Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) will hold the demonstration to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of Burma’s Independence Day on 4th January 2011 (Tue) in front of the Burmese Embassy in UK.
Even though Burma gained independence on 4th January 1948, Burmese people cannot enjoys the true meaning of independence yet due to the oppression of the successive military dictatorships, due to the civil wars and due to the corruptions and mismanagements of the successive ruling military dictators.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) welcomes the release of the Burma’s democratically elected legitimate leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) earnestly calls for the military regime to release thousands of political prisoners languish in the Burma’s notorious prisons immediately and unconditionally and to do genuine time-bound dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in order to achieve genuine national reconciliation in Burma.”
Burma gained independence under the leadership of Bogyoke Aung San and we are looking forward to the day when Burmese people will be able to enjoy true independence under the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) earnestly believes that day will come soon when Burmese people will be able to enjoy the fruits of democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)’s destination for Burma is to establish a progress, peaceful, prosperous nation where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual rights.
Together we can bring the national reconciliation realities in Burma.
Yes We Can! We Will Win!
Program Details:
Date: 04 January 2011 (Tue)
Time: 13:00-14:00 PM
Place: In front of the Burmese Embassy in London, UK
Thank you very much and looking forward to see you all.
Yours faithfully, Myo Thein Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) Registered No:6496926 Registered Address: 2nd floor,145-157 St John Street EC1V 4PY London United Kingdom
Arakanese Community has conformed to visit of Sedona, Flagstaff and Grand Canyonon Sunday, December 26, 2010 during US Holiday.
This itinerary is golden opportunities you who are joined with us and enjoy the incredible freedom of a personally narrated Coach tour through breathtaking ways. Take home a lifetime memory of vacation experience you'll never forget.
Touring in Sedona you can visible as sightseeing beautiful and wonderful Red Mountain Bell and snow-full Mountain views like Fujiyama of Japan in Flagstaff and breathtaking beauty of Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
In fact, simply this tour purpose is raising money for Cyclone Giri Arakanese Victims who are still suffering mentally and physically after hitting Cyclone Giri on October 22, 2010. They are delighted to donate Cyclone sufferers via World Arakanese Organization (WAO).
Arakanese Community, would like to say thank you so much everyone who are willing to support our tour accomplishment.
Do you have any question please contact to following person.
မွီျငမ္း ၁။ ျပည္တြင္းမွ ကူညီနိန္ကတ္သူတိ (Inside Sources) ၂။ Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), http://www.themimu.info, accessed on December 24, 2010 ၃။ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations, http://girirelief.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/OCHA-Report-10-November-30-2010.pdf, accessed on December 18, 2010 ၄။ Mayo Clinic, Nutrition and Healthy Eating, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283, accessed on December 22, 2010 ၅။ Symptoms of Dehydration ,http://www.symptomsofdehydration.com/, accessed on December 22, 2010 ၆။ Insel. Paul M.; Roth, Walton T.; Core Concepts in Health with Additional Readings from Georgia Institute of Technology, 10th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, New York, 2010. ၇။ Narinjara, Interview with General Secretary of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) On His Recent Trip to the Affected Areas of Cyclone Giri and His Assistance to the Victims, http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2813, accessed on December 21, 2010
Myanmar cyclone victims start to rebuild but need more funds, UN reports
December 22, 2010
ARAKANLAND
Cyclone Giri which struck Myanmar in October 2010 destroyed thousands of houses, many made of bamboo and palms
21 December 2010 – Local communities in Myanmar have shown remarkable resilience in coping with the destruction caused by Cyclone Giri, which killed at least 45 people and affected 260,000 others two months ago, with substantial food, healthcare and emergency shelters distributed, according to a new United Nations assessment.
“Humanitarian emergency assistance is forthcoming, and people are slowly starting to rebuild their communities with what little they have left and the aid they are receiving,” the UN Resident Coordinator Bishow Parajuli told international donors on his return to Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, from visiting several villages in Rakhine state to see relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the category 4 cyclone.
But the humanitarian community in Myanmar still needs funding, according to a news release. Only $20.5 million of the estimated $57 million required for both emergency and early recovery phases have so far been allocated by donors, with the main gap occurring in early recovery shelter and livelihood support, he said.
