Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Naypyidaw
Regime close associates predicted that if regime’s referendum would fail, there would be major changes within SPDC. Regional commanders have been instructed not to order any regiments leaving from their previous location without knowledge from Defense Ministry in Naypyidaw, sources said.
Vice-senior general Maung Aye’s recent visit to India was translated that Maung Aye cared about military’s future while senior general’s allies have been busy with referendum. Sources said he was assured by Indian military top brasses to provide advance military hardware as well as technology to the Burma army.
Indian government was pleased that government oil industry could sign three major contracts through Sliver Waves company which registered in Singapore that they almost lose to Chinese.
Another source said that Than Shwe and Maung Aye are likely to retire and new generation will take over after 2010. But hardliners floated that senior general should be a next president of Burma after 2010 election but group closes to Maung Aye were reluctant to accept it.
Approving a new constitution is extremely important for senior general’s future than any others, sources stressed. If senior general fails to secure Yes Vote, he might follow late senior general Saw Maung whom he terminated.
Monday, July 14, 2008
EUROPE: Sanctions on Burma To Be Extended
By David CroninBRUSSELS, Apr 23 (IPS) -
Sanctions imposed by the European Union on Burma look set to be extended for an extra year because of the lack of progress on human rights in the military-ruled country.EU foreign ministers meeting Apr. 28 will review the measures they introduced against Burma in October last year, following the brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks who took part in street protests that have become known as the Saffron Revolution.
These measures included a ban on the import of gemstones, timber and precious metal. Slovenia, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, expects the sanctions to be renewed for another 12 months. Janez Lenarcic, Slovenia's state secretary for European affairs, said he also expects the EU to formally exhort the Burmese authorities to begin planning for a "legitimate civil government" and to release political prisoners, including the iconic pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet some campaign groups have argued that it would not be sufficient to merely prolong the EU's sanctions. Human Rights Watch is urging both that existing sanctions should be bolstered and supplementary ones added. While the EU has frozen the assets of Burmese generals, Human Rights Watch contends that these financial measures should be made more comprehensive. In particular, it wants any use of bank clearing-houses or the conduct of any other financial transactions within the EU's jurisdiction by members of the junta to be forbidden. The organisation also wants to broaden the range of targets for sanctions.
At present, oil and gas exports from Burma remain unaffected by the sanctions, as do contracts signed by the French energy giant Total for exploiting the Yadana gas field in southern Burma. Human Rights Watch is arguing that the sanctions should be extended to cover companies that finance the Burmese military, such as the state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).
Lotte Leicht, Brussels director with Human Rights Watch, argued that sanctions can have an influence on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the Burmese government calls itself, but only if their application is monitored vigorously. "The way forward for an effective sanctions regime on Burma is to think small and adaptive," she said. "Go after the real perpetrators and profiteers of Burma's military rule and target their ability to access international financial networks to hide their profits, to buy arms and other repressive tools. And do it constantly with updated information and listing of key SPDC officials and military controlled companies. "The EU must cooperate with other sanctioning states such as the U.S. and Australia, and share information and coordinate action. To do anything less makes sanctions a hollow tool, and plays directly into the hands of the military regime who are accustomed to hard talk and soft measures as a result of divergent international approaches." Members of the European Parliament have called, too, for tougher sanctions during an Apr. 23 debate. Plans by the Burmese junta to hold a referendum on a new constitution next month were denounced by MEPs.
Brian Crowley, a representative of Fianna Fáil, Ireland's largest party, noted that the constitution would reserve one-quarter of all seats in the Burmese parliament for the military and that Aung San Suu Kyi would not be allowed seek election "because she is married to a foreigner." Hélène Flautre, a French Green who chairs a parliamentary committee on human rights, said that while efforts to draft a constitution may initially have appeared positive, they "very quickly turned into a Machiavellian scheme." Richard Howitt from the British Labour Party argued that a U.S. ban on banking and financial transactions by the Burmese authorities has denied them foreign currency. He urged the EU to take similar action. Some MEPs also exhorted the EU to press China to use its influence with Burma, in which it invests heavily, so that human rights are respected there.
Ten members of the European Commission, the EU's executive, are visiting China this week, including José Manuel Barroso, the institution's president. One of the commissioners remaining in Europe, Jacques Barrot, said his colleagues would be raising the situation in Burma during their trip.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said that if Barroso's visit will have any meaningful result, he must obtain firm commitments from the Chinese government to allow free expression ahead of this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. Among the commitments being sought by Amnesty are an end to the harassment of Chinese human rights activists, guarantees that journalists will be allowed work unrestricted, and greater transparency about how many executions are carried out. "Such a high level visit one hundred days before the start of the Olympics is a crucial opportunity to press the Chinese government to change its tactics," said Amnesty spokeswoman Natalia Alonso. "The EU's commitment to include human rights concerns into all its policies is at stake." (END/2008)
Sanctions imposed by the European Union on Burma look set to be extended for an extra year because of the lack of progress on human rights in the military-ruled country.EU foreign ministers meeting Apr. 28 will review the measures they introduced against Burma in October last year, following the brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks who took part in street protests that have become known as the Saffron Revolution.
These measures included a ban on the import of gemstones, timber and precious metal. Slovenia, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, expects the sanctions to be renewed for another 12 months. Janez Lenarcic, Slovenia's state secretary for European affairs, said he also expects the EU to formally exhort the Burmese authorities to begin planning for a "legitimate civil government" and to release political prisoners, including the iconic pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet some campaign groups have argued that it would not be sufficient to merely prolong the EU's sanctions. Human Rights Watch is urging both that existing sanctions should be bolstered and supplementary ones added. While the EU has frozen the assets of Burmese generals, Human Rights Watch contends that these financial measures should be made more comprehensive. In particular, it wants any use of bank clearing-houses or the conduct of any other financial transactions within the EU's jurisdiction by members of the junta to be forbidden. The organisation also wants to broaden the range of targets for sanctions.
At present, oil and gas exports from Burma remain unaffected by the sanctions, as do contracts signed by the French energy giant Total for exploiting the Yadana gas field in southern Burma. Human Rights Watch is arguing that the sanctions should be extended to cover companies that finance the Burmese military, such as the state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).
Lotte Leicht, Brussels director with Human Rights Watch, argued that sanctions can have an influence on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the Burmese government calls itself, but only if their application is monitored vigorously. "The way forward for an effective sanctions regime on Burma is to think small and adaptive," she said. "Go after the real perpetrators and profiteers of Burma's military rule and target their ability to access international financial networks to hide their profits, to buy arms and other repressive tools. And do it constantly with updated information and listing of key SPDC officials and military controlled companies. "The EU must cooperate with other sanctioning states such as the U.S. and Australia, and share information and coordinate action. To do anything less makes sanctions a hollow tool, and plays directly into the hands of the military regime who are accustomed to hard talk and soft measures as a result of divergent international approaches." Members of the European Parliament have called, too, for tougher sanctions during an Apr. 23 debate. Plans by the Burmese junta to hold a referendum on a new constitution next month were denounced by MEPs.
