Japanese destroyer collides with South Korean ship
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer – Tue Oct 27, 12:21 pm ET
TOKYO (AP) – A Japanese navy destroyer and a South Korean container ship collided Tuesday off southern Japan, sparking fires on both ships and injuring three crew members, officials said.
The ships collided under a bridge linking the Japanese main islands of Kyushu and Honshu in the narrow Kanmon Strait, Japan Coast Guard spokesman Seishi Izumi said.
One crew member on the destroyer JS Kurama was slightly injured with scratches and bruises while two others were suffering from smoke inhalation, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing policy.
None of the South Korean ship's 16 crew members — 12 from South Korea and four from Myanmar — was injured, Izumi said.
The fire on the 7,400-ton container ship Carina Star was extinguished shortly after the collision. The blaze on the destroyer was mostly under control late Tuesday but its temperature was still extremely high, the defense official said.
Officials are investigating the case as possible professional negligence and have begun questioning crew members on both ships, Izumi said.
The defense official said the Japanese ship's bow was badly burned and mangled, but the vessel was still capable of traveling on its own. The container ship's hull was grazed near its bow.
TV footage showed orange flames shooting from the vessels in the dark.
Izumi said the fire apparently broke out as a result of the impact of the collision, with paint inside a storage room on the destroyer catching fire.
The accident occurred under the Kanmon Bridge connecting Kyushu and the western end of Honshu — the narrowest part of the strait — about 530 miles (850 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo, Izumi said.
All sea traffic in the strait was suspended for about four hours after the accident.
The Kurama, carrying 360 sailors, was on its way to its home port of Sasebo on Kyushu after serving as the flagship for the country's triennial fleet review Sunday at the port of Yokosuka. The container ship had left the South Korean port of Busan and was headed to Osaka in western Japan.
Last year, a collision between a destroyer and a tuna trawler off the coast of Chiba, near Tokyo, left two fishermen dead. That accident triggered an uproar in Japan, where many people harbor pacifist sentiments and remain sensitive to anything related to the military.
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa quickly held a news conference to express regret.
"We deeply apologize to the people for causing concerns," he said. "We will quickly find out what caused the accident."
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer – Tue Oct 27, 12:21 pm ET
TOKYO (AP) – A Japanese navy destroyer and a South Korean container ship collided Tuesday off southern Japan, sparking fires on both ships and injuring three crew members, officials said.
The ships collided under a bridge linking the Japanese main islands of Kyushu and Honshu in the narrow Kanmon Strait, Japan Coast Guard spokesman Seishi Izumi said.
One crew member on the destroyer JS Kurama was slightly injured with scratches and bruises while two others were suffering from smoke inhalation, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing policy.
None of the South Korean ship's 16 crew members — 12 from South Korea and four from Myanmar — was injured, Izumi said.
The fire on the 7,400-ton container ship Carina Star was extinguished shortly after the collision. The blaze on the destroyer was mostly under control late Tuesday but its temperature was still extremely high, the defense official said.
Officials are investigating the case as possible professional negligence and have begun questioning crew members on both ships, Izumi said.
The defense official said the Japanese ship's bow was badly burned and mangled, but the vessel was still capable of traveling on its own. The container ship's hull was grazed near its bow.
TV footage showed orange flames shooting from the vessels in the dark.
Izumi said the fire apparently broke out as a result of the impact of the collision, with paint inside a storage room on the destroyer catching fire.
The accident occurred under the Kanmon Bridge connecting Kyushu and the western end of Honshu — the narrowest part of the strait — about 530 miles (850 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo, Izumi said.
All sea traffic in the strait was suspended for about four hours after the accident.
The Kurama, carrying 360 sailors, was on its way to its home port of Sasebo on Kyushu after serving as the flagship for the country's triennial fleet review Sunday at the port of Yokosuka. The container ship had left the South Korean port of Busan and was headed to Osaka in western Japan.
Last year, a collision between a destroyer and a tuna trawler off the coast of Chiba, near Tokyo, left two fishermen dead. That accident triggered an uproar in Japan, where many people harbor pacifist sentiments and remain sensitive to anything related to the military.
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa quickly held a news conference to express regret.
"We deeply apologize to the people for causing concerns," he said. "We will quickly find out what caused the accident."
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Miadhu - Maldives speaks out against human rights abuse in Palestine,Myanmar
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Speaking at the interactive dialogue held with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, the Maldives Permanent Representative to the United Nations H E Ambassador Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed referred to the Israeli occupation of Palestine as a distressing issue that continues to recur after more than four decades. Elaborating, the Ambassador stated that “the Maldives was disheartened by the continued suffering of the people of Palestine, who have been denied their very basic rights to self–determination, and the right to live, in peace and freedom, in their own State, their own homeland.
In the statement, the Maldives further reaffirmed “the inalienable right of the people of Israel to live in peace and security alongside a sovereign and independent State of Palestine”. While repeating its call for “establishing accountability and the pursuit of justice, over the clear violations of human rights and humanitarian law that have occurred in Gaza”, the Maldives raised concern over the aggravated suffering and hardship experienced especially by Palestinian women and children as distinct vulnerable social groups and sought the views of the Rapporteur on incorporating a gender perspective into his work.
The Maldives also participated in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. In the statement, the Maldives Ambassador reiterated the call by “the Secretary General for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi” and drew attention to the necessity of national reconciliation and democracy ahead of the general elections next year. The Maldives further emphasized the importance of the Myanmar Government to engage with the international community with aim of attaining sustainable socio-economic growth.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Speaking at the interactive dialogue held with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, the Maldives Permanent Representative to the United Nations H E Ambassador Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed referred to the Israeli occupation of Palestine as a distressing issue that continues to recur after more than four decades. Elaborating, the Ambassador stated that “the Maldives was disheartened by the continued suffering of the people of Palestine, who have been denied their very basic rights to self–determination, and the right to live, in peace and freedom, in their own State, their own homeland.
In the statement, the Maldives further reaffirmed “the inalienable right of the people of Israel to live in peace and security alongside a sovereign and independent State of Palestine”. While repeating its call for “establishing accountability and the pursuit of justice, over the clear violations of human rights and humanitarian law that have occurred in Gaza”, the Maldives raised concern over the aggravated suffering and hardship experienced especially by Palestinian women and children as distinct vulnerable social groups and sought the views of the Rapporteur on incorporating a gender perspective into his work.
The Maldives also participated in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. In the statement, the Maldives Ambassador reiterated the call by “the Secretary General for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi” and drew attention to the necessity of national reconciliation and democracy ahead of the general elections next year. The Maldives further emphasized the importance of the Myanmar Government to engage with the international community with aim of attaining sustainable socio-economic growth.
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Little About (blog) - Myanmar nationals protest against Chinese gas pipeline project
Published on : Wednesday 28 Oct 2009
New Delhi, Oct. 28 - ANI: Myanmar nationals living in India staged a protest against the proposed Chinese gas pipeline in their country on Wednesday in New Delhi.
Protestors demanded that work on the construction of 1000 kilometres long gas pipeline should not begin in November as scheduled.
The proposed pipeline is aimed to ship oil and gas from Shwe gas fields in western Myanmar to China's Yunnan province.
Today we are gathering here to protest against the Chinese government's involvement in Human Rights violations in Burma. The Chinese company CNPC. If the pipeline is implemented there will be two visible impacts, said Kim, coordinator, Shwe Gas Movement.
One is militarisation. The Burmese military regime will receive more than 800 million US dollars every year for 30 years. The money will not go to people. There will be lot of human rights violations like forced labour, lands confiscation, rape torture, said Kim, coordinator, Shwe Gas Movement, he added.
The protest was part of a global day of action against the Shwe Gas Project, also held in other countries like the UK, Thailand and South Korea.
The protestors also handed a letter calling for the suspension of the project and addressed to President Hu Jintao through the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi.
The Shwe Gas Movement (SGM) and its solidarity networks submitted petitions at Chinese embassies in various countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK.
Myanmar ranks tenth in the world in terms of natural gas reserves. Yet its per capita electricity consumption is less than five percent of neighbouring Thailand and China.
Published on : Wednesday 28 Oct 2009
New Delhi, Oct. 28 - ANI: Myanmar nationals living in India staged a protest against the proposed Chinese gas pipeline in their country on Wednesday in New Delhi.
Protestors demanded that work on the construction of 1000 kilometres long gas pipeline should not begin in November as scheduled.
The proposed pipeline is aimed to ship oil and gas from Shwe gas fields in western Myanmar to China's Yunnan province.
Today we are gathering here to protest against the Chinese government's involvement in Human Rights violations in Burma. The Chinese company CNPC. If the pipeline is implemented there will be two visible impacts, said Kim, coordinator, Shwe Gas Movement.
One is militarisation. The Burmese military regime will receive more than 800 million US dollars every year for 30 years. The money will not go to people. There will be lot of human rights violations like forced labour, lands confiscation, rape torture, said Kim, coordinator, Shwe Gas Movement, he added.
The protest was part of a global day of action against the Shwe Gas Project, also held in other countries like the UK, Thailand and South Korea.
The protestors also handed a letter calling for the suspension of the project and addressed to President Hu Jintao through the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi.
The Shwe Gas Movement (SGM) and its solidarity networks submitted petitions at Chinese embassies in various countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK.
Myanmar ranks tenth in the world in terms of natural gas reserves. Yet its per capita electricity consumption is less than five percent of neighbouring Thailand and China.
***********************************************************
New York Times - Europe Ends Its Attempt to Penalize Uzbekistan
By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: October 27, 2009
BRUSSELS — Despite concerns over human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, the European Union lifted its last remaining sanctions against that country’s government on Tuesday, ending an arms embargo imposed in 2005.
The embargo was one of several measures taken against the Uzbek government after its troops fired on unarmed protesters in the city of Andijon and then rejected calls for an international inquiry into those killings.
Though the number of deaths is disputed, hundreds are thought to have lost their lives. The decision on Tuesday, criticized by human rights groups, is likely to stoke the debate over the effectiveness of sanctions against governments with poor human rights records.
European Union officials said the decision to lift the Uzbekistan embargo followed the release of some political prisoners and the abolition of the death penalty there.
The European Union applies sanctions against a number of governments, including bans on travel visas for officials from Zimbabwe and arms embargoes against other countries, including Myanmar, as well as China after the Tiananmen Square killings in 1989.
The European Union imposed an arms embargo on Guinea after a violent outburst last month in which troops fired on demonstrators. Protesters say that more than 150 people died and that women were raped, though the figures are disputed by the Guinean authorities.
The European Union also imposed a ban on travel visas for members of Guinea’s governing National Council for Democracy and Development “and individuals associated with them responsible for the violent repression or the political stalemate in the country.”
Both decisions had been agreed upon by European Union diplomats and were officially approved by its foreign ministers without discussion at a meeting in Luxembourg.
Maisy Weicherding, a Central Asia specialist for Amnesty International, said the decision on Uzbekistan showed a failure to follow through on tough European language. “If the E.U. wants to use sanctions, they need to have teeth,” she said. “With Uzbekistan, the E.U. has shown that its sanctions lack teeth.”
