A group of 22 Kaman Muslims who came to Yangon from conflict-affected Rakhine State last month are refusing an order from authorities to return to the state, saying they have full citizenship rights and are legally allowed to move freely throughout Myanmar.
“We don’t care if they arrest us. We are not going back. We are holders of national identity cards. So, we assume authorities have no right to arrest us,” Tin Zar Hnin, a mother of one who came to Yangon to be with her husband, told Myanmar Now.
In mid-November, the group left Ramree Island (Yanbye Island), located off the Rakhine coast. They had been living there under harsh conditions in a camp for families displaced by outbreaks of inter-communal violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in 2012.
They came by car and air, and did not encounter any problems along the way, the interviewees said. After several weeks, authorities in Yangon approached the Kaman National Development Party office in Mayangon Township asking it to pass on an order stating that the group had to return to their camp as they had left without prior permission.
“An immigration official in Yangon called and asked me if we would send back these people according to our plans, or if the government has to arrange it,” said Tin Hlaing Win, secretary of the Kaman National Development Party. “We said we cannot do this as these people have valid national identity cards.” (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Thursday, December 24, 2015
SC. After Victory in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi Quietly Shapes a Transition. News Source
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — Since her party bash’s thumping election success last month, Myanmar’s democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has stated little & made few public appearances. So when she emerged just lately in her constituency, she was mobbed by reporters & photographers, earnest for some hint about how her party bash will govern after the brand new Parliament is seated next month. It was to not be. She’d come to decide up trash, an exercise described by her party bash as bringing alter by means of acts of particular human being responsibility. “Don’t just take photos,” she scolded the photographers as she crouched to the shrubs masking the sandy soil of the Irrawaddy Delta and commenced picking up bits of trash. “Help pick up the garbage.” Throughout the six weeks since Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as probably the most powerful individual in this country of 51 million people, she has kept the country guessing on details of the convey of power to her democracy movement from the military institution in that has dominated for greater than 5 decades. Timeline | A Life in Politics She has done a number of meditating, one aide stated. (Courtesy of South Carolina SC)
IHI to make concrete with Myanmar government
TOKYO -- IHI will partner with the government of Myanmar to build a $15 million concrete factory there, developing the country's materials sector and helping meet surging demand for infrastructure.
The Japanese heavy equipment manufacturer will contribute 60% of the cost, with Myanmar's construction ministry putting forth the rest. The partners could break ground as soon as January in Yangon, the country's largest city. A start to operations is eyed for September or October, said Kyaw Linn, the ministry's permanent secretary. The midsize plant will be able to produce 77,000 tons of high-strength precast concrete annually.
The project marks the second factory established jointly by the ministry and a Japanese company since Myanmar returned to civilian rule in 2011. The first, involving JFE Engineering, produces material for steel bridges and other such structures. IHI's venture is expected to meet more diverse demand from the public and private sectors. (Courtesy of Nikkei Asian Review)
The Japanese heavy equipment manufacturer will contribute 60% of the cost, with Myanmar's construction ministry putting forth the rest. The partners could break ground as soon as January in Yangon, the country's largest city. A start to operations is eyed for September or October, said Kyaw Linn, the ministry's permanent secretary. The midsize plant will be able to produce 77,000 tons of high-strength precast concrete annually.
The project marks the second factory established jointly by the ministry and a Japanese company since Myanmar returned to civilian rule in 2011. The first, involving JFE Engineering, produces material for steel bridges and other such structures. IHI's venture is expected to meet more diverse demand from the public and private sectors. (Courtesy of Nikkei Asian Review)
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Interview with newly elected NLD MP from jade rich Hpakant
In an interview with the BNI Election Newsroom, newly elected Lower House MP, U Tint Soe, spoke about the current situation involving the excavation of natural resources in his hometown, Hpakant, in western Kachin State.
Q: Can you tell us about the current situation in Hpakant?
A: I want to say that there is no rule of law or peace in Hpakant now. I want to say that Global Witness’s recent report on the status of Myanmar jade resources is nearly all correct.
Businesses owned by local citizens are very few in our Hpakant. Also, the real owners of the companies are not Chinese people born in Myanmar but Chinese citizens. I have been living in Hpakant for 27 years. As everyone knows, our citizens did not have the right to receive much benefit from the natural resources in our country.
Q: How much damage has natural resources excavation done to the area?
A: The amount of environmental damage is quite unbelievable. Our Hpakant area was an area with natural mountains and presentable [natural] resources in the past.