Brian Crowley, a representative of Fianna Fáil, Ireland's largest party, noted that the constitution would reserve one-quarter of all seats in the Burmese parliament for the military and that Aung San Suu Kyi would not be allowed seek election "because she is married to a foreigner." Hélène Flautre, a French Green who chairs a parliamentary committee on human rights, said that while efforts to draft a constitution may initially have appeared positive, they "very quickly turned into a Machiavellian scheme." Richard Howitt from the British Labour Party argued that a U.S. ban on banking and financial transactions by the Burmese authorities has denied them foreign currency. He urged the EU to take similar action. Some MEPs also exhorted the EU to press China to use its influence with Burma, in which it invests heavily, so that human rights are respected there.
Ten members of the European Commission, the EU's executive, are visiting China this week, including José Manuel Barroso, the institution's president. One of the commissioners remaining in Europe, Jacques Barrot, said his colleagues would be raising the situation in Burma during their trip.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said that if Barroso's visit will have any meaningful result, he must obtain firm commitments from the Chinese government to allow free expression ahead of this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. Among the commitments being sought by Amnesty are an end to the harassment of Chinese human rights activists, guarantees that journalists will be allowed work unrestricted, and greater transparency about how many executions are carried out. "Such a high level visit one hundred days before the start of the Olympics is a crucial opportunity to press the Chinese government to change its tactics," said Amnesty spokeswoman Natalia Alonso. "The EU's commitment to include human rights concerns into all its policies is at stake." (END/2008)
Intelligence: USDA's Magic Numbers
Monday, April 7, 2008
Rangoon 7th April 2008
BDD obtained the USDA's final voting chart of the … Township recently.
The voting chart shows that 82% of the eligible voters would vote for "Yes" at the upcoming referendum in May. USDA local members have collected the voting lists, and eligible voting numbers in early 2008. Government officials were also instructed to coordinate with USDA's canvassing process even before regime announced it would hold the referendum on 9th February 2008.
It wasn’t clear how they predict or focus this high number of eligible voters would vote for yes. Sources stressed that USDA locals have to show the high numbers to their superiors. No remarks were shown on the chat.
According to the SPDC close associate, U Aung Thaung, minister of Industry One, close associate with senior general Than Shwe, and of cause one of the key leaders of the USDA, has history of making up the numbers, showing fake production goods, and high yield of development numbers for senior general Than Shwe. He normally provides pleasure for senior general.
He once, instructed a head of the Rice Cooker factory, under his ministry of industry one, to import two thousand Panasonic rice cookers from Thailand in terms of senior general Than Shwe was supposed to stop by at the Rice Cooker factory for his inspection tour.
In fact, this Rice Cooker Factory under his supervision, has stopped producing goods for more than a year, and U Aung Thaung had to make up for senior general. That incident was for sake of his position stability or just normally practices within SPDC cabinet members, no one knows. But his dishonesty towards senior general is also questioned in this recent USDA voting chart, sources said.
Rangoon 7th April 2008
BDD obtained the USDA's final voting chart of the … Township recently.
The voting chart shows that 82% of the eligible voters would vote for "Yes" at the upcoming referendum in May. USDA local members have collected the voting lists, and eligible voting numbers in early 2008. Government officials were also instructed to coordinate with USDA's canvassing process even before regime announced it would hold the referendum on 9th February 2008.
It wasn’t clear how they predict or focus this high number of eligible voters would vote for yes. Sources stressed that USDA locals have to show the high numbers to their superiors. No remarks were shown on the chat.
According to the SPDC close associate, U Aung Thaung, minister of Industry One, close associate with senior general Than Shwe, and of cause one of the key leaders of the USDA, has history of making up the numbers, showing fake production goods, and high yield of development numbers for senior general Than Shwe. He normally provides pleasure for senior general.
He once, instructed a head of the Rice Cooker factory, under his ministry of industry one, to import two thousand Panasonic rice cookers from Thailand in terms of senior general Than Shwe was supposed to stop by at the Rice Cooker factory for his inspection tour.
In fact, this Rice Cooker Factory under his supervision, has stopped producing goods for more than a year, and U Aung Thaung had to make up for senior general. That incident was for sake of his position stability or just normally practices within SPDC cabinet members, no one knows. But his dishonesty towards senior general is also questioned in this recent USDA voting chart, sources said.
Region: Political Crisis mounted in Cambodia
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Chiang Mai
April 1, 2008
Rumor came out as Cambodian ruling party has planned to arrest former Sam Rainsy Party MP Tioulong Saumura, wife of opposition leader Sam Rainsy. This news came out in Phnom Penh as ruling party Cambodian People Party and main opposition party Sam Rainsy Party have prepared for the political crisis between CPP and SRP faceoff at the upcoming election.
Cambodia Daily Newspaper’s letter to the editor accused that she has detained one of the SRP political activist to prevent her leaving to the current ruling party. Accuse made while she wasn’t in Cambodia but government accepted the case of her illegal detention against her party activist that she did not make it.
She is now in Paris and will be back tomorrow, and would get arrested upon her return to Cambodia. Ruling party has been challenged by locals groups, and later joined by local NGOs and rural communities to provide SRP's more leverage, and check and balance with ruling party.
Honorable Tioulong Saumura is a co-founder of Cambodia's Asian Inter Parliamentarian Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and strong supporter of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She and her colleague MP Son Chayy of Cambodia had initiative with Cambodian Prime Minister Han Sen for Burma Roundtable in Phnom Penh in 2006. PM Han Sen met Daw San San, elect MP, and MP elect Dr. Sann Aung of NCGUB more than two hours after Burma Roundtable.
Cambodia has been ruled by Cambodian People Party (CPP) led by Prime Minister Han Sen since 1985 back by Vietnam and he was a co-prime minister after Paris Peace Accord that Vietnamese withdrew its occupation forces from Cambodia in 1991. Cambodia has faced the 13years of civil war and population of fourteen million.
Chiang Mai
April 1, 2008
Rumor came out as Cambodian ruling party has planned to arrest former Sam Rainsy Party MP Tioulong Saumura, wife of opposition leader Sam Rainsy. This news came out in Phnom Penh as ruling party Cambodian People Party and main opposition party Sam Rainsy Party have prepared for the political crisis between CPP and SRP faceoff at the upcoming election.
Cambodia Daily Newspaper’s letter to the editor accused that she has detained one of the SRP political activist to prevent her leaving to the current ruling party. Accuse made while she wasn’t in Cambodia but government accepted the case of her illegal detention against her party activist that she did not make it.
She is now in Paris and will be back tomorrow, and would get arrested upon her return to Cambodia. Ruling party has been challenged by locals groups, and later joined by local NGOs and rural communities to provide SRP's more leverage, and check and balance with ruling party.
Honorable Tioulong Saumura is a co-founder of Cambodia's Asian Inter Parliamentarian Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and strong supporter of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She and her colleague MP Son Chayy of Cambodia had initiative with Cambodian Prime Minister Han Sen for Burma Roundtable in Phnom Penh in 2006. PM Han Sen met Daw San San, elect MP, and MP elect Dr. Sann Aung of NCGUB more than two hours after Burma Roundtable.
Cambodia has been ruled by Cambodian People Party (CPP) led by Prime Minister Han Sen since 1985 back by Vietnam and he was a co-prime minister after Paris Peace Accord that Vietnamese withdrew its occupation forces from Cambodia in 1991. Cambodia has faced the 13years of civil war and population of fourteen million.
