Monthly Archives: October 2010

Oct 30 2010

New Flag Flying in Burma

// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
/*------------------------------------------------------------
Document Text Sizer- Copyright 2003 - Taewook Kang. All rights reserved.
Coded by: Taewook Kang (txkang.REMOVETHIS@hotmail.com)
Web Site: http://txkang.com
Script featured on Dynamic Drive (http://www.dynamicdrive.com)

Please retain this copyright notice in the script.
License is granted to user to reuse this code on
their own website if, and only if,
this entire copyright notice is included.
--------------------------------------------------------------*/

//Specify affected tags. Add or remove from list:
var tgs = new Array( 'div','td','tr');

//Specify spectrum of different font sizes:
var szs = new Array( 'xx-small','x-small','small','medium','large','x-large','xx-large' );
var startSz = 2;

function ts( trgt,inc ) {
if (!document.getElementById) return
var d = document,cEl = null,sz = startSz,i,j,cTags;

sz += inc;
if ( sz 6 ) sz = 6;
startSz = sz;

if ( !( cEl = d.getElementById( trgt ) ) ) cEl = d.getElementsByTagName( trgt )[ 0 ];

cEl.style.fontSize = szs[ sz ];

for ( i = 0 ; i < tgs.length ; i++ ) {
cTags = cEl.getElementsByTagName( tgs[ i ] );
for ( j = 0 ; j

Larger FontSmaller Font

Latest News

Friday, 29. October 2010
Thursday, 28. October 2010
New Flag Flying in Burma Print E-mail
Published by Irrawaddy
Sunday, 24 October 2010
A new junta-designed flag is flying across the country, the first time in 36 years since the former ruling Burmese Socialist Programme Party changed the 1947 independence-era flag in 1974.

Image

The new Burmese flag, featuring green, red and yellow stripes. (© The Irrawaddy) – click on image to access slide show

According to sources inside the country, the old flag was replaced at 3 p.m. On Thursday in the capital of Naypyidaw, and at 3:33 p.m. at Rangoon’s City Hall, a decision that observers said was made based on advice from astrologers. The new flag’s official launch comes 17 days ahead of the November 7th elections.

The new flag will represent the Republic of the Union of Myanmar [Burma] under the junta-backed 2008 Constitution, adding a third flag to the history of the post-colonial Southeast Asian nation. The new flag was an issue of controversy during the National Convention which drafted the 2008 Constitution, particularly among delegates from ethnic minority groups who said the flag symbolizes a unitary nation rather than a federal union.

Previously, the two flags of independent Burma were symbolically expressing “equal rights in the union” with stars representing ethnic minorities, a major difference in the new flag’s design. In September 2007, a new flag was proposed at the National Convention. The current flag, unveiled it at the end of the 14-year-long National Convention (1993-2007), consists of four colors— green, yellow and red horizontal stripes with a white star in the center of the flag.

Green symbolizes peace and tranquility as well as Burma’s verdant environment; yellow for solidarity; red for valor and decisiveness, and white represents the consolidated union. Some observers said the flag is similar to the flag of Ghana. A flag with a peacock in the center was used by the pre-war anti-colonial front of the We, Burmese, Association. During the World War II, the Burma Independence Army and the  Japanese-backed regime led by Ba Maw, used the tricolor flag with a peacock as the flag of the State of Burma.

A number of Rangoon residents told The Irrawaddy that the previous two flags of Burma under the 1947 Constitution and the 1974 Constitution better represented the country. “I do not know about politics. But I feel the new flag is quite ugly, and it seems like the national flag from another country,” said a 22-year-old NGO staffer in Rangoon.
< Prev Next >

Oct 30 2010

Amartya Sen: Burma Policy of India, China and Thailand ‘Crude’

Home arrow International arrow Asia and Southern Pacific arrow Amartya Sen: Burma Policy of India, China and Thailand ‘Crude’
// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
/*------------------------------------------------------------
Document Text Sizer- Copyright 2003 - Taewook Kang. All rights reserved.
Coded by: Taewook Kang (txkang.REMOVETHIS@hotmail.com)
Web Site: http://txkang.com
Script featured on Dynamic Drive (http://www.dynamicdrive.com)

Please retain this copyright notice in the script.
License is granted to user to reuse this code on
their own website if, and only if,
this entire copyright notice is included.
--------------------------------------------------------------*/

//Specify affected tags. Add or remove from list:
var tgs = new Array( 'div','td','tr');

//Specify spectrum of different font sizes:
var szs = new Array( 'xx-small','x-small','small','medium','large','x-large','xx-large' );
var startSz = 2;

function ts( trgt,inc ) {
if (!document.getElementById) return
var d = document,cEl = null,sz = startSz,i,j,cTags;

sz += inc;
if ( sz 6 ) sz = 6;
startSz = sz;

if ( !( cEl = d.getElementById( trgt ) ) ) cEl = d.getElementsByTagName( trgt )[ 0 ];

cEl.style.fontSize = szs[ sz ];

for ( i = 0 ; i < tgs.length ; i++ ) {
cTags = cEl.getElementsByTagName( tgs[ i ] );
for ( j = 0 ; j Larger FontSmaller Font

Latest News

Friday, 29. October 2010
Thursday, 28. October 2010
Amartya Sen: Burma Policy of India, China and Thailand ‘Crude’ Print E-mail
Published by Irrawaddy
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Lalit K Jha, Washington

The Indian Noble Prize laureate economist Amartya Sen on Wednesday blasted China and two  democratic neighbors of Burma for their relationship with the military junta, calling their foreign policies “exceptionally crude and valuationally gross.”

