Saturday, 12 November, 2011
-------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi Likely to Contest Myanmar By-Election
PTI | Yangon | Nov 12, 2011
Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest a by-election in the coming months, a spokesman for her party said today, following a change to party registration laws.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting a rare election, will consider on Friday whether to re-register as a political party, paving the way for Suu Kyi to return to the official political arena.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman told AFP. Daw is a term of respect in Myanmar.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
The NLD won a 1990 election but was never allowed to take office, and it shunned last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
She was released a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned as a farce by the West and marred by claims of cheating, but the new army-backed government has surprised critics with a series of reformist moves.
These include a recent amendment to a law on political parties, endorsed by President Thein Sein, which removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
A decision to re-register the NLD is widely expected after 100 senior party members gather in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
While Myanmar is now ruled by a nominally civilian government, its ranks are filled with former generals.
Suu Kyi -- who strongly criticised the constitution, part of what the regime called its "road map to democracy" -- is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release. http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=741190
--------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi 'likely' to stand in Myanmar vote
Last Modified: 12 Nov 2011 10:18
NLD party debates whether to register for polls and open path for pro-democracy leader to return to political arena.
Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest a by-election in the coming months, a spokesman for her party has said, following a change to party-registration laws.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting a rare election, will begin debating on Saturday whether to re-register as a political party, paving the way for Suu Kyi to return to the political arena.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman, told the AFP news agency.
"Daw" is a term of respect in Myanmar.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
The NLD won a 1990 election but was never allowed to take office, and it withdrew from last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
Critics surprised
Suu Kyi was released a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned by the West and marred by claims of cheating.
Even so, the new army-backed government has surprised critics with a series of reformist moves.
These include a recent amendment to a law on political parties, endorsed by Thein Sein, Myanmar's president, which removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
A decision to re-register the NLD is widely expected after 100 senior party members gathered in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Aung San Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
While Myanmar is now ruled by a nominally civilian government, its ranks are filled with former generals.
Aung San Suu Kyi has strongly criticised the constitution, part of what the government called its "road map to democracy". She is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release.
'Real changes'
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said on Friday that Myanmar is making real progress towards reforms but much more needs to be done, including the release of political prisoners.
A recent visit by senior US diplomats found "real changes taking place on the ground", Clinton said on the sidelines of an annual Pacific Rim summit.
"It appears there are real changes taking place on the ground and we support these early efforts at reform,'' she said. "We want to see the people of Burma able to participate fully in the political life of their own country.''
Clinton said the US would continue to call for release of all political prisoners, an end to conflict in minority areas and greater transparency regarding Myanmar's relations with North Korea.
At stake are political and economic sanctions the US and other Western countries imposed against the generals who had ruled Myanmar until handing over power to the current elected military-backed government in March this year. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2011/11/2011111283232187943.html
--------------------------------------------------
THE GUARDIAN
'Dramatic developments' in Burma, but still many challenges ahead
A year after elections, hopes are growing that Burma can break from an authoritarian past involving human rights abuses that made it the target of western economic sanctions
One year after Burma held its first election in 20 years, domestic and international opinion is still cautious about the prospects for meaningful change in this country of more than 55 million people.
Much of the reaction to reforms introduced since President Thein Sein's inauguration in March this year reflects hope that the country can break from a heavy-handed authoritarian past involving human rights abuses that have made it the target of economic sanctions.
Recent events and reactions include:
. the opposition leader and head of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi, said after a groundbreaking meeting with Thein Sein in the capital, Naypyitaw, in August that she believed he wanted to achieve "real positive change". She has been released from house arrest imposed by the previous government
. the US assistant secretary of state for east Asian and Pacific affairs, Kurt Campbell, described the dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the government as "very consequential", adding it was "also undeniably the case that there are dramatic developments under way"
. the UN special envoy on human rights in Burma, Toma's Ojea Quintana, said the country was at a key moment in its history. "There are real opportunities for positive and meaningful developments to improve the human rights situation and deepen the transition to democracy." But Quintana acknowledged that while the government had taken steps to improve its human rights record, much remains to be done to ensure civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
In any transition to democracy, a critical issue is whether the country can achieve ethnic harmony, which has proved elusive since independence from Britain in 1948, say analysts.
Fighting has flared again this year in the north between government forces and the Kachin Independence Organisation, and in the east with Shan and Karen armed groups. The president's call in August for peace talks has so far failed to yield results.
While aid organisations report better access to most parts of the country, in contrast to the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, they are still unable to access areas of ethnic unrest, according to both a western diplomat and the head of a UN agency in Rangoon.
Progress has been reported on one front of the conflict: speaking out against the forced recruitment of child soldiers. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Rangoon reported receiving 355 complaints about child soldiers from the start of 2010 to July 2011; 77 children have been discharged while investigations into the remaining 242 cases are pending. This was up sharply from 2009, with 78 complaints, and 2008, with 29 complaints, a trend the ILO attributed to greater awareness.
Change
In an inaugural speech to parliament in March, Thein Sein spoke of the need to alleviate poverty -- barely acknowledged by the previous government -- tackle corruption, end conflicts with various ethnic minorities, and work towards political reconciliation. Last year's election was boycotted by the NLD.
Other recent changes include:
. pension increases for retired public servants
. vote in parliament in favour of amnesties for political and other prisoners, followed by the release of more than 6,500 prisoners in October, including prisoners of conscience
. financial assistance to farmers
. easing of media censorship -- with the head of the censorship authority calling for it to end in the near future
. establishment of human rights commission to "promote and safeguard fundamental rights of citizens"
. proposed changes to electoral laws, designed to encourage the NLD to contest future elections.
Reactions
Reaction to these and other changes has ranged from distrust to cautious optimism.
Sein Win, managing editor of Delhi-based publication, Mizzima News, said he was both sceptical and encouraged by the changes. "After first clapping my hands, I leaned back in my chair [to think deeply] as to the reasoning behind the moves of Thein Sein's government," he said.
Sein Win said while some changes were positive, he questioned why political prisoners were still in jail and called for legal amnesty for exiles and a lifting of remaining media restrictions.
Richard Horsey, a Burma analyst and the ILO representative in the country from 2002-07, said he was "very much encouraged" by the reforms. "These are the most significant changes in the government in half a century," he told IRIN. "Much remains to be done and many challenges lie ahead, but the direction is positive and the momentum appears strong."
Momentum
But can the president maintain this pace and path of reform?
Derek Tonkin, chairman of the UK-based Network Myanmar NGO, working on reconciliation issues, said while the pace of change could alarm conservative elements in the government, "the president is showing great confidence, which seems to be based on general support in the military and civilian hierarchies."
However, Sein Win said the situation was still "totally unpredictable during this stage of sensitive transition". Much depends on Thein Sein's "leadership, capacity, wisdom and tolerance of diverse opinions", he added, warning that there "could again be a U-turn involving a military coup to counter an untimely opposition challenge to the government".