Myanmar political study group urges support of constitutional referendum
Sunday, March 2, 2008
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-02 17:51:30
YANGON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- A political study group in Myanmar Sunday called on its members and the public to vote in favor of a constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum scheduled for May.
The Modern Scientific Political Economy Study Group (MSPEG) told a monthly regular meeting here that if cooperating with the military government, the transition to democracy system could be realized earlier and the process could also be possible in a peaceful manner.
The group objected foreign sanctions on Myanmar, saying that if a country is so imposed, it would only bring about increased poverty of the people and social unrest that could prolong the dictatorship.
With an aim of studying modern capitalism and socialism, the MSPEG was formed in October 1980 having over 10,000 members now, the group said, adding that it has held some 33 political activities across the country in 2007, and two in February this year in support of the forthcoming government-planned constitutional referendum in May and general election in 2010.
The ruling Myanmar military government, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), enacted on Feb. 26 a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and setup a commission for a nationwide constitutional referendum following the completion of the constitution draft on Feb. 19.
The referendum is to pave way for a general election slated for2010 under the government's seven-step roadmap to transform the military administration into a civil one.
The new constitution had been drafted since Dec. 3 last year, based on the detailed basic principles laid down in the years-long national convention which started in 1993 and ended in September last year. That national convention was participated by over 1,000delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-02 17:51:30
YANGON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- A political study group in Myanmar Sunday called on its members and the public to vote in favor of a constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum scheduled for May.
The Modern Scientific Political Economy Study Group (MSPEG) told a monthly regular meeting here that if cooperating with the military government, the transition to democracy system could be realized earlier and the process could also be possible in a peaceful manner.
The group objected foreign sanctions on Myanmar, saying that if a country is so imposed, it would only bring about increased poverty of the people and social unrest that could prolong the dictatorship.
With an aim of studying modern capitalism and socialism, the MSPEG was formed in October 1980 having over 10,000 members now, the group said, adding that it has held some 33 political activities across the country in 2007, and two in February this year in support of the forthcoming government-planned constitutional referendum in May and general election in 2010.
The ruling Myanmar military government, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), enacted on Feb. 26 a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and setup a commission for a nationwide constitutional referendum following the completion of the constitution draft on Feb. 19.
The referendum is to pave way for a general election slated for2010 under the government's seven-step roadmap to transform the military administration into a civil one.
The new constitution had been drafted since Dec. 3 last year, based on the detailed basic principles laid down in the years-long national convention which started in 1993 and ended in September last year. That national convention was participated by over 1,000delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
Myanmar refuses to amend constitution draft, sticks to seven-step roadmap
Saturday, March 8, 2008
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-08 01:08:52
YANGON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's completed constitution draft could not be amended and the government is committed to its seven-step roadmap to democracy which is underway, said a high-ranking official Friday.
Information Minister Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan made the remarks while meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, who is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special adviser on Myanmar, the state-run radio and television reported in a night broadcast.
Gambari is on the second day of his visit to Myanmar in a renewed effort for the country's national reconciliation and democratic process. Kyaw Hsan made the remarks in response to a letter to Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe from the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dated Feb. 19.
Kyaw Hsan said Myanmar's seven-step roadmap has reached the fourth step of holding a national referendum on the completed constitution draft with a multi-party democratic general election to follow in 2010.
Myanmar citizens could exercise their equal polling rights to freely vote in favor of or against the constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum in May this year and then free campaigning by political parties will be granted in the general election to follow in 2010, he said.
Saying that the government's democratic process has already been inclusive of all parties, he blamed the National League for Democracy (NLD) for having stayed out of the constitutional national convention in its initial stage and not rejoining the convention when it resumed in 2004 after years of adjournment.
He said that Myanmar has cooperated with the U.N., citing the initiation of talks with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi by appointing a liaison minister U Aung Kyi for the move and the release of prisoners in response to its calls.
He expressed hope that the U.N. would stay non-aligned in Myanmar's internal affairs and support its seven-step roadmap by persuading the NLD to join the roadmap. He criticized foreign sanctions imposed on Myanmar, saying that such a move created difficulties for the country's development.
He urged the U.N. to help eradicate poverty in Myanmar through lifting of sanctions rather than proposing the establishment of an economic aid forum for the country.
On Friday, Gambari also met with Supreme Court Chief Justice U Aung Toe, who is assigned as chairman of a 45-member commission for holding nationwide constitutional referendum, the radio and television report said.
Informed sources said Gambari will meet senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Saturday, arranged by the government.
Shortly after his arrival in Yangon on Thursday, Gambari already had talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, met the diplomatic corps, U.N. country team and resident representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Gambari's ongoing mission is the fifth since he was appointed to the post in early 2006 and the first after the Myanmar government announced on Feb. 9 a time table for holding the nationwide referendum in May this year.
On Feb. 26, the State Peace and Development Council enacted a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and set up a commission to govern the upcoming May constitutional referendum.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-08 01:08:52
YANGON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's completed constitution draft could not be amended and the government is committed to its seven-step roadmap to democracy which is underway, said a high-ranking official Friday.
Information Minister Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan made the remarks while meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, who is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special adviser on Myanmar, the state-run radio and television reported in a night broadcast.
Gambari is on the second day of his visit to Myanmar in a renewed effort for the country's national reconciliation and democratic process. Kyaw Hsan made the remarks in response to a letter to Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe from the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dated Feb. 19.
Kyaw Hsan said Myanmar's seven-step roadmap has reached the fourth step of holding a national referendum on the completed constitution draft with a multi-party democratic general election to follow in 2010.
Myanmar citizens could exercise their equal polling rights to freely vote in favor of or against the constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum in May this year and then free campaigning by political parties will be granted in the general election to follow in 2010, he said.
Saying that the government's democratic process has already been inclusive of all parties, he blamed the National League for Democracy (NLD) for having stayed out of the constitutional national convention in its initial stage and not rejoining the convention when it resumed in 2004 after years of adjournment.
He said that Myanmar has cooperated with the U.N., citing the initiation of talks with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi by appointing a liaison minister U Aung Kyi for the move and the release of prisoners in response to its calls.
He expressed hope that the U.N. would stay non-aligned in Myanmar's internal affairs and support its seven-step roadmap by persuading the NLD to join the roadmap. He criticized foreign sanctions imposed on Myanmar, saying that such a move created difficulties for the country's development.
He urged the U.N. to help eradicate poverty in Myanmar through lifting of sanctions rather than proposing the establishment of an economic aid forum for the country.
On Friday, Gambari also met with Supreme Court Chief Justice U Aung Toe, who is assigned as chairman of a 45-member commission for holding nationwide constitutional referendum, the radio and television report said.
Informed sources said Gambari will meet senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Saturday, arranged by the government.
Shortly after his arrival in Yangon on Thursday, Gambari already had talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, met the diplomatic corps, U.N. country team and resident representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Gambari's ongoing mission is the fifth since he was appointed to the post in early 2006 and the first after the Myanmar government announced on Feb. 9 a time table for holding the nationwide referendum in May this year.
On Feb. 26, the State Peace and Development Council enacted a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and set up a commission to govern the upcoming May constitutional referendum.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
Burma rejects outside election observers
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Rangoon - The ruling military junta on Saturday rejected a proposal for foreign observers at a referendum set for May, and said democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was out of all elections plans.