“People are in dire need of more permanent shelter structures and livelihood support,” said Mr. Parajuli, calling their resilience remarkable. “The destruction in these villages has been massive. Up to 70 to 80 per cent of all houses were completely destroyed and schools and health facilities are severely damaged.”
People now rely on emergency supplies distributed to the worst-hit areas by the Government, international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies. According to Government estimates, at least 20,000 houses were completely destroyed, leaving over 100,000 people homeless, and 56 per cent of schools have collapsed or been damaged. Some 17,500 acres of agricultural lands and nearly 50,000 acres of agricultural ponds were also destroyed.
The response from the authorities and the international humanitarian community was immediate and relief and recovery efforts will continue in the coming months, said Mr. Parajuli, who is also UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative.
He was accompanied on his three-day mission by officials from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The delegation met with Government officials and staff from UN agencies and international and local NGOs based in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state, and Myebon, where the most severe damage occurred in the 22 October cyclone. They also visited the villages of Min Chaung and Shin Taung in Myebon Township and Byine Thit in Pauktaw Township.
Following the November distributions, WFP and eight partners plan to distribute an additional 6,500 metric tons of mixed food commodities to nearly 200,000 beneficiaries in the four affected townships this month and next. In the livelihood sector, efforts include renovation of embankments, cash-for-work and restoration of fishermen’s livelihoods.
In education, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the provision of 100 temporary learning spaces and has so far provided school kits to 7,000 children, as well as implementing an expanded immunization plan. As of 10 December, emergency shelter kits had reached 38 per cent of the 52,000 affected households and additional relief items for 22,000 households are planned for the coming months.
Looking back, Ban calls 2010 ‘a big year for the United Nations’
December 19, 2010
ARAKANLAND
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs journalists at end-of-year press conference
17 December 2010 - In his end-of-year "state of the world" news conference, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called 2010 "a big year for the United Nations," with progress on issues from biodiversity to electoral support in Iraq and Afghanistan, but warned of challenges ahead in Sudan, the Middle East and other world flashpoints.
"Looking ahead, our challenge is to carry our progress forward," he said of the agenda for 2011, which he will lay out more fully next month. "Resources are tighter. Demands on the UN are growing. This requires us to focus more on prevention, preparedness, being proactive, being persistent, all within a framework that is transparent and accountable."
Dealing with potential crises looming on the eve of the New Year, Mr. Ban focused on Côte d'Ivoire, where outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to step down despite opposition leader Alassane Ouattara's clear victory in November elections has led to renewed violence in the divided country, and Sudan where the South is to hold a referendum on independence next month.
He stressed that Mr. Gbagbo's efforts to flout the public will cannot be allowed to stand, and pledged UN assistance to help the northern and southern Sudanese address common challenges following the 9 January vote.
Turning to the Middle East, he once again urged Israelis and Palestinians to engage seriously and be forthcoming on substance and reiterated Israel's obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem.
On Myanmar, he called the elections, despite serious shortcomings, and the release of democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi significant developments, and said that the Government can and should build on them, and pledged continued long-term comprehensive engagement.
The UN will also seek progress on many of the longer-term challenges, Mr. Ban said, including peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, bringing a stable government to war-ravaged Somalia, and helping to reunify Cyprus in a bi-zonal, bi-communal country with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State of equal status.
On Haiti, he voiced concern at allegations of fraud in the recent first round of elections and pledged continued UN support to ensure that they reflect the will of the Haitian people.
Looking back on 2010, Mr. Ban cited progress made on the UN anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills by 2015, the $40 billion mobilized for the new Global Strategy on Women's and Children's Health and advances in Nagoya, Japan, on conserving biodiversity and in Cancun, Mexico, on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, forest protection, climate finance, adaptation and technology.
He also mentioned UN preventive diplomacy with support for 34 different mediation, facilitation and dialogue efforts, citing the easing of the political crisis in Kyrgyzstan and keeping the transition to democracy on track in Guinea.
The UN was also very active on the humanitarian front in the face of natural disasters, responding to the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, as well as the floods in Pakistan, Mr. Ban stressed.
"Looking back and looking ahead, I want to reiterate a point that I believe defines today's complex and connected world," he concluded. "Truly global action requires mobilizing support, creating broad alliances and building coalitions. In the search for solutions, progress does not come with big bangs but with steady, determined steps.