The policies of the three countries—India, China and Thailand—were criticized by Sen during a seminar at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. In his keynote address, Sen said the military junta is not serious in making any meaningful changes in Burma.

Image

Noble Laureate Amartya Sen addresses a press conference in New Delhi, India, on August 3rd (© AP)

“Nothing perhaps is more important right now as the day of the phony electoral event approaches than global public discussion of the real nature of the forthcoming electoral fraud,” Sen said. “The expressions of pious hope that things can change after the election are totally contrary to reasoned analysis about what’s going on in Burma.”The conference, titled “A Return to Civilian Rule? The Prospects for Democracy and Rights in Burma After the Election,” was organized jointly by the Johns Hopkins Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Human Rights Watch.

Sen said international pressure on Burma to move towards democracy and protection of human rights could come only from three of its neighbors—China, India and Thailand. “There is real need for insisting that concrete steps be taken by the government right now,” said Sen, who said that he spent some years of his childhood in Mandalay where his father was a visiting professor. He said India and Thailand have not played their part in defense of real democracy in Burma.

Referring to the calls for establishing a UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said it is time to set up a commission.

Sen was in particularly critical of  his own country – India. “I have to say that as a loyal Indian citizen, it breaks my heart to see the prime minister of my democratic country—and one of the most humane and sympathetic political leaders in the world—to engage in welcoming the butchers from Myanmar [Burma] and to be photographed in a state of cordial proximity,” he said.

“When our power to influence the world was zero, we spent our time lecturing the world on morality. And when we get a bit of power, although not as much as China, then we completely abdicated that responsibility,” Sen said, reflecting his displeasure with India’s current Burma policy.

He said he is also concerned that public discussion in India on the Burmese situation has been nearly absent in India, but not because of any government restriction on such discussions. “The problem arises rather with the change in the political climate of India in which narrowly defined national interests—what is taken to be the national interests—gets much loyalty,” Sen said, which stifles debate.

The Noble laureate called for targeted sanctions on Burma including an arms embargo on the junta and removal of any military assistance that the government receives in a direct or indirect way. The roles of its three neighbors are important for the operation of the Burmese military regime, he observed.

“The Chinese government is the most important player in this area both because it has done business with the regime for a long time and has provided indirect patronage to the regime,” he said, adding that given its veto power in the UN Security Council, China has more influence on Burma than any other neighboring country. In addition, China, India and Thailand have extensive business relationships with Burma, he noted.

The conference also included Burmese analysts Win Min and Min Zin and Prof. David Steinberg of Georgetown University.

While Sen called for more political and economic pressure on Burma, Steinberg expressed hope that the United States, which is trying to engage with the Burmese military regime,would have a meaningful dialogue with the new government after the elections. “You’re going to have a new government coming in sometime in early 2011. Wait and see what happens. Pressure to me implies a kind of arrogance, that we think we have the right answers for these people,” he said.
< Prev Next >

Oct 30 2010

Myanmar General Election: Rohingya Party Prevented from Campaigning

Home arrow International arrow Asia and Southern Pacific arrow Myanmar General Election: Rohingya Party Prevented from Campaigning,
// <![CDATA[
/*------------------------------------------------------------
Document Text Sizer- Copyright 2003 - Taewook Kang. All rights reserved.
Coded by: Taewook Kang (txkang.REMOVETHIS@hotmail.com)
Web Site: http://txkang.com
Script featured on Dynamic Drive (http://www.dynamicdrive.com)

Please retain this copyright notice in the script.
License is granted to user to reuse this code on
their own website if, and only if,
this entire copyright notice is included.
--------------------------------------------------------------*/

//Specify affected tags. Add or remove from list:
var tgs = new Array( 'div','td','tr');

//Specify spectrum of different font sizes:
var szs = new Array( 'xx-small','x-small','small','medium','large','x-large','xx-large' );
var startSz = 2;

function ts( trgt,inc ) {
if (!document.getElementById) return
var d = document,cEl = null,sz = startSz,i,j,cTags;

sz += inc;
if ( sz 6 ) sz = 6;
startSz = sz;

if ( !( cEl = d.getElementById( trgt ) ) ) cEl = d.getElementsByTagName( trgt )[ 0 ];

cEl.style.fontSize = szs[ sz ];

for ( i = 0 ; i < tgs.length ; i++ ) {
cTags = cEl.getElementsByTagName( tgs[ i ] );
for ( j = 0 ; j Larger FontSmaller Font

Latest News

Friday, 29. October 2010
Thursday, 28. October 2010
Myanmar General Election: Rohingya Party Prevented from Campaigning Print E-mail
Published by Irrawaddy
Sunday, 24 October 2010

Tensions are high in Arakan State as the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) seeks to marginalize the ethnic Rohingya party, the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), which is competing in the November 7th election in several constituencies with high Muslim populations in the state.

Image

Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association listen to party candidates for the November 7th general election on Wednesday in Rangoon. (© AP)

“People from the USDP know that they are going to lose the election in our area so they are trying to bully us,” an NDPD member who asked to remain anonymous told The Irrawaddy. “They obstruct our electioneering efforts and threaten us. They have warned us that Rohingya villages will be dismantled if we don’t do as they say.”