The rejection came just hours after UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari was allowed to meet the detained Nobel peace prize winner and top leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Gambari offered UN technical assistance and help with facilitating observers at the planned referendum when he met on Friday with members of the commission tasked with organising the vote, according to state television.
Thaung Nyung, a member of the commission, rejected the offer, saying the referendum was a domestic affair.
"We have enough experience, but we take note of your offer," Thaung Nyung said, according to state television late Saturday.
"Holding the referendum on the constitution is within the country's sovereignty," he said. "For internal affairs in the past, we have never had observers from outside."
The commission answered few of Gambari's questions about the referendum and declined to give an exact date for the balloting, saying only that it would take place on a single day, state television reported. (Agencies)
Rangoon - The ruling military junta on Saturday rejected a proposal for foreign observers at a referendum set for May, and said democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was out of all elections plans.
The rejection came just hours after UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari was allowed to meet the detained Nobel peace prize winner and top leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Gambari offered UN technical assistance and help with facilitating observers at the planned referendum when he met on Friday with members of the commission tasked with organising the vote, according to state television.
Thaung Nyung, a member of the commission, rejected the offer, saying the referendum was a domestic affair.
"We have enough experience, but we take note of your offer," Thaung Nyung said, according to state television late Saturday.
"Holding the referendum on the constitution is within the country's sovereignty," he said. "For internal affairs in the past, we have never had observers from outside."
The commission answered few of Gambari's questions about the referendum and declined to give an exact date for the balloting, saying only that it would take place on a single day, state television reported. (Agencies)
World Economic Forum Selects Jared Genser as a 2008 Young Global Leader
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Selection Caps a Year of Honors for DLA Piper Attorney and Freedom Now Founder
(Geneva, Switzerland and Washington, DC) March 11, 2008 -- The World Economic Forum today announced that DLA Piper associate and Freedom Now Founder Jared Genser has been selected as a Young Global Leader for 2008. This honor is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize the top 200 to 300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
The Young Global Leaders for 2008 include 121 business leaders, as well as leaders from government, academia, media and society at large from 65 countries. The new class represents all regions, including East Asia (64), Europe (58), Middle East and North Africa (12), North America (45), South Asia (24), sub-Saharan Africa (21) and Latin America (21). Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the current community of Young Global Leaders represents more than 60 countries. This year’s newly-selected Global Leaders include His Royal Highness Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, the king of Bhutan; Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide; former Tennis player and refugee advocate Steffi Graf; Rama Yade, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights of France; Anderson Cooper, anchor of CNN’s 360°; actor Leonardo DiCaprio; skateboard entrepreneur Tony Hawk; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, as well as many others.
In nominating Genser for the program, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond M. Tutu wrote: “[t]hrough his work as a young human-rights lawyer, he is an exemplar of innovative and outstanding public service. It is not an exaggeration to say that his pro bono work to win people their most basic human rights is having an impact that is both historic and truly global in scale.”
As a Young Global Leader, Genser will have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to world-level events over the next five years, such as the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He will also participate in task forces to initiate, develop, and drive innovative solutions on important issues of global concern.
“We’re incredibly proud of Jared, who is a model of a Young Global Leader,” said DLA Piper Joint CEO Lee Miller. “His pro bono work, both at DLA Piper and with Freedom Now, sets a stellar example for all our lawyers. He personifies the commitment and professional obligation we all have to serve our communities, and to fight for justice for those who need it most. Jared has also balanced hundreds of hours of pro bono work with a full load of paying clients and two thousand hours of billable work – a truly impressive feat by any measure.”
Lisa Dewey, Pro Bono Partner at DLA Piper, commented: “Jared works tirelessly to promote freedom and human rights. From Burma to Iran to Lebanon to North Korea, Jared has demonstrated that one person’s spirited advocacy – and persistence – can make a real difference in the world. His work has helped secure freedom for numerous political prisoners, and his global advocacy has helped put a spotlight on some of the worst human rights violations around the world today. ”
Genser’s inclusion in the 2008 Young Global Leaders is the latest in a string of honors he has received for his human rights activism and advocacy:
In November, the Law Society of England & Wales (UK) named Genser as the Young Pro Bono Solicitor of the Year in the large firm category. It was one of five awards given out to UK-qualified solicitors who have been practicing fewer than ten years.
The ABA Section of Litigation recently announced that Jared Genser would receive the 2008 John Minor Wisdom Award for Public Service and Professionalism. The ABA Section of Litigation, which makes the award, has more than 75,000 members and includes trial lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process.
In May, Genser will be one of two commencement speakers at the University of Pennsylvania Law School graduation, alongside Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Genser has been designated as this year’s Honorary Fellow -- a person who has distinguished him or herself in commitment to public service in law-related activities. It is Penn Law's hope to honor lawyers who have made "significant contributions to the ends of justice" and "to inspire its students to emulate these men and women." Prior Honorary Fellows have included Ralph Nader, Marion Wright Edelman, Leonard Boudin, Morris Dees, Justice Cruz Reynaldo, Anthony Amsterdam, Michael Posner, Cory Booker, Julie Su and Michael Ratner.
Selection Caps a Year of Honors for DLA Piper Attorney and Freedom Now Founder
(Geneva, Switzerland and Washington, DC) March 11, 2008 -- The World Economic Forum today announced that DLA Piper associate and Freedom Now Founder Jared Genser has been selected as a Young Global Leader for 2008. This honor is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize the top 200 to 300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
The Young Global Leaders for 2008 include 121 business leaders, as well as leaders from government, academia, media and society at large from 65 countries. The new class represents all regions, including East Asia (64), Europe (58), Middle East and North Africa (12), North America (45), South Asia (24), sub-Saharan Africa (21) and Latin America (21). Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the current community of Young Global Leaders represents more than 60 countries. This year’s newly-selected Global Leaders include His Royal Highness Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, the king of Bhutan; Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide; former Tennis player and refugee advocate Steffi Graf; Rama Yade, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights of France; Anderson Cooper, anchor of CNN’s 360°; actor Leonardo DiCaprio; skateboard entrepreneur Tony Hawk; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, as well as many others.
In nominating Genser for the program, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond M. Tutu wrote: “[t]hrough his work as a young human-rights lawyer, he is an exemplar of innovative and outstanding public service. It is not an exaggeration to say that his pro bono work to win people their most basic human rights is having an impact that is both historic and truly global in scale.”
As a Young Global Leader, Genser will have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to world-level events over the next five years, such as the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He will also participate in task forces to initiate, develop, and drive innovative solutions on important issues of global concern.
“We’re incredibly proud of Jared, who is a model of a Young Global Leader,” said DLA Piper Joint CEO Lee Miller. “His pro bono work, both at DLA Piper and with Freedom Now, sets a stellar example for all our lawyers. He personifies the commitment and professional obligation we all have to serve our communities, and to fight for justice for those who need it most. Jared has also balanced hundreds of hours of pro bono work with a full load of paying clients and two thousand hours of billable work – a truly impressive feat by any measure.”
