BANGKOK - The United Nations' human rights envoy to Myanmar said on Monday that the country's nascent civilian government has done little to address widespread abuses, including forced labour and extrajudicial killings, since replacing the ruling junta in March.
Elections last year for a new parliament and the installation of civilian leaders this spring were supposed to be the final steps of what Myanmar's military leaders had hailed as their 'roadmap to democracy.' But UN envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana told reporters in Bangkok that 'democracy requires much more.'
Myanmar's government is currently refusing to allow Mr Quintana to visit the Southeast Asian nation. The envoy spoke after a weeklong trip to Thailand to talk with refugees from Myanmar. Thailand is home to more than 100,000 people who have fled the neighbouring country.
Mr Quintana said violence continues along Myanmar's eastern border region, and ethnic minority groups there are victims of 'land confiscation, forced labour, internal displacement, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence.'
These abuses 'are widespread, they continue today, and they remain essentially unaddressed by the authorities,' Mr Quintana said.
In Myanmar's eastern Kayah state, for example, both men and women have fled out of fear of being conscripted into the military, he said. There is such a deficit of schools there that some parents send their children to refugee camps in Thailand for basic education, he added. -- The Straits Times
21 May 2011
Locals Fear 'Four Cuts' in Kachin State
VILLAGERS in Bahmo and Momauk townships in Kachin State are frightened that more clashes will take place after Burmese government troops fired a number of mortar shells into Kachin Independence Army (KIA) territory and the KIA was put on alert, according to local residents.
Recently, small clashes between government troops and the KIA have taken place across Kachin State, escalating tension between the KIA and the Burmese army. In addition, Burmese troops have been questioning villagers living in the area.
“The government troops scold the villagers and interrogate the farmers who are working in the fields. They also question the villagers who work in town,” said a resident of Bahmo Township.
Naw Din, the editor of the Kachin News Group (KNG), told The Irrawaddy that part of the government strategy to defeat the KIA is to drive villagers away from the KIA territory to the border.
“I see these are the signals of the Burmese army, to divide the KIA and the villagers using the “four cuts” strategy. Moving villages is in fact the strategy,” said Naw Din.
The “four cuts” strategy means cutting off access to food, funds, information and recruitment, often with devastating consequences.
In its fight with the Shan State Army, the Burmese army also used the “four-cuts” strategy, along with a military build-up, to drive many villagers in southern Shan State from their homes and land.
As a result, many villagers from Shan State Army territory in Shan State left for the border to find safer and better places to live.
The KIA attempted to negotiate with the new government, but the effort failed, said a KIA official on condition of anonymity.
“We have to fight back if they attack us. We are also ready,” he said.
“They said they should negotiate, if not the local residents will suffer with the escalating of tension. I don't know why the circumstances changed,” said Guan Sai, a member of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP).
In 1994, the Burmese army agreed to a ceasefire with the KIA. However, tension between Naypyidaw and the KIA escalated after after the KIA refused the Burmese army order to transform into a Border Guard Force.
A Burmese army battalion commander was reportedly killed during an armed clash between government troops and the KIA on February. In addition, late last year Burma's state-run media referred to the KIA as “rebels” for the first time since the ceasefire was signed. -- The Irrawaddy
Recently, small clashes between government troops and the KIA have taken place across Kachin State, escalating tension between the KIA and the Burmese army. In addition, Burmese troops have been questioning villagers living in the area.
“The government troops scold the villagers and interrogate the farmers who are working in the fields. They also question the villagers who work in town,” said a resident of Bahmo Township.
Naw Din, the editor of the Kachin News Group (KNG), told The Irrawaddy that part of the government strategy to defeat the KIA is to drive villagers away from the KIA territory to the border.
“I see these are the signals of the Burmese army, to divide the KIA and the villagers using the “four cuts” strategy. Moving villages is in fact the strategy,” said Naw Din.
The “four cuts” strategy means cutting off access to food, funds, information and recruitment, often with devastating consequences.
In its fight with the Shan State Army, the Burmese army also used the “four-cuts” strategy, along with a military build-up, to drive many villagers in southern Shan State from their homes and land.
As a result, many villagers from Shan State Army territory in Shan State left for the border to find safer and better places to live.