"Transforming the political direction of any country, but particularly one that has been under authoritarian rule for so long, is a massive task," said Horsey.
Tonkin agreed the transition to democracy is bound to be "fraught", which heightens the need to resolve "serious internal problems relating to the non-Burmese nationalities whose desire for a measure of autonomy is strong".
Sein Win said the biggest obstacles were "the general public's lack of trust in the government -- old habits die hard -- power dynamics within the government, and a lack of resources".
A former government employee now working at his family business in Yangon, U Shwe, 55, said he saw little evidence of change thus far. "Our hardship remains the same. Though some people say there are changes, we do not feel our life has changed. We are still restricted by previous laws and regulations. Ethnic areas are still seeing the wars in their areas. No peace at all. As long as no peace is there, there is no safety there. You will be laughed at if you ask these questions of the ethnic people about any improvement in their areas under the new government."
For others, the pace of change is not quick enough. "If the government wants to change the country rapidly, there are many things they have to reform with the advice of experts," said a phone accessories seller in a local shopping mall.
But expertise is in short supply, said Horsey. "The biggest risk that I see at the current time relates to capacity: implementing the various reforms in a co-ordinated way requires strong administrative capacity and expert technical advice, both of which are in short supply."
Administration, key to carrying out any reform, is another obstacle, said Renaud Egreteau, a research assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong. "The state structure and administration ... are in pretty bad shape [and] lack autonomy and expertise."
Analysts note a key issue that could boost the country's domestic and international legitimacy is whether changes proposed to political party laws would lead to the return of the NLD to the electoral process -- an outcome that could result in an easing or lifting of US and EU sanctions.
Aung San Suu Kyi has said the NLD will consider participating in elections if the changes are approved by the lower house.
"Participating would allow the NLD to enter the parliament, where much has been going on, but it would also antagonise a portion of its supporters," said a Rangoon-based political analyst. "It is a difficult choice the NLD is facing."
For Sein Win, it is too early to say whether these proposed changes are enough to bring the NLD back into the electoral process, as hardliners may peg the party's return to the fate of their imprisoned members. "If a majority of political prisoners are left out in an amnesty, there would be the potential of a catch 22 for the NLD," he said.
The US and EU -- Burma's second- and third-largest providers of overseas development assistance (ODA) in 2009 -- have for years linked the easing of sanctions to an improvement in the human rights record, including the release of prisoners of conscience.
Burma received about $7 per capita in ODA in 2009, compared with $66 for Laos and $48 for Cambodia, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and population data reported to the UN.
The fact that Burma receives a fraction per person in ODA compared with Laos or Cambodia, which each have a higher gross national income, is clearly a result of "political pressure", said Frank Smithuis, founder of the NGO Medical Action Myanmar, who has worked in the country with medical NGOs since 1994. "Withholding aid affects the poor, who pay the price for this immoral political game," said Smithuis.
Reneaud Egreteau said Burma's military elites recognised the need to change. "They are not blind. They know that the region is changing fast, that the Burmese economy is dire, and that domestic politics still very much hinder Burma's path towards development."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/nov/11/burma-dramatic-developments-challenges-ahead
--------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi, Myanmar govt trying to work with each other
November 12, 2011 14:08 IST
Cooperation and national reconciliation, and not political confrontation, seems to be Aung San Suu Kyi's [ Images ] objective, believes B Raman
Slowly and steadily, the Army-propped civilian regime in Myanmar headed by President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon, are coming to terms with each other to avoid a confrontation and to pave the way for a government, which would enjoy her support from outside, if not association, and thereby enjoy a greater credibility in the eyes of the people.
The government has not imposed any restrictions on her travels outside Yangon. Despite this, she has been avoiding any travels, in an attempt not to create an embarrassing law and order situation for the government. The change -- whether in her tactics or attitude to the government -- figured in a question posed to her during her weekly radio interview on November 8. Her reply was interesting.
She said, "I would like to clarify that it is not true that I have made trips around the country whenever I was released from house arrest. In 1995 and in 2000, when I was released for the second time, I never made trips around the country, because of restrictions. Between 2002 and 2003, I did make trips around the country. But this time, since my trip to Pegu, although I had thought about making trips around the country, I have been unable to do so because there is a lot of work to be done in Rangoon. Plans have already been made for the NLD to distribute rice to the flood victims as much as possible. I think that it would be better to distribute rice in this manner than to spend money to travel across the country."
Similarly, questions are being asked by sections of the people as to why she is not opposing the construction of the gas pipeline from the Arakan area to Yunnan in China. She had strongly opposed on environmental grounds the construction of a big hydel project by a Chinese company in Kachin state. Her opposition, combined with the opposition from the Kachin leaders and people, forced the government to suspend the project, leading to protests from Beijing [ Images ].
The gas pipeline project too is being opposed by the local people on various grounds such as payment of inadequate compensation for the land acquired for the project, taking the gas away to China instead of utilising it for the benefit of the local people and environmental damage. Despite this, she has not been as active in opposing the gas pipeline project in the Arakan area as she was in opposing the hydel project in Kachin state.
She was asked about it during her weekly radio interview of October 28. In another interesting reply, she said, "Although one cannot say that a nationwide boycott (of the pipeline project) could not happen, I don't think it would be easy. But it is necessary for the whole country, including the government, to be aware of matters that are really giving trouble to the people. Only then will we be able to find solutions to such issues. However, while we are protecting the interests of the people, we must at the same time be aware of -- and take care to maintain -- good relations with our neighbouring countries."
The gas pipeline being constructed is more important to China than the suspended hydel project. It is designed to carry not only gas found locally, but also gas brought from the Gulf by Chinese tankers in order to reduce the Chinese dependence on the Malacca Strait. Suu Kyi has been avoiding any opposition to the gas pipeline project lest it add to the difficulties already being faced by the government in its relations with China after the suspension of the hydel project.
In carefully calibrated steps, she and the government have been trying to pave the way for her election to the Parliament, which seems to be the present priority of both. An amendment to the law on political parties, endorsed by President Thein Sein on November 4, removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution.
In a significant interview to the Yangon Times, Khin Aung Myint, the Speaker of the Parliament, who used to be the Director of Public Relations and PSYWAR in the ministry of defence, was quoted as saying, "I recognise the result of the 1990 election, which the NLD won with a vast majority of the votes. The results cannot be reversed and I have no intention to do so."
On November 8, a spokesman of her party the National League for Democracy, announced after a meeting at her residence in Yangon that more than 100 senior members of the party would meet at Yangon on November 18 to decide whether, in view of the change introduced by the government, the NLD should re-register itself as a political party. Though he did not say so, its re-registration would make it, including Suu Kyi, eligible to stand for election to the Parliament. The speculation is that there is already an unwritten understanding between her and the President that a by-election would be held before the year-end in which she could be elected.
