The United States has said it will not impose its own measures to solve Burma’s problems but that the military government should “promote the exchange of information” and empower its own people.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Phillip Crowley, said that Burma’s problems, with reference to the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, “are fundamental issues of importance”.
“They're really about how nations will govern themselves in the 21st century. It's not for the United States to impose these solutions on countries such as Burma,” he said.
The US has long been the fiercest critic of the Burmese government, and holds the toughest sanctions against the military regime, who are notoriously fearful of foreign interference and see sanctions as an attempt by the West to sap power from its generals.
The trial of Suu Kyi seems to have dashed any signs of a change in tack by the new Obama administration, who had recently suggested the sanctions policy might be softened in favour of greater engagement in light of the lack of its tangible success.
The new US President has promised to “reach out a hand” to countries that were shunned by the previous Bush administration.
“We are going to engage the world, and we're willing to engage…any nation of the world in pursuit of our national interest,” said Crowley, adding that the Burmese junta should “empower [its] people”.
“You can't be fearful of your people. You should find ways to promote the exchange of information, not find ways to hide it or to restrict it,” he said.
Burmese political analyst Aung Thu Nyein said however that the US could go further with engagement.
“They [the US] are just using sanctions and pressure as a tool to make change in Burma [but] I think they should buy some room for engagement - they have to talk more with the generals.
“At this moment the military regime seems really insecure and they don’t want to move and change.
“They propose the 2010 elections as a controlled change. They want to make some changes but they want to control the process,” he said.
Elections have been tentatively scheduled for March next year. Many observers see the trial of Suu Kyi as a pretext to keep her in detention beyond the elections.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
My Little Message
By Bilkis Abdullah
29 May, 2009
You have a wonderful life,
And so does your wife,
But have you ever looked back,
To see what the people in your country lack?
You treat us like we don’t exist,
You beat us up whenever we resist,
It has been too long that we have kept strong,
But what you’re doing is extremely wrong,
You do everything to make us fear,
And what you leave behind is the unstoppable tear,
You have locked our true leader up in the cell,
Do you know that you’re ending up in hell?
You can’t do anything except for keeping her in for longer,
But do you realise that the supporters are becoming stronger and stronger?
You’re not even voted to be what you are,
And what you’re doing is going too far,
Don’t get too happy that you can rule,
Because we’re not the ones that you can fool,
We will keep on going and get back our right,
And I’m sure we will definitely win this fight!
By Bilkis Abdullah
29 May, 2009
You have a wonderful life,
And so does your wife,
But have you ever looked back,
To see what the people in your country lack?
You treat us like we don’t exist,
You beat us up whenever we resist,
It has been too long that we have kept strong,
But what you’re doing is extremely wrong,
You do everything to make us fear,
And what you leave behind is the unstoppable tear,
You have locked our true leader up in the cell,
Do you know that you’re ending up in hell?
You can’t do anything except for keeping her in for longer,
But do you realise that the supporters are becoming stronger and stronger?
You’re not even voted to be what you are,
And what you’re doing is going too far,
Don’t get too happy that you can rule,
Because we’re not the ones that you can fool,
We will keep on going and get back our right,
And I’m sure we will definitely win this fight!
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
UN says Burma detention 'illegal'
The UN has said the detention of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi violates both international legislation and the laws of Burma.
The UN working group on arbitrary detentions called for Ms Suu Kyi's immediate release
Friday, 13 March 2009
Friday, 27 February 2009
No reduction in forced labour, says ILO
There has been no reduction in the use of forced labour in Burma despite work done by the International Labour Organisation to eradicate it, says ILO’s liasion officer in Rangoon, Steve Marshall.
The ILO’s Executive Director, Kari Tapiola, is currently in Burma to extend for another year the ILO’s cooperation agreement with the Burmese regime.
The agreement stipulates that the government must not harass or arrest people who report forced labour to the ILO or collect information on such practices.
“In terms of the forced labour issue, we continue to receive complaints,” said Marshall. “It is running at about the same level. It has not increased dramatically but it has not decreased either.”
Tapiola had said in March 2008 that forced labour was continuing in the country, and in some areas was getting worse.
“I do not think the government can deny the existence of forced labour, and we know many forced labour cases are taking place,” he said.
“Forced labour by civilian authorities might decline but the use of forced labor by the military is getting worse.”
On the cooperation agreement, however, Marshall said it is a mechanism that, in principal, works.
“The important thing is that citizens of Myanmar understand that they have got the right to complain and that if they do complain their complaint will be listened to and will be actioned,” he said.
He added, however, that there are still grey areas which the government is exploiting.