Local residents said the NDPD was forced to stop campaigning in Dunyaung Paungkyu Village in Maungdaw Township on October 15th due to USDP intimidation.  One local source said that a violent confrontation erupted between members of the USDP and the NPDP on October 16th near Khamaung Hseik Village in Maungdaw. The Irrawaddy, however, could not confirm the incident.

When asked about the alleged incident by The Irrawaddy, NDPD Vice-Chairman Hla Thein said,“We have had some minor problems with the USDP but it is yet to reach the stage of a fight. No matter what the USDP does, we will find out who is who once the competition begins. It is clear that our party has gained popular support in this area.”

Two ethnic Rohingya parties are listed to contest seats in the majority Muslim areas: the NDPD and the National Development and Peace Party (NDPP), which many observers say is acting as a proxy party for the USDP. According to several locals, the NDPP, which was founded by construction company owner Aung Zaw Win, has the full support of the military regime.

“Around 8 o’clock this morning, Aung Zaw Win and other NDPP members drove around Maungdaw with more than 20 trucks calling on voters to support them. They were shouting very loudly, but no one opposed them,” said a resident in Maungdaw last week. She said that Aung Zaw Win is electioneering in Maungdaw almost every day and drives around town in a high-profile convoy “as if he were a senior government official.”

Both Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships are 95 percent Muslim Rohingya. Only four parties—the NDPD, the NDPP, the USDP and the National Unity Party (NUP)—will contest the election in the two townships. Residents in those towns said that only the NDPP and the USDP have the use of religious buildings, schools and state-owned buildings for their party campaign activities in the area.

On Wednesday, Thar Thar Aung, the chairman of the District Election Commission that covers Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, allegedly summoned party leaders from the USDP and NDPD to his office. Khaing Mrat Kyaw, the chief editor of Dhaka-based Narinjara News, said he believes the chairman attempted to mediate between the two parties concerning the recent spat of incidents.

Another source said the meeting was called following an incident in Maungdaw on Tuesday when USDP members blocked the road where the NDPD was attempting to campaign. The confrontation was resolved after local authorities intervened. “We are watching the situation closely,” said Tin Soe, one of the editors at the Bangladesh-based Rohingya news agency Kaladan Press. “But we fear the tensions might ignite further violence.”

related articles:
< Prev Next >

 

Oct 30 2010

ALTSEAN-BURMA Alternative Asean Network on Burma

http://www.altsean.org/Research/UN%20Dossier/UNDHome.php

 

ALTSEAN-BURMA
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
campaigns, advocacy and capacity-building for human rights
UN DOSSIER
UN Envoys and Rapporteurs on Burma
Since 1990, UN
Envoys and Rapporteurs have visited Burma 41 times in an attempt to facilitate dialogue between the military regime and the pro-democracy forces and carry out fact-finding missions. In addition, the UN Secretary-General has visited Burma twice. The chronology details the UN’s unsuccessful attempts to engage the military regime, as well as the junta’s plethora of lies and broken promises aimed at staving off international pressure. See chronology
A list of selected quotes from the former UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari highlights the SPDC’s constant disregard for the UN good offices role. Read quotes
UN Secretary-General’s quotes on Burma
“Deeply concerned” Ban Ki-Moon “urges,” “regrets,” “calls on,” and “encourages,” the SPDC to promote reforms and engage in meaningful dialogue with pro-democracy forces. Read how the SPDC has repeatedly ignored Ban’s calls for change. Read quotes
Burma and the UN System
Since 1991, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has passed 19 resolutions on Burma which directly address a range of issues of concern, including denial of human rights, lack of democratization, and political prisoners. The strongly worded statements remain consistent from year to year and illustrate the military regime’s failure to address UN concerns in a meaningful way. See UNGA resolutions
Since 1992, the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have passed 21 resolutions on Burma which directly address the SPDC’s refusal to respect the human rights of Burma’s citizens. The strongly worded statements remain consistent from year to year and illustrate the military regime’s failure to address UN concerns in a meaningful way. See UNCHR/UNHRC resolutions

Russia and China have stymied the UN Security Council’s (UNSC’s) efforts to address Burma’s crises. Russia and China vetoed a US-led resolution on 12 January 2007. In the aftermath of the SPDC’s violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in September 2007, the UNSC released two statements that contain strongly worded recommendations that the SPDC has been unwilling to implement. See UNSC resolutions/statements
Burma and International Conventions

Burma has ratified only a few international conventions, including the three Geneva Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the ILO convention on Forced Labor and. See table of ratifications

The UN Treaty Bodies’ recommendations illustrate the SPDC’s failure to comply with international human rights conventions that it has ratified. See reports and observations

 

//

Oct 30 2010

Roundtable: Election Will Not Help Ethnic Groups

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19882

By SAW YAN NAING Friday, October 29, 2010

In a roundtable discussion held at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, representatives of Burma’s ethnic groups who are living in exile agreed that the political landscape in Burma will not change in the wake of Burma’s Nov. 7 general election because the 2008 Constitution grants no significant rights to ethnic groups.

“The 2008 constitution doesn’t protect and promote the right of ethnic nationalities,” said Kwe Hsay, an ethnic Karen who participated in the roundtable. “So how will the election be free and fair?”

The roundtable discussion, “Ethnic Perspective on the 2010 Election and Beyond,” was organized by the Thai Public Broadcasting Service and Burma Concern. It was attended by about 100 people.