What one has been seeing is a recognition of the victory of her party in the 1990 elections by the government. In return, she has agreed not to question the validity of last year's elections to the present Parliament under the supervision of the Army. The NLD has apparently agreed to end its boycott of the present Parliament and the government has agreed to pave the way for the election of some NLD leaders, including Suu Kyi, to the Parliament.
Will Suu Kyi and her party work from outside the government or will they join the government? An answer to this question is not yet available. She said in her November 8 radio interview, "If the people are active and enthusiastic, the government will also become active and the country will develop. If all of you are active in this manner, the road towards political change will be smooth, and our cooperation will be more effective."
Cooperation and national reconciliation, and not political confrontation, seems to be her objective. As part of this, she is prepared not to create any more difficulties for the government in Myanmar's relations with China. It is clear that she does not want to support the movement of the people of the Arakan region against the Chinese gas pipeline to Yunnan and the construction of a modern port at Kyaukpu to transport gas brought by Chinese tankers from the Gulf to Yunnan.
http://www.rediff.com/news/column/suu-kyi-myanmar-govt-trying-to-work-with-each-other/20111112.htm
----------------------------------------------------
Clinton sees real Myanmar changes, but wants more
(Reuters) - Myanmar appears to be making some "real changes" to its political system but the United States wants to see more reform before embracing the country formerly known as Burma, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.
"It appears that there are real changes taking place on the ground and we support these early efforts at reform," Clinton told a news conference at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hawaii.
Clinton noted reports of "substantive dialogue" between the government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and changes to the Southeast Asian country's laws on labor and political party registration.
"We want to see the people of Burma able to participate fully in the political life of their own country. But we know that there must be much more done," she said.
The United States, Europe and Australia have said allowing political prisoners to go free is essential before they can lift sanctions that have crippled Myanmar's economy and driven it closer to China.
The United States has had strained relations with Myanmar since the military junta, which took power in a 1962 coup, killed thousands in a brutal crackdown in 1988. Washington and its allies have imposed a wide range of economic sanctions and travel bans on top officials in the country.
In a major policy speech in Honolulu on Thursday, Clinton raised the prospect that the United States could be a partner to Myanmar, whose long-time military rulers nominally handed power in March to a civilian government that introduced some reforms.
"Many questions remain, including the government's continued detention of political prisoners and whether reform will be sustained and extended to include peace and reconciliation in the ethnic minority areas," Clinton said in her speech.
"Should the government pursue genuine and lasting reform for the benefit of all its citizens, it will find a partner in the United States," she said.
Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd held talks on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC forum, and Myanmar was among the topics discussed. "Both underscored that we thought that some of the changes taking place were real and significant," said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Michael Posner, the State Department's top human rights official, and Derek Mitchell, Washington's special envoy for Myanmar, visited the country last week and pledged more U.S. help as it seeks to shake off its pariah status.
The U.S. officials stressed that while they welcomed Myanmar's recent decision to free some 200 political prisoners, they still wanted to see the release of all dissidents and implementation of promised reforms allowing the registration of new political parties, independent unions and freedom of assembly in the country.
Myanmar is not part of the 21-member APEC grouping, which mainly focuses on boosting trans-Pacific trade and investment.
But the country is expected to take part in the East Asian Summit meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali later in November. Both Clinton and U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the Bali gathering.
(Additional reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Tait) http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/12/idINIndia-60486720111112
----------------------------------------------
New route to Malaysia created by agents
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:45 Kaladan Press News - Kaladan Press
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Agents who try to send migrants to Malaysia from Bangladesh and western Burma via risky sea routes have created a new method to cheat voyagers using border trade cargo boats to transport travelers, said a boat person watchdog at the border.
"Most the of the rural areas' Bangladeshi people and Burmese people want to go to Malaysia from Shapuri Dip, Cox's Bazar, and from other places in Bangladesh, but recently traffickers (dalals) have selected Teknaf as a land port to send boat-people to Malaysia."
According to the border trade agreement between Burma and Bangladesh, engine boats from Sittwe (Akyab) and Rangoon of Burma can carry cargo goods to the Teknaf land port of Bangladesh, where some goods from Bangladesh can also be carried to Burma. However, with the recent rise in the exchange rate, the Burmese traders are not carrying any goods to Burma, said an officer of C & F Agents from Teknaf.
"The traffickers contact the Burmese cargo boats' owners/captains with empty boats to carry voyagers on their way to Malaysia while returning to their home port (Sittwe/Rangoon). The traffickers secretly board the voyagers on Burmese cargo boats as per their agreement." ?
"The Burmese cargo boats with the travelers travel 3 to 4 days on the sea, then land on seashore where the captain announces that the boat has reached Malaysia, and the boat flees away. But really, the voyagers are stranded on the sea beach."??
"The voyagers are saved by fishermen or arrested by the authorities of Bangladesh, India, Burma, or Thailand."
Within the next few days, three-to-four trawlers will go to Malaysia from Teknaf land port, or from the Bay of Bengal nearby Teknaf, said a fisherman from Shapuri Dip.
"The voyagers to Malaysia are under the management of traffickers: Md. Sayed from Bazar Para, Md. Enus from Konar Para, and Abdu Salam of Mazar Para, who hails from Shapuri Dip. The main Malaysian voyages are controlled by Md. Abdu Rahim of Cox's Bazar, Md. Younus of Shapuri Dip, Ms. Bilkis Khatoon, and Alamgir of Shapuri Dip in Bangladesh, and they collect Taka 25,000 to 30,000 per person in advance of allowing them on the trawler. After reaching Malaysia, another Taka 100,000 has to be paid to another trafficker who lives in Malaysia, or have a guarantee the money will be paid in Bangladesh if no one is in Malaysia," reports a boat person watchdog.
The Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) yesterday arrested 22 boat people who were going to Malaysia on a shaky trawler from Shapuri Dip of Teknaf, as well as four traffickers: Md. Abdullah (19), son of Khobir Ahmed, who hails from Shapuri Dip, Jaffar Alam (18), son of Sultan Ahmed, Robiul Alam (18), son of Md. Issaque, and Ahmed (20), son of Jalal Hossain, who hails from Zalla Para of Teknaf. The arrest occurred on November 9 while the boat stopped to pay for patrol on the coast of Shapuri Dip, according to a BGB official.
"Abdullah confessed that he and the others were only collecting boat people and arranging them to board the boats safely. All the processes are controlled by the main agents (traffickers): Md. Abdu Rahim of Cox's Bazar, Md. Younus of Shapuri Dip, Ms. Bilkis Khatoon, and Alamgir of Shapuri Dip." http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/kaladan/12077-new-route-to-malaysia-created-by-agents.html
-------------------------------------------
KNU 'Peace Committee' ready to talk peace
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:47 KIC News - KIC
After four days of an emergency meeting of their senior leaders the Karen National Union has formed a seven member 'Peace Committee' to enter into peace talks with the Burma government.