Lisa Dewey, Pro Bono Partner at DLA Piper, commented: “Jared works tirelessly to promote freedom and human rights. From Burma to Iran to Lebanon to North Korea, Jared has demonstrated that one person’s spirited advocacy – and persistence – can make a real difference in the world. His work has helped secure freedom for numerous political prisoners, and his global advocacy has helped put a spotlight on some of the worst human rights violations around the world today. ”
Genser’s inclusion in the 2008 Young Global Leaders is the latest in a string of honors he has received for his human rights activism and advocacy:
In November, the Law Society of England & Wales (UK) named Genser as the Young Pro Bono Solicitor of the Year in the large firm category. It was one of five awards given out to UK-qualified solicitors who have been practicing fewer than ten years.
The ABA Section of Litigation recently announced that Jared Genser would receive the 2008 John Minor Wisdom Award for Public Service and Professionalism. The ABA Section of Litigation, which makes the award, has more than 75,000 members and includes trial lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process.
In May, Genser will be one of two commencement speakers at the University of Pennsylvania Law School graduation, alongside Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Genser has been designated as this year’s Honorary Fellow -- a person who has distinguished him or herself in commitment to public service in law-related activities. It is Penn Law's hope to honor lawyers who have made "significant contributions to the ends of justice" and "to inspire its students to emulate these men and women." Prior Honorary Fellows have included Ralph Nader, Marion Wright Edelman, Leonard Boudin, Morris Dees, Justice Cruz Reynaldo, Anthony Amsterdam, Michael Posner, Cory Booker, Julie Su and Michael Ratner.
Russian company to dig for gold in Burma
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Rangoon (dpa) - The Burmese military regime has agreed to let Russia's Glory International Pte Ltd search for gold and other minerals in the country's northern Kachin State, which borders China, state media said Saturday.
The exploration agreement was signed between Win Ti, Director-General of Burma's Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration Department, and Krivoshey Pavel, Chairman of Victorious Glory International Pte on Friday in Naypyitaw, the country's new capital.
Under the agreement, Glory International will be allowed to search for gold and other minerals along the Uru River between Phakant in Kachin State and Homalin of Sagaing Division, The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
Although Glory International claims to be a Russian firm, its parent firm Chandwin Projects Pte Ltd, also headed by Mr Pavel, actually was incorporated in Singapore only last year.
At the firm's website, registered in Singapore, Mr Pavel is described as a professional mining engineer with over 20 years of experience in mine development and mine management. Chandwin's mission is defined simply as "discovering, acquiring, developing, producing and marketing mineral resources at a profit."
It lists two offices in Singapore, and none in Russia, although it claims to have staff based in Russia. The backers of the firm are described as "Switzerland partners," with no names provided.
Some consider that Burma, a former socialist country that closed its doors to the outside world between 1962 to 1988, is one of Asia's last treasure troves for untapped minerals.
Source: Bangkok Post
Rangoon (dpa) - The Burmese military regime has agreed to let Russia's Glory International Pte Ltd search for gold and other minerals in the country's northern Kachin State, which borders China, state media said Saturday.
The exploration agreement was signed between Win Ti, Director-General of Burma's Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration Department, and Krivoshey Pavel, Chairman of Victorious Glory International Pte on Friday in Naypyitaw, the country's new capital.
Under the agreement, Glory International will be allowed to search for gold and other minerals along the Uru River between Phakant in Kachin State and Homalin of Sagaing Division, The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
Although Glory International claims to be a Russian firm, its parent firm Chandwin Projects Pte Ltd, also headed by Mr Pavel, actually was incorporated in Singapore only last year.
At the firm's website, registered in Singapore, Mr Pavel is described as a professional mining engineer with over 20 years of experience in mine development and mine management. Chandwin's mission is defined simply as "discovering, acquiring, developing, producing and marketing mineral resources at a profit."
It lists two offices in Singapore, and none in Russia, although it claims to have staff based in Russia. The backers of the firm are described as "Switzerland partners," with no names provided.
Some consider that Burma, a former socialist country that closed its doors to the outside world between 1962 to 1988, is one of Asia's last treasure troves for untapped minerals.
Source: Bangkok Post
A limited time to play
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Nyo Ohn Myint
Feb 8, 2008 (DVB)–Naypyidaw, the jungle capital of Burma, has been very busy in past weeks with top advisers in greens and generals in charge of internal security responsibilities.
Senior general Than Shwe reportedly instructed them to find a short-term solution to appease the angry and hungry Burmese people and international players. Before the Saffron Revolution, Than Shwe had tried to avoid a political solution, but regional and international pressures have made political engagement unavoidable.
The senior general has not given up, but is preparing better political, social, and diplomatic strategies to achieve his own aims; he has chosen general Ye Myint to approach and receive the support of ethnic ceasefire groups, while he has designated foreign minister Nyan Win and prime minister Thein Sein to neutralize the mounting international pressures and raise funds to combat the shortage of hard currency.
U Aung Thaung and general Htay Oo have been given outright power to control the domestic political and social turmoil, and U Aung Kyi has been tasked to perform various magic tricks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Consequently, Nyan Win approached India for financial assistance, investments and bilateral cooperation in early January 2008. Along with other issues, the main purpose of the discussion for the SPDC was to seek financial assistance from India.
Perhaps China has indicated its unwillingness to provide financial and political support until it has successfully staged the Beijing Olympic in August 2008.
Sources say that Than Shwe has limited his public appearances since the Saffron Revolution last year. There is as hard-line an undercurrent as ever in Burma, but interestingly, the generals who oversee the military institutions have also disappeared from the public scene.
Rumours spread that general Thura Shwe Mann, the front runner to be the next SPDC leader, was even losing control over mid-level super hardliners, as was the junta’s second-in-command vice-senior general Maung Aye.
It is crystal clear that Than Shwe and the hardliners tightly control all power and decision-making processes.
U Aung Kyi has had both international and local audiences to play with; providing false hope, diluting commitments, and most importantly trying to marginalize Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s role as much as he could.
Than Shwe knows she has no option of refusing to meet with U Aung Kyi if there is to be a political negotiation process.
Regardless of whether an agreement is reached, things will still be dangerous. Indeed, Than Shwe has bunch of cards in his hands but time may not allow him to play them, as a diplomat said.
In addition, there is no affinity between policy-making group of super hardliners backed by decision-maker Than Shwe and the implementation team or cabinet led by prime minister Thein Sein.
A few hardliners who are also cabinet ministers refuse to accept any suggestions from Thein Sein, according to a close associate of the regime. A para-SPDC cabinet and secondary security forces exist alongside the official institutions, and this has caused problems.
A recent major challenge has been allocating funds for government spending.
The army has made a request to replace two-decade-old Chinese-made military hardware with more modern alternatives, but internal security – run by super hardliners – has hesitated to approve the army’s request, believing small arms to be good enough for suppression.
Than Shwe may withdraw from the UN-initiated dialogue process with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if the international community fails to resume normal humanitarian assistance.
He has used her image to get aid, assistance and contain possible unrest; if this strategy is not working, why would he bother to send someone to meet her?
Reducing the strength of the opposition is a very important factor for Than Shwe in ruling Burma, and so security forces continue to make arrests, search activists door-to-door and put pressure on civilians.
The fabricated bombings in Burma over the last few weeks allowed the regime to set up roadblocks, search political activists in the local community and impose travel restrictions on opposition members.
Than Shwe’s shadow cabinet and close associates are facing opposition from different sectors of society, challenges from monks, and the hostility of a new anti-government generation all within a limited timeframe.