“There is, however, the situation where a person who was the facilitator for that complaint has been charged under the law on a different offence not related to the lodgment of the complaint,” he said.
“We are very concerned that there may in fact be an indirect link to his working on that complaint.”
The ILO’s Executive Director, Kari Tapiola, is currently in Burma to extend for another year the ILO’s cooperation agreement with the Burmese regime.
The agreement stipulates that the government must not harass or arrest people who report forced labour to the ILO or collect information on such practices.
“In terms of the forced labour issue, we continue to receive complaints,” said Marshall. “It is running at about the same level. It has not increased dramatically but it has not decreased either.”
Tapiola had said in March 2008 that forced labour was continuing in the country, and in some areas was getting worse.
“I do not think the government can deny the existence of forced labour, and we know many forced labour cases are taking place,” he said.
“Forced labour by civilian authorities might decline but the use of forced labor by the military is getting worse.”
On the cooperation agreement, however, Marshall said it is a mechanism that, in principal, works.
“The important thing is that citizens of Myanmar understand that they have got the right to complain and that if they do complain their complaint will be listened to and will be actioned,” he said.
He added, however, that there are still grey areas which the government is exploiting.
“There is, however, the situation where a person who was the facilitator for that complaint has been charged under the law on a different offence not related to the lodgment of the complaint,” he said.
“We are very concerned that there may in fact be an indirect link to his working on that complaint.”
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Nargis accused to receive legal help
Six members of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions who were arrested last year after helping victims of cyclone Nargis have been granted permission to have legal representation in their ongoing trial.
The trial is being held in Insein prison special court, where Dr. Newin and his daughter Phyo Phyo Aung, Aung Kyaw San, Phone Pyi Kywe, Shane Yazar Htun and Aung Thant Zin Oo (aka James) are defending government allegations of sedition and the unlawful association acts.
They were arrested for collecting and burying rotting corpses in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Central court lawyer Khin Maung Myint, who has been representing the six since they were arrested, said he was allowed to enter the courtroom during a hearing session on yesterday.
“I was allowed to meet them at the trial [on Tuesday] and I had a talk with them – all of them seemed to be in good health,” he said.
“The next hearing is on 3 March and then I will have to present some necessary documents at the court to get permission to talk on behalf of them at the trial.”
The trial is being held in Insein prison special court, where Dr. Newin and his daughter Phyo Phyo Aung, Aung Kyaw San, Phone Pyi Kywe, Shane Yazar Htun and Aung Thant Zin Oo (aka James) are defending government allegations of sedition and the unlawful association acts.
They were arrested for collecting and burying rotting corpses in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Central court lawyer Khin Maung Myint, who has been representing the six since they were arrested, said he was allowed to enter the courtroom during a hearing session on yesterday.
“I was allowed to meet them at the trial [on Tuesday] and I had a talk with them – all of them seemed to be in good health,” he said.
“The next hearing is on 3 March and then I will have to present some necessary documents at the court to get permission to talk on behalf of them at the trial.”
Monday, 23 February 2009
Free Burmese Political Prisoner U Kyaw Min
A prominent Muslim MP in Burma, Mr U Kyaw Min (a) Mr.Mohamed Shamsul Anwarul Haque (55), was arrested by the illegal Burmese Military regime in Rangoon on the17th March 2005.
U Kyaw Min is the elected MP of the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPH) for Buthidaung and a member of the Committee for Representative Peoples Parliament (CRPP).
Special agents took him from his home in Rangoon around midnight on the 17th March to an undisclosed location. His wife and two grown up daughters were also arrested for their stay in Rangoon. His lawyer, relatives and friends of U Kyaw Min have all been denied permission to visit him. It is still not known why Kyaw Min was arrested and what he is being interrogated on. As he is not allowed to see his family and receive basic things including medicines, his family members are seriously concerned for the health condition of Kyaw Min.
There are an estimated 1300 political prisoners of conscience in Burma and the UN has frequently called for their release.
U Kyaw Min is the elected MP of the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPH) for Buthidaung and a member of the Committee for Representative Peoples Parliament (CRPP).
Special agents took him from his home in Rangoon around midnight on the 17th March to an undisclosed location. His wife and two grown up daughters were also arrested for their stay in Rangoon. His lawyer, relatives and friends of U Kyaw Min have all been denied permission to visit him. It is still not known why Kyaw Min was arrested and what he is being interrogated on. As he is not allowed to see his family and receive basic things including medicines, his family members are seriously concerned for the health condition of Kyaw Min.