The meeting held from 8 to 11 November was attended by members of the KNU central executive committees, central standing committees, and representatives from seven KNLA Brigades and seven Districts of Karen State.
At the time of writing the KNU had just reached their decision to form a peace committee, all details from the meeting have yet to be disclosed.
However, a member of the KNU who spoke to Karen News said that the KNU will go accordingly to decisions made at their 14th Congress in 2008 --- to solve political problems by political means taking the process step-by-step. The KNU source said no dates to meet government representatives have yet been set.
KNU sources say the objective of forming a 'Peace Committee' is to have a mechanism in position to be able to effectively engage and deal with issues in regard to any future peace talks.
The 'Peace Committee' is composed of senior KNU officials - they are KNU vice-chairman Padoh Saw David Thakabaw as chairperson, KNLA's G.O.C General Mu Tu Sae Poe as vice chairperson, Padoh Saw David Taw as secretary, KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, Head of KNU Health and Welfare, Major Roger Khin, KNU Forestry Minister, Padoh Saw Ah Toe --and KNU Chairman of Pa-an District Padoh Saw Aung Maw Aye.
Before the current 'Peace Committee' formation, the KNU had held three preliminary discussions with representatives from the Burma government.
On October 10, KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, a led a KNU delegation to meet for three hours with central parliamentary representatives from Naypyidaw in the Thai-Burma border town of Mae Sot.
The parliamentary central representatives included the Railway Minister U Aung Min, retired Triangle Division Commander, Brigadier General Chit Than, Professors Dr. Tin Maung Than, Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing, U Hla Maung Shwe and businessmen U Ngwe Soe, U Tony and U Ko Ko Maung and his wife.
KNU vice chairman Padoh Saw David Thakabaw said that before the October 10 meeting two unauthorized meetings were held with State level representatives that were not legitimate as KNU representatives were not authorized by their Executive Committee.
According to sources on the border, the meeting with the State level representatives was led by Colonel Aung Lwin, Karen State Security and Border Affairs Minister, it included U Saw Poe Ni -- member of People Parliament from Pa-an Town, Rev. U Saw Yin Mya Shwe from Kawkareik Town, Abbot Kayma Wudda from Myawaddy Town temple, Anglican Church leader -U Saw Victor, U Tin Aye, U Saw Eh Wah and a range of other religious leaders. http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/kic/12078-knu-peace-committee-ready-to-talk-peace.html
------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi 'likely' to stand in Myanmar by-election
By Hla Hla Htay (AFP) -- 2 hours ago
YANGON --- Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest an upcoming by-election, a party spokesman said Saturday, paving the way for a political comeback after years of exclusion by army generals.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting the first elections for 20 years, will consider on Friday whether to re-register as a political party, after Myanmar's president recently approved changes to the registration laws.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman told AFP. Daw is a term of respect.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
Suu Kyi swept the NLD to election victory in 1990 but the party was barred from taking office, and it shunned last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
Locked up for 15 of the past 22 years, the 66-year-old Nobel peace prize winner was released from her latest stint in detention a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned as a farce by the West.
The new army-backed government has, however, surprised critics with a string of reformist steps, such as defying ally China by freezing work on an unpopular mega-dam in the north, and holding direct talks with Suu Kyi.
The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947, Suu Kyi took on a leading role in the pro-democracy movement in 1988, the year that protests erupted against the military and were brutally crushed.
Widely known as "The Lady" in Myanmar, she became a beacon of hope for many in her country in the face of repression, but was widely feared by the military rulers.
While Myanmar's nominally civilian government is still filled with former generals, the government said in September it was ready to work with Suu Kyi and her party if they officially re-entered politics.
A decision to re-register is widely expected, with 100 senior NLD members gathering in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
The law on political parties amended this month, and endorsed by President Thein Sein, removes the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
The wording has now been changed to "respect and obey", it said -- a small alteration but one that would allow the NLD to criticise and suggest changes to the constitution.
Myanmar expert Aung Naing Oo of the Vahu Development Institute, a Thai-based think-tank, said the NLD's return to the political process would "provide Myanmar a better relationship with the international community".
"It is really, really important for Burma. It will be seen as a normal country for the first time in 23 to 24 years," he told AFP, using the country's former name.
Suu Kyi, who was feted by thousands of supporters in August on her first political trip outside Yangon since she was freed, is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release.
Western countries and human rights defenders continue to decry abuses against the country's ethnic minority groups and call for the release of all political prisoners. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcgHDz_gcPPwHZ6v6E9Q3K1NB0HQ?docId=CNG.56db5a721283744ef92e15cab1ed910d.831
---------------------------------------
Yawdserk offers assistance for peace in the Triangle
Friday, 11 November 2011 08:04 S.H.A.N. News - Shan Herald Agency for News
A month after the brutal killing of 13 Chinese crewmen took place in the Golden Triangle, where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet, Lt-Gen Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army (SSA) 'South', that operates in Shan State East, has offered to lend a hand in the long term solution of the maritime security issue on the Mekong.
"Security on the Mekong rests upon law and order in the three Triangle countries," he told SHAN during a telephone interview. "If one looks carefully, it is not hard to find that the Burmese side is the weakest link due to instability since Independence (in 1948)."
The failure of successive Burmese rulers to honor the 1947 Panglong Agreement which guarantees self rule, democracy and human rights and their refusal to back off from the military solution, he said, had left no choice for the people of Shan State but to engage in an armed struggle. "What happened in the Golden Triangle (on 5 October) was the consequence of the resulting anarchy," he explained.
President Thein Sein, the head of the new government, had called for peace talks with the armed movement on 18 August 2011. So far it has achieved success with three of the groups: United Wa State Army (6 September), National Democratic Alliance Army (7 September) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (3 November).
It has however yet to meet the leaders of the SSA, whose troops are active in Mongyawng township, north of the Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are still in process before the two sides meet, according to inside sources.
"If both sides can reach a mutually acceptable political agreement, it will pave the way for end to anarchy in the area," he predicted.
China has bought 5 ships that will be refitted for the patrolling of the Mekong, according to Bangkok Post, 10 November issue, quoting a Chinese Ship-owners Association. Beijing however has said the plan needs to be discussed with its downstream neighbors first. http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/shan/12072-yawdserk-offers-assistance-for-peace-in-the-triangle.html
-------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi Likely to Contest Myanmar By-Election
PTI | Yangon | Nov 12, 2011
Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest a by-election in the coming months, a spokesman for her party said today, following a change to party registration laws.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting a rare election, will consider on Friday whether to re-register as a political party, paving the way for Suu Kyi to return to the official political arena.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman told AFP. Daw is a term of respect in Myanmar.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
The NLD won a 1990 election but was never allowed to take office, and it shunned last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
She was released a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned as a farce by the West and marred by claims of cheating, but the new army-backed government has surprised critics with a series of reformist moves.