She also expressed “hope that for Guinea, they are not going to follow the same example.”
Amnesty International has contended that the number of human rights defenders in prison has decreased only marginally, to around 12 from 20 to 30, and that several thousand more people may have been jailed on political grounds.
In 2005, in addition to the arms embargo, the European Union downgraded diplomatic talks with the Uzbek government and imposed a visa ban on 12 Uzbek officials, which remained in place until October last year.
European Union officials said they would “closely and continuously observe the human rights situation in Uzbekistan” and “assess progress made by the Uzbek authorities” within a year.
Germany has led the move to lift the sanctions, contending that engagement with the Uzbek government is likely to be more fruitful. Critics said Germany was motivated by its desire for influence in Central Asia and its dependence on Uzbek transit bases for its military operations in Afghanistan.
But a European Union diplomat from Germany, who spoke anonymously according to protocol, said the lifting of the measures was supported by most European governments.
On the matter of reorganizing the European Union, the organization’s hopes of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty will have to wait: The Czech Republic’s Constitutional Court said Tuesday that it needed more time to rule on whether the treaty complied with the country’s Constitution. That means that European leaders are unlikely to be able to decide this week on two leadership posts created by the treaty, which would consolidate decision making and create a strong presidency.
The Czech Republic is the last holdout on the treaty; Ireland ratified it this month.
By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: October 27, 2009
BRUSSELS — Despite concerns over human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, the European Union lifted its last remaining sanctions against that country’s government on Tuesday, ending an arms embargo imposed in 2005.
The embargo was one of several measures taken against the Uzbek government after its troops fired on unarmed protesters in the city of Andijon and then rejected calls for an international inquiry into those killings.
Though the number of deaths is disputed, hundreds are thought to have lost their lives. The decision on Tuesday, criticized by human rights groups, is likely to stoke the debate over the effectiveness of sanctions against governments with poor human rights records.
European Union officials said the decision to lift the Uzbekistan embargo followed the release of some political prisoners and the abolition of the death penalty there.
The European Union applies sanctions against a number of governments, including bans on travel visas for officials from Zimbabwe and arms embargoes against other countries, including Myanmar, as well as China after the Tiananmen Square killings in 1989.
The European Union imposed an arms embargo on Guinea after a violent outburst last month in which troops fired on demonstrators. Protesters say that more than 150 people died and that women were raped, though the figures are disputed by the Guinean authorities.
The European Union also imposed a ban on travel visas for members of Guinea’s governing National Council for Democracy and Development “and individuals associated with them responsible for the violent repression or the political stalemate in the country.”
Both decisions had been agreed upon by European Union diplomats and were officially approved by its foreign ministers without discussion at a meeting in Luxembourg.
Maisy Weicherding, a Central Asia specialist for Amnesty International, said the decision on Uzbekistan showed a failure to follow through on tough European language. “If the E.U. wants to use sanctions, they need to have teeth,” she said. “With Uzbekistan, the E.U. has shown that its sanctions lack teeth.”
She also expressed “hope that for Guinea, they are not going to follow the same example.”
Amnesty International has contended that the number of human rights defenders in prison has decreased only marginally, to around 12 from 20 to 30, and that several thousand more people may have been jailed on political grounds.
In 2005, in addition to the arms embargo, the European Union downgraded diplomatic talks with the Uzbek government and imposed a visa ban on 12 Uzbek officials, which remained in place until October last year.
European Union officials said they would “closely and continuously observe the human rights situation in Uzbekistan” and “assess progress made by the Uzbek authorities” within a year.
Germany has led the move to lift the sanctions, contending that engagement with the Uzbek government is likely to be more fruitful. Critics said Germany was motivated by its desire for influence in Central Asia and its dependence on Uzbek transit bases for its military operations in Afghanistan.
But a European Union diplomat from Germany, who spoke anonymously according to protocol, said the lifting of the measures was supported by most European governments.
On the matter of reorganizing the European Union, the organization’s hopes of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty will have to wait: The Czech Republic’s Constitutional Court said Tuesday that it needed more time to rule on whether the treaty complied with the country’s Constitution. That means that European leaders are unlikely to be able to decide this week on two leadership posts created by the treaty, which would consolidate decision making and create a strong presidency.
The Czech Republic is the last holdout on the treaty; Ireland ratified it this month.
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Unicef - UNICEF teams up with traditional folk groups to teach good hygiene in Myanmar
By Anna K. Stechert
YANGON, Myanmar 27 October 2009 – For centuries, Myanmar’s hugely popular traditional folk performance or ‘Zat’ groups have travelled the country, entertaining audiences with comedy, song and dance.
This year, for the first time, five Zat groups will be promoting basic hygiene in Labutta Township, which is still recovering from last year’s devastating cyclone in Myanmar.
They will perform in 100 villages, targeting approximately 70,000 people.
“It is my chance to give back to the people,” said Moe Gyoe, who owns and manages one of the groups. “I am from the cyclone-affected area. I lost my mother and other family members in the disaster.”
Teaching proper hygiene
In order to increase the Zat groups’ understanding of hygiene, UNICEF Myanmar recently held a five-day workshop in Yangon with scriptwriters and performers. The participants were asked to incorporate messages about basic hygiene into their scripts.
The resulting storylines ranged from a funny sketch about a man who misses his wedding because of diarrhoea to a serious dialogue on how child deaths can be avoided by proper hygiene and handwashing with soap.
“I was amazed to see how imaginatively they incorporated the messages into the dialogues and songs,” said UNICEF facilitator Lasi Kum Jaa Lee.
A learning experience
By participating in the UNICEF workshop, the Zat performers learned valuable information about how to avoid disease in their own lives.
“I came to the workshop expecting to learn skills and information that I could relate to the people watching our shows,” said performer Ma Aye Thandar Kyaw. “I had not realized that I would learn so much for my own life. For example, when I washed my hands, I did not always use soap. Now I know how important it is to wash hands with soap.”
Currently in rehearsal, the five groups will hit the stage in November, with each group covering 20 villages in the course of a month.
By Anna K. Stechert
YANGON, Myanmar 27 October 2009 – For centuries, Myanmar’s hugely popular traditional folk performance or ‘Zat’ groups have travelled the country, entertaining audiences with comedy, song and dance.
This year, for the first time, five Zat groups will be promoting basic hygiene in Labutta Township, which is still recovering from last year’s devastating cyclone in Myanmar.
They will perform in 100 villages, targeting approximately 70,000 people.
“It is my chance to give back to the people,” said Moe Gyoe, who owns and manages one of the groups. “I am from the cyclone-affected area. I lost my mother and other family members in the disaster.”
Teaching proper hygiene
In order to increase the Zat groups’ understanding of hygiene, UNICEF Myanmar recently held a five-day workshop in Yangon with scriptwriters and performers. The participants were asked to incorporate messages about basic hygiene into their scripts.
The resulting storylines ranged from a funny sketch about a man who misses his wedding because of diarrhoea to a serious dialogue on how child deaths can be avoided by proper hygiene and handwashing with soap.
“I was amazed to see how imaginatively they incorporated the messages into the dialogues and songs,” said UNICEF facilitator Lasi Kum Jaa Lee.
A learning experience
By participating in the UNICEF workshop, the Zat performers learned valuable information about how to avoid disease in their own lives.
“I came to the workshop expecting to learn skills and information that I could relate to the people watching our shows,” said performer Ma Aye Thandar Kyaw. “I had not realized that I would learn so much for my own life. For example, when I washed my hands, I did not always use soap. Now I know how important it is to wash hands with soap.”
Currently in rehearsal, the five groups will hit the stage in November, with each group covering 20 villages in the course of a month.
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Oct 27, 2009 9:46 pm US/Eastern
KDKA Pittsburgh - Burmese Refugees Struggling In Pittsburgh Area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― You may not notice them, but Pittsburgh is home to hundreds of political refugees who've fled their native countries under fear of death and persecution.
Although the U.S. government has welcomed them, many immigrants who've relocated to the Pittsburgh region are struggling just to get by.
KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan has found a group of refugees from Burma who have yet to find the American Dream.
They fled one of the most brutal regimes in the world in search of American freedom, but so far, the promise of a new life has eluded them.
A family of eight is living in a two-bedroom apartment and after three years of working, they say the money they make is not enough to support themselves.
Through an interpreter, an immigrant told Sheehan life was better back in the refugee camp.
Sheehan: "You're saying they wish they were back in the refugee camp?"
Interpreter: "Yeah."
Sheehan: "It's better than what they're living in now?"
Interpreter: "Yeah."
The U.S. has taken in more than 10,000 Burmese refugees with the promise of housing, jobs and eventual citizenship. However, the 400 or so who have settled in the Pittsburgh area have not fared well.
Two families are being evicted from their apartments at the Prospect Park housing complex in Baldwin.
Apartment complex managers refused to come to the door when Sheehan attempted to ask them about the evictions, but the Burmese interpreter, Paw, says Prospect Park has rejected his pleas to let the families stay on.
"You know I talk with the landlord, they told me because they over-occupy," Paw said.
Sheehan: "Too many kids."
Paw: "Yeah, too many kids."
But, even those who remain are struggling to pay rent and feed their kids. Many work at the W&K Steel Refabrication Plant and after three years say they're making $9.50 an hour – about half of what their American counterparts are making.
"They do the same work, they work just as hard, they're there every day," Timothy Hand, a co-worker, said.
Hand says he has gone on strike in sympathy with the refugees.
"They came here ... bright-eyed and promised everything, and look what they're being thrown into," he said. "Wage discrimination, their housing is awful, it's just not right."
"People are paid in different pay grades but that's true anywhere you go depending on what job you're doing," Susan Rauscher, head of Catholic Charities, said.
W&K declined comment. Catholic Charities, along with the Jewish Family and Children Services, resettled the refugees and believes the complaints are off base. They say W&K trained the workers, has given them a good benefits package and that the refugees are performing less-skilled jobs than the Americans.
Rauscher says they've exceeded their commitment despite the demands of social services throughout the community.
"We've been getting squeezed on both ends. We've got more calls coming in, more need and the dollars coming in from donors are smaller," she said.
These days, the immigrants meet in one apartment and it's the interpreter, Paw, who is handling their problems with healthcare, education, transportation and housing.
Some say Pittsburgh relief agencies need to do more.
"But, I think if they saw and listened to what we saw today, I think things could change, hopefully," Father Jack O'Malley, an activist priest, said.
KDKA Pittsburgh - Burmese Refugees Struggling In Pittsburgh Area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― You may not notice them, but Pittsburgh is home to hundreds of political refugees who've fled their native countries under fear of death and persecution.
Although the U.S. government has welcomed them, many immigrants who've relocated to the Pittsburgh region are struggling just to get by.
KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan has found a group of refugees from Burma who have yet to find the American Dream.
They fled one of the most brutal regimes in the world in search of American freedom, but so far, the promise of a new life has eluded them.
A family of eight is living in a two-bedroom apartment and after three years of working, they say the money they make is not enough to support themselves.
Through an interpreter, an immigrant told Sheehan life was better back in the refugee camp.
Sheehan: "You're saying they wish they were back in the refugee camp?"
Interpreter: "Yeah."