"It is the accumulation of these small steps, these steady elements of progress that set the stage for larger changes - the breakthroughs of tomorrow. We live in a unique multilateral moment, a world changing in the most dramatic ways since the end of World War II.
"The United Nations must keep pace. We have made progress this year. But we can and must continue."
On the 13th anniversary of the signing of the CHT Accord,MANGAL KUMAR CHAKMAevaluates its partial implementation.
In order to resolve theChittagong Hill Tracts(CHT) problem through political and peaceful means, the CHT Accord, popularly known as CHT Peace Accord was signed between the Government ofBangladesh(GoB) and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) on December 2, 1997. This Accord was achieved after a series of dialogues between the government and PCJSS. This Accord paves the way for re-introducing special government system in CHT.
It is mentionable that the CHT is a region inhabited by the indigenous Jumma peoples. During pre-colonial period, this region maintained its sovereignty under its own feudal kings. After inclusion of this region under the British Empire in 1860, the British government enacted the CHT Regulation of 1900 to preserve a separate administrative status for the Jumma peoples of this region. Later, the Pakistan government recognised the CHT Regulation of 1900 to be in effect under its 1956 constitution, preserving the status of the CHT as a region with a separate administrative system. The second Pakistani constitution of 1962 also used the term "tribal region" to recognise the CHT as a special region.
In 1964, when the Tribal Area status of the CHT was revoked in theConstitution of Pakistan, despite demands from the Jumma peoples, the special status of the region was not revived. Then in 1972, the demands of the late M N Larma for constitutional safeguards for the CHT and recognition of the identities of theindigenous peoplesof the CHT fell on deaf years. Hence, PCJSS launched an armed struggle for right to self-determination since 1976 onwards when all democratic avenues failed to draw the attention of the government.
Though the armed struggle continued for about two and a half decades, the PCJSS always kept open the path for a political solution to the CHT issue by peaceful means. Consequently, formal negotiations started in 1985 with the government of General Ershad. Finally, the historic CHT Peace Accord was signed with the Awami League government led bySheikh Hasinain 1997.
The CHT Accord had ended the decades-long fierce armed conflict between the Jumma people and the Government of Bangladesh. This Accord has laid down a basis upon which to bring forth people-oriented development in the CHT.
Though the then Awami League government signed the CHT Peace Accord, the regime as a whole showed a lack of seriousness in implementing the Accord. It nevertheless took several initiatives toward implementing it. Just after the signing of the Accord, some matters have been implemented, including the formulation of some of the related laws. This has created the practical basis for the implementation of the Accord. Formulation of the CHT Regional Council Act (CHTRC) and three Hill District Council Acts, establishment of the CHT Affairs Ministry, repatriation of the Jumma refugees fromIndiaare some of the matters that have been implemented.
In fact, though the Regional Council Act and the three Hill District Council Acts were enacted, they were never properly enforced, so the special administrative system with CHT Regional Council and three Hill District Councils (HDCs) could never be made effective. The CHTRC is expected to be the final authority with regards to development and administration in the CHT. In practice, due to lack of political support from the successive governments, the CHTRC has not been able to exercise its full authority over the CHT. Similarly, the HDCs have not been empowered yet by the government to exercise their full authority in their respective districts.
The temporary camps of the armed forces are yet to be closed down as per CHT Accord; rather, de factomilitary rulewas imposed under the name of "Operation Uttoron". The Jumma refugees who returned from India and the internally displaced Jumma people were not rehabilitated, rather, Bengali settlers were included as internally displaced people and efforts were made to rehabilitate them in the CHT in violation of the Accord.
Though the Land Commission was formed, it was unable to resolve any land disputes and the Land Commission Act was passed with provisions that were contradictory to the Accord. In addition, present chairman of the Land Commission declared to conduct a land survey in violation of the provisions of the Accord and continues to adopt decisions without holding meetings with the members of the Commission.
The provision vesting the circle chiefs with exclusive powers to grant permanent resident certificates was not enforced; instead, the deputy commissioners were given the power to issue permanent resident certificates violating the CHT Accord. Land leases previously given to non-permanent residents were not cancelled and instead outsiders were given new leases in violation of the Accord. Voter lists for the CHT were not prepared only with permanent residents but included outsiders. The provision to provide employment to permanent residents of the CHT with priority for Jumma people in all forms of civil service in the CHT was also not followed. The above are some of the unimplemented provisions that particularly deserve attention.