These include a recent amendment to a law on political parties, endorsed by President Thein Sein, which removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
A decision to re-register the NLD is widely expected after 100 senior party members gather in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
While Myanmar is now ruled by a nominally civilian government, its ranks are filled with former generals.
Suu Kyi -- who strongly criticised the constitution, part of what the regime called its "road map to democracy" -- is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release. http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=741190
--------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi 'likely' to stand in Myanmar vote
Last Modified: 12 Nov 2011 10:18
NLD party debates whether to register for polls and open path for pro-democracy leader to return to political arena.
Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest a by-election in the coming months, a spokesman for her party has said, following a change to party-registration laws.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting a rare election, will begin debating on Saturday whether to re-register as a political party, paving the way for Suu Kyi to return to the political arena.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman, told the AFP news agency.
"Daw" is a term of respect in Myanmar.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
The NLD won a 1990 election but was never allowed to take office, and it withdrew from last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
Critics surprised
Suu Kyi was released a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned by the West and marred by claims of cheating.
Even so, the new army-backed government has surprised critics with a series of reformist moves.
These include a recent amendment to a law on political parties, endorsed by Thein Sein, Myanmar's president, which removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
A decision to re-register the NLD is widely expected after 100 senior party members gathered in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Aung San Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
While Myanmar is now ruled by a nominally civilian government, its ranks are filled with former generals.
Aung San Suu Kyi has strongly criticised the constitution, part of what the government called its "road map to democracy". She is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release.
'Real changes'
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said on Friday that Myanmar is making real progress towards reforms but much more needs to be done, including the release of political prisoners.
A recent visit by senior US diplomats found "real changes taking place on the ground", Clinton said on the sidelines of an annual Pacific Rim summit.
"It appears there are real changes taking place on the ground and we support these early efforts at reform,'' she said. "We want to see the people of Burma able to participate fully in the political life of their own country.''
Clinton said the US would continue to call for release of all political prisoners, an end to conflict in minority areas and greater transparency regarding Myanmar's relations with North Korea.
At stake are political and economic sanctions the US and other Western countries imposed against the generals who had ruled Myanmar until handing over power to the current elected military-backed government in March this year. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2011/11/2011111283232187943.html
--------------------------------------------------
THE GUARDIAN
'Dramatic developments' in Burma, but still many challenges ahead
A year after elections, hopes are growing that Burma can break from an authoritarian past involving human rights abuses that made it the target of western economic sanctions
One year after Burma held its first election in 20 years, domestic and international opinion is still cautious about the prospects for meaningful change in this country of more than 55 million people.
Much of the reaction to reforms introduced since President Thein Sein's inauguration in March this year reflects hope that the country can break from a heavy-handed authoritarian past involving human rights abuses that have made it the target of economic sanctions.
Recent events and reactions include:
. the opposition leader and head of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi, said after a groundbreaking meeting with Thein Sein in the capital, Naypyitaw, in August that she believed he wanted to achieve "real positive change". She has been released from house arrest imposed by the previous government
. the US assistant secretary of state for east Asian and Pacific affairs, Kurt Campbell, described the dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the government as "very consequential", adding it was "also undeniably the case that there are dramatic developments under way"
. the UN special envoy on human rights in Burma, Toma's Ojea Quintana, said the country was at a key moment in its history. "There are real opportunities for positive and meaningful developments to improve the human rights situation and deepen the transition to democracy." But Quintana acknowledged that while the government had taken steps to improve its human rights record, much remains to be done to ensure civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
In any transition to democracy, a critical issue is whether the country can achieve ethnic harmony, which has proved elusive since independence from Britain in 1948, say analysts.
Fighting has flared again this year in the north between government forces and the Kachin Independence Organisation, and in the east with Shan and Karen armed groups. The president's call in August for peace talks has so far failed to yield results.
While aid organisations report better access to most parts of the country, in contrast to the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, they are still unable to access areas of ethnic unrest, according to both a western diplomat and the head of a UN agency in Rangoon.
Progress has been reported on one front of the conflict: speaking out against the forced recruitment of child soldiers. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Rangoon reported receiving 355 complaints about child soldiers from the start of 2010 to July 2011; 77 children have been discharged while investigations into the remaining 242 cases are pending. This was up sharply from 2009, with 78 complaints, and 2008, with 29 complaints, a trend the ILO attributed to greater awareness.
Change
In an inaugural speech to parliament in March, Thein Sein spoke of the need to alleviate poverty -- barely acknowledged by the previous government -- tackle corruption, end conflicts with various ethnic minorities, and work towards political reconciliation. Last year's election was boycotted by the NLD.
Other recent changes include:
. pension increases for retired public servants
. vote in parliament in favour of amnesties for political and other prisoners, followed by the release of more than 6,500 prisoners in October, including prisoners of conscience
. financial assistance to farmers
. easing of media censorship -- with the head of the censorship authority calling for it to end in the near future
. establishment of human rights commission to "promote and safeguard fundamental rights of citizens"
. proposed changes to electoral laws, designed to encourage the NLD to contest future elections.
Reactions
Reaction to these and other changes has ranged from distrust to cautious optimism.
Sein Win, managing editor of Delhi-based publication, Mizzima News, said he was both sceptical and encouraged by the changes. "After first clapping my hands, I leaned back in my chair [to think deeply] as to the reasoning behind the moves of Thein Sein's government," he said.
Sein Win said while some changes were positive, he questioned why political prisoners were still in jail and called for legal amnesty for exiles and a lifting of remaining media restrictions.
Richard Horsey, a Burma analyst and the ILO representative in the country from 2002-07, said he was "very much encouraged" by the reforms. "These are the most significant changes in the government in half a century," he told IRIN. "Much remains to be done and many challenges lie ahead, but the direction is positive and the momentum appears strong."
Momentum
But can the president maintain this pace and path of reform?
Derek Tonkin, chairman of the UK-based Network Myanmar NGO, working on reconciliation issues, said while the pace of change could alarm conservative elements in the government, "the president is showing great confidence, which seems to be based on general support in the military and civilian hierarchies."
However, Sein Win said the situation was still "totally unpredictable during this stage of sensitive transition". Much depends on Thein Sein's "leadership, capacity, wisdom and tolerance of diverse opinions", he added, warning that there "could again be a U-turn involving a military coup to counter an untimely opposition challenge to the government".
"Transforming the political direction of any country, but particularly one that has been under authoritarian rule for so long, is a massive task," said Horsey.
Tonkin agreed the transition to democracy is bound to be "fraught", which heightens the need to resolve "serious internal problems relating to the non-Burmese nationalities whose desire for a measure of autonomy is strong".