Sheehan: "It's better than what they're living in now?"
Interpreter: "Yeah."
The U.S. has taken in more than 10,000 Burmese refugees with the promise of housing, jobs and eventual citizenship. However, the 400 or so who have settled in the Pittsburgh area have not fared well.
Two families are being evicted from their apartments at the Prospect Park housing complex in Baldwin.
Apartment complex managers refused to come to the door when Sheehan attempted to ask them about the evictions, but the Burmese interpreter, Paw, says Prospect Park has rejected his pleas to let the families stay on.
"You know I talk with the landlord, they told me because they over-occupy," Paw said.
Sheehan: "Too many kids."
Paw: "Yeah, too many kids."
But, even those who remain are struggling to pay rent and feed their kids. Many work at the W&K Steel Refabrication Plant and after three years say they're making $9.50 an hour – about half of what their American counterparts are making.
"They do the same work, they work just as hard, they're there every day," Timothy Hand, a co-worker, said.
Hand says he has gone on strike in sympathy with the refugees.
"They came here ... bright-eyed and promised everything, and look what they're being thrown into," he said. "Wage discrimination, their housing is awful, it's just not right."
"People are paid in different pay grades but that's true anywhere you go depending on what job you're doing," Susan Rauscher, head of Catholic Charities, said.
W&K declined comment. Catholic Charities, along with the Jewish Family and Children Services, resettled the refugees and believes the complaints are off base. They say W&K trained the workers, has given them a good benefits package and that the refugees are performing less-skilled jobs than the Americans.
Rauscher says they've exceeded their commitment despite the demands of social services throughout the community.
"We've been getting squeezed on both ends. We've got more calls coming in, more need and the dollars coming in from donors are smaller," she said.
These days, the immigrants meet in one apartment and it's the interpreter, Paw, who is handling their problems with healthcare, education, transportation and housing.
Some say Pittsburgh relief agencies need to do more.
"But, I think if they saw and listened to what we saw today, I think things could change, hopefully," Father Jack O'Malley, an activist priest, said.
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LiveScience - Ancient 'Unicorn' Fly Had Five Eyes
Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer, livescience.com – Tue Oct 27, 11:51 am ET
An ancient fly sporting a horn on its head topped with three eyes would have easily seen predators coming where it lived in the jungles of what is now Myanmar some 100 million years ago.
The fly was also equipped with a pair of large compound eyes, similar to those found in today's insects, for a grand total of five peepers.
A specimen of this bizarre-looking insect had been preserved in Burmese amber and was discovered in a mine in the Hukawng Valley of Myanmar. The amber dated back some 97 million to 110 million years ago. Back then, the gooey tree sap would have flowed over the fly before hardening and preserving its features in lifelike detail, the researchers say.
The newfound species, now called Cascoplecia insolitis, gives scientists more details about ancient ecosystems and the creatures that inhabited them.
"No other insect ever discovered has a horn like that, and there's no animal at all with a horn that has eyes on top," said researcher George Poinar, Jr., a professor of zoology at Oregon State University who just announced the newfound species in the journal Cretaceous Research.
The horn and triple-eye set would have given the fly visual prowess in its forest habitat. "I think the horn was to raise up the three simple eyes, which would have made it easier to detect approaching danger," Poinar told LiveScience, adding that the danger may have come from predators that included cockroaches, predator bugs, preying mantids and lizards that lived in the ancient Burmese forest.
The fly showed other freaky features, including antenna with S-shaped segments, unusually long legs that would have helped it crawl over flowers, and tiny vestigial mandibles that would have limited it to nibbling on very tiny particles of food.
Pollen grains found on the fly's legs suggest the insect mostly relied on flowers for food. "It was probably a docile little creature that fed on the pollen and nectar of tiny tropical flowers," Poinar said.
And the oddball may have been in good company when alive, during the age of the dinosaurs.
"This was near the end of the Early Cretaceous when a lot of strange evolutionary adaptations were going on," Poinar said. "Its specialized horn and eyes must have given this insect an advantage on very tiny flowers, but didn't serve as well when larger flowers evolved. So it went extinct."
He added, "This 'unicorn' fly was one of the oddities of the Cretaceous world and was obviously an evolutionary dead end."
Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer, livescience.com – Tue Oct 27, 11:51 am ET
An ancient fly sporting a horn on its head topped with three eyes would have easily seen predators coming where it lived in the jungles of what is now Myanmar some 100 million years ago.
The fly was also equipped with a pair of large compound eyes, similar to those found in today's insects, for a grand total of five peepers.
A specimen of this bizarre-looking insect had been preserved in Burmese amber and was discovered in a mine in the Hukawng Valley of Myanmar. The amber dated back some 97 million to 110 million years ago. Back then, the gooey tree sap would have flowed over the fly before hardening and preserving its features in lifelike detail, the researchers say.
The newfound species, now called Cascoplecia insolitis, gives scientists more details about ancient ecosystems and the creatures that inhabited them.
"No other insect ever discovered has a horn like that, and there's no animal at all with a horn that has eyes on top," said researcher George Poinar, Jr., a professor of zoology at Oregon State University who just announced the newfound species in the journal Cretaceous Research.
The horn and triple-eye set would have given the fly visual prowess in its forest habitat. "I think the horn was to raise up the three simple eyes, which would have made it easier to detect approaching danger," Poinar told LiveScience, adding that the danger may have come from predators that included cockroaches, predator bugs, preying mantids and lizards that lived in the ancient Burmese forest.
The fly showed other freaky features, including antenna with S-shaped segments, unusually long legs that would have helped it crawl over flowers, and tiny vestigial mandibles that would have limited it to nibbling on very tiny particles of food.
Pollen grains found on the fly's legs suggest the insect mostly relied on flowers for food. "It was probably a docile little creature that fed on the pollen and nectar of tiny tropical flowers," Poinar said.
And the oddball may have been in good company when alive, during the age of the dinosaurs.
"This was near the end of the Early Cretaceous when a lot of strange evolutionary adaptations were going on," Poinar said. "Its specialized horn and eyes must have given this insect an advantage on very tiny flowers, but didn't serve as well when larger flowers evolved. So it went extinct."
He added, "This 'unicorn' fly was one of the oddities of the Cretaceous world and was obviously an evolutionary dead end."
***********************************************************
Times of India - Ayurveda interests neighbouring countries
TNN 28 October 2009, 06:30pm IST
VARANASI: The neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar and Sri Lanka, are showing special interest in ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine system and it is an encouraging sign for the country. It was said by Prof KN Dwivedi, head, department of Dravyaguna, Banaras Hindu University, while talking to TOI on Wednesday.
"The traditional system of medicine has an important place in these two countries and now they have started exploring the Indian system (Ayurveda), something we can also do to strengthen our traditional system of medicine," added the man who has also organised a special six-day training programme for experts in traditional medicine from Myanmar, including the officials of ministry of traditional medicine from the country.
It may be mentioned here that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the faculty of Ayurveda, BHU, as one of the leading centres for R&D in ayurveda. Similarly, on request of Myanmar government, WHO has organised the six-day training programme (from October 26 to October 31) in BHU with support from AYUSH department under the Union Health ministry.
According to Prof Dwivedi, as many as five experts in traditional medicine system from Myanmar are undergoing special training under the programme. The programme is witnessing training in different disciplines of ayurveda, especially research and drug preparation process in ayurveda. "The experts from the department of Dravyaguna and Rasa Shastra are providing the training and it would culminate with special address of Dr DC Katoch, the Indian unit expert in WHO on October 31," he added.
During the training programme, the recent developments in the faculty of ayurveda, especially Leech Therapy and Kshar-Sutra, have also caught attention of the trainees.
"There is so much to exchange views on the national policies of traditional medicine system between these two countries and it would be also discussed during the programme," added Prof Dwivedi. "The WHO is also looking for such training programmes for experts in Sri Lanka, where there is a strong foundation of traditional medicine system," he added.
It is also worth mentioning that the department of Dravyaguna, BHU, is being upgraded under special scheme of UGC. Construction of additional floor, along with expansion of lecture rooms and modernisation of laboratories, is also on.
TNN 28 October 2009, 06:30pm IST
VARANASI: The neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar and Sri Lanka, are showing special interest in ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine system and it is an encouraging sign for the country. It was said by Prof KN Dwivedi, head, department of Dravyaguna, Banaras Hindu University, while talking to TOI on Wednesday.
"The traditional system of medicine has an important place in these two countries and now they have started exploring the Indian system (Ayurveda), something we can also do to strengthen our traditional system of medicine," added the man who has also organised a special six-day training programme for experts in traditional medicine from Myanmar, including the officials of ministry of traditional medicine from the country.
It may be mentioned here that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the faculty of Ayurveda, BHU, as one of the leading centres for R&D in ayurveda. Similarly, on request of Myanmar government, WHO has organised the six-day training programme (from October 26 to October 31) in BHU with support from AYUSH department under the Union Health ministry.
According to Prof Dwivedi, as many as five experts in traditional medicine system from Myanmar are undergoing special training under the programme. The programme is witnessing training in different disciplines of ayurveda, especially research and drug preparation process in ayurveda. "The experts from the department of Dravyaguna and Rasa Shastra are providing the training and it would culminate with special address of Dr DC Katoch, the Indian unit expert in WHO on October 31," he added.
During the training programme, the recent developments in the faculty of ayurveda, especially Leech Therapy and Kshar-Sutra, have also caught attention of the trainees.
"There is so much to exchange views on the national policies of traditional medicine system between these two countries and it would be also discussed during the programme," added Prof Dwivedi. "The WHO is also looking for such training programmes for experts in Sri Lanka, where there is a strong foundation of traditional medicine system," he added.
It is also worth mentioning that the department of Dravyaguna, BHU, is being upgraded under special scheme of UGC. Construction of additional floor, along with expansion of lecture rooms and modernisation of laboratories, is also on.
***********************************************************
OhmyNews International - Number of the Internet Users Increases in Myanmar
Thin Set Kyaw shein (thin)
Published 2009-10-28 15:07 (KST)
Despite the military regime's attempts to limit the media, Internet culture is still increasing up to the present time in Myanmar of which the only one Internet service provider is the Myanmar Info Tech.
Since late 1990s, local Internet ?using communities have gradually become larger. Now it is reported that number of the Internet users has increased than before.
Around 1999, Internet cafes were hardly found in any other cities except Yangon, former capital of Myanmar. Later local people become more interested in using the Net, particularly after 2000.
In the beginning, Internet cafes were just like computer training centers, without any other services such as snacks and drinks for the users. There were a lot of notice sheets of paper stuck on the walls of those Internet centers, in which the authorities warned the users not to visit any political and x-rated sites. However, most people tried to browse the restricted websites in different ways, using some popular proxies.
The conflict between the regime and the users of the Internet is still occurring in Myanmar. For example, the authorities block most proxies but the users open new ones through other proxies, like a game of hide and seek.
To build a personal blog is also not allowed here and some popular bloggers were even arrested in order to prevent new blogging.
In such a never ending conflict, most of the young users of the Internet are now addicted to using Google Talk to chat with others. Using Google, many are finding peers and friends online for fun.