Nang Charm Tong, an ethnic Shan activist and member of the Shan Women’s Action Network, said, “They [Burmese authorities] are only changing from a military uniform into a civilian uniform. Nothing will change politically after the election.”

“They are preparing for war,” she added.

A young ethnic Karen woman, Wah Khu Shee of the Karen Womens’ Organization, agreed. She said that the military offensives and cases of murder, rape and torture against ethnic people, especially in eastern Burma, will continue after the election.

Eastern Burma is sometimes compared to Darfur due to the number of human rights abuses committed by the Burmese government troops against civilians. UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, has recommended that the UN Security Council set up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity that have taken place in the region.

“The election is intended to eliminate all armed ethnic groups,” said Lapai Naw Din, a Kachin representative who is also the editor of the Thailand-based Kachin News Group.

The ethnic representatives said there will be more migrant workers, refugees and internally displaced persons after the election because the Burmese regime is reportedly planning to clean up all ethnic armed groups, including ceasefire militias, who refused to transform their troops into members of the junta’s border guard force, which would come under Burmese army control.

Some Burma observers have said the junta’s recent purchase of about 50 Mi-24 helicopters from Russia indicates that the regime is preparing for a post-election war against armed ethnic groups that control territories along Burma’s borders with China and Thailand.

Wah Khu Shee said that if the junta wants to show a positive sign of change in connection with the election, it should release Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

Mi Aie Son, an ethnic Mon, said the election is not the solution for Burma’s political conflicts and it will only legitimize the Burmese regime.

“That’s why we are boycotting the election and calling on the international community and all Burmese people to boycott the election,” said Mi Aie Son.

The ethnic representatives did agree, however, that a political dialogue that includes ethnic leaders, Burmese opposition leaders and the Burmese regime is necessary for positive change. Ethnic leaders have called for such dialogue for a long time, but the regime has ignored their calls, said the roundtable participants.

“If they [the Burmese regime] are willingly to talk, we are ready to talk,” said Wah Khu Shee.

Observers, however, believed the junta will not listen to ethnic demands and will continue with the election as planned.

Cheery Zahau, a Chin ethnic who also participated in the roundtable discussion, said the regime does not follow their own law. For example, Burmese generals, including Prime Minister Thein Sein, formed a political party to contest the election in violation of the Political Parties Registration Law.

Participants in the discussion also called for more pressure on the Burmese military regime from the international community and from Asian countries that invest heavily in Burma, such as China, India and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Oct 30 2010

Hanoi Holiday for the Junta

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19897

Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein (left) walks on as other Asean and East Asian leaders wait for their group photo session during the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi October 30, 2010. (PHOTO: Reuters)

Hanoi Holiday for the Junta

By SIMON ROUGHNEEN Saturday, October 30, 2010

HANOI—Reports coming from the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Hanoi say the Burmese representatives have come under pressure from Asean counterparts to add some credibility to the country’s Nov. 7 general election.

However, apart from Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa, his Philippines counterpart Alberto Romulo and President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III, Asean leaders have kept quiet about the upcoming vote.

A kinder, albeit less-likely interpretation is that what was said to Prime Minister Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Nyan Win behind closed doors has not reached the media gathered at Hanoi’s National Convention Centre.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan affected a weary countenance when asked whether Burma was discussed by Asean leaders at their meeting on Thursday—though he did tell reporters as much about what was said on Burma as anyone else.

By Friday, it appeared that Asean leaders had given up on the issue.

Surin told reporters that it was now important to focus on the post-election period, suggesting that  elections are merely part of a broader process.

A democratic election requires credible electoral laws, open campaigning provisions, free access to information, freedom of the press and a working system of checks and balances underpinned by the country’s constitutional or legal codes. However, Burma’s poll has none of these features, observers say.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon repeated his view expressed earlier in the week when visiting Thailand, saying “it is not too late” for the elections to be made credible.

Short of wholesale revision of the Burma’s governance, however, observers find it difficult to envision how the elections could be made free and fair.

In an email, Aquilino Pimentel, a veteran Filipino politician, said he is “saddened that there appears to be lukewarm support from other Asean countries, save for one or two exceptions, for the upholding of the rights of the Burmese people, which have been trampled upon for more than two decades now.”

Thailand’s delegation at the summit has said little about the poll, despite, or perhaps because of the stakes involved for Burma’s biggest trading partner.

Host Vietnam has a democratic deficit of its own, jailing bloggers and Catholic land protestors during the past week, prompting a rebuke from Washington DC.

“There have been some recent instances where journalists, bloggers, other activists have been arrested,”  said government spokesman PJ Crowley at a State Department Press Briefing on Oct. 29. “This is contrary to Vietnam’s own commitment to internationally accepted standards of human rights, including the freedom of speech.”

Speaking at press conference during a brief stopover on Hawaii en route to Hanoi on Oct. 28, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “I would like to underscore the American commitment to seek accountability for the human rights violations that have occurred in Burma by working to establish an international commission of inquiry (COI) through close consultations with our friends, allies, and other partners at the United Nations.”

Australia supports the establishment of a COI, but when asked earlier by The Irrawaddy on Saturday morning whether she would raise the Burma issue at her meeting with Asean leaders on Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, a self-confessed foreign policy neophyte, refused to comment.

Clinton is likely to flag the Burma issue while in Vietnam, but has been caught up overnight in a war of words with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea claimed by both China and Japan. China rebuked Hillary Clinton, saying it was “strongly dissatisfied” with remarks that appeared to back Japan in the argument over the islands.