Sein Win said the biggest obstacles were "the general public's lack of trust in the government -- old habits die hard -- power dynamics within the government, and a lack of resources".
A former government employee now working at his family business in Yangon, U Shwe, 55, said he saw little evidence of change thus far. "Our hardship remains the same. Though some people say there are changes, we do not feel our life has changed. We are still restricted by previous laws and regulations. Ethnic areas are still seeing the wars in their areas. No peace at all. As long as no peace is there, there is no safety there. You will be laughed at if you ask these questions of the ethnic people about any improvement in their areas under the new government."
For others, the pace of change is not quick enough. "If the government wants to change the country rapidly, there are many things they have to reform with the advice of experts," said a phone accessories seller in a local shopping mall.
But expertise is in short supply, said Horsey. "The biggest risk that I see at the current time relates to capacity: implementing the various reforms in a co-ordinated way requires strong administrative capacity and expert technical advice, both of which are in short supply."
Administration, key to carrying out any reform, is another obstacle, said Renaud Egreteau, a research assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong. "The state structure and administration ... are in pretty bad shape [and] lack autonomy and expertise."
Analysts note a key issue that could boost the country's domestic and international legitimacy is whether changes proposed to political party laws would lead to the return of the NLD to the electoral process -- an outcome that could result in an easing or lifting of US and EU sanctions.
Aung San Suu Kyi has said the NLD will consider participating in elections if the changes are approved by the lower house.
"Participating would allow the NLD to enter the parliament, where much has been going on, but it would also antagonise a portion of its supporters," said a Rangoon-based political analyst. "It is a difficult choice the NLD is facing."
For Sein Win, it is too early to say whether these proposed changes are enough to bring the NLD back into the electoral process, as hardliners may peg the party's return to the fate of their imprisoned members. "If a majority of political prisoners are left out in an amnesty, there would be the potential of a catch 22 for the NLD," he said.
The US and EU -- Burma's second- and third-largest providers of overseas development assistance (ODA) in 2009 -- have for years linked the easing of sanctions to an improvement in the human rights record, including the release of prisoners of conscience.
Burma received about $7 per capita in ODA in 2009, compared with $66 for Laos and $48 for Cambodia, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and population data reported to the UN.
The fact that Burma receives a fraction per person in ODA compared with Laos or Cambodia, which each have a higher gross national income, is clearly a result of "political pressure", said Frank Smithuis, founder of the NGO Medical Action Myanmar, who has worked in the country with medical NGOs since 1994. "Withholding aid affects the poor, who pay the price for this immoral political game," said Smithuis.
Reneaud Egreteau said Burma's military elites recognised the need to change. "They are not blind. They know that the region is changing fast, that the Burmese economy is dire, and that domestic politics still very much hinder Burma's path towards development."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/nov/11/burma-dramatic-developments-challenges-ahead
--------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi, Myanmar govt trying to work with each other
November 12, 2011 14:08 IST
Cooperation and national reconciliation, and not political confrontation, seems to be Aung San Suu Kyi's [ Images ] objective, believes B Raman
Slowly and steadily, the Army-propped civilian regime in Myanmar headed by President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon, are coming to terms with each other to avoid a confrontation and to pave the way for a government, which would enjoy her support from outside, if not association, and thereby enjoy a greater credibility in the eyes of the people.
The government has not imposed any restrictions on her travels outside Yangon. Despite this, she has been avoiding any travels, in an attempt not to create an embarrassing law and order situation for the government. The change -- whether in her tactics or attitude to the government -- figured in a question posed to her during her weekly radio interview on November 8. Her reply was interesting.
She said, "I would like to clarify that it is not true that I have made trips around the country whenever I was released from house arrest. In 1995 and in 2000, when I was released for the second time, I never made trips around the country, because of restrictions. Between 2002 and 2003, I did make trips around the country. But this time, since my trip to Pegu, although I had thought about making trips around the country, I have been unable to do so because there is a lot of work to be done in Rangoon. Plans have already been made for the NLD to distribute rice to the flood victims as much as possible. I think that it would be better to distribute rice in this manner than to spend money to travel across the country."
Similarly, questions are being asked by sections of the people as to why she is not opposing the construction of the gas pipeline from the Arakan area to Yunnan in China. She had strongly opposed on environmental grounds the construction of a big hydel project by a Chinese company in Kachin state. Her opposition, combined with the opposition from the Kachin leaders and people, forced the government to suspend the project, leading to protests from Beijing [ Images ].
The gas pipeline project too is being opposed by the local people on various grounds such as payment of inadequate compensation for the land acquired for the project, taking the gas away to China instead of utilising it for the benefit of the local people and environmental damage. Despite this, she has not been as active in opposing the gas pipeline project in the Arakan area as she was in opposing the hydel project in Kachin state.
She was asked about it during her weekly radio interview of October 28. In another interesting reply, she said, "Although one cannot say that a nationwide boycott (of the pipeline project) could not happen, I don't think it would be easy. But it is necessary for the whole country, including the government, to be aware of matters that are really giving trouble to the people. Only then will we be able to find solutions to such issues. However, while we are protecting the interests of the people, we must at the same time be aware of -- and take care to maintain -- good relations with our neighbouring countries."
The gas pipeline being constructed is more important to China than the suspended hydel project. It is designed to carry not only gas found locally, but also gas brought from the Gulf by Chinese tankers in order to reduce the Chinese dependence on the Malacca Strait. Suu Kyi has been avoiding any opposition to the gas pipeline project lest it add to the difficulties already being faced by the government in its relations with China after the suspension of the hydel project.
In carefully calibrated steps, she and the government have been trying to pave the way for her election to the Parliament, which seems to be the present priority of both. An amendment to the law on political parties, endorsed by President Thein Sein on November 4, removed the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution.
In a significant interview to the Yangon Times, Khin Aung Myint, the Speaker of the Parliament, who used to be the Director of Public Relations and PSYWAR in the ministry of defence, was quoted as saying, "I recognise the result of the 1990 election, which the NLD won with a vast majority of the votes. The results cannot be reversed and I have no intention to do so."
On November 8, a spokesman of her party the National League for Democracy, announced after a meeting at her residence in Yangon that more than 100 senior members of the party would meet at Yangon on November 18 to decide whether, in view of the change introduced by the government, the NLD should re-register itself as a political party. Though he did not say so, its re-registration would make it, including Suu Kyi, eligible to stand for election to the Parliament. The speculation is that there is already an unwritten understanding between her and the President that a by-election would be held before the year-end in which she could be elected.
What one has been seeing is a recognition of the victory of her party in the 1990 elections by the government. In return, she has agreed not to question the validity of last year's elections to the present Parliament under the supervision of the Army. The NLD has apparently agreed to end its boycott of the present Parliament and the government has agreed to pave the way for the election of some NLD leaders, including Suu Kyi, to the Parliament.