Thin Set Kyaw shein (thin)
Published 2009-10-28 15:07 (KST)
Despite the military regime's attempts to limit the media, Internet culture is still increasing up to the present time in Myanmar of which the only one Internet service provider is the Myanmar Info Tech.
Since late 1990s, local Internet ?using communities have gradually become larger. Now it is reported that number of the Internet users has increased than before.
Around 1999, Internet cafes were hardly found in any other cities except Yangon, former capital of Myanmar. Later local people become more interested in using the Net, particularly after 2000.
In the beginning, Internet cafes were just like computer training centers, without any other services such as snacks and drinks for the users. There were a lot of notice sheets of paper stuck on the walls of those Internet centers, in which the authorities warned the users not to visit any political and x-rated sites. However, most people tried to browse the restricted websites in different ways, using some popular proxies.
The conflict between the regime and the users of the Internet is still occurring in Myanmar. For example, the authorities block most proxies but the users open new ones through other proxies, like a game of hide and seek.
To build a personal blog is also not allowed here and some popular bloggers were even arrested in order to prevent new blogging.
In such a never ending conflict, most of the young users of the Internet are now addicted to using Google Talk to chat with others. Using Google, many are finding peers and friends online for fun.
***********************************************************
ReliefWeb- Myanmar: Emergency drill tests village’s skills
Source: Action by Churches Together International (ACT)
Date: 28 Oct 2009
A drill in emergency preparedness brought an entire Myanmar village together, the first such drill in a country still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Nargis last year.
It earned Thae Kone village in Yangon district a story in the country's leading English newspaper, The Myanmar Times.
The drill was organised as part of the ACT International Cyclone Nargis rehabilitation programme. Increasingly, risk reduction for disaster-prone areas is seen to be as essential as emergency relief in the days and months following a disaster.
Teams trained in early warning systems, evacuation, search and rescue, first aid, relief management, and water and sanitation provision took part in a three hour drill. ACT International member Lutheran World Federation holds disaster risk reduction training in 50 villages in Ayeyarwady and Yangon districts.
One of the dignitaries at the drill was Ministry of Social Welfare Deputy Director General U Aung Tun Khaing. Officials from the Myanmar Government, Asean, the UN, international NGOs, local government and national media watched the simulated search and rescue operation. They commended ACT's community rehabilitation work and gave an assurance local officials would support future projects.
ACT International used the occasion to hand over a newly built primary school to local authorities. The school is complete with classroom furniture, rainwater collection tanks, pipe fittings and toilets.
Source: Action by Churches Together International (ACT)
Date: 28 Oct 2009
A drill in emergency preparedness brought an entire Myanmar village together, the first such drill in a country still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Nargis last year.
It earned Thae Kone village in Yangon district a story in the country's leading English newspaper, The Myanmar Times.
The drill was organised as part of the ACT International Cyclone Nargis rehabilitation programme. Increasingly, risk reduction for disaster-prone areas is seen to be as essential as emergency relief in the days and months following a disaster.
Teams trained in early warning systems, evacuation, search and rescue, first aid, relief management, and water and sanitation provision took part in a three hour drill. ACT International member Lutheran World Federation holds disaster risk reduction training in 50 villages in Ayeyarwady and Yangon districts.
One of the dignitaries at the drill was Ministry of Social Welfare Deputy Director General U Aung Tun Khaing. Officials from the Myanmar Government, Asean, the UN, international NGOs, local government and national media watched the simulated search and rescue operation. They commended ACT's community rehabilitation work and gave an assurance local officials would support future projects.
ACT International used the occasion to hand over a newly built primary school to local authorities. The school is complete with classroom furniture, rainwater collection tanks, pipe fittings and toilets.
***********************************************************
Merrill Chosen to Arrange Daewoo International Sale
By Bomi Lim
Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Merrill Lynch & Co. and Samjong KPMG Advisory Inc. were chosen to co-manage the sale of a controlling stake in South Korean trading company Daewoo International Corp.
The Public Fund Oversight Committee, which oversees sales of government-held shares, picked the arrangers today, Korea Asset Management Corp. said in an e-mailed statement. Korea Asset and other state-run agencies own a combined 68 percent of Daewoo International, with the stake valued at 2.23 trillion won ($1.9 billion) based on today’s closing price.
Posco, South Korea’s largest steelmaker, has expressed interest in Seoul-based Daewoo International, which is involved in a gas project in Myanmar. An acquisition would help Posco increase its sales networks overseas and move into the energy resources business.
Seoul-based Samjong is the South Korean unit of accounting firm KPMG International. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America Corp. absorbed Merrill Lynch in January.
Daewoo International, a former unit of the failed Daewoo Group, has a 51 percent stake in the project in Myanmar’s Shwe, Shwe-Phyu, and Mya areas in the A-1 and A-3 blocks, estimated to hold between 4.5 trillion and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Daewoo International shares dropped 2.2 percent to close at 33,350 won in Seoul.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world’s biggest shipbuilder, agreed to buy control of Hyundai Corp., a trading company, earlier this month.
By Bomi Lim
Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Merrill Lynch & Co. and Samjong KPMG Advisory Inc. were chosen to co-manage the sale of a controlling stake in South Korean trading company Daewoo International Corp.
The Public Fund Oversight Committee, which oversees sales of government-held shares, picked the arrangers today, Korea Asset Management Corp. said in an e-mailed statement. Korea Asset and other state-run agencies own a combined 68 percent of Daewoo International, with the stake valued at 2.23 trillion won ($1.9 billion) based on today’s closing price.
Posco, South Korea’s largest steelmaker, has expressed interest in Seoul-based Daewoo International, which is involved in a gas project in Myanmar. An acquisition would help Posco increase its sales networks overseas and move into the energy resources business.
Seoul-based Samjong is the South Korean unit of accounting firm KPMG International. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America Corp. absorbed Merrill Lynch in January.
Daewoo International, a former unit of the failed Daewoo Group, has a 51 percent stake in the project in Myanmar’s Shwe, Shwe-Phyu, and Mya areas in the A-1 and A-3 blocks, estimated to hold between 4.5 trillion and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Daewoo International shares dropped 2.2 percent to close at 33,350 won in Seoul.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world’s biggest shipbuilder, agreed to buy control of Hyundai Corp., a trading company, earlier this month.
***********************************************************
Thai-ASEAN News Network - Myanmar's Dissidents Chide Hun Sen over Thaksin-Suu Kyi Remark
UPDATE : 28 October 2009
Former lawmakers of Myanmar's opposition party said ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has nothing worth comparing to their democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as claimed by the Cambodian premier.
Former MP of the National League for Democracy Party, or NLD, Kyun Mint Thun, said he wondered why Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen compared convicted former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra to his party leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as political situations in Thailand and Burma are absolutely different.
Another Burmese MP from the same party La Ue said Thaksin could not be compared to Suu Kyi since the administration of the former Thai leader was not transparent and had problems of corruption for his own interest.
Meanwhile, former Burmese student activist Maung Maung Yi said Suu Kyi has never left her home country even though the junta wanted her to do so and that she waged her political struggle without any ulterior motive but Thaksin did not.
UPDATE : 28 October 2009
Former lawmakers of Myanmar's opposition party said ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has nothing worth comparing to their democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as claimed by the Cambodian premier.
Former MP of the National League for Democracy Party, or NLD, Kyun Mint Thun, said he wondered why Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen compared convicted former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra to his party leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as political situations in Thailand and Burma are absolutely different.
Another Burmese MP from the same party La Ue said Thaksin could not be compared to Suu Kyi since the administration of the former Thai leader was not transparent and had problems of corruption for his own interest.
Meanwhile, former Burmese student activist Maung Maung Yi said Suu Kyi has never left her home country even though the junta wanted her to do so and that she waged her political struggle without any ulterior motive but Thaksin did not.
***********************************************************
The Nation - Suu Kyi counterpart gets 'offer' from Rangoon
By Tulsathit Taptim
Published on October 28, 2009
Disclaimer: The following e-mail was intercepted on its way from Rangoon to Thaksin Shinawatra. Though unsigned, it seems to have been written by someone in the top echelons of power. It could be a fake, but it sounds as sincere as Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Hun Sen put together.
WE NEVER thought of doing this, but since our pal Hun Sen can give an international lecture on humanitarianism and political persecution, it makes us believe that we, too, should be in with a shout. Dear friend Thaksin Shinawatra, what has happened to you is horrible, and if you think Phnom Penh is too risky a place, please consider a warm exile in Rangoon.
Of course, we are totally aware of the irony. How can a foreign version of Aung San Suu Kyi seek refuge in a country where she is under house arrest and her political party is denied a role? We would like you to put that aside for a minute and hear us out.
This whole exile thing is benefiting both of us. Thanks to Hun Sen, the world - which has been shedding crocodile tears for its "Lady" Suu Kyi - is starting to know the truth. The sincerest tears we've soon belonged to his wife who cried over you. And the man himself was spot on when he said that if international babbling about our country is not considered nosy or inappropriate, why should his comments on your plight be?
We don't mind you comparing yourself to Suu Kyi. You were in need of something catchy, and we don't blame you. But most of all, your actions spoke louder than words. The Exim bank loan was the true reflection of our friendship. You can call us dogs for all we care.
This offer is being made out of concern for your well-being. No offence to Hun Sen, but Phnom Penh isn't the safest place in the world. How could you do your second favourite thing after fighting for democracy - shopping - when you wouldn't be able to tell innocent Cambodian pedestrians from Thai agents sent by your enemies?
And not all Cambodians will be friendly. Your telecom endeavour there, while it brought everlasting friendship with many, left several others with a bad taste in their mouth.
Not to mention the silly rumours about you and a power play there in the past. Yes, any political victim can go to Dubai, but it takes a real man to go and live in Cambodia. What we are saying is, why take unnecessary chances?
We also want to take some heat off our good friend Hun Sen, who we know is sincere but was naive enough to wait exactly one year since the Ratchada land ruling to come out and decry the verdict. And he did that just hours before the Thai government was about to host the Asean Summit, too. Whereas Hun Sen can be wrongly accused of being political, we can't be.
So please consider our offer. We can build you a home near Aung San Suu Kyi's, and everyone will win. We will have repaid you the Exim loan favour, you will be near your real-life heroine, safe and sound, and she will enjoy the company of a great admirer. Cambodia will be spared the heavy political baggage your exile there could entail, while Thailand will be able to quit thinking about seeking extradition, and concentrate on things more plausible.
Last but not least, although accommodating you won't get the human-rights fanatics off our back, hopefully it will confuse the daylights out of them. It will also give the otherwise pretentious and ambiguous "constructive engagement" policy of Asean a solid platform. Anwar Ibrahim, if he faces new persecution, can now flee to Phnom Penh, while defanged Cambodian princes - if somehow they need sanctuary in the future - can go to Manila.
What an intriguing web that would be. You can be the catalyst for it. And don't worry about your phone-ins. Whatever Hun Sen has promised you, you will get from us - and more.
We are terribly sorry if the Hun Sen saga was just supposed to be a tactic to steal the media spotlight and you didn't really mean to come back to this region. If that was the plan, bravo. You have caused quite a stir, and this must rank in the top five of the world's much-ado-about-nothing diplomatic issues.