Japanese officials said China had cancelled at the last moment what would have been the first formal encounter since the dispute between Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier, and Naoto Kan, Japan’s prime minister.

The meeting had been agreed earlier on Friday at an apparently cordial encounter between foreign ministers of the two countries. However, Hu Zhengyue, a Chinese assistant foreign minister, later criticized Japan for “unceasingly disseminating” views that he said are a violation of China’s sovereignty.

 

Oct 30 2010

ASEAN to bring in US as counterbalance to China

ASEAN to bring in US as counterbalance to China

Written by Admin Friday, 29 October 2010 17:27

PDF Print E-mail

// <![CDATA[// 0diggsdigg

HANOI, Vietnam: Southeast Asian nations are welcoming the United States into their club, a move seen as bringing a counterweight to China following a series of aggressive maritime moves by Beijing.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, will formally invite the U.S. and Russia to join their annual East Asian Summit on Saturday in the Vietnamese capital.

During a stop in Hawaii en route to Hanoi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stressed that the U.S. would remain a major power in the Asia-Pacific region and called on China to expand cooperation with the U.S.

“It is not in anyone’s interest for the United States and China to see each other as adversaries,” she said.

Southeast Asian nations have become increasingly rattled in recent months, accusing China of being a bully following a series of territorial spats on the high seas, including run-ins with Vietnam and a nasty row with Japan.

China has strongly pushed to keep territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea out of talks held by ASEAN, preferring instead to deal with clashes one on one. But the smaller countries have refused to back down.

“ASEAN should have one voice before we venture (into) talking to other claimants,” Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said, adding that he and other Southeast Asian leaders’ aired concerns during a dinner Thursday centered on maintaining peace and keeping busy shipping lanes open in the South China Sea.

At another meeting in Hanoi this summer, Clinton enraged China by announcing that the U.S. has a national interest in seeing territorial disputes in the South China Sea resolved, ensuring vital shipping lanes remain open and that navigation within international waters be free for everyone.

China has laid claim to strategically placed and potentially oil-rich islands in the South China Sea, but parts of the territory are also claimed by several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Meanwhile, China and Japan met Friday in an attempt to repair soured relations over a maritime territorial dispute, with Japan also asking for the lifting of a block on rare earth exports crucial to its high-tech manufacturing.

Japanese companies have said those exports were frozen after the dispute flared up in late September, though the Beijing government denied that it has blocked the exports.

China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Japanese counterpart Seiji Maehara went into private talks on the sidelines of a regional Asian summit, hoping to lay the foundation for a meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

“The discussion took place in a good atmosphere. It was held calmly while both sides said what we should say. I believe it is likely that the leaders of China and Japan will hold a meeting here in Hanoi,” Maehara told reporters after the hour-plus talks in the Vietnamese capital.

The two countries have sought to repair ties brought to a new low after a Chinese fishing trawler collided with Japanese patrol boats last month near disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Tensions have remained high, despite Japan’s release of the boat captain, with anti-Japanese protests flaring up in cities across China.

Japan also asked China to unblock the export of rare earths and reopen talks on the joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea, Maehara said, adding that China responded that it would consider both requests. Beijing suspended the gas field talks during the spat.

A day earlier, Maehara met with Clinton in Hawaii where she said the restrictions served as a “wake-up call” for the global high-tech industry to diversify its suppliers.

China currently produces 97 percent of the world’s exotic metals, used in everything from laptops to cell phones.

China said Thursday it will not use the metals as a “bargaining tool.”

Tokyo recently said it planned to mine rare earths in Vietnam as a way to reduce its dependence on China, which ships 60 percent of its metals to Japan.

Maehara also said that Japan “repeated its position firmly” regarding the territorial issue over the East China Sea islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Both countries claim the islands.

Anti-Japan sentiment has continued to flare in China with multiple protests across several cities, including one earlier this week where a Japanese flag was torched outside a consulate in southwestern China.

Japan on Tuesday said it was considering increasing the size of its navy submarine fleet amid growing concerns that China’s maritime muscle is becoming too strong and could tip the balance of power in the Pacific, where the United States also maintains a strong presence.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is expected to meet with leaders from Japan and South Korea while in Vietnam. – AP

Oct 28 2010

RE: STOP THE ILLEGAL ELECTION BY THE ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT.

Press Statement

28th October 2010

Dear Chief Editor,

RE: STOP THE ILLEGAL ELECTION BY THE ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT.

In conjunction with 17th ASEAN Summit Meeting which will be held in Vietnam from 28-30 October 2010, Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MEHROM) strongly urge the ASEAN leaders to really discuss the upcoming election in Myanmar which will be held on 7 November 2010 as it may bring a new dimension in Myanmar and Asean future.

MERHROM believe that the upcoming election will only bring disaster for the people of Burma. We can expect the increase of gross human rights violations before, during and after the election. There are still lots of unresolved issues that need to be addressed before election can be held in Myanmar.

Junta has committed an international crimes towards its own people. The gross human rights violations such as arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, forced labour, killing of ordinary people, discrimination of ethnics, denial of freedom of movement, etc continues. How could the junta proceed with the election with the current situation and the world leaders seems not to have power to stop it.