It is a matter of great hope that the grand alliance led by the Awami League came to power in the general election held in December 2008. The Awami League had promised in its election manifesto that it would fully implement the CHT Accord. However, almost two years have passed and the present government is yet to take effective steps to implement the CHT Accord.
Hence, no basic changes have been achieved during the tenure of the present government. Rather, there has been hardly any positive development in the overall situation in the CHT. Expansion of settlements and forcible land grabbing by the Bengali settlers with the support of military and civil administration continue unabated in all the three districts of CHT.
As a result, though more than 13 years have passed after signing of the Accord, most of the provisions, especially the main issues of the Accord, such as preservation of tribal-inhabited characteristics of CHT region, effective enforcement of the three HDCs and CHT Regional Council Act, resolution of land disputes through Land Commission, rehabilitation of returnee Jumma refugees and internally displaced Jumma families, withdrawal of temporary camps of security forces and military administration, preparing voter list only with the permanent residents of CHT, rehabilitation of the Bengali settlers outside CHT, etc., have either been partially implemented or left unimplemented.
Many powerful influences are standing in the way of implementation of the CHT Accord. Of these, the most important is the government's lack of strong political commitment for implementation of the Accord. Since its signing, the successive governments showed little sincerity or goodwill in implementing the Accord.
Another obstacle to the CHT Accord implementation process is the anti-accord role played by the military forces deployed in the CHT as well as government employees at the level of the three hill districts as well as the sub-district level. They in general do not wish for the CHT Accord to be implemented. A form of military administration under the name of "Operation Uttoron" continues to this day in the CHT. Though some of the military officers deployed in the CHT do support the Accord, other powerful quarters can still be seen to be active in opposing it.
Yet another obstacle to implementation of the Accord is the presence of fundamentalist and extreme communalist organisations in CHT. These fundamentalist organisations have been assisting the Bengali settlers in carrying out communal attacks on Jumma peoples in order to prevent implementation of the Accord.
The role of the CHT Affairs Ministry (MOCHTA) has also not been positive with regard to implementation of the CHT Accord. The idiosyncratic mindset of the bureaucrats of the CHT Ministry deeply affected by a chauvinistic mentality is largely responsible for the total non-cooperation for implementation of the Accord. Almost all the officers and employees at the MoCHTA continue to be non-indigenous persons who have only superficial exposure and understanding of the complexities of the region.
Under the circumstances, chaos and confusion reign supreme in the region instead of peace and normalcy. It will not be possible to implement the CHT Accord fully and properly unless these obstacles are removed. Implementation of the CHT Accord is the only way to achieve a lasting political solution to the CHT issue.
In order to resolve the CHT problem through political and peaceful means and to establish the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous peoples of the region, the implementation of the CHT Peace Accord is key. Without proper and speedy implementation of the CHT Peace Accord,good governanceand rule of law in the CHT will remain elusive.
Mangal Kumar Chakmais Publicity and Information Secretary of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti.
WAO-HQ-World Arakanese Organization brand prides itself on standard signature social objectives and services for Arakanese. According to the WAO's General Secretary Report said that WAO has provided to Arakanese Giri Victims via Rakhine Thahaya Athum (RTA) with total amount over $6,000 including donation from Arakanese Family from Utica, NY, U.S.A.
U Hla Kyi, who serves General Secretary of WAO, has conveyed good news from WAO and he has already discussed with Arakanese Social Welfare Organizations, based in Rangoon, how to assist an effective action as emergence relief in short term and recovering projects in long term for effected region of Cyclone Giri.
WAO is interesting as long term projects will be supported to Education and plan to waterworks with co-operation and co-ordination of RTA and Arakanese Social Organizations.
WAO which is try to work for reaching its goal with its initiative abilities.
SAVE ANCIENT CITY OF 'MRAUK U' FROM FURTHER DESTRUCTION
December 15, 2010
ARAKANLAND
WAO(USA) has sent an appeal letter to UNESCO;
World Arakanese Organization (USA) on the matter of protecting our ancient city of Mrauk U from further destruction by Burmese military government.