But if Hun Sen is dead serious and so are you, give our offer a little thought. At least think about the publicity you'll get. Of course, "Thaksin begins Cambodia exile" is a sexy headline, but nothing would beat "Aung San Suu Kyi counterpart given asylum in Rangoon".
Sincerely,
Another true friend of yours.
By Tulsathit Taptim
Published on October 28, 2009
Disclaimer: The following e-mail was intercepted on its way from Rangoon to Thaksin Shinawatra. Though unsigned, it seems to have been written by someone in the top echelons of power. It could be a fake, but it sounds as sincere as Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Hun Sen put together.
WE NEVER thought of doing this, but since our pal Hun Sen can give an international lecture on humanitarianism and political persecution, it makes us believe that we, too, should be in with a shout. Dear friend Thaksin Shinawatra, what has happened to you is horrible, and if you think Phnom Penh is too risky a place, please consider a warm exile in Rangoon.
Of course, we are totally aware of the irony. How can a foreign version of Aung San Suu Kyi seek refuge in a country where she is under house arrest and her political party is denied a role? We would like you to put that aside for a minute and hear us out.
This whole exile thing is benefiting both of us. Thanks to Hun Sen, the world - which has been shedding crocodile tears for its "Lady" Suu Kyi - is starting to know the truth. The sincerest tears we've soon belonged to his wife who cried over you. And the man himself was spot on when he said that if international babbling about our country is not considered nosy or inappropriate, why should his comments on your plight be?
We don't mind you comparing yourself to Suu Kyi. You were in need of something catchy, and we don't blame you. But most of all, your actions spoke louder than words. The Exim bank loan was the true reflection of our friendship. You can call us dogs for all we care.
This offer is being made out of concern for your well-being. No offence to Hun Sen, but Phnom Penh isn't the safest place in the world. How could you do your second favourite thing after fighting for democracy - shopping - when you wouldn't be able to tell innocent Cambodian pedestrians from Thai agents sent by your enemies?
And not all Cambodians will be friendly. Your telecom endeavour there, while it brought everlasting friendship with many, left several others with a bad taste in their mouth.
Not to mention the silly rumours about you and a power play there in the past. Yes, any political victim can go to Dubai, but it takes a real man to go and live in Cambodia. What we are saying is, why take unnecessary chances?
We also want to take some heat off our good friend Hun Sen, who we know is sincere but was naive enough to wait exactly one year since the Ratchada land ruling to come out and decry the verdict. And he did that just hours before the Thai government was about to host the Asean Summit, too. Whereas Hun Sen can be wrongly accused of being political, we can't be.
So please consider our offer. We can build you a home near Aung San Suu Kyi's, and everyone will win. We will have repaid you the Exim loan favour, you will be near your real-life heroine, safe and sound, and she will enjoy the company of a great admirer. Cambodia will be spared the heavy political baggage your exile there could entail, while Thailand will be able to quit thinking about seeking extradition, and concentrate on things more plausible.
Last but not least, although accommodating you won't get the human-rights fanatics off our back, hopefully it will confuse the daylights out of them. It will also give the otherwise pretentious and ambiguous "constructive engagement" policy of Asean a solid platform. Anwar Ibrahim, if he faces new persecution, can now flee to Phnom Penh, while defanged Cambodian princes - if somehow they need sanctuary in the future - can go to Manila.
What an intriguing web that would be. You can be the catalyst for it. And don't worry about your phone-ins. Whatever Hun Sen has promised you, you will get from us - and more.
We are terribly sorry if the Hun Sen saga was just supposed to be a tactic to steal the media spotlight and you didn't really mean to come back to this region. If that was the plan, bravo. You have caused quite a stir, and this must rank in the top five of the world's much-ado-about-nothing diplomatic issues.
But if Hun Sen is dead serious and so are you, give our offer a little thought. At least think about the publicity you'll get. Of course, "Thaksin begins Cambodia exile" is a sexy headline, but nothing would beat "Aung San Suu Kyi counterpart given asylum in Rangoon".
Sincerely,
Another true friend of yours.
***********************************************************
The Hindu - Opinion: Glimmer of light for Myanmar
Simon Tisdall
Western governments must take care not to undermine Myanmar’s people.
Cautious optimism expressed by Asian leaders at the weekend that the situation of isolated, benighted Myanmar is taking a turn for the better may prove to be more than the usual diplomatic doublespeak. Recent, relatively positive signals from the ruling military junta do not amount to a change of heart; the generals are not about to put up a sign saying “Dun Dictatin’” and retire to their jungle palaces, officials say. But out of darkness, a glimmer of light shows.
One hopeful indication came when Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained opposition leader, was temporarily released from house arrest to meet foreign diplomats and junta functionaries. The regime is also tentatively re-engaging with western governments, including the U.S., which is to send a high-level delegation soon. And last month, the Prime Minister, Thein Sein, promised the U.N. that presidential and legislative elections next year would be “free and fair.”
There are several reasons for the regime’s shifting stance, western observers say. One is that the junta has begun to recognise it needs the legitimacy that only a relatively transparent poll process can bring. Domestically, the creation of regional legislatures may help defuse ongoing, historically violent tensions with the country’s 16 ethnic groups; internationally, a respectable election could trigger an easing of sanctions and additional aid and investment.
Senior General Than Shwe, 76, head of the junta, is said to be hoping to stand down next year, for reasons of age and possible infirmity. He was committed to the regime’s so-called “road map” to democracy and felt he had done “a good job” in holding the country together, one analyst said. Now Than Shwe wanted to secure his legacy by regularising Myanmar’s relations with the west.
Another reason for taking advantage of Barack Obama’s willingness to reopen dialogue is said to be a desire to counter China’s growing influence. Harsh words from Beijing over the recent forced exodus of 30,000 mostly ethnic Chinese Burmese from Kokang into Yunnan province came as a sharp reminder that China, historically, was Myanmar’s No. 1 enemy, and its security and commercial interests do not necessarily coincide with Yangoon’s.
But U.S. officials stress Mr. Obama is not offering the generals an easy option; sanctions would remain in place until there was a quantifiable improvement in the regime’s behaviour, the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said last month. “We expect engagement with Myanmar to be a long, slow, painful and step-by-step process,” said her deputy, Kurt Campbell.
Scepticism that this apparent shift will lead to anything more than a sham election, decked out with democratic window-dressing to deflect western critics and hoodwink international opinion, is natural, given the junta’s record since it stole the 1990 polls. The evident risk for Mr. Obama, the U.N., and others is that they will be suckered into supporting the insupportable.
There’s no doubt the 2010 election project is highly problematic. Myanmar’s new constitution guarantees the continuing ascendancy of the military. New political candidates and parties will be vetted, Iran-style. Lack of free media, the absence of independent scrutiny, and intolerance of open debate do not sit well with the holding of “free and fair” polls.
And one deliberate side-effect may be the sidelining of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the winners in 1990, whose ageing leadership now faces a cruel dilemma: either participate in the elections, thereby lending credibility to a possible political travesty, or hold back and risk irrelevance.
Any western policy aimed at bringing the generals in from the cold must be carefully calibrated to strengthen, not undermine, the legitimate aspirations of the Myanmarese people. Getting the balance wrong will risk prolonged darkness in a land where, as Kipling might have put it, it was the light that failed.
Simon Tisdall
Western governments must take care not to undermine Myanmar’s people.
Cautious optimism expressed by Asian leaders at the weekend that the situation of isolated, benighted Myanmar is taking a turn for the better may prove to be more than the usual diplomatic doublespeak. Recent, relatively positive signals from the ruling military junta do not amount to a change of heart; the generals are not about to put up a sign saying “Dun Dictatin’” and retire to their jungle palaces, officials say. But out of darkness, a glimmer of light shows.
One hopeful indication came when Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained opposition leader, was temporarily released from house arrest to meet foreign diplomats and junta functionaries. The regime is also tentatively re-engaging with western governments, including the U.S., which is to send a high-level delegation soon. And last month, the Prime Minister, Thein Sein, promised the U.N. that presidential and legislative elections next year would be “free and fair.”
There are several reasons for the regime’s shifting stance, western observers say. One is that the junta has begun to recognise it needs the legitimacy that only a relatively transparent poll process can bring. Domestically, the creation of regional legislatures may help defuse ongoing, historically violent tensions with the country’s 16 ethnic groups; internationally, a respectable election could trigger an easing of sanctions and additional aid and investment.
Senior General Than Shwe, 76, head of the junta, is said to be hoping to stand down next year, for reasons of age and possible infirmity. He was committed to the regime’s so-called “road map” to democracy and felt he had done “a good job” in holding the country together, one analyst said. Now Than Shwe wanted to secure his legacy by regularising Myanmar’s relations with the west.
Another reason for taking advantage of Barack Obama’s willingness to reopen dialogue is said to be a desire to counter China’s growing influence. Harsh words from Beijing over the recent forced exodus of 30,000 mostly ethnic Chinese Burmese from Kokang into Yunnan province came as a sharp reminder that China, historically, was Myanmar’s No. 1 enemy, and its security and commercial interests do not necessarily coincide with Yangoon’s.
But U.S. officials stress Mr. Obama is not offering the generals an easy option; sanctions would remain in place until there was a quantifiable improvement in the regime’s behaviour, the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said last month. “We expect engagement with Myanmar to be a long, slow, painful and step-by-step process,” said her deputy, Kurt Campbell.
Scepticism that this apparent shift will lead to anything more than a sham election, decked out with democratic window-dressing to deflect western critics and hoodwink international opinion, is natural, given the junta’s record since it stole the 1990 polls. The evident risk for Mr. Obama, the U.N., and others is that they will be suckered into supporting the insupportable.
There’s no doubt the 2010 election project is highly problematic. Myanmar’s new constitution guarantees the continuing ascendancy of the military. New political candidates and parties will be vetted, Iran-style. Lack of free media, the absence of independent scrutiny, and intolerance of open debate do not sit well with the holding of “free and fair” polls.
And one deliberate side-effect may be the sidelining of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the winners in 1990, whose ageing leadership now faces a cruel dilemma: either participate in the elections, thereby lending credibility to a possible political travesty, or hold back and risk irrelevance.
Any western policy aimed at bringing the generals in from the cold must be carefully calibrated to strengthen, not undermine, the legitimate aspirations of the Myanmarese people. Getting the balance wrong will risk prolonged darkness in a land where, as Kipling might have put it, it was the light that failed.
***********************************************************
Asia News Network
Asean needs to push Burma a little harder
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation (Thailand)
Publication Date: 28-10-2009
Normally, the Burma issue is at the core of every Asean summit, with all eyes on the Burmese delegation's moves. However, things appeared to be different at the recent 15th Asean summit in Cha Am/Hua Hin - Burma was not the highlight and the press had nothing to report.
The Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein was able to escape media attention and it appeared as if the issue of a country whose political process is in transition just does not matter.
The grouping, which has always taken Burma's political issues very seriously, rarely touched upon the subject at this summit.
The chairman's statement, issued at the end of the meeting, only said: "We underscored the importance of achieving national reconciliation and that the general elections to be held in Myanmar (Burma) in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community."
