can help, but we are faced with insufficient funding, and whatever we manage to accomplish in the current circumstances will only scratch the surface," added the WFP's regional director.
The Burmese junta needs to immediately pursue economic reforms in order to lift people out of poverty and hunger, as humanitarian assistance from aid agencies alone will not be sufficient to transform the lives of millions of vulnerable Burmese people, Banbury added.
Gambari to arrive New Delhi on Sunday
October 19, 2007 - Ibrahim Gambari, UN Secretary General's special envoy to Burma will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday, for two days of consultations on Burma with Indian officials, a UN official said.
"Gambari will arriving New Delhi on Sunday [October 21], and will have meetings with officials on Monday and Tuesday," an official at the new Delhi UN information centre said.
While details of the Nigerian diplomat's scheduled meetings remain undisclosed, sources said Gambari is likely meet the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and other officials of the MEA.
Gambari, who is on a six-nation tour to consult key Asian nations on Burma, is currently in Indonesia after visiting Malaysia and Thailand and will continue to China and Japan from India.
The UN envoy's Asian tour is part of the world body's effort to engage regional countries for consultations on Burma for possible pressure for reforms in the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation.
Gambari on Thursday said the Burmese junta could be offered incentives to move towards democratic reforms. The envoy also stressed that China, a top ally of the junta, could do more for reforms in the country.
Meanwhile, the United States and some European countries have threatened to expand sanctions against Burma as a response to the junta's violent crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist clergy last month.
However, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday said Britain is willing to invest in the country if the ruling junta makes a move towards reconciliation and democracy.
Gambari, during his earlier visit to Burma in late September when protests had peaked in Rangoon and other parts of the country, met the junta leader Than Shwe and detained pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Earlier in Bangkok the special envoy told reporters that he has obtained an invitation from the military generals in Burma to re-visit the country in mid-November.
"Gambari will arriving New Delhi on Sunday [October 21], and will have meetings with officials on Monday and Tuesday," an official at the new Delhi UN information centre said.
While details of the Nigerian diplomat's scheduled meetings remain undisclosed, sources said Gambari is likely meet the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and other officials of the MEA.
Gambari, who is on a six-nation tour to consult key Asian nations on Burma, is currently in Indonesia after visiting Malaysia and Thailand and will continue to China and Japan from India.
The UN envoy's Asian tour is part of the world body's effort to engage regional countries for consultations on Burma for possible pressure for reforms in the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation.
Gambari on Thursday said the Burmese junta could be offered incentives to move towards democratic reforms. The envoy also stressed that China, a top ally of the junta, could do more for reforms in the country.
Meanwhile, the United States and some European countries have threatened to expand sanctions against Burma as a response to the junta's violent crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist clergy last month.
However, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday said Britain is willing to invest in the country if the ruling junta makes a move towards reconciliation and democracy.
Gambari, during his earlier visit to Burma in late September when protests had peaked in Rangoon and other parts of the country, met the junta leader Than Shwe and detained pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Earlier in Bangkok the special envoy told reporters that he has obtained an invitation from the military generals in Burma to re-visit the country in mid-November.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Japan slashes aid to Myanmar over crackdown
Japan cancelled about five million dollars aid to Myanmar an action to protest against the junta's recent crackdown on Buddhist and pro democracy demonstrations in which a Japanese journalist too was shot dead from a close range.
Japan, a bit reserve in its position along with its Western allies who have planned a global action to isolate the Burmese junta- regime.
Foreign Ministerof Japan Mr Masahiko Komura announced cancelling grants of up to 552 million yen (4.7 million dollars), approximately eighteen percent of the total grants and technical assistance Japan aided Myanmar last year.
"The Japanese government needs to show our stance. We cannot take action that would effectively support the military regime at this moment," Komura told reporters.
Japan, China,Malaysia,Russia with the United States and the European Union, has been one of the largest donors to Myanmar, Japan takes the plea that it only provides humanitarian aid to the country.
Japanese government had earlier apprehensions about sanctions to Myanmar, Lest it may bring Burmese junta more closer to China, which is enormous trading market ties,cities of Burma flooded with Chinese articles.
Japan and China two Asian Tigers ready to influence South Asian and Far east countries and China in particularly in Southeast Asia.
Cancelled grants an intend to finance the project of a human resources centre in Myanmar. Japense grant aid project for which Japan was exchanging notes with the Myanmar government.
"We presume there will be some requests in the future. We will make a judgment on each case by looking at the situation at that point of time," said a Japanese government official who declined to be named.
Buddhist monks last month's pro democracy protests, which posed the biggest challenge to the regime in nearly 20 years. Troops and riot police unleashed force to end the demonstrations, leaving at least 13 people dead and more than 2,000 locked up.
Kenji Nagai, a video journalist for Tokyo-based who was killed on September 27 as he filmed the crackdown in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon.
1. Government of Japan welcomes the issuance on October 11 (New York time) of the statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Myanmar, since it expresses the common concern of the international community concerning that situation.
2. With the issuance of the statement, the Government of Japan hopes that the Government of Myanmar will respond to the UN Secretary-General’s good offices efforts including the mission by Mr.Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, and improve the situation of democratization and human rights in Myanmar.
3. The Government of Japan will continue to work constructively to improve the situation in Myanmar in coordination with the various efforts of the international community.
Japan, a bit reserve in its position along with its Western allies who have planned a global action to isolate the Burmese junta- regime.
Foreign Ministerof Japan Mr Masahiko Komura announced cancelling grants of up to 552 million yen (4.7 million dollars), approximately eighteen percent of the total grants and technical assistance Japan aided Myanmar last year.
"The Japanese government needs to show our stance. We cannot take action that would effectively support the military regime at this moment," Komura told reporters.
Japan, China,Malaysia,Russia with the United States and the European Union, has been one of the largest donors to Myanmar, Japan takes the plea that it only provides humanitarian aid to the country.
Japanese government had earlier apprehensions about sanctions to Myanmar, Lest it may bring Burmese junta more closer to China, which is enormous trading market ties,cities of Burma flooded with Chinese articles.
Japan and China two Asian Tigers ready to influence South Asian and Far east countries and China in particularly in Southeast Asia.
Cancelled grants an intend to finance the project of a human resources centre in Myanmar. Japense grant aid project for which Japan was exchanging notes with the Myanmar government.
"We presume there will be some requests in the future. We will make a judgment on each case by looking at the situation at that point of time," said a Japanese government official who declined to be named.
Buddhist monks last month's pro democracy protests, which posed the biggest challenge to the regime in nearly 20 years. Troops and riot police unleashed force to end the demonstrations, leaving at least 13 people dead and more than 2,000 locked up.
Kenji Nagai, a video journalist for Tokyo-based who was killed on September 27 as he filmed the crackdown in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon.
1. Government of Japan welcomes the issuance on October 11 (New York time) of the statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Myanmar, since it expresses the common concern of the international community concerning that situation.
2. With the issuance of the statement, the Government of Japan hopes that the Government of Myanmar will respond to the UN Secretary-General’s good offices efforts including the mission by Mr.Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, and improve the situation of democratization and human rights in Myanmar.
3. The Government of Japan will continue to work constructively to improve the situation in Myanmar in coordination with the various efforts of the international community.
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