Until now there is no indication that the political leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi, U kyaw Ming@ Shamsul Anwar and other political leaders will be released. The junta also denied some parties especially National League for Democracy (NLD) to contest in the election. The junta has created some new parties to be contested in the election and forcing people to vote for their parties. If the people refuse, they will be fined and imprisonment. The people will have no freedom to choose, no freedom to vote and no freedom to campaign.

During the election no foreign journalists or outside observers will be allowed into the country. That means there will be no close monitoring from independent parties. This clearly show how nontransparent the junta in the election.

MERHROM strongly condemn the election as it is an illegal election conduct by the illegal government. Democracy cannot be achieved if the gross and systematic human rights violations continue. We cannot see the positive outcome of the election. We believe the people of Burma will suffer more during and after the election. There will be increased human rights violations, increased of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries, increase poverty etc.

The only way to correct the mess created by the junta is to return the power to the National League for Democracy (NLD) who win the 1990 election. There is no need to hold the new election as we already know the end result.

The issues within Myanmar need to be resolved before ASEAN could discuss on the building of the ASEAN Community and implementation of the ASEAN Charter as well as development of diplomatic relations.

As the summit will be attended by leaders of ASEAN’s member’s partners including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, MERHROM strongly calls on the leaders to critically and constantly discussed the election and the Myanmar issue during the 3 days meeting.

MERHOM strongly urge the world leaders to increase their genuine effort to stop the crimes against humanity towards the people of Burma and bring democracy to our country so that we can return home.

MERHROM also urgently urge the UN Security Council and World leaders to make sure the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners before the election so that they could contest in the election.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Zafar Ahmad b. Abdul Ghani

President of MERHROM

No Tel: 016-6827287

email: rights4rohingya@yahoo.co.uk

blog: http://www.merhrom.wordpress.com

Oct 27 2010

Rohingyas want Malaysian Government to exclude them from amnesty plan

http://ds.serving-sys.com/BurstingRes///Site-30931/Type-2/02fe7c8c-d523-4531-bab1-696063215890.swf

Rohingyas want Malaysian Government to exclude them from amnesty plan

Submitted by Najiah on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 15:21:00

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Rohingyas on Sunday appealed to the government to exclude them from the upcoming amnesty programme for undocumented foreigners in the country, since they were registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (MERHROM) president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said during the amnesty programme in 2002 and the last in 2004, many Rohningyas who were registered with the UNHCR were arrested, detained, charged and deported to the Malaysia-Thailand border.

“We hope this will not happen again to the refugees as we are not in the same category with the undocumented migrants,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Zafar Ahmad was commenting on the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Thursday that the government proposed to grant amnesty to illegal foreign workers after the biometric identification system had been fine tuned for implementation.

“We are also worried what will happen to us after the amnesty period as there will be a mass crackdown on undocumented migrants,” he said.

He also appealed to the government to allow the refugees to work while waiting for the UNHCR to find a durable solution for them.

Oct 27 2010

Rela Watch , Interview with Rela Director-General

relawatch

Archive for 2007

Interview with Rela Director-General

In News and Opinion on December 5, 2007 at 11:48 pm

NST 26/06/07

RELA, or the People’s Volunteer Corps, is pushing for a separate law to govern its operations. Home Affairs Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Paduka Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said Rela would then function as a department with greater authority.

http://www. malaysiakini.com/news/67858
Q&A: We act within the law
Andrew Ong
May 29, 07 12:26pm

Ever since the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) was granted the power to arrest illegal immigrants in 2005, there have been a slew of accusations that some personnel have abused their powers – in some cases, through allegedly violent means.

In an interview, Rela director-general Zaidon Asmuni insisted that personnel “strictly adhere to” standard operating procedures (SOP) and act according to the law.

Malaysiakini: What are the requirements to join Rela?

Zaidon Asmuni: Ordinary Malaysian citizens above the age of 16 who hold an identity card are eligible to enrol as volunteers. We can use our powers to recruit personnel, but this only happens during a period of emergency.

Malaysiakini: What is the screening process for recruits?

Zaidon Asmuni: Nowadays we don’t have to screen. Anyone can join and become a Rela member. If we were to conduct a screening exercise, it would take the police some time (to do so), because they have their own priorities. Those who join will receive a membership card within two weeks. It’s as simple as that.

Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnant refugee woman seeks protection in Malaysia: Kaowao News

In Refugees, Rela Raids on August 20, 2007 at 5:42 pm

Published August 20, 2007 by Kaowao News

Mon refugees in Malaysia are seeking protection following the recent raids on refugees and migrants in Kuala Lumpur .

According to Piung Chan, a social worker from Mon Refugee Organization (MRO) based in Kuala Lumpur , 33 Burmese nationals were arrested in the early morning hours on August 17, 2007. Those arrested included a group of 9 Mon nationals and Chin and Burmese asylum seekers as well.

Among those arrested is an eight-month pregnant woman, Ms. Mei Korn Thaw, who is recognized by the UNHCR office as a refugee and who is reportedly unwell. “Her unborn baby and the girl both are in poor health, she has an appointment to see the doctor on August 23,” said Piung Chan.
Read the rest of this entry »

Rights groups hit at Malaysia worker crackdown: Financial Times

In Migrant Workers, Rela Raids on August 18, 2007 at 11:15 pm

By John Burton in Kuala Lumpur

Published at FT.com: August 6 2007 17:31

In the early hours of a recent Monday morning, trucks belonging to Malaysia’s People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) suddenly surrounded a neighbourhood in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang area, home to some of the city’s glitziest hotels and shopping malls.