Yet, despite all this, it appears as if Asean is seeing some positive signs, especially since the junta has been promising everyone that the elections next year would be conducted in accordance with its seven-step road map toward democracy and national reconciliation.
At a quick chat with the press after the summit on Sunday (October 25), Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his Burmese counterpart had told his Asean colleagues that detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi might be able to participate in the on-going democratisation process.
"He (Thein Sein) briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and is optimistic that she (Suu Kyi) can also contribute to the process of national reconciliation," Abhisit said.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thein Sein had used the words "free and fair" as well as it being an "inclusive" election when he was briefing the meeting.
Asean was given added hope when Suu Kyi was allowed to meet foreign diplomats over the issue of economic sanctions, and the junta also sent a minister over to engage with her recently, he said.
"I personally think it is a good sign that she might be given the chance to participate in democratising the country," Kasit said.
Asean leaders believe the junta is taking political reform and the elections seriously, because Malaysian PM Najib Razak said Thein Sein had told him that a new parliament building was being constructed at the new Burmese capital of Nay Pyi Daw.
Constructing a parliament building may not mean democracy, but it's a first step, Najib said.
Though Asean has been pushing Burma toward democracy and national reconciliation, the strongest contribution seems to have come from Washington, with the Obama administration shifting its policy from isolating Burma to engaging it.
Last month, the United States announced that it would seek to engage the junta, and though it is still insisting that sanctions would not be eased if there is no progress toward democracy, it is sending a rare "fact-finding" mission to Burma soon.
Asean has welcomed this move and believes that the US is following the grouping's plans and ideas even though Washington contacted Burma directly instead of going via Asean.
Najib said engaging with the junta was the best option available, because sanctions and isolation would only worsen things.
"We are on the right track. The US has recognised the Asean way by changing its tactics," he said.
Still, these positive signs might be just an illusion. If the Asean really doesn't want the US to take over, then it has a lot of work to do to make sure that the political process in the junta-ruled country yields a good result.
Kasit said the grouping had offered to train Burmese officials preparing for the elections and is keen to send a team to observe the country's first poll in two decades.
However, since the junta has still not responded to these offers, the Asean probably needs to push a little bit harder.
Asean needs to push Burma a little harder
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation (Thailand)
Publication Date: 28-10-2009
Normally, the Burma issue is at the core of every Asean summit, with all eyes on the Burmese delegation's moves. However, things appeared to be different at the recent 15th Asean summit in Cha Am/Hua Hin - Burma was not the highlight and the press had nothing to report.
The Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein was able to escape media attention and it appeared as if the issue of a country whose political process is in transition just does not matter.
The grouping, which has always taken Burma's political issues very seriously, rarely touched upon the subject at this summit.
The chairman's statement, issued at the end of the meeting, only said: "We underscored the importance of achieving national reconciliation and that the general elections to be held in Myanmar (Burma) in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community."
Yet, despite all this, it appears as if Asean is seeing some positive signs, especially since the junta has been promising everyone that the elections next year would be conducted in accordance with its seven-step road map toward democracy and national reconciliation.
At a quick chat with the press after the summit on Sunday (October 25), Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his Burmese counterpart had told his Asean colleagues that detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi might be able to participate in the on-going democratisation process.
"He (Thein Sein) briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and is optimistic that she (Suu Kyi) can also contribute to the process of national reconciliation," Abhisit said.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thein Sein had used the words "free and fair" as well as it being an "inclusive" election when he was briefing the meeting.
Asean was given added hope when Suu Kyi was allowed to meet foreign diplomats over the issue of economic sanctions, and the junta also sent a minister over to engage with her recently, he said.
"I personally think it is a good sign that she might be given the chance to participate in democratising the country," Kasit said.
Asean leaders believe the junta is taking political reform and the elections seriously, because Malaysian PM Najib Razak said Thein Sein had told him that a new parliament building was being constructed at the new Burmese capital of Nay Pyi Daw.
Constructing a parliament building may not mean democracy, but it's a first step, Najib said.
Though Asean has been pushing Burma toward democracy and national reconciliation, the strongest contribution seems to have come from Washington, with the Obama administration shifting its policy from isolating Burma to engaging it.
Last month, the United States announced that it would seek to engage the junta, and though it is still insisting that sanctions would not be eased if there is no progress toward democracy, it is sending a rare "fact-finding" mission to Burma soon.
Asean has welcomed this move and believes that the US is following the grouping's plans and ideas even though Washington contacted Burma directly instead of going via Asean.
Najib said engaging with the junta was the best option available, because sanctions and isolation would only worsen things.
"We are on the right track. The US has recognised the Asean way by changing its tactics," he said.
Still, these positive signs might be just an illusion. If the Asean really doesn't want the US to take over, then it has a lot of work to do to make sure that the political process in the junta-ruled country yields a good result.
Kasit said the grouping had offered to train Burmese officials preparing for the elections and is keen to send a team to observe the country's first poll in two decades.
However, since the junta has still not responded to these offers, the Asean probably needs to push a little bit harder.
***********************************************************
OCTOBER 27, 2009, 12:36 P.M. ET
The Wall Street Journal - Opinion: Rewarding Burma's Generals
The new message from Washington: Deal with Pyongyang, win diplomatic goodies.The Obama Administration is starting to worry about Burma's nuclear ambitions. That's the good news. The bad news is that the White House is taking the same failed tack it used with Tehran and Pyongyang and trying to cajole the generals out of their biggest potential bargaining chip.
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell calls this policy "pragmatic engagement." In testimony to Congress last week, he confirmed the U.S. would soon send a "fact-finding" mission to Naypyidaw, possibly as early as next week. The delegation will discuss "alleged concerns associated with U.N. Resolution 1874," referring to this year's Security Council measure that forbids U.N. members from trading arms with North Korea.
The U.S. is right to pay attention to Burma's burgeoning relationship with Pyongyang. A U.S. destroyer trailed a North Korean military ship, the Kang Nam, for weeks earlier this year as it sailed toward Burma, presumably to deliver weapons. The regime has also built a series of tunnels near the capital which analysts say could be used for military operations or missile storage.
Mr. Campbell claims the dialogue, which comes after the U.S. hosted a high-level Burmese diplomat in September—will "test the intentions of the Burmese leadership and the sincerity of their expressed interest in a more positive relationship with the United States."
But by even showing up, the U.S. team would hand the generals a diplomatic victory. A visit by Mr. Campbell would be the highest-level U.S. delegation to visit Burma since Madeleine Albright's trip in 1995, when she was ambassador to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the generals have shown no indication to change their behavior. Over the past few months, the regime has intensified its ethnic-cleansing campaign against minorities, placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest (again), and detained and tortured a U.S. citizen, Kyaw Zaw Lin, who has ties to the dissident community.
That makes Mr. Campbell's talk of increasing humanitarian aid premature and potentially very damaging. Burma has a highly restrictive environment where many aid groups are beholden to the state. USAID will already funnel some $28 million into Burma-related programs this year, about 40% of which will go directly inside the country.
To his credit, Mr. Campbell has said he would meet with imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ask the generals to release her and all political prisoners, and talk to the political opposition in preparation for elections next year.
But his very presence in Naypyidaw would send a message that the generals' embrace of North Korea is paying off handsomely. Other countries will take note of this lesson, too.
The Wall Street Journal - Opinion: Rewarding Burma's Generals
The new message from Washington: Deal with Pyongyang, win diplomatic goodies.The Obama Administration is starting to worry about Burma's nuclear ambitions. That's the good news. The bad news is that the White House is taking the same failed tack it used with Tehran and Pyongyang and trying to cajole the generals out of their biggest potential bargaining chip.
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell calls this policy "pragmatic engagement." In testimony to Congress last week, he confirmed the U.S. would soon send a "fact-finding" mission to Naypyidaw, possibly as early as next week. The delegation will discuss "alleged concerns associated with U.N. Resolution 1874," referring to this year's Security Council measure that forbids U.N. members from trading arms with North Korea.
The U.S. is right to pay attention to Burma's burgeoning relationship with Pyongyang. A U.S. destroyer trailed a North Korean military ship, the Kang Nam, for weeks earlier this year as it sailed toward Burma, presumably to deliver weapons. The regime has also built a series of tunnels near the capital which analysts say could be used for military operations or missile storage.
Mr. Campbell claims the dialogue, which comes after the U.S. hosted a high-level Burmese diplomat in September—will "test the intentions of the Burmese leadership and the sincerity of their expressed interest in a more positive relationship with the United States."
But by even showing up, the U.S. team would hand the generals a diplomatic victory. A visit by Mr. Campbell would be the highest-level U.S. delegation to visit Burma since Madeleine Albright's trip in 1995, when she was ambassador to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the generals have shown no indication to change their behavior. Over the past few months, the regime has intensified its ethnic-cleansing campaign against minorities, placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest (again), and detained and tortured a U.S. citizen, Kyaw Zaw Lin, who has ties to the dissident community.
That makes Mr. Campbell's talk of increasing humanitarian aid premature and potentially very damaging. Burma has a highly restrictive environment where many aid groups are beholden to the state. USAID will already funnel some $28 million into Burma-related programs this year, about 40% of which will go directly inside the country.
To his credit, Mr. Campbell has said he would meet with imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ask the generals to release her and all political prisoners, and talk to the political opposition in preparation for elections next year.
But his very presence in Naypyidaw would send a message that the generals' embrace of North Korea is paying off handsomely. Other countries will take note of this lesson, too.
***********************************************************
The Examiner - Why Burma's anti-human trafficking effort is questioned
October 27, 1:23 PMNorfolk Human Rights ExaminerYoungbee Kim
China and Burma recently announced their joint anti-human trafficking effort through a film shooting. Burma, last April, also closed a Memorandum of Understanding with Thai government in an effort of decreasing the country's rampant human trafficking to Thailand. On a surface level, The Burmese government appears to be deeply concerned its rising human trafficking issues.
Nevertheless, the past NGO reports raise questions of whether Burmese anti-human trafficking is effective and whether the Burmese authority is serious about counter-measuring its problem of human trafficking.
The NGO Reports raise a question of how effective the Burmese anti-human trafficking effort will be.
Here is a classic example of why one should take a second look at the joint effort of anti-human trafficking mentioned above. Upon its agreement on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1997 [i] the Burmese regime implemented Anti-Trafficking Law. [ii] However, a few years after the implementation, Women of Burma (an NGO group for Burmese women's rights) reported that "innocent people have been arrested on false trafficking charges, particularly after the enactment of the 2005 Anti-Trafficking Law."[iii]
Yet, the Burmese government has failed to address the root causes of human trafficking in the country
In addition, Burma, according to the research by UNESCO, has only demonstrated its reluctance in addressing the root causes of the rising human trafficking in the country. [iv] For instance, while UNESCO identifies the lack of education among the Burmese children as one of the many root causes of human trafficking in the country, Burmese regime only have been spending 8% of its national budget on education and 30 -50% of the budget on its military [v]. This only shows a glimpse of how much the government is concerned about their women and children trafficked abroad. Therefore, if anyone raises suspicion on the Burmese anti-human trafficking effort, it is not completely unwarranted.