Will Suu Kyi and her party work from outside the government or will they join the government? An answer to this question is not yet available. She said in her November 8 radio interview, "If the people are active and enthusiastic, the government will also become active and the country will develop. If all of you are active in this manner, the road towards political change will be smooth, and our cooperation will be more effective."
Cooperation and national reconciliation, and not political confrontation, seems to be her objective. As part of this, she is prepared not to create any more difficulties for the government in Myanmar's relations with China. It is clear that she does not want to support the movement of the people of the Arakan region against the Chinese gas pipeline to Yunnan and the construction of a modern port at Kyaukpu to transport gas brought by Chinese tankers from the Gulf to Yunnan.
http://www.rediff.com/news/column/suu-kyi-myanmar-govt-trying-to-work-with-each-other/20111112.htm
----------------------------------------------------
Clinton sees real Myanmar changes, but wants more
(Reuters) - Myanmar appears to be making some "real changes" to its political system but the United States wants to see more reform before embracing the country formerly known as Burma, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.
"It appears that there are real changes taking place on the ground and we support these early efforts at reform," Clinton told a news conference at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hawaii.
Clinton noted reports of "substantive dialogue" between the government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and changes to the Southeast Asian country's laws on labor and political party registration.
"We want to see the people of Burma able to participate fully in the political life of their own country. But we know that there must be much more done," she said.
The United States, Europe and Australia have said allowing political prisoners to go free is essential before they can lift sanctions that have crippled Myanmar's economy and driven it closer to China.
The United States has had strained relations with Myanmar since the military junta, which took power in a 1962 coup, killed thousands in a brutal crackdown in 1988. Washington and its allies have imposed a wide range of economic sanctions and travel bans on top officials in the country.
In a major policy speech in Honolulu on Thursday, Clinton raised the prospect that the United States could be a partner to Myanmar, whose long-time military rulers nominally handed power in March to a civilian government that introduced some reforms.
"Many questions remain, including the government's continued detention of political prisoners and whether reform will be sustained and extended to include peace and reconciliation in the ethnic minority areas," Clinton said in her speech.
"Should the government pursue genuine and lasting reform for the benefit of all its citizens, it will find a partner in the United States," she said.
Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd held talks on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC forum, and Myanmar was among the topics discussed. "Both underscored that we thought that some of the changes taking place were real and significant," said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Michael Posner, the State Department's top human rights official, and Derek Mitchell, Washington's special envoy for Myanmar, visited the country last week and pledged more U.S. help as it seeks to shake off its pariah status.
The U.S. officials stressed that while they welcomed Myanmar's recent decision to free some 200 political prisoners, they still wanted to see the release of all dissidents and implementation of promised reforms allowing the registration of new political parties, independent unions and freedom of assembly in the country.
Myanmar is not part of the 21-member APEC grouping, which mainly focuses on boosting trans-Pacific trade and investment.
But the country is expected to take part in the East Asian Summit meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali later in November. Both Clinton and U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the Bali gathering.
(Additional reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Tait) http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/12/idINIndia-60486720111112
----------------------------------------------
New route to Malaysia created by agents
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:45 Kaladan Press News - Kaladan Press
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Agents who try to send migrants to Malaysia from Bangladesh and western Burma via risky sea routes have created a new method to cheat voyagers using border trade cargo boats to transport travelers, said a boat person watchdog at the border.
"Most the of the rural areas' Bangladeshi people and Burmese people want to go to Malaysia from Shapuri Dip, Cox's Bazar, and from other places in Bangladesh, but recently traffickers (dalals) have selected Teknaf as a land port to send boat-people to Malaysia."
According to the border trade agreement between Burma and Bangladesh, engine boats from Sittwe (Akyab) and Rangoon of Burma can carry cargo goods to the Teknaf land port of Bangladesh, where some goods from Bangladesh can also be carried to Burma. However, with the recent rise in the exchange rate, the Burmese traders are not carrying any goods to Burma, said an officer of C & F Agents from Teknaf.
"The traffickers contact the Burmese cargo boats' owners/captains with empty boats to carry voyagers on their way to Malaysia while returning to their home port (Sittwe/Rangoon). The traffickers secretly board the voyagers on Burmese cargo boats as per their agreement." ?
"The Burmese cargo boats with the travelers travel 3 to 4 days on the sea, then land on seashore where the captain announces that the boat has reached Malaysia, and the boat flees away. But really, the voyagers are stranded on the sea beach."??
"The voyagers are saved by fishermen or arrested by the authorities of Bangladesh, India, Burma, or Thailand."
Within the next few days, three-to-four trawlers will go to Malaysia from Teknaf land port, or from the Bay of Bengal nearby Teknaf, said a fisherman from Shapuri Dip.
"The voyagers to Malaysia are under the management of traffickers: Md. Sayed from Bazar Para, Md. Enus from Konar Para, and Abdu Salam of Mazar Para, who hails from Shapuri Dip. The main Malaysian voyages are controlled by Md. Abdu Rahim of Cox's Bazar, Md. Younus of Shapuri Dip, Ms. Bilkis Khatoon, and Alamgir of Shapuri Dip in Bangladesh, and they collect Taka 25,000 to 30,000 per person in advance of allowing them on the trawler. After reaching Malaysia, another Taka 100,000 has to be paid to another trafficker who lives in Malaysia, or have a guarantee the money will be paid in Bangladesh if no one is in Malaysia," reports a boat person watchdog.
The Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) yesterday arrested 22 boat people who were going to Malaysia on a shaky trawler from Shapuri Dip of Teknaf, as well as four traffickers: Md. Abdullah (19), son of Khobir Ahmed, who hails from Shapuri Dip, Jaffar Alam (18), son of Sultan Ahmed, Robiul Alam (18), son of Md. Issaque, and Ahmed (20), son of Jalal Hossain, who hails from Zalla Para of Teknaf. The arrest occurred on November 9 while the boat stopped to pay for patrol on the coast of Shapuri Dip, according to a BGB official.
"Abdullah confessed that he and the others were only collecting boat people and arranging them to board the boats safely. All the processes are controlled by the main agents (traffickers): Md. Abdu Rahim of Cox's Bazar, Md. Younus of Shapuri Dip, Ms. Bilkis Khatoon, and Alamgir of Shapuri Dip." http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/kaladan/12077-new-route-to-malaysia-created-by-agents.html
-------------------------------------------
KNU 'Peace Committee' ready to talk peace
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:47 KIC News - KIC
After four days of an emergency meeting of their senior leaders the Karen National Union has formed a seven member 'Peace Committee' to enter into peace talks with the Burma government.
The meeting held from 8 to 11 November was attended by members of the KNU central executive committees, central standing committees, and representatives from seven KNLA Brigades and seven Districts of Karen State.