The more battlefronts he and his men have to fight on, the lesser chance he has of winning each battle.
Even if they are successful, they will have to reshuffle the whole army and SPDC for their future destiny while the country remains at ground zero.
If not, and they fail to prove that a hard-line strategy is the most efficient, a new generation army will take over power and determine the role for the military to take in Burmese politics.
Posted by BURMA DEMOCRACY & DEVELOPMENT at 2/09/2008 02:21:00 PM
Nyo Ohn Myint
Feb 8, 2008 (DVB)–Naypyidaw, the jungle capital of Burma, has been very busy in past weeks with top advisers in greens and generals in charge of internal security responsibilities.
Senior general Than Shwe reportedly instructed them to find a short-term solution to appease the angry and hungry Burmese people and international players. Before the Saffron Revolution, Than Shwe had tried to avoid a political solution, but regional and international pressures have made political engagement unavoidable.
The senior general has not given up, but is preparing better political, social, and diplomatic strategies to achieve his own aims; he has chosen general Ye Myint to approach and receive the support of ethnic ceasefire groups, while he has designated foreign minister Nyan Win and prime minister Thein Sein to neutralize the mounting international pressures and raise funds to combat the shortage of hard currency.
U Aung Thaung and general Htay Oo have been given outright power to control the domestic political and social turmoil, and U Aung Kyi has been tasked to perform various magic tricks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Consequently, Nyan Win approached India for financial assistance, investments and bilateral cooperation in early January 2008. Along with other issues, the main purpose of the discussion for the SPDC was to seek financial assistance from India.
Perhaps China has indicated its unwillingness to provide financial and political support until it has successfully staged the Beijing Olympic in August 2008.
Sources say that Than Shwe has limited his public appearances since the Saffron Revolution last year. There is as hard-line an undercurrent as ever in Burma, but interestingly, the generals who oversee the military institutions have also disappeared from the public scene.
Rumours spread that general Thura Shwe Mann, the front runner to be the next SPDC leader, was even losing control over mid-level super hardliners, as was the junta’s second-in-command vice-senior general Maung Aye.
It is crystal clear that Than Shwe and the hardliners tightly control all power and decision-making processes.
U Aung Kyi has had both international and local audiences to play with; providing false hope, diluting commitments, and most importantly trying to marginalize Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s role as much as he could.
Than Shwe knows she has no option of refusing to meet with U Aung Kyi if there is to be a political negotiation process.
Regardless of whether an agreement is reached, things will still be dangerous. Indeed, Than Shwe has bunch of cards in his hands but time may not allow him to play them, as a diplomat said.
In addition, there is no affinity between policy-making group of super hardliners backed by decision-maker Than Shwe and the implementation team or cabinet led by prime minister Thein Sein.
A few hardliners who are also cabinet ministers refuse to accept any suggestions from Thein Sein, according to a close associate of the regime. A para-SPDC cabinet and secondary security forces exist alongside the official institutions, and this has caused problems.
A recent major challenge has been allocating funds for government spending.
The army has made a request to replace two-decade-old Chinese-made military hardware with more modern alternatives, but internal security – run by super hardliners – has hesitated to approve the army’s request, believing small arms to be good enough for suppression.
Than Shwe may withdraw from the UN-initiated dialogue process with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if the international community fails to resume normal humanitarian assistance.
He has used her image to get aid, assistance and contain possible unrest; if this strategy is not working, why would he bother to send someone to meet her?
Reducing the strength of the opposition is a very important factor for Than Shwe in ruling Burma, and so security forces continue to make arrests, search activists door-to-door and put pressure on civilians.
The fabricated bombings in Burma over the last few weeks allowed the regime to set up roadblocks, search political activists in the local community and impose travel restrictions on opposition members.
Than Shwe’s shadow cabinet and close associates are facing opposition from different sectors of society, challenges from monks, and the hostility of a new anti-government generation all within a limited timeframe.
The more battlefronts he and his men have to fight on, the lesser chance he has of winning each battle.
Even if they are successful, they will have to reshuffle the whole army and SPDC for their future destiny while the country remains at ground zero.
If not, and they fail to prove that a hard-line strategy is the most efficient, a new generation army will take over power and determine the role for the military to take in Burmese politics.
Posted by BURMA DEMOCRACY & DEVELOPMENT at 2/09/2008 02:21:00 PM
Myanmar to hold national referendum in May and general election in 2010
Sunday, February 10, 2008
www.chinaview.cn
2008-02-10 04:35:38
YANGON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will hold national referendum on draft of the State Constitution in May this year and a general election in 2010, state-run Myanmar Radio reported in a night broadcast Saturday.
Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) issued Saturday two declarations on holding of a national referendum on draft of the State Constitution and a general election to produce parliament representatives, according to official report.
Myanmar's National Convention to work out detailed basic principles for drawing up a new state constitution began in 1993 and successfully completed in 2007, the declaration No. 1 said.
The convention has adopted detailed basic principles for the new State Constitution, and Myanmar's State Constitution Drafting Commission is drafting the new State Constitution to be approved by the referendum, said the SPDC's declaration.
It was participated by over 1,000 delegates from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
In order to transfer the state power from military government to civil government, a multi-party general election will be held in 2010 in accordance with the new State Constitution, said the SPDC's declaration No. 2.
The state constitution drafting commission was formed on Oct. 18, 2007 and started work in December as the third step of the road map to undertake the drafting of a new state constitution in line with the roadmap.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a new general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
www.chinaview.cn
2008-02-10 04:35:38
YANGON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will hold national referendum on draft of the State Constitution in May this year and a general election in 2010, state-run Myanmar Radio reported in a night broadcast Saturday.
Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) issued Saturday two declarations on holding of a national referendum on draft of the State Constitution and a general election to produce parliament representatives, according to official report.
Myanmar's National Convention to work out detailed basic principles for drawing up a new state constitution began in 1993 and successfully completed in 2007, the declaration No. 1 said.
The convention has adopted detailed basic principles for the new State Constitution, and Myanmar's State Constitution Drafting Commission is drafting the new State Constitution to be approved by the referendum, said the SPDC's declaration.
It was participated by over 1,000 delegates from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
In order to transfer the state power from military government to civil government, a multi-party general election will be held in 2010 in accordance with the new State Constitution, said the SPDC's declaration No. 2.
The state constitution drafting commission was formed on Oct. 18, 2007 and started work in December as the third step of the road map to undertake the drafting of a new state constitution in line with the roadmap.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a new general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
Myanmar referendum law allows free voting, open counting of votes
Thursday, February 28, 2008
YANGON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's constitutional referendum law, which was published in Wednesday's state media, allows free casting of votes and open counting of them on a constitution draft to ensure the forthcoming nationwide referendum on the draft, slated for May, be free and fair.
The law allows secret casting of votes into the ballot box that is publicly visible to ensure it is free and ballots be counted in the presence of voters as soon as the ballot box closes to ensure it is fair according to the referendum law made public on the state-run Myanmar-language daily Myanmar Alin.
The law warned against acts aimed at undermining the referendum, banning public speeches and disseminating of leaflets and posters in an attempt to disturb the running of the referendum.