There are an estimated 1300 political prisoners of conscience in Burma and the UN has frequently called for their release.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
ARAKAN, BURMA
Press Release
13th February 2009
NCGUB pushing the Rohingya from the frying-pan into the fire
It is unfortunate that SPDC's onslaughts against the Rohingya people have always been reinforced by Rakhine communal leaders and academicians. Some of such fanatics had stated in their recent radio and media interviews, "Rohingyas are not among the ethnic groups in Burma…How they could claim that they came from Burma when in fact they come from Bangladesh…" Among them are Dr. Aye Kyaw, Dr. Aye Chan, U Aye Tha Aung, Secretary General of the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP), who is also Secretary General of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and U Khaing Lunn, Acting President of the ALD, who are popularly known as xenophobes for their extreme hatred towards Rohingya and for harping on the SPDC's tune of Rohingya extermination.
Dr. Aye Kyaw stated Arakan and Buddhism are synonymous. He enjoys branding the Rohingya as 'floating people'. Dr. Aye Chan even wrote a booklet titled "Influx viruses in Arakan" identifying the Muslims in Arakan as viruses, that is dangerous animals ought to be eradicated. To call a human being a virus is a degrading treatment, which is violation of the terms of Articles 1,3,5,6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a criminal offence.
According to the South China Morning Post dated 11 February 2009, SPDC's Consul General Ye Myint Aung in Hong Kong described the Rohingya boatpeople as "ugly as ogres" and contrasted the "dark brown" Rohingya complexion with the "fair and soft' skin of people from Burma. These hate words unveil the racism and racial segregation policy of the SPDC. We know and everybody knows, the skins of the people of Burma – not the skins of Rohingya alone - have been daily faded under the iron heel of U Aye Myint Aung and his tyrannical military regime...
We are not surprised at the jungle behaviors of SPDC, its agents and vested interest groups. We are really disturbed by the statement of U Bo Hla Tint, the Foreign Affairs In-Charge of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and those Rakhines actively involved in Burma pro-democracy movement. What is more shocking is their 'policy of exclusion' that sounds in line with the illegitimate autocratic military regime's statement, "In actual fact, although there are [135] national races living in Myanmar today, the so-called Rohingya people is not one of them. Historically there has never been a Rohingya race in Burma" This statement […there has never been a Rohingya race in Burma] is like covering the front while keeping the back open, according to All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF). This 135 national races is of dictator Ne Win's quirky definition aims at setting one people against another and is repudiated by many ethnic nationalities, and so it does not worth referencing.
It is shameful to pretend not to know the history of a people, who identify themselves to be an integral part of the Burma society. In spite of clear affirmation of Rohingya as an indigenous group by the former parliamentary government (1948-1962), U Bo Hla Tint described Rohingya issue a matter of political complication in all three periods of U Nu, U Ne Win and SPDC and it has to be decided by the would-be parliament. This view contradicts the NCGUB's earlier statement, expressed in its "Position paper on Persecution of Muslims in Arakan State" dated September 24, 1992, submitted to the United Nations, affirming "Muslim Rohingyas have lived in Arakan for centuries; Muslims Rohingyas are Burmese citizens; Muslim Rohingyas have the same rights and privileges as other citizens of Burma regardless of their ethnic beliefs or ethnic background."
In fact, the issue is not complicated but it is their policy of exclusion -- based on religious and racial discrimination -- that makes the thing riddle. It appears that U Bo Hla Tint looks at the Rohingya issue not from a true perspective but through the prism of preconceived notion of "Arakan belongs to Rakhine only".
Despite the fact that about 1.5 million Rohingyas are in Diaspora over the decades, the Burmese politicians in pro-democracy movement express very little concern about it. They are even ungenerous to issue a statement of sympathy on the recent Rohingya boatpeople tragedy involving hundreds of human lives, whereas the whole international community, including UN, OIC, US, UK, EU, Indonesia and many other countries and world organizations, expresses their serious concerns from humanitarian and political perspectives. They never ever try to make their way to the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. They are reluctant to acknowledge knowing agonies and untold sufferings of these unfortunate people.
We would remind that according to history "until 10th century the people of Arakan were Indians similar to that of East Bengal". The Rohingya are the only people who look like people of East Bengal or Bengalis. The then Chairman of the Burma Historical Commission Col. Bashin stated from 1430 to 1531, for more than one hundred years, Arakan was virtually ruled by the Muslims. It is a gross lie to say that the Rohingya have no 'historic right', the right of the first occupier of Arakan.