The Rela members, dressed in green uniforms and tan berets, banged on doors and ordered the occupants outside, many of them foreigners working in menial jobs at nearby hotels and restaurants.

Read the rest of this entry »

Myanmar activists call for a halt to refugee crackdown in Malaysia: IHT

In News and Opinion, Refugees, Rela Raids on August 17, 2007 at 6:17 am

From the International Herald Tribune

Published: August 6, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Some 150 U.N.-certified Myanmar refugees have been detained during weekend raids on illegal immigrants in Malaysia, a rights group said Monday, as it called for a a halt to the indiscriminate arrest of refugees.

The Myanmar refugees were among 550 immigrants hauled up in separate crackdowns by immigration officials and the volunteer security corps RELA in central Selangor state, said the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization in Malaysia.

Children and pregnant women were among the 150 detained, all of whom were recognized by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the group’s president, Zafar Ahmad, said in a statement.

Read the rest of this entry »

Project Maje Report on Burmese Refugees in Malaysia

In Migrant Workers, Refugees on August 17, 2007 at 6:12 am

A new report, “We Built this City: Refugees from Burma at Risk in Malaysia” has been released by Project Maje. The report reveals the plight of refugees from Burma who have worked on Malaysia’s massive infrastructure projects but gained no gratitude for their labor. “We Built this City” highlights the persecution currently being inflicted on the refugees by a highly controversial government-sanctioned anti-immigrant vigilante force called Rela, which has been hunting down, beating, robbing and imprisoning foreigners in Malaysia. “We Built this City” includes background on the refugees in Malaysia, interviews with refugee construction workers from Burma’s Chin State, and links to articles on the Rela raids, as well as a letter writing action campaign.
“We Built this City: Refugees from Burma at Risk in Malaysia” can be found at www.projectmaje.org

Project Maje is an independent information project which has distributed information on Burma’s human rights and environmental issues since 1986.

Link Roundup

In Link Roundups on July 11, 2007 at 7:55 pm

Rela members to receive RM9 million in allowances

In News and Opinion on July 11, 2007 at 7:46 pm

RELA appears to be on track for becoming an official government department with paid volunteers enforcing the law. The article reports there are 350,000 RELA members throughout the country. 350,000 members given powers of search, seizure, and arrest, without any background checks and no training to speak of. How many police officers are there in Malaysia, and what exactly are they for?

Rela members to receive RM9 million in allowances
Published 2007/07/11 in The New Straits Times

BERNAMA

IPOH, Wed.:

The People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) has received an initial allocation of RM9 million as allowances for some 100,000 members.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Affairs Ministry, Datuk Paduka Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, said the allocation received yesterday was part of the RM32 requested by Rela this year for its members who were involved in operations.

“The operational allowance is at the rate of RM4 per hour for ordinary members and RM5.80 per hour for officers to a maximum of eight hours per day, as approved by the government in March,” he said.
Read the rest of this entry »

Rela and Malaysia’s invisible war

In Migrant Workers, News and Opinion, Refugees on July 9, 2007 at 3:33 am

Published 24 January, 2007 at Aliran

The volunteer corps’ crackdown on undocumented foreigners is not a war on terror; it is a war on defenceless migrants, observes Romany.

Like George W Bush’s ‘war on terror’ waged by the United States, an unseen, little-publicised ‘war on undocumented immigrants’ is being waged in Malaysia. This war, waged under cover of darkness, is hidden from public view and much information about it lands in the dead-news boxes of the editors of mainstream newspapers.
Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping mum about brutal RELA raids

In Migrant Workers, News and Opinion, Refugees on July 9, 2007 at 3:29 am

Published March 15th, 2006 at  Malaysia Media Monitors’ Diary

The senseless attack by RELA personnel on defenceless Indian migrant labourers waiting outside their own embassy for their problems to be sorted out by representatives of their home country is something that should be deeply embarrassing to Malaysians and the Malaysian government. It says so much about Malaysian attitudes towards foreigners, even those legally in the country. This is an announcement to the international community that we are ‘anti-foreigners’ – especially if they are not rich, professional, economically sound or from a G7 nation.

These downtrodden people had already been cheated out of their life-savings by unscrupulous conmen posing as employment agents, exploited by similarly conscienceless profiteering employers who feel no tinge of guilt at using what is little more than slave labour. And now, these honest but helpless workers have been further victimised by the authorities. Why have they been put into detention? What wrong have they done in seeking help from their High Commission officials?
Read the rest of this entry »

Redundant Rela – Aliran

In News and Opinion, Press Statements on July 9, 2007 at 2:37 am

Published Friday, July 6, at Aliran

Rela’s reported move (New Straits Times, 26 June 2007) to push for a law to legitimise itself and its operations has triggered alarm bells for human rights in Malaysia.

Rela, which has become internationally notorious for its indiscipline and human rights abuse against defenceless migrants and refugees, is now seeking to legitimise itself by proposing new laws to enable it to operate as a lawful government department operating independently of the Home Affairs Ministry and the Immigration authorities.

Read the rest of this entry »

RELA Bill will worsen the climate of arbitrary law enforcement: Amnesty International

In Press Statements on July 5, 2007 at 4:34 pm

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA PRESS STATEMENT

5 July 2007

Amnesty International Malaysia expresses serious concerns over the
recent news highlighted in the media on the 26 June 2007 that the Home
Affairs Ministry plans to restructure the civilian volunteer body RELA
into a separate department with greater authority and even powers to
source out its own funding.