Arakanese are one of the indigenous people of Burma (Myanmar) and Arakan became a part of Burma after occupation by Burmese King in 1784. Mrauk U (Myauk-U) was the last capital of Mrauk-U Kingdom, the most developed and powerful Arakanese kingdom. It was established in 1430 by King Min Saw Mon and it grew into a major business hub along the eastern shore of the Bay of Bengal; trading not just with Asian powers but also with European powers such as the Portuguese and the Dutch. (For more information on Mrauk U -http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/824/)
During the prosperous times of Mrauk U, the kings, ministers and peasants built many pagodas and temples for religious purposes and fortresses and moats for security purposes. Now they all are in danger due to the government’s railroad project.
ATHUDITHAR-The Free Food Festival successfully held on December 5, 2010 in New York City led by IBMO. More than 40 donators to contributed Myanmar delicious foods including Rakhine Mont-tee. Noddle salad. Rich with chicken curry and ect. Six kind of Arakanese culture foods and Thi ice tea donated by WAO, World Arakanese Organization and Arakanese families in New York City.
Money collected more than $10000 will be donated to HIV-AIDS patients in Myanmar.Serious HIV-AIDS problems are reaching crisis proportions, and nontraditional health care by the public and private sectors has deteriorated in our country. Facilities are in very poor condition, and funding for medical care and training is inadequate for HIV-AIDS patients. We, WAO appreciate for this generous support.
ZATHUDITHAR-The Free Food Festival will be hold on January 2011, led by WAO. That will be support to GiRi cyclone victims in Arakan State.
Independent UN rights expert calls for release of political prisoners in Myanmar
December 15, 2010
ARAKANLAND
Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
13 December 2010 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today urged the Government of Myanmar to release at least 2,202 prisoners of conscience still detained one month after the freeing of Aung San Suu Kyi, saying many of the prisoners are seriously ill as a result of harsh jail conditions.
“As Myanmar attempts to move forward in its democratic transition and the new Government seeks to establish a new era of peace and prosperity for the people, it is critical that prisoners of conscience be released immediately and unconditionally,” saidTomás Ojea Quintana, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
“These are individuals who were imprisoned for exercising their basic human rights, the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,” he said.
He voiced sadness at the death on 8 December of 50-year-old U Naymeinda, who was also known as Myo Min or Nay Win. He was a Buddhist monk and the 145th prisoner of conscience to die in prison in Myanmar since 1988.
Mr. Naymeinda had been arrested for distributing leaflets supporting a pro-democracy demonstration on 9 September 1999 and was charged under the Unlawful Associations Act and the Emergency Provisions Act and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
His health deteriorated when he was transferred to Moulmein Prison in Mon state far from his family, making it difficult for them to visit and provide essential food and medicine, a practice that is used frequently to further punish not only the prisoners but also their families, Mr. Quintana said.
The Special Rapporteur also voiced deep concern about reports he received on several prisoners in Cell block 4 in Insein prison, who appear to be suffering from malnutrition-related diseases as well as tuberculosis.
Releasing the prisoners of conscience, said Mr. Quintana, would be a strong signal that the new Government intends to uphold fundamental freedoms and would be welcomed by people inside and outside the country.
He recalled that before the legislative elections on 7 November, the Government had indicated that it might release some prisoners, but that has not happened.
According to Myanmar’s Government, the revision of national laws – particularly those used to convict many of the prisoners of conscience – is on its agenda and will be one of the matters taken up by the parliament.
“All prisoners of conscience should be released in advance of those deliberations,” Mr. Quintana said.
UN independent experts, including Mr. Quintana, report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. They work in an independent and unpaid capacity.
Opium poppy cultivation surges in South-East Asia by 22 per cent, UN reports
December 15, 2010
ARAKANLAND
Seized opium
13 December 2010 – Opium poppy cultivation surged in South-East Asia by 22 per cent in 2010, apparently due to the global economic crisis, with potential production value rising dramatically to $219 million, a $100 million increase over 2009, according to a United Nations report released today.