Law-breakers will be punished with a prison term of up to three years or a fine in cash up to 100,000 Kyats (nearly 100 U.S. dollars), the law stated.
The ruling Myanmar military government Tuesday enacted a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and set up a commission for a nationwide constitutional referendum.
The move, declared by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), came a week after the government's State Constitution Drafting Commission announced the completion of the constitution draft on Feb. 19 which will seek its approval in the forthcoming referendum.
Formed under the referendum law, the 45-member Commission for Holding Nationwide Referendum is headed by Chief Justice U Aung Toe who was also chairman of the State Constitution Drafting Commission.
According to Feb. 9 government announcement, a nationwide referendum will be held in May this year to seek the whole country people’s approval on the constitution draft and a multi-party democracy general election to transform the military administration into democratic administration to follow in 2010 in accordance with the government's seven-step roadmap to democracy.
The new constitution had been drafted by the government-formed state constitution drafting commission since Dec. 3 last year, based on the detailed basic principles laid down in the years-long national convention which started in 1993 and ended in September last year. That national convention was participated by over 1,000delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: An Lu
YANGON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's constitutional referendum law, which was published in Wednesday's state media, allows free casting of votes and open counting of them on a constitution draft to ensure the forthcoming nationwide referendum on the draft, slated for May, be free and fair.
The law allows secret casting of votes into the ballot box that is publicly visible to ensure it is free and ballots be counted in the presence of voters as soon as the ballot box closes to ensure it is fair according to the referendum law made public on the state-run Myanmar-language daily Myanmar Alin.
The law warned against acts aimed at undermining the referendum, banning public speeches and disseminating of leaflets and posters in an attempt to disturb the running of the referendum.
Law-breakers will be punished with a prison term of up to three years or a fine in cash up to 100,000 Kyats (nearly 100 U.S. dollars), the law stated.
The ruling Myanmar military government Tuesday enacted a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and set up a commission for a nationwide constitutional referendum.
The move, declared by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), came a week after the government's State Constitution Drafting Commission announced the completion of the constitution draft on Feb. 19 which will seek its approval in the forthcoming referendum.
Formed under the referendum law, the 45-member Commission for Holding Nationwide Referendum is headed by Chief Justice U Aung Toe who was also chairman of the State Constitution Drafting Commission.
According to Feb. 9 government announcement, a nationwide referendum will be held in May this year to seek the whole country people’s approval on the constitution draft and a multi-party democracy general election to transform the military administration into democratic administration to follow in 2010 in accordance with the government's seven-step roadmap to democracy.
The new constitution had been drafted by the government-formed state constitution drafting commission since Dec. 3 last year, based on the detailed basic principles laid down in the years-long national convention which started in 1993 and ended in September last year. That national convention was participated by over 1,000delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.
According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.
Editor: An Lu
Cobra Gold 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
BDD
Thai-Burma border
02-29-2008
There would be the largest military exercise in Thailand in mid 2008. According to Thai military weblog, that involvement of air force, navy, marine, and army from five countries. This training and military exercise is an each year event and is all over Thailand. Thailand would host USA, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan's forces in this regional largest military exercise.
During its exercise of Cobra Gold in 2002,which was having near Thai-Burma border in Chiang Mai Province. By that time, Shan State Army (South) attacked and occupied SPDC and United Wa State Army (UWSA) joint military outposts and illicit drug factories opposite of Chiang Mai Province. During the SSA's attacks, the SPDC troops withdrew with heavy causalities. Later SPDC used four thousand troops, air support and heavy artillery units to reoccupy the area.
Regime's newspapers also accused that foreign forces were involved in this SSA attack in 2002.
BDD
Thai-Burma border
02-29-2008
There would be the largest military exercise in Thailand in mid 2008. According to Thai military weblog, that involvement of air force, navy, marine, and army from five countries. This training and military exercise is an each year event and is all over Thailand. Thailand would host USA, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan's forces in this regional largest military exercise.
During its exercise of Cobra Gold in 2002,which was having near Thai-Burma border in Chiang Mai Province. By that time, Shan State Army (South) attacked and occupied SPDC and United Wa State Army (UWSA) joint military outposts and illicit drug factories opposite of Chiang Mai Province. During the SSA's attacks, the SPDC troops withdrew with heavy causalities. Later SPDC used four thousand troops, air support and heavy artillery units to reoccupy the area.
Regime's newspapers also accused that foreign forces were involved in this SSA attack in 2002.
Myanmar to liberalize fuel import leads to Uprising in September 2007
Saturday, January 19, 2008
BDD
“Myanmar is deliberating on liberalizing the import of fuel by allowing the private sector to undertake the business in a bid to increase production, the local weekly Myanmar Times reported in this week's issue.
Private business organizations are set to seek fuel import through the Trade Council, the country's highest authority in charge of export and import trading businesses, the report said, quoting the Export and Import Supervisory Committee.
Under the existing procedure, only government affiliated organizations and private companies, including the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd and Htoo Trading Company, may import fuel directly,
The move will signify the first ever allowance for the private sector to import fuel.
Myanmar mainly imports diesel from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, heavily draining on the country's foreign currency reserve, according to the report.” Xinhua said on 18 Jan 2008.
This Htoo Trading Company which believed to be partly own by Than Shwe’s family and they paved the way of fuel price hike for their own profit in August 2007. This let a major challenge against the government in August and September 2007.
The Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd, which is also government and generals’ joint venture and profiting is always pocketing to the generals.
BDD
“Myanmar is deliberating on liberalizing the import of fuel by allowing the private sector to undertake the business in a bid to increase production, the local weekly Myanmar Times reported in this week's issue.
Private business organizations are set to seek fuel import through the Trade Council, the country's highest authority in charge of export and import trading businesses, the report said, quoting the Export and Import Supervisory Committee.
Under the existing procedure, only government affiliated organizations and private companies, including the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd and Htoo Trading Company, may import fuel directly,
The move will signify the first ever allowance for the private sector to import fuel.
Myanmar mainly imports diesel from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, heavily draining on the country's foreign currency reserve, according to the report.” Xinhua said on 18 Jan 2008.
This Htoo Trading Company which believed to be partly own by Than Shwe’s family and they paved the way of fuel price hike for their own profit in August 2007. This let a major challenge against the government in August and September 2007.
The Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd, which is also government and generals’ joint venture and profiting is always pocketing to the generals.
UK announces doubling of aid
16 January 2008
BANGKOK, (IRIN)
International
One of the main aid donors to Myanmar (formerly Burma), the UK government, has announced it is doubling its humanitarian aid to the impoverished country over the next three years, in response to what it describes as a "staggering" humanitarian crisis.
The UK provided around £8 million in humanitarian aid in 2007, supporting projects run by UN agencies and non-governmental organisations in the fields of health, basic education and poverty alleviation. It also provided nearly £1 million to help Burmese refugees who have fled the country.
Over the next three years, the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) will gradually increase aid to Myanmar's most needy people to around £18 million per year by 2010/2011. USAID requested US$7 million for the 2007 financial year but it is not yet clear whether this sum has been officially earmarked. Earlier the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) had pledged 18 million euros for Myanmar and Burmese refugees in Thailand in December 2007.
The scale of humanitarian crisis afflicting the Burmese people is, quite simply, staggering. "The scale of humanitarian crisis afflicting the Burmese people is, quite simply, staggering," Douglas Alexander, the UK's secretary of state for international development, said during a recent visit to Bangkok.