At the time of writing the KNU had just reached their decision to form a peace committee, all details from the meeting have yet to be disclosed.
However, a member of the KNU who spoke to Karen News said that the KNU will go accordingly to decisions made at their 14th Congress in 2008 --- to solve political problems by political means taking the process step-by-step. The KNU source said no dates to meet government representatives have yet been set.
KNU sources say the objective of forming a 'Peace Committee' is to have a mechanism in position to be able to effectively engage and deal with issues in regard to any future peace talks.
The 'Peace Committee' is composed of senior KNU officials - they are KNU vice-chairman Padoh Saw David Thakabaw as chairperson, KNLA's G.O.C General Mu Tu Sae Poe as vice chairperson, Padoh Saw David Taw as secretary, KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, Head of KNU Health and Welfare, Major Roger Khin, KNU Forestry Minister, Padoh Saw Ah Toe --and KNU Chairman of Pa-an District Padoh Saw Aung Maw Aye.
Before the current 'Peace Committee' formation, the KNU had held three preliminary discussions with representatives from the Burma government.
On October 10, KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, a led a KNU delegation to meet for three hours with central parliamentary representatives from Naypyidaw in the Thai-Burma border town of Mae Sot.
The parliamentary central representatives included the Railway Minister U Aung Min, retired Triangle Division Commander, Brigadier General Chit Than, Professors Dr. Tin Maung Than, Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing, U Hla Maung Shwe and businessmen U Ngwe Soe, U Tony and U Ko Ko Maung and his wife.
KNU vice chairman Padoh Saw David Thakabaw said that before the October 10 meeting two unauthorized meetings were held with State level representatives that were not legitimate as KNU representatives were not authorized by their Executive Committee.
According to sources on the border, the meeting with the State level representatives was led by Colonel Aung Lwin, Karen State Security and Border Affairs Minister, it included U Saw Poe Ni -- member of People Parliament from Pa-an Town, Rev. U Saw Yin Mya Shwe from Kawkareik Town, Abbot Kayma Wudda from Myawaddy Town temple, Anglican Church leader -U Saw Victor, U Tin Aye, U Saw Eh Wah and a range of other religious leaders. http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/kic/12078-knu-peace-committee-ready-to-talk-peace.html
------------------------------------------------
Suu Kyi 'likely' to stand in Myanmar by-election
By Hla Hla Htay (AFP) -- 2 hours ago
YANGON --- Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to contest an upcoming by-election, a party spokesman said Saturday, paving the way for a political comeback after years of exclusion by army generals.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD), delisted last year for boycotting the first elections for 20 years, will consider on Friday whether to re-register as a political party, after Myanmar's president recently approved changes to the registration laws.
"The NLD is likely to register and also Daw Suu is likely to participate at the coming by-election," Nyan Win, a party spokesman told AFP. Daw is a term of respect.
It is not yet clear when a by-election will be held, but there are more than 40 seats available in parliament's two chambers.
Suu Kyi swept the NLD to election victory in 1990 but the party was barred from taking office, and it shunned last year's vote largely because of rules that would have forced it to expel imprisoned members. Suu Kyi was under house arrest at the time.
Locked up for 15 of the past 22 years, the 66-year-old Nobel peace prize winner was released from her latest stint in detention a few days after last November's poll, which was widely condemned as a farce by the West.
The new army-backed government has, however, surprised critics with a string of reformist steps, such as defying ally China by freezing work on an unpopular mega-dam in the north, and holding direct talks with Suu Kyi.
The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947, Suu Kyi took on a leading role in the pro-democracy movement in 1988, the year that protests erupted against the military and were brutally crushed.
Widely known as "The Lady" in Myanmar, she became a beacon of hope for many in her country in the face of repression, but was widely feared by the military rulers.
While Myanmar's nominally civilian government is still filled with former generals, the government said in September it was ready to work with Suu Kyi and her party if they officially re-entered politics.
A decision to re-register is widely expected, with 100 senior NLD members gathering in Yangon on Friday to discuss the move.
Nyan Win did not comment on which constituency Suu Kyi would stand in, or what kind of position she expected, but party sources said she would contest in a Yangon township.
The law on political parties amended this month, and endorsed by President Thein Sein, removes the condition that all parties must agree to "preserve" the country's 2008 constitution, according to state media.
The wording has now been changed to "respect and obey", it said -- a small alteration but one that would allow the NLD to criticise and suggest changes to the constitution.
Myanmar expert Aung Naing Oo of the Vahu Development Institute, a Thai-based think-tank, said the NLD's return to the political process would "provide Myanmar a better relationship with the international community".
"It is really, really important for Burma. It will be seen as a normal country for the first time in 23 to 24 years," he told AFP, using the country's former name.
Suu Kyi, who was feted by thousands of supporters in August on her first political trip outside Yangon since she was freed, is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to mark the first anniversary of her release.
Western countries and human rights defenders continue to decry abuses against the country's ethnic minority groups and call for the release of all political prisoners. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcgHDz_gcPPwHZ6v6E9Q3K1NB0HQ?docId=CNG.56db5a721283744ef92e15cab1ed910d.831
---------------------------------------
Yawdserk offers assistance for peace in the Triangle
Friday, 11 November 2011 08:04 S.H.A.N. News - Shan Herald Agency for News
A month after the brutal killing of 13 Chinese crewmen took place in the Golden Triangle, where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet, Lt-Gen Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army (SSA) 'South', that operates in Shan State East, has offered to lend a hand in the long term solution of the maritime security issue on the Mekong.
"Security on the Mekong rests upon law and order in the three Triangle countries," he told SHAN during a telephone interview. "If one looks carefully, it is not hard to find that the Burmese side is the weakest link due to instability since Independence (in 1948)."
The failure of successive Burmese rulers to honor the 1947 Panglong Agreement which guarantees self rule, democracy and human rights and their refusal to back off from the military solution, he said, had left no choice for the people of Shan State but to engage in an armed struggle. "What happened in the Golden Triangle (on 5 October) was the consequence of the resulting anarchy," he explained.
President Thein Sein, the head of the new government, had called for peace talks with the armed movement on 18 August 2011. So far it has achieved success with three of the groups: United Wa State Army (6 September), National Democratic Alliance Army (7 September) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (3 November).
It has however yet to meet the leaders of the SSA, whose troops are active in Mongyawng township, north of the Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are still in process before the two sides meet, according to inside sources.
"If both sides can reach a mutually acceptable political agreement, it will pave the way for end to anarchy in the area," he predicted.
China has bought 5 ships that will be refitted for the patrolling of the Mekong, according to Bangkok Post, 10 November issue, quoting a Chinese Ship-owners Association. Beijing however has said the plan needs to be discussed with its downstream neighbors first. http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/shan/12072-yawdserk-offers-assistance-for-peace-in-the-triangle.html
Comments
Post a Comment