The legal government of Burma had recognized the Rohingya as an in indigenous people, "Rohingya are at the same par in status of nationality with Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan". SPDC is an illegal regime. It has no mandate of the people. The statement of an illegal regime is illegal itself. It has neither legal authority to alter the decision of previous democratic government nor right to decide the fate of Rohingyas. Similarly, we would remind NCGUB, by virtue of our historic and natural citizenship rights in Arakan, the Rohingya do not require to be recognized by any authority or parliament, on the principles of democracy and universal concept of human rights. These rights are inherent in them and have to be respected at all times. From all standpoints, Arakan is our motherland; we have historical, natural and spiritual attachments to it. It is an encroachment of their natural and inherent rights to keep out Rohingya from country's all political and democratic processes, which must be genuinely all-inclusive.
The Rohingyas are potential or actual victims of mass atrocities in Burma. No side -- the regime or pro-democracy opposition group(s) -- is willing to protect them. So, the responsibility shifts to the international community to use diplomatic, humanitarian and enforcement action. Hence we appeal to United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), EU, Amnesty International, all human rights and humanitarian organizations, NGOs and international community.
For more information, please contact:
Nurul Islam, Phone +44 7947 854 652
AFK Jilani, Phone: +880 1720 657 5
Email: infor@rohingya.org
www.rohingya.org
ARAKAN, BURMA
Press Release
13th February 2009
NCGUB pushing the Rohingya from the frying-pan into the fire
It is unfortunate that SPDC's onslaughts against the Rohingya people have always been reinforced by Rakhine communal leaders and academicians. Some of such fanatics had stated in their recent radio and media interviews, "Rohingyas are not among the ethnic groups in Burma…How they could claim that they came from Burma when in fact they come from Bangladesh…" Among them are Dr. Aye Kyaw, Dr. Aye Chan, U Aye Tha Aung, Secretary General of the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP), who is also Secretary General of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and U Khaing Lunn, Acting President of the ALD, who are popularly known as xenophobes for their extreme hatred towards Rohingya and for harping on the SPDC's tune of Rohingya extermination.
Dr. Aye Kyaw stated Arakan and Buddhism are synonymous. He enjoys branding the Rohingya as 'floating people'. Dr. Aye Chan even wrote a booklet titled "Influx viruses in Arakan" identifying the Muslims in Arakan as viruses, that is dangerous animals ought to be eradicated. To call a human being a virus is a degrading treatment, which is violation of the terms of Articles 1,3,5,6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a criminal offence.
According to the South China Morning Post dated 11 February 2009, SPDC's Consul General Ye Myint Aung in Hong Kong described the Rohingya boatpeople as "ugly as ogres" and contrasted the "dark brown" Rohingya complexion with the "fair and soft' skin of people from Burma. These hate words unveil the racism and racial segregation policy of the SPDC. We know and everybody knows, the skins of the people of Burma – not the skins of Rohingya alone - have been daily faded under the iron heel of U Aye Myint Aung and his tyrannical military regime...
We are not surprised at the jungle behaviors of SPDC, its agents and vested interest groups. We are really disturbed by the statement of U Bo Hla Tint, the Foreign Affairs In-Charge of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and those Rakhines actively involved in Burma pro-democracy movement. What is more shocking is their 'policy of exclusion' that sounds in line with the illegitimate autocratic military regime's statement, "In actual fact, although there are [135] national races living in Myanmar today, the so-called Rohingya people is not one of them. Historically there has never been a Rohingya race in Burma" This statement […there has never been a Rohingya race in Burma] is like covering the front while keeping the back open, according to All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF). This 135 national races is of dictator Ne Win's quirky definition aims at setting one people against another and is repudiated by many ethnic nationalities, and so it does not worth referencing.
It is shameful to pretend not to know the history of a people, who identify themselves to be an integral part of the Burma society. In spite of clear affirmation of Rohingya as an indigenous group by the former parliamentary government (1948-1962), U Bo Hla Tint described Rohingya issue a matter of political complication in all three periods of U Nu, U Ne Win and SPDC and it has to be decided by the would-be parliament. This view contradicts the NCGUB's earlier statement, expressed in its "Position paper on Persecution of Muslims in Arakan State" dated September 24, 1992, submitted to the United Nations, affirming "Muslim Rohingyas have lived in Arakan for centuries; Muslims Rohingyas are Burmese citizens; Muslim Rohingyas have the same rights and privileges as other citizens of Burma regardless of their ethnic beliefs or ethnic background."
In fact, the issue is not complicated but it is their policy of exclusion -- based on religious and racial discrimination -- that makes the thing riddle. It appears that U Bo Hla Tint looks at the Rohingya issue not from a true perspective but through the prism of preconceived notion of "Arakan belongs to Rakhine only".