The ministry stated that RELA’s main task once the bill is passed will
be to catch illegal immigrants and to help the immigration and police.
The Ministry is planning to table the Bill on RELA in parliament this
year which will make RELA as a full fledge law enforcement department.

Read the rest of this entry »

Malaysia urged to stop rounding up Myanmar refugees: Khonumthung News

In News and Opinion, Refugees, Rela Raids, Urgent Appeals on July 5, 2007 at 4:28 pm

July 05, 2007

In an ardent appeal to the Malaysian government, the Chin Human Right Organization has urged it to call a halt to the crackdown on Myanmar refugees. Instead it has asked Malaysia to cooperate with the office of The United Nation High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to protect the inherent rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

The Malaysian government is violating basic human rights by its relentless raids targeting the refugee community. To make matters worse there are reports of torture and abuse of hapless refugees in detention camps and consequent deportation, said CHRO’s urgent letter of appeal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brian Yap: What it takes to win the war against crime

In News and Opinion on July 4, 2007 at 4:56 am

The following editorial presents some interesting facts regarding crime rates.

In his 2005 analysis of the rise in crime in Malaysia presented at a police conference, ACP Amar Singh Sidhu claimed that the proportion of crime committed by foreigners was around two per cent of the total index crimes in Malaysia. Plus, on a per capita basis, foreigners on average commit about 3.8 crimes per 1,000 population. Malaysians on the other hand, commit 5.3 crimes per 1,000 population. So the problem lies not with foreign labour, but with local enforcement.

Brian Yap: What it takes to win the war against crime

The New Straits Times
July 4th, 2007

THE prevalence of crime, especially in urban areas, is understandably causing much concern these days.

Nevertheless, neither the surge in law-breaking nor the concern of the public is anything new. In the past few years, we have practically seen snatch thefts become part of city life. Almost everyone knows a victim, if they aren’t already one themselves.

It’s a sign of how bad things have become when having your bag stolen is considered a blessing, as some victims have been hurt or even killed in such incidents. Last month’s demonstration in front of the residence of the Johor Menteri Besar is testament to the frustration and helplessness ordinary citizens feel about this increasing sense of lawlessness.
Read the rest of this entry »

IGP says situation in Johor is under control

In News and Opinion on July 1, 2007 at 6:52 pm

Apparently, illegal immigrants = organized crime. Members of ‘crime syndicates’ surely would never obtain legal ID and travel documents before running amok in Malaysia.

From The New Straits Times Online

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun:
Police will use preventive laws to put away members of local and Singaporean crime syndicates operating in the south.

They will adopt the same measures now being used in Sarawak to fight organised crime.

The New Sunday Times learnt that officers from the state’s anti-vice, gaming and secret society divisions had been directed to mount operations against these syndicates.
Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone can join!

In News and Opinion on June 30, 2007 at 9:48 pm

Ever Rela to help was published Sunday June 10, 2007, in The Star Online. Reporter Shahanaz Habib speaks with Rela director-general Datuk Zaidon Asmuni about the people’s volunteer corps.

The full article is below the cut. Here are a few choice bits:

There have been a number of cases of abuse and Rela members stealing and hitting detainees.

To me, the number of abuses is very small compared to the number of operations. I have found the walloping of illegal workers is actually in response to something that happened. If they give full co-operation when we go into a rumah kongsi, I don’t think the Rela members will start hitting them “for fun”.

Does Rela check the background of members?

We don’t do that now because we want to encourage people to join us. If a person has a bad record, then we won’t take him and may send his name to the police. If we send in 475,000 names for the police to check, it would be too time-consuming. They have other more pressing priorities.

Here are some responses to story:

Wrong to give Rela power to detain illegals

“Anyone, whether employer or worker, has a right to challenge or question Rela members – especially if they come around without uniforms. If such questioning makes them angry, then I must point out that professional law enforcement involves accountability and responsibility.

It is a mistake to give Rela arbitrary powers to detain illegal immigrants. The amendment must be rescinded as it has no mechanism of accountability, disciplinary action and does not accommodate professional training catering to the new set of responsibilities.

It was a response to past and current populist, alarmist and xenophobic beliefs that illegal immigrants are flooding the country and taking away local jobs.”

Rela doing a great job

Rela really needs to address public concerns

Read the rest of this entry »

228 Burmese Asylum Seekers and Refugees Arrested by RELA

In Rela Raids, Urgent Appeals on June 30, 2007 at 7:01 am

SUARAM is informed that 228 asylum seekers and refugees from Burma were arrested in an operation by the Malaysian Immigration and RELA (People’s Voluntary Corps) raid today (25 June 2007). About 2.00am, the joint force raided the Chin Refugee Centre and Chin communities at Jalan Imbi and Jalan San Peng, Kuala Lumpur.

Most of the detainees are recognised as refugees by the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR). Among them, 30 people are underaged, 5 pregnant women and 10 people who will be sent to United State of America tomorrow for resettlement. Chin refugee leader, P, was also among those arrested.

For the time being, the 10 refugees who will be resettled to USA together with P, have been released after pressure for Human Rights groups. Remaining 217 people had been sent to Semenyih detention camp.

SUARAM condemns the arrest and calls for the immediate release of all the arrested asylum seekers, especially those UNHCR refugee card holders and women. As an elected member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Malaysian government should respect the right of refugees in accordance to international human rights law.

Read the rest of this entry