Challenging environment
Myanmar is a highly challenging environment for international humanitarian work, according to most observers. They say the military regime is highly suspicious of foreign aid workers, and domestic civil society groups, and seeks to tightly control their activities.
However, Alexander said DFID's partners, including UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were already successfully delivering aid to Myanmar's needy, without channelling assistance through the government.
"There are very clear and established mechanisms which we use in a range of environments in which we are not able to work with the government, and those are fully implemented in Myanmar," he said.
"Notwithstanding the difficulties of the operating environment, it is important that what efforts can be made are made to address the appalling circumstances [facing] too large a proportion of the Burmese population," he said.
According to the UN, around one-third of Myanmar's people survive on less than US$1 a day, half of all children fail to complete primary school, and HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
In ethnic minority border areas, where the army is still battling armed ethnic minority insurgents, many civilians have been displaced by fighting and conflict, and are living in desperate poverty, the UN and aid groups along the border say.
Myanmar's economic conditions, political repression and conflict have also pushed an estimated 1.5 million people into neighbouring Thailand, where around 140,000 are living in refugee camps, while the rest toil as poorly paid labourers, vulnerable to official harassment and exploitation, UN agencies say.
How the money will be spent
Alexander, who travelled to the Thai-Myanmar border to visit refugee camps, clinics and other facilities assisting the Burmese in Thailand, said he could not yet say precisely how the increased British humanitarian funding would be spent. "We have not yet reached a judgement as to the balance of funding between in-country support and crossborder support," he said. "There are urgent pressing humanitarian needs for people both who have crossed the border people... and those suffering [inside]."
"We'll take quite a careful look at where we can secure the maximum return for our investment," he said. Burma Campaign UK, an activist group, has been calling on DFID to provide greater support for Thailandbased groups that seek to aid people living in the sensitive but highly porous Myanmar border areas, where the military regime restricts aid agencies in-country from working.
Alexander said one of the purposes of his trip was to assess "the ability of the organisations working on the border to scale up their capacity" to address humanitarian needs in the otherwise off-limits border zones.
BANGKOK, (IRIN)
International
One of the main aid donors to Myanmar (formerly Burma), the UK government, has announced it is doubling its humanitarian aid to the impoverished country over the next three years, in response to what it describes as a "staggering" humanitarian crisis.
The UK provided around £8 million in humanitarian aid in 2007, supporting projects run by UN agencies and non-governmental organisations in the fields of health, basic education and poverty alleviation. It also provided nearly £1 million to help Burmese refugees who have fled the country.
Over the next three years, the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) will gradually increase aid to Myanmar's most needy people to around £18 million per year by 2010/2011. USAID requested US$7 million for the 2007 financial year but it is not yet clear whether this sum has been officially earmarked. Earlier the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) had pledged 18 million euros for Myanmar and Burmese refugees in Thailand in December 2007.
The scale of humanitarian crisis afflicting the Burmese people is, quite simply, staggering. "The scale of humanitarian crisis afflicting the Burmese people is, quite simply, staggering," Douglas Alexander, the UK's secretary of state for international development, said during a recent visit to Bangkok.
Challenging environment
Myanmar is a highly challenging environment for international humanitarian work, according to most observers. They say the military regime is highly suspicious of foreign aid workers, and domestic civil society groups, and seeks to tightly control their activities.
However, Alexander said DFID's partners, including UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were already successfully delivering aid to Myanmar's needy, without channelling assistance through the government.
"There are very clear and established mechanisms which we use in a range of environments in which we are not able to work with the government, and those are fully implemented in Myanmar," he said.
"Notwithstanding the difficulties of the operating environment, it is important that what efforts can be made are made to address the appalling circumstances [facing] too large a proportion of the Burmese population," he said.
According to the UN, around one-third of Myanmar's people survive on less than US$1 a day, half of all children fail to complete primary school, and HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
In ethnic minority border areas, where the army is still battling armed ethnic minority insurgents, many civilians have been displaced by fighting and conflict, and are living in desperate poverty, the UN and aid groups along the border say.
Myanmar's economic conditions, political repression and conflict have also pushed an estimated 1.5 million people into neighbouring Thailand, where around 140,000 are living in refugee camps, while the rest toil as poorly paid labourers, vulnerable to official harassment and exploitation, UN agencies say.
How the money will be spent
Alexander, who travelled to the Thai-Myanmar border to visit refugee camps, clinics and other facilities assisting the Burmese in Thailand, said he could not yet say precisely how the increased British humanitarian funding would be spent. "We have not yet reached a judgement as to the balance of funding between in-country support and crossborder support," he said. "There are urgent pressing humanitarian needs for people both who have crossed the border people... and those suffering [inside]."
"We'll take quite a careful look at where we can secure the maximum return for our investment," he said. Burma Campaign UK, an activist group, has been calling on DFID to provide greater support for Thailandbased groups that seek to aid people living in the sensitive but highly porous Myanmar border areas, where the military regime restricts aid agencies in-country from working.
Alexander said one of the purposes of his trip was to assess "the ability of the organisations working on the border to scale up their capacity" to address humanitarian needs in the otherwise off-limits border zones.
Japan-Mekong talks focus on aid
Posted : Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:19:05 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Asia (World)
Tokyo - Ministers from five nations on the Mekong River gathered Wednesday in Tokyo for the first Japan- Mekong talks to solicit financial aid from the world's second-largest economy and improve ties. Japan was to announce it would establish a 6-billion-yen (55.75-million-dollar) fund for infrastructure in the Mekong
datatun007@yahoo.com www.ftub.org
nations except for Myanmar, the Kyodo News Agency said. Tokyo was also to offer 2.2 billion yen to help Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam build schools and powergeneration
facilities for the poor as well as 1.7 billion yen to support Cambodia's poverty-reduction efforts, the report said. The agenda also included economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met the ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam Wednesday and expressed Japan's hopes to cooperate on the region's development. Komura agreed with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem's request to push forward a bilateral free trade agreement while he promised Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong Japan's assistance in carrying out his county's National Assembly election in July.
In return, the two ministers promised their support in Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and Tokyo's efforts to win the return of its citizens abducted by North Korea.
Copyright, respective author or news agency
Author : DPA
Category : Asia (World)
Tokyo - Ministers from five nations on the Mekong River gathered Wednesday in Tokyo for the first Japan- Mekong talks to solicit financial aid from the world's second-largest economy and improve ties. Japan was to announce it would establish a 6-billion-yen (55.75-million-dollar) fund for infrastructure in the Mekong
datatun007@yahoo.com www.ftub.org
nations except for Myanmar, the Kyodo News Agency said. Tokyo was also to offer 2.2 billion yen to help Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam build schools and powergeneration
facilities for the poor as well as 1.7 billion yen to support Cambodia's poverty-reduction efforts, the report said. The agenda also included economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met the ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam Wednesday and expressed Japan's hopes to cooperate on the region's development. Komura agreed with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem's request to push forward a bilateral free trade agreement while he promised Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong Japan's assistance in carrying out his county's National Assembly election in July.
In return, the two ministers promised their support in Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and Tokyo's efforts to win the return of its citizens abducted by North Korea.
Copyright, respective author or news agency
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