October 27, 1:23 PMNorfolk Human Rights ExaminerYoungbee Kim
China and Burma recently announced their joint anti-human trafficking effort through a film shooting. Burma, last April, also closed a Memorandum of Understanding with Thai government in an effort of decreasing the country's rampant human trafficking to Thailand. On a surface level, The Burmese government appears to be deeply concerned its rising human trafficking issues.
Nevertheless, the past NGO reports raise questions of whether Burmese anti-human trafficking is effective and whether the Burmese authority is serious about counter-measuring its problem of human trafficking.
The NGO Reports raise a question of how effective the Burmese anti-human trafficking effort will be.
Here is a classic example of why one should take a second look at the joint effort of anti-human trafficking mentioned above. Upon its agreement on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1997 [i] the Burmese regime implemented Anti-Trafficking Law. [ii] However, a few years after the implementation, Women of Burma (an NGO group for Burmese women's rights) reported that "innocent people have been arrested on false trafficking charges, particularly after the enactment of the 2005 Anti-Trafficking Law."[iii]
Yet, the Burmese government has failed to address the root causes of human trafficking in the country
In addition, Burma, according to the research by UNESCO, has only demonstrated its reluctance in addressing the root causes of the rising human trafficking in the country. [iv] For instance, while UNESCO identifies the lack of education among the Burmese children as one of the many root causes of human trafficking in the country, Burmese regime only have been spending 8% of its national budget on education and 30 -50% of the budget on its military [v]. This only shows a glimpse of how much the government is concerned about their women and children trafficked abroad. Therefore, if anyone raises suspicion on the Burmese anti-human trafficking effort, it is not completely unwarranted.
***********************************************************
The Irrawaddy - NLD Elder Holds Out for Constitutional Review
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
U Win Tin is a founding member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which was formed in 1988. He is also a well-known journalist in Burma. He was detained in 1989 and served 19 years in prison. He was released in September 2008. He spoke to The Irrawaddy on the issues of international economic sanctions, the 2010 election, the regime’s 2008 Constitution and the current position of the NLD.
Question: How much does the lifting of Western economic sanctions on Burma relate to national reconciliation?
Answer: In our politics, these two factors are related. If there is a US dialogue, the military regime is involved in the process. The sanctions now control them somewhat. Even if the sanctions can’t be said to strengthen us [the NLD], it is at least a rein on the junta. It’s something like tying down a brutal giant with many ropes so that we can survive.
I think there are three kinds of sanctions. First, there are sanctions that can affect ordinary people. For example, the US sanction [on the importation of Burmese textile products] caused unemployment in the garment factories. Second, there are sanctions that can directly affect the military generals and their cronies. Third, there are many countries that imposed arms embargos on Burma. Among these three kinds, we don’t have anything to say about the sanctions affecting the military and its generals, but we will step in to talk about easing the sanctions that affect the people.
I think if there is an ease in sanctions, it can probably lead to national reconciliation. The new US policy will be carried out while maintaining the existing sanctions. It is a drama which will include a variety of scripts, such as sadness, pleasure, and Nhit Par Thwar [a dance with a main actor and actress]. The last script of the drama, we expect, will be Zat Paung Khan [a peaceful end]. Therefore, we can’t predict now the role of sanctions in political dialogue and reconciliation. Things will unfold more before the 2010 election.
Q: What is your opinion on the announcement of the regime to hold the election as scheduled, and their preparations?
A: on March 27, Snr-Gen Than Shwe said he will not review the Constitution. Recently, he again declared that the Constitution has already been approved by the people and the elections will be held systematically. He said that political parties must respect the Constitution, and parties that work responsibly will be protected by the government. It means that if they believe some political parties are not responsible in their work, they will take action against the parties. These two facts are significant.
His words can be translated into these points: Political parties must keep quiet. All the principles have been set out for the pre-election campaigns: don’t talk about the demands from [the NLD’s] Shwegondine Declaration. I think he also warned other politicians, including from the National Unity Party (NUP) [transformed from the former ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party], who said the Constitution can be amended in the future. It looks like the parties must follow their way.
Q: What do you think the democratic forces and ethnic organizations should do in regard to the election?
A: There is still a way out. Although they denied a review of the Constitution, I still have hope for a political dialogue. If we demand it with a united stand, I think we have a way left. I think Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s words are related to the new US Burma policy. He bluntly responded to the US demands on the election and its relations with the opposition groups. But politics is an unending process no matter how decisive the general is in his words. The situation is changing. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also asked the US to engage with both sides. Whatever Snr-Gen Than Shwe says, I expect the US policy will open a way for relations with the regime.
Q: What are your views on some politicians who want to take part in the election?
A: Regarding this election, my stand is even a bit different from the NLD. I accept the NLD’s stand on the Shwegondine Declaration.
The statement demands a release of all political prisoners, a review of the Constitution and to hold a free and fair election under international supervision. What we mainly want is political dialogue.
U Thu Wai and U Khin Maung Gyi of the NUP said that the situation will change in the next 10 to 15 years. They will take part in the election. They didn’t consult with us. I don’t agree that we should take part in the election.
We must create a situation conducive to the participation of all parties. We believe that all the parties should demand a more flexible Constitution at the outset. If the Constitution is amended, we can have a democratic space to some extend and can talk and work in parliament. If we accept the current situation, no amendments can be made, and there will be no rights for democratic forces or ethnic nationalities.
Yes, the Constitution offers a parliament where we can have a political platform from which to talk. But we must understand that under this Constitution, we can’t make any decision or move forward. That’s why I say we must demand a review of the Constitution before the election.
Q: What do you want to amend in the 2008 constitution?
A: There are about a dozen things that should be amended. What I can say now is we can’t accept the sixth basic principle of the Constitution: “the national political leadership role” of the military. The fact that more than 75 percent of the parliamentary vote is needed to amend the Constitution should be amended. Regarding the rights of ethnic nationalities, the fact that the President will appoint the chairmen of the Hluttaws (Parliament) in the Regions and States should be amended. That is important for the ethnic nationalities.
Q: What are your thoughts on the debate inside the NLD over whether the party should take part in the election?
A: Our leaders have their roots in the democratic struggle. I led a Burmese media union and spent about 20 years in jail. Therefore, I have evaluated the situation in terms of the goals of our democratic struggle. I think and talk in this way.
A central issue is the results of the 1990 election [a landslide win for the NLD]. We can’t throw away the results like a piece of paper or a leaf. In the NLD, there are people who have safeguarded the party for the past 20 years. For me, I do things based on the spirit I had during the democratic struggle in 1988. Some party leaders base their thinking on rationality. There are differences in our ways of thinking and working.
Some in the party think the regime can change its attitude, but I don’t think so. We have different views in this respect. They think the regime can become flexible and take positive steps and make some compromises. But the regime is stubborn, and it tries to do all that it can to hold on to power.
The youth organizations, monks, democratic forces and ethnic nationalities outside the country are all talking about a boycott of the election. Inside the country, there are some political groups that talk about contesting the election, but they are not a strong force even though they have important leaders.
Democratic and ethnic forces inside and outside the country are decisively saying “No” to the election. On the other hand, some so-called third forces and a few cease-fire armed ethnic groups are willing to take part.
The NLD won the election in 1990, but to date the party hasn’t been allowed to carry out the election results. At this point, if we turn our back on the 1990 election results and talk about taking part in the new election, the NLD will be shamed. In the future, the political scenario will be clearer, after the NLD finally decides whether to contest the election or not.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
U Win Tin is a founding member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which was formed in 1988. He is also a well-known journalist in Burma. He was detained in 1989 and served 19 years in prison. He was released in September 2008. He spoke to The Irrawaddy on the issues of international economic sanctions, the 2010 election, the regime’s 2008 Constitution and the current position of the NLD.
Question: How much does the lifting of Western economic sanctions on Burma relate to national reconciliation?
Answer: In our politics, these two factors are related. If there is a US dialogue, the military regime is involved in the process. The sanctions now control them somewhat. Even if the sanctions can’t be said to strengthen us [the NLD], it is at least a rein on the junta. It’s something like tying down a brutal giant with many ropes so that we can survive.
I think there are three kinds of sanctions. First, there are sanctions that can affect ordinary people. For example, the US sanction [on the importation of Burmese textile products] caused unemployment in the garment factories. Second, there are sanctions that can directly affect the military generals and their cronies. Third, there are many countries that imposed arms embargos on Burma. Among these three kinds, we don’t have anything to say about the sanctions affecting the military and its generals, but we will step in to talk about easing the sanctions that affect the people.
I think if there is an ease in sanctions, it can probably lead to national reconciliation. The new US policy will be carried out while maintaining the existing sanctions. It is a drama which will include a variety of scripts, such as sadness, pleasure, and Nhit Par Thwar [a dance with a main actor and actress]. The last script of the drama, we expect, will be Zat Paung Khan [a peaceful end]. Therefore, we can’t predict now the role of sanctions in political dialogue and reconciliation. Things will unfold more before the 2010 election.
Q: What is your opinion on the announcement of the regime to hold the election as scheduled, and their preparations?
A: on March 27, Snr-Gen Than Shwe said he will not review the Constitution. Recently, he again declared that the Constitution has already been approved by the people and the elections will be held systematically. He said that political parties must respect the Constitution, and parties that work responsibly will be protected by the government. It means that if they believe some political parties are not responsible in their work, they will take action against the parties. These two facts are significant.
His words can be translated into these points: Political parties must keep quiet. All the principles have been set out for the pre-election campaigns: don’t talk about the demands from [the NLD’s] Shwegondine Declaration. I think he also warned other politicians, including from the National Unity Party (NUP) [transformed from the former ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party], who said the Constitution can be amended in the future. It looks like the parties must follow their way.
Q: What do you think the democratic forces and ethnic organizations should do in regard to the election?
A: There is still a way out. Although they denied a review of the Constitution, I still have hope for a political dialogue. If we demand it with a united stand, I think we have a way left. I think Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s words are related to the new US Burma policy. He bluntly responded to the US demands on the election and its relations with the opposition groups. But politics is an unending process no matter how decisive the general is in his words. The situation is changing. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also asked the US to engage with both sides. Whatever Snr-Gen Than Shwe says, I expect the US policy will open a way for relations with the regime.
Q: What are your views on some politicians who want to take part in the election?
A: Regarding this election, my stand is even a bit different from the NLD. I accept the NLD’s stand on the Shwegondine Declaration.
The statement demands a release of all political prisoners, a review of the Constitution and to hold a free and fair election under international supervision. What we mainly want is political dialogue.
U Thu Wai and U Khin Maung Gyi of the NUP said that the situation will change in the next 10 to 15 years. They will take part in the election. They didn’t consult with us. I don’t agree that we should take part in the election.
We must create a situation conducive to the participation of all parties. We believe that all the parties should demand a more flexible Constitution at the outset. If the Constitution is amended, we can have a democratic space to some extend and can talk and work in parliament. If we accept the current situation, no amendments can be made, and there will be no rights for democratic forces or ethnic nationalities.