Despite the fact that about 1.5 million Rohingyas are in Diaspora over the decades, the Burmese politicians in pro-democracy movement express very little concern about it. They are even ungenerous to issue a statement of sympathy on the recent Rohingya boatpeople tragedy involving hundreds of human lives, whereas the whole international community, including UN, OIC, US, UK, EU, Indonesia and many other countries and world organizations, expresses their serious concerns from humanitarian and political perspectives. They never ever try to make their way to the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. They are reluctant to acknowledge knowing agonies and untold sufferings of these unfortunate people.
We would remind that according to history "until 10th century the people of Arakan were Indians similar to that of East Bengal". The Rohingya are the only people who look like people of East Bengal or Bengalis. The then Chairman of the Burma Historical Commission Col. Bashin stated from 1430 to 1531, for more than one hundred years, Arakan was virtually ruled by the Muslims. It is a gross lie to say that the Rohingya have no 'historic right', the right of the first occupier of Arakan.
The legal government of Burma had recognized the Rohingya as an in indigenous people, "Rohingya are at the same par in status of nationality with Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan". SPDC is an illegal regime. It has no mandate of the people. The statement of an illegal regime is illegal itself. It has neither legal authority to alter the decision of previous democratic government nor right to decide the fate of Rohingyas. Similarly, we would remind NCGUB, by virtue of our historic and natural citizenship rights in Arakan, the Rohingya do not require to be recognized by any authority or parliament, on the principles of democracy and universal concept of human rights. These rights are inherent in them and have to be respected at all times. From all standpoints, Arakan is our motherland; we have historical, natural and spiritual attachments to it. It is an encroachment of their natural and inherent rights to keep out Rohingya from country's all political and democratic processes, which must be genuinely all-inclusive.
The Rohingyas are potential or actual victims of mass atrocities in Burma. No side -- the regime or pro-democracy opposition group(s) -- is willing to protect them. So, the responsibility shifts to the international community to use diplomatic, humanitarian and enforcement action. Hence we appeal to United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), EU, Amnesty International, all human rights and humanitarian organizations, NGOs and international community.
For more information, please contact:
Nurul Islam, Phone +44 7947 854 652
AFK Jilani, Phone: +880 1720 657 5
Email: infor@rohingya.org
www.rohingya.org
Friday, 6 February 2009
Generation Wave launches new campaign
CNG
http://english.dvb.no/e_news/2181cng.gifUnderground youth activist group Generation Wave began a new campaign in Rangoon yesterday, spraying graffiti and distributing posters and leaflets calling for a new government.
The group called their campaign Change New Government, which shares the initials CNG with the compressed natural gas stickers the authorities have put on cars.
Generation Wave spokesperson Moe Thway said group members had distributed leaflets in crowded places and put up posters on walls in South Okkalapa, Yankin and Kaba Aye.
"We did it early in the morning, at Dagon-1 high school, on the bridge near the Yuzana Garden Hotel and on the walls of diplomatic residences, and we sprayed paint near the zoo and the armoured carriers battalion base," he said.
Moe Thway said the project was intended in part to make fun of the government.
"The military government put CNG stickers on cars; they forced people to change from petrol to CNG,” he said.
“This is a way of raising awareness by using their own brand, and changing the meaning to make people think that they need a new government whenever they see the CNG sign."
Moe Thway said that the new generation in Burma wanted to bring about change and a better future.
Generation Wave was formed on 9 October 2007 and is made up of the younger generation of students and artists.
Twenty members of the group are currently in prison, including hip-hop artist Zayar Thaw of the band Acid.
http://english.dvb.no/e_news/2181cng.gifUnderground youth activist group Generation Wave began a new campaign in Rangoon yesterday, spraying graffiti and distributing posters and leaflets calling for a new government.
The group called their campaign Change New Government, which shares the initials CNG with the compressed natural gas stickers the authorities have put on cars.
Generation Wave spokesperson Moe Thway said group members had distributed leaflets in crowded places and put up posters on walls in South Okkalapa, Yankin and Kaba Aye.
"We did it early in the morning, at Dagon-1 high school, on the bridge near the Yuzana Garden Hotel and on the walls of diplomatic residences, and we sprayed paint near the zoo and the armoured carriers battalion base," he said.
Moe Thway said the project was intended in part to make fun of the government.
"The military government put CNG stickers on cars; they forced people to change from petrol to CNG,” he said.
“This is a way of raising awareness by using their own brand, and changing the meaning to make people think that they need a new government whenever they see the CNG sign."
Moe Thway said that the new generation in Burma wanted to bring about change and a better future.
Generation Wave was formed on 9 October 2007 and is made up of the younger generation of students and artists.
Twenty members of the group are currently in prison, including hip-hop artist Zayar Thaw of the band Acid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)