“Poverty and instability are two of the drivers which push farmers to grow, or sometimes return to growing, illicit crops,” UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Yury Fedotov said of his agency’s 2010 South-East Asia Opium Survey, covering Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
While progress has been made in reducing poppy fields over the past decade, the recent global economic crisis appears to have exacerbated the situation for poor communities and tempted many to enter the drug market. The rising price of opium over the last few years has also been instrumental in making its cultivation an attractive option for many.
In terms of cultivation, there was a 22 per cent increase between 2009 and 2010 in the region as a whole. Myanmar experienced the biggest increase in actual area with cultivation shooting up by 6,400 hectares (ha), or 20 per cent, to reach 38,100 ha. In Laos the increase was the largest in percentage terms, 58 per cent, increasing from 1,900 ha to 3,000 ha. Thailand’s small cultivation increased marginally from 211 ha to 289 ha.
While poppy cultivation in South-East Asia remains well below the peak figures of the mid-1990s, when it hovered around 160,000 ha, the year-on-year increase over the past four years has been relentlessly upward, the survey shows.
“While Governments have increased their eradication efforts, the potential opium production in 2010 is estimated to have increased by approximately 75 per cent when compared to 2009,” Mr. Fedotov said.
Beyond the overall larger areas cultivated in all three countries, yields in Myanmar shot up from 330 tons to 580 tons, levels in Laos rose by 7 tons to 18 tons and in Thailand they increased by 36 per cent from 3 tons to 5 tons.
In terms of eradication 9,135 ha of poppy fields in the region were destroyed in 2010, up by 85 per cent from 4,939 ha the previous year.
At country-level, the authorities in Myanmar cleared an estimated 8,268 ha, a 102 per cent rise from 2009. Eradication efforts in Laos dipped by 11 per cent from 651 ha to 579 ha, while Thailand succeeded in removing 278 ha compared with the 2009 level of 201 ha.
Next two months crucial for Myanmar’s political future, warns Secretary-General
December 7, 2010
ARAKANLAND
6 December 2010 – The next two months will be crucial for Myanmar, potentially determining its political future and its place in the international community,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today, citing the unsatisfactory nature of recent elections and the need to include those who were excluded.
In a meeting with the so-called Group of Friends on Myanmar, comprising more than a dozen nations and regional blocs supporting his good offices mandate in the South-East Asian country, Mr. Ban stressed that for any transition to succeed, it must involve not only those who participated and won seats in the election, but also those who did not or could not, and this must include the release of political prisoners.
“Looking ahead, we need to keep encouraging the authorities to take steps to make the political transition broad-based and inclusive,” spokesman Martin Nesirky quoted him as saying.
The meeting – which was briefed by Mr. Ban’s Special Adviser on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, who has just returned from talks with the country’s leaders and a broad range of civil society – called on the authorities to achieve this by building on recent developments, including through the specific steps proposed by the United Nations.
Mr. Ban noted that addressing concerns about the credibility of the transition process to date is also essential for any next steps to succeed, stressing that “regrettably, the conduct of the elections was far below the international community’s expectations.”
The meeting highlighted the need for greater international consensus towards Myanmar, endorsing a comprehensive UN engagement in the political, humanitarian and development areas, in parallel and with equal attention.
Mr. Nambiar, who is also Mr. Ban’s Chief of Staff, briefed the Security Council today in a closed session on his visit, during which he met with recently released Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) won the last elections, later invalidated by the country’s rulers, two decades ago but was barred from participating this time.
He also met with representatives of some of the major political parties who participated in the recent polls and members of civil society groups.
WAO-HQ-Worldwide WAO Global teleconference successfully held on Sunday, December 5, 2010. There were attending WAO-CEC members and non WAO-CEC personals interested meeting and its programme. Eighteen attendees from around the World participated and discussed major topics of WAO's Global CEC Reformation and Arakanese Cyclone Giri Victims.
During the meeting Dr. Aye Chan explained WAO's resume background briefly and pointed out WAO's weakness and goodness throughout its five year journey. U U Sein Tun reported update Cyclonic Storm Giri information from Rakhine Thahaya Athum (RTA) and U Hla Kyi's message that provided to some donation to RTA. So far WAO will offer its entire donation to RTA as soon as possible accordance with U Hla Kyi's report from Rangoon.
All conference attendees reformed and elected the WAO's President, Vice President and Three Secretary and installed more Patrons of WAO. Continuously, Central Executive Committee members will be elected by Branch Representatives from Australia, Japan, Bangladesh, Europe and United States of America.