Yes, the Constitution offers a parliament where we can have a political platform from which to talk. But we must understand that under this Constitution, we can’t make any decision or move forward. That’s why I say we must demand a review of the Constitution before the election.
Q: What do you want to amend in the 2008 constitution?
A: There are about a dozen things that should be amended. What I can say now is we can’t accept the sixth basic principle of the Constitution: “the national political leadership role” of the military. The fact that more than 75 percent of the parliamentary vote is needed to amend the Constitution should be amended. Regarding the rights of ethnic nationalities, the fact that the President will appoint the chairmen of the Hluttaws (Parliament) in the Regions and States should be amended. That is important for the ethnic nationalities.
Q: What are your thoughts on the debate inside the NLD over whether the party should take part in the election?
A: Our leaders have their roots in the democratic struggle. I led a Burmese media union and spent about 20 years in jail. Therefore, I have evaluated the situation in terms of the goals of our democratic struggle. I think and talk in this way.
A central issue is the results of the 1990 election [a landslide win for the NLD]. We can’t throw away the results like a piece of paper or a leaf. In the NLD, there are people who have safeguarded the party for the past 20 years. For me, I do things based on the spirit I had during the democratic struggle in 1988. Some party leaders base their thinking on rationality. There are differences in our ways of thinking and working.
Some in the party think the regime can change its attitude, but I don’t think so. We have different views in this respect. They think the regime can become flexible and take positive steps and make some compromises. But the regime is stubborn, and it tries to do all that it can to hold on to power.
The youth organizations, monks, democratic forces and ethnic nationalities outside the country are all talking about a boycott of the election. Inside the country, there are some political groups that talk about contesting the election, but they are not a strong force even though they have important leaders.
Democratic and ethnic forces inside and outside the country are decisively saying “No” to the election. On the other hand, some so-called third forces and a few cease-fire armed ethnic groups are willing to take part.
The NLD won the election in 1990, but to date the party hasn’t been allowed to carry out the election results. At this point, if we turn our back on the 1990 election results and talk about taking part in the new election, the NLD will be shamed. In the future, the political scenario will be clearer, after the NLD finally decides whether to contest the election or not.
***********************************************************
The Irrawaddy - Ban on Plastic Bags Extended to Rangoon
By LAWI WENG - Wednesday, October 28, 2009
In a further move to rid Burma of non-recyclable plastic bags, the government in Naypyidaw has ordered around 100 plastics factories to stop producing them, according to sources in Rangoon.
Two factory owners in Burma’s largest city told The Irrawaddy an instruction had come from Rangoon’s divisional commander, Brig-Gen Win Myint, ordering production of the bags to cease from the end of October.
A ban on the production of non-recyclable plastic bags was enforced in Mandalay in June, with apparent success. A similar ban also applies in the country’s new capital, Naypyidaw.
Sources said the authorities had threatened to cut power to factories which failed to comply with Win Myint’s order.
A leading Burmese environmentalist, U Ohn, general secretary of the Rangoon-based Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association, welcomed the ban and said it would benefit the country. The authorities should have drawn up plans for a substitute for the plastic bags, however, he said.
Some entrepreneurs remain skeptical about the ban, saying it will hit businesses and put some people out of work.
Fifteen years ago, the Burmese regime adopted an environmental policy designed to protect the country’s natural resources. Many environmentalists complain the policy has not been implemented efficiently.
“If they really want to achieve their plan, they need to set up a program on TV which is about the environment and they need to go out among the people and educate them about the environment,” said U Ohn.
A report published last year by the Asia Development Bank’s Environmental Operations Center said Burma is one of several countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion where “there is a general lack of awareness and understanding” of environmental issues.
By LAWI WENG - Wednesday, October 28, 2009
In a further move to rid Burma of non-recyclable plastic bags, the government in Naypyidaw has ordered around 100 plastics factories to stop producing them, according to sources in Rangoon.
Two factory owners in Burma’s largest city told The Irrawaddy an instruction had come from Rangoon’s divisional commander, Brig-Gen Win Myint, ordering production of the bags to cease from the end of October.
A ban on the production of non-recyclable plastic bags was enforced in Mandalay in June, with apparent success. A similar ban also applies in the country’s new capital, Naypyidaw.
Sources said the authorities had threatened to cut power to factories which failed to comply with Win Myint’s order.
A leading Burmese environmentalist, U Ohn, general secretary of the Rangoon-based Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association, welcomed the ban and said it would benefit the country. The authorities should have drawn up plans for a substitute for the plastic bags, however, he said.
Some entrepreneurs remain skeptical about the ban, saying it will hit businesses and put some people out of work.
Fifteen years ago, the Burmese regime adopted an environmental policy designed to protect the country’s natural resources. Many environmentalists complain the policy has not been implemented efficiently.
“If they really want to achieve their plan, they need to set up a program on TV which is about the environment and they need to go out among the people and educate them about the environment,” said U Ohn.
A report published last year by the Asia Development Bank’s Environmental Operations Center said Burma is one of several countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion where “there is a general lack of awareness and understanding” of environmental issues.
***********************************************************
Nargis volunteers, including reporter arrested
by Mizzima News
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 20:49
New Delhi (Mizzima) – A number of members of a Cyclone Nargis volunteer group, ‘Lin Let Kye’, including freelance journalist Pai Soe Oo were arrested from Dagon Seikkan, Rangoon Division yesterday evening.
Pai Soe Oo (23), an active member of Lin Let Kye, means Shining Star, was arrested by local township authorities from his Yuzana Housing Apartment in Dagon Seikkan Township at 9 p.m. for questioning.
“Three persons wearing USDA badges and three local officials came and said that he would be taken to the Home Ministry. When I was ready to go with him, they said they would come again tomorrow,” a friend of Pai Soe Oo living with him told Mizzima.
Following a search of his home, the officials seized a note book with the names of Lin Let Kye members.
Pai Soe Oo is a former reporter of ‘Favorite’ and ‘Pyi Myanmar’ weeklies. He is also a blogger.
The Lin Let Kye volunteer group was formed in early May 2008 and has over 40 members. Most of them are Rangoon based reporters and young social activists.
“They compiled a list of Cyclone Nargis victims, who are children and donated school text books and provided other school expenses, in consultation with the school principals,” a source close to Lin Let Kye said.
The gatekeeper of the Home Ministry office said that there was no detainee in the Bahan Township office when asked about his whereabouts this morning.
“We visited the Home Ministry office this morning when he did not come back. The police personnel at the gate kept us waiting for over three hours. And then the gatekeeper appeared and told us that there was no detainee in the office. He suggested we inquire about him at the office of the local authority and the local police station,” one of those, who visited the Home Ministry office, said.
Similarly at least five other members of ‘Lin Let Kye’ were arrested from their rented apartment in Yuzana Housing on October 26. They are Ka Gyi, Zaw Gyi, Lai Ron, Shwe Moe and Aung Myat Kyaw Thu. Their whereabouts are still unknown.
The Burmese translator-editor of the Foreign Affairs Weekly and also a Lin Let Kye member, Thant Zin Soe was arrested on October 26. The Foreign Affairs journal is published by the media group, which also publishes ‘The Voice’ and ‘Living Colour’.
Some Lin Let Kye members are on the run as the authorities are conducting combing operations against the group.
The authorities also arrested famous comedian and film director Thura a.k.a. Zarganar and sports journalist Zaw Thet Htwe, while they were into volunteer service for Cyclone Nargis victims. They were sentenced to long prison terms later.
by Mizzima News
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 20:49
New Delhi (Mizzima) – A number of members of a Cyclone Nargis volunteer group, ‘Lin Let Kye’, including freelance journalist Pai Soe Oo were arrested from Dagon Seikkan, Rangoon Division yesterday evening.
Pai Soe Oo (23), an active member of Lin Let Kye, means Shining Star, was arrested by local township authorities from his Yuzana Housing Apartment in Dagon Seikkan Township at 9 p.m. for questioning.
“Three persons wearing USDA badges and three local officials came and said that he would be taken to the Home Ministry. When I was ready to go with him, they said they would come again tomorrow,” a friend of Pai Soe Oo living with him told Mizzima.
Following a search of his home, the officials seized a note book with the names of Lin Let Kye members.
Pai Soe Oo is a former reporter of ‘Favorite’ and ‘Pyi Myanmar’ weeklies. He is also a blogger.
The Lin Let Kye volunteer group was formed in early May 2008 and has over 40 members. Most of them are Rangoon based reporters and young social activists.
“They compiled a list of Cyclone Nargis victims, who are children and donated school text books and provided other school expenses, in consultation with the school principals,” a source close to Lin Let Kye said.
The gatekeeper of the Home Ministry office said that there was no detainee in the Bahan Township office when asked about his whereabouts this morning.
“We visited the Home Ministry office this morning when he did not come back. The police personnel at the gate kept us waiting for over three hours. And then the gatekeeper appeared and told us that there was no detainee in the office. He suggested we inquire about him at the office of the local authority and the local police station,” one of those, who visited the Home Ministry office, said.
Similarly at least five other members of ‘Lin Let Kye’ were arrested from their rented apartment in Yuzana Housing on October 26. They are Ka Gyi, Zaw Gyi, Lai Ron, Shwe Moe and Aung Myat Kyaw Thu. Their whereabouts are still unknown.
The Burmese translator-editor of the Foreign Affairs Weekly and also a Lin Let Kye member, Thant Zin Soe was arrested on October 26. The Foreign Affairs journal is published by the media group, which also publishes ‘The Voice’ and ‘Living Colour’.
Some Lin Let Kye members are on the run as the authorities are conducting combing operations against the group.
The authorities also arrested famous comedian and film director Thura a.k.a. Zarganar and sports journalist Zaw Thet Htwe, while they were into volunteer service for Cyclone Nargis victims. They were sentenced to long prison terms later.
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15-year sentence for displaying a posterOct 28, 2009 (DVB)–A courtroom in Rangoon has handed down a 15-year sentence to a man arrested after putting up a poster calling for the release of political prisoners in Burma.
The family of Tin Htut Paing, from Rangoon’s North Okkalapa township, was barred from attending the trial, which began in April this year.
His father said that he had been convicted on four different charges, including illegal border crossing and the Unlawful Association Act.
“We knew he was going to be sentenced on the 26 October but we didn’t have permission to attend the hearing,” said Htay Win.
“It would have been nice if the court allowed us to attend the hearing of the verdict. The same thing happened when my wife was sentenced; we were denied entry to the court.”
Htay Win’s wife, 52-year-old Daw Nge, is a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Tamwe township. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison on charges related to the September 2007 monk-led protests.
He said that Tin Htut Paing had been kept in detention for more than a month before the trial began, and “was denied food for two days and faced harsh interrogations”.
The United States government has pinpointed the release of political prisoners in Burma as a key goal for engagement with the regime.
Observers are concerned however that the government will paradoxically step up its efforts to silence political opposition in the run-up to elections next year, despite pressure from the US.
“We will definitely see the number of arrests of activists growing before the elections,” said Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP). “The regime sees them a big threat”.
Burma currently holds 2,119 political prisoners, some with sentences of more than 100 years, according to AAPP. Around 190 of these are women, while 219 are monks, many of whom were sentenced follow the September 2007 protests.
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