The KIA attempted to negotiate with the new government, but the effort failed, said a KIA official on condition of anonymity.
“We have to fight back if they attack us. We are also ready,” he said.
“They said they should negotiate, if not the local residents will suffer with the escalating of tension. I don't know why the circumstances changed,” said Guan Sai, a member of the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP).
In 1994, the Burmese army agreed to a ceasefire with the KIA. However, tension between Naypyidaw and the KIA escalated after after the KIA refused the Burmese army order to transform into a Border Guard Force.
A Burmese army battalion commander was reportedly killed during an armed clash between government troops and the KIA on February. In addition, late last year Burma's state-run media referred to the KIA as “rebels” for the first time since the ceasefire was signed. -- The Irrawaddy
19 May 2011
Bomb kills two near Myanmar capital: Official
YANGON - A bomb blast on a train near Myanmar's capital left at least two people dead on Wednesday during a visit by a US envoy for talks with the new government, a Myanmar official said.
'It was a time bomb. We assume KNU insurgents plotted it,' said the government official, referring to the Karen National Union whose armed wing has been fighting the government in a decades-old ethnic insurgency.
'Two people including a woman were killed and seven others were injured in the bomb blast,' which occurred in the early evening in Tatkone township in the Naypyidaw area, said the official, who did not want to be named.
The explosion came shortly after Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs, arrived in Myanmar for talks with officials including Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyidaw. Mr Yun is also expected to meet with democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi during his four-day visit to the military-dominated country.
US President Barack Obama's administration in 2009 launched a drive to engage with Myanmar's junta, which in March this year made way for a nominally civilian government after the first election in 20 years.
Washington has voiced disappointment with the results of the dialogue and refused to ease sanctions after the November poll, which was marred by complaints of intimidation and fraud. -- The Straits Times
'It was a time bomb. We assume KNU insurgents plotted it,' said the government official, referring to the Karen National Union whose armed wing has been fighting the government in a decades-old ethnic insurgency.
'Two people including a woman were killed and seven others were injured in the bomb blast,' which occurred in the early evening in Tatkone township in the Naypyidaw area, said the official, who did not want to be named.
The explosion came shortly after Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs, arrived in Myanmar for talks with officials including Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyidaw. Mr Yun is also expected to meet with democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi during his four-day visit to the military-dominated country.
US President Barack Obama's administration in 2009 launched a drive to engage with Myanmar's junta, which in March this year made way for a nominally civilian government after the first election in 20 years.
Washington has voiced disappointment with the results of the dialogue and refused to ease sanctions after the November poll, which was marred by complaints of intimidation and fraud. -- The Straits Times
18 May 2011
Top US official to visit Myanmar
WASHINGTON - A top diplomat from Washington will visit Myanmar for the highest-level US talks there since the junta's dissolution and the appointment of a nominally civilian government, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Mr Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau, is scheduled to leave on Wednesday for Myanmar, also known as Burma, and stay until May 21, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
'Yun will hold introductory meetings with senior government officials in Burma,' Mr Toner told reporters, confirming the talks will be the highest since the new government was installed in March.
'He'll also consult a variety of stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, non-governmental organisations, ethnic minorities, as well as the business community,' Mr Toner added.
A State Department official said later on condition of anonymity that Mr Yun will also try to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 65, who was released in November after spending most of the past 20 years under house arrest.
Her release came a few days after elections marred by accusations of cheating and intimidation. In March the military junta made way for a nominally civilian government after almost half a century in power and Mr Than Shwe, the general who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 19 years, retired as head of the military. Last month a friend of Ms Suu Kyi, Mr U Myint, was appointed as an adviser to Myanmar's president. -- The Straits Times
Mr Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau, is scheduled to leave on Wednesday for Myanmar, also known as Burma, and stay until May 21, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
'Yun will hold introductory meetings with senior government officials in Burma,' Mr Toner told reporters, confirming the talks will be the highest since the new government was installed in March.
'He'll also consult a variety of stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, non-governmental organisations, ethnic minorities, as well as the business community,' Mr Toner added.
A State Department official said later on condition of anonymity that Mr Yun will also try to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 65, who was released in November after spending most of the past 20 years under house arrest.