Myanmar transition should include those who did not take part in polls – UN envoy
December 3, 2010
ARAKANLAND
Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar
December 2010 – The United Nations envoy on Myanmar today urged the Government to work out a broad-based political transition that includes those who did not participate in recent elections.
Among these is recently released Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), victor of the last elections two decades ago, which were invalidated by the South-east Asian country’s rulers.
“I got a programme which was fairly open and they allowed me to meet the people I wanted to meet, which was quite unusual and I think it was very welcome,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, said of his recent visit to the country.
One of the purposes of the visit was to encourage the Government to “build on recent developments and in a sense to work out a political transition that was broad-based and inclusive so that it involved both those who participated and who didn’t,” said Mr. Nambiar, referring to the 7 November elections.
“I did sense that the Government did receive my message,” he told UN Radio. “Now what they do is to be seen.”
During his visit, Mr. Nambiar, who is also Mr. Ban’s Chief of Staff, met with Ms. Suu Kyi, who was recently released after spending much of the past two decades under house arrest, and other members of the NLD. He also met with representatives of some of the major political parties who participated in the recent polls and members of civil society groups.
Mr. Nambiar, whose visit was carried out at the invitation of the Government and in continuation of the good offices dialogue between the UN and Myanmar, reiterated the UN’s long-term commitment to continue to work with the Government and people of Myanmar in their efforts to address the political, humanitarian and developmental challenges facing their country.
“There is a role for the United Nations both in the context of the political developments as well as the broader context of the socio-economic development,” he said, citing the UN’s humanitarian role in the devastation following cyclones Nargis and Giri.
“Of course the Government does see the increasing role of the UN in the context of sensitizing the international community to being able to draw down the sanctions which individual Member States have imposed on Myanmar, and they see that this could be an occasion – the new developments – to get a slightly better international environment that will help their economic development.”
BURMESE REGIME CONTINUES BRUTAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ETHNIC CIVILIANS
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is concerned by reports that despite the welcome release ofBurma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and a high-level visit by UN Burma envoy Vijay Nambiar, the regime continues to perpetrate grave violations of human rights against ethnic civilians, including military attacks and forced labour.
During Burma’s sham elections on 7 November, fighting broke out between the Burma Army and a faction of the pro-junta Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which had refused to become part of the Burma Army, as required under the Generals’ new constitution for Burma. The violence resulted in more than ten thousand civilians fleeing across the Burmese border into Thailand.
CSW has learned that in the last two weeks, thousands more ethnic Karen are have fled to the Thai border following a new Burma Army military offensive in Karen State, thought to be targeting villages in areas under the control of the DKBA faction.
As part of this offensive the Burma Army fired mortars into Palu village in Kawt K'Rate Township, Doo Pla Ya district, without warning on 27 November, wounding one man and forcing more than 200 villagers to seek refuge in Thailand. The mortar attack on the civilian village, which is in breach of the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime, took place on the same day that UN Burma envoy Vijay Nambiar visited Rangoon.
CSW has also received reports of attacks within days of the election, in which a 17 year old girl was killed when the Burma Army shelled Kya Inn Sikkyi village, central Karen State. A Bible School dining room was hit by mortar bombs in the same village, and a school was bombed in Ta Ka Klo village. In Noe Neh village, a 60 year-old man was arrested and shot dead. At least 400 villagers in Dooplaya District were forced to flee, several were wounded from mortar attacks and some were forced to become porters for the soldiers, carrying their food and supplies.
CSW’s East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said, “For decades, Burma’s military regime has been conducting a campaign against ethnic civilians which involves severe human rights violationsamounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This campaign has continued and in some areas intensified in the last month, even during the sham elections. By these attacks, the regime is showing that there is no meaningful change in Burma. The release of Aung San Suu Kyi, while welcome, is by itself no sign of progress. Unless and until the regime ends its attacks on ethnic civilians, stops its policies of forced labour, rape and torture, declares a nationwide ceasefire and enters into meaningful dialogue with the democracy movement and the ethnic nationalities, international pressure must be maintained. There is an urgent need for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to facilitate a dialogue process, to secure a permanent peace and an end to these attacks.”
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.
CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
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