Her release came a few days after elections marred by accusations of cheating and intimidation. In March the military junta made way for a nominally civilian government after almost half a century in power and Mr Than Shwe, the general who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 19 years, retired as head of the military. Last month a friend of Ms Suu Kyi, Mr U Myint, was appointed as an adviser to Myanmar's president. -- The Straits Times
15 May 2011
Google Talk hta jai lang mai ai lam ni
GOOGLE Talk hpe jai lang ai shaloi, tinang ra ai laika hkrang ni hpe tatut jai lang lu na matu, lawu de na lam ni hpe tang madun dat nngai.
1. Line Break hpe bang mayu ai rai yang: SHIFT hpe dip da nna ENTER galaw
2. Laika hkum htat htat (Bold) galaw mayu ai rai yang: asterisk (*) kumla hpe laika a npawt hte ndung hta bang shalawm dat (ga shadawn *bold*)
3. Laika hkum yawn yawn (Italic) galaw mayu ai rai yang: asterisk (_) kumla hpe laika a npawt hte ndung hta bang shalawm dat (ga shadawn _Italic_)
4. Ga shaga/laika ka nga ai aten hta Font size galai mayu ai rai yang: CTRL + Mousewheel hpe UP/DOWN galaw
5. CTRL + E: Center text
6. CTRL + R: Right justify text
7. CTRL + L: Left justify text
8. F11: Start a call
9. F12: Stop the call
10. ESC: Close the current window
1. Line Break hpe bang mayu ai rai yang: SHIFT hpe dip da nna ENTER galaw
2. Laika hkum htat htat (Bold) galaw mayu ai rai yang: asterisk (*) kumla hpe laika a npawt hte ndung hta bang shalawm dat (ga shadawn *bold*)
3. Laika hkum yawn yawn (Italic) galaw mayu ai rai yang: asterisk (_) kumla hpe laika a npawt hte ndung hta bang shalawm dat (ga shadawn _Italic_)
4. Ga shaga/laika ka nga ai aten hta Font size galai mayu ai rai yang: CTRL + Mousewheel hpe UP/DOWN galaw
5. CTRL + E: Center text
6. CTRL + R: Right justify text
7. CTRL + L: Left justify text
8. F11: Start a call
9. F12: Stop the call
10. ESC: Close the current window
12 May 2011
No 'meaningful change' in Myanmar: Suu Kyi
BERLIN - No 'meaningful change' has taken place since Myanmar's first elections in 20 years in November, recently released opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in comments due to be broadcast this week.
'So far I haven't seen any meaningful change,' Ms Suu Kyi said in a phone-in with German broadcaster DW-TV and students at the Hertie School of Management in Berlin recorded on Tuesday.
'I know there have been elections but the government that has taken over since the elections are the same as those who were in place before the elections ... We are still waiting to see whether there has been real change.'
Ms Suu Kyi, 65, was released in November after spending most of the past 20 years under house arrest in Myanmar, also known as Burma. Her release came a few days after elections marred by accusations of cheating and intimidation.
In March the military junta made way for a nominally civilian government after almost half a century in power and Than Shwe, the general who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 19 years, retired as head of the military.
Last month a friend of Ms Suu Kyi, Mr U Myint, was appointed as an adviser to Myanmar's president. But the army hierarchy retains a firm grip on power. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party was disbanded for opting to boycott the election because the rules seemed designed to bar her from participating. -- The Straits Times
'So far I haven't seen any meaningful change,' Ms Suu Kyi said in a phone-in with German broadcaster DW-TV and students at the Hertie School of Management in Berlin recorded on Tuesday.
'I know there have been elections but the government that has taken over since the elections are the same as those who were in place before the elections ... We are still waiting to see whether there has been real change.'
Ms Suu Kyi, 65, was released in November after spending most of the past 20 years under house arrest in Myanmar, also known as Burma. Her release came a few days after elections marred by accusations of cheating and intimidation.
In March the military junta made way for a nominally civilian government after almost half a century in power and Than Shwe, the general who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 19 years, retired as head of the military.
Last month a friend of Ms Suu Kyi, Mr U Myint, was appointed as an adviser to Myanmar's president. But the army hierarchy retains a firm grip on power. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party was disbanded for opting to boycott the election because the rules seemed designed to bar her from participating. -- The Straits Times
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