Now, all the soil has been destroyed. If I were to talk in terms of area, nearly 400 square miles have been totally destroyed. They have become pot-holes and waste soils. It has become like a desert. If I were to talk about the extent of deforestation caused by companies that cut down the trees for daily use such as firewood, coal and constructing buildings. We could cut the trees and bamboo at the entrance of our village in the past. Now, we have to travel at least 40 miles from the village to cut down trees. A lot of conservation effort is needed. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Q: Can you tell us about the current situation in Hpakant?
A: I want to say that there is no rule of law or peace in Hpakant now. I want to say that Global Witness’s recent report on the status of Myanmar jade resources is nearly all correct.
Businesses owned by local citizens are very few in our Hpakant. Also, the real owners of the companies are not Chinese people born in Myanmar but Chinese citizens. I have been living in Hpakant for 27 years. As everyone knows, our citizens did not have the right to receive much benefit from the natural resources in our country.
Q: How much damage has natural resources excavation done to the area?
A: The amount of environmental damage is quite unbelievable. Our Hpakant area was an area with natural mountains and presentable [natural] resources in the past.
Now, all the soil has been destroyed. If I were to talk in terms of area, nearly 400 square miles have been totally destroyed. They have become pot-holes and waste soils. It has become like a desert. If I were to talk about the extent of deforestation caused by companies that cut down the trees for daily use such as firewood, coal and constructing buildings. We could cut the trees and bamboo at the entrance of our village in the past. Now, we have to travel at least 40 miles from the village to cut down trees. A lot of conservation effort is needed. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Buddhist Extremism Loses Out in Myanmar Vote
With the opposition National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide victory in Myanmar’s Nov. 8 election, the enduring popularity of its leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was confirmed. The results also constituted a strong popular rebuke of military rule, as the former generals of the incumbent Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) suffered an embarrassing defeat.
But another group was also revealed to be less politically powerful than expected: the Buddhist nationalist organization known as Ma Ba Tha, or the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion. Led by Buddhist monks who espouse a particularly vocal brand of anti-Muslim nationalism, Ma Ba Tha had spent months lobbying for the enactment of legislation and policies aimed at “protecting” Buddhism.
Before the election, many observers were predicting that Ma Ba Tha’s growing clout could impact the electoral outcome. The organization had already proven itself to be a political power player, securing by mid-2015 the passage of four “Race and Religion Protection” bills restricting interfaith marriage, religious conversion and Muslim birthrates. Today, however, the monks of Ma Ba Tha have fallen out of the headlines.
Ma Ba Tha Weakened
As the NLD prepares to take the reins of government, Ma Ba Tha is in a decidedly weaker position than it was before the vote. And the dramatic reversal of fortune is thanks, in large part, to the group’s own choices during the campaign.
Though Buddhist monks are technically barred from direct participation in Myanmar politics, in the months leading up to election day, the monks of Ma Ba Tha intervened repeatedly. Prominent Ma Ba Tha leaders, including the notorious Wirathu, called on supporters to vote for candidates who would safeguard Buddhism and traditional Burmese culture. In many instances, they made it clear that this meant the ruling USDP. (Courtesy of Asia Sentinel)
But another group was also revealed to be less politically powerful than expected: the Buddhist nationalist organization known as Ma Ba Tha, or the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion. Led by Buddhist monks who espouse a particularly vocal brand of anti-Muslim nationalism, Ma Ba Tha had spent months lobbying for the enactment of legislation and policies aimed at “protecting” Buddhism.
Before the election, many observers were predicting that Ma Ba Tha’s growing clout could impact the electoral outcome. The organization had already proven itself to be a political power player, securing by mid-2015 the passage of four “Race and Religion Protection” bills restricting interfaith marriage, religious conversion and Muslim birthrates. Today, however, the monks of Ma Ba Tha have fallen out of the headlines.
Ma Ba Tha Weakened
As the NLD prepares to take the reins of government, Ma Ba Tha is in a decidedly weaker position than it was before the vote. And the dramatic reversal of fortune is thanks, in large part, to the group’s own choices during the campaign.
Though Buddhist monks are technically barred from direct participation in Myanmar politics, in the months leading up to election day, the monks of Ma Ba Tha intervened repeatedly. Prominent Ma Ba Tha leaders, including the notorious Wirathu, called on supporters to vote for candidates who would safeguard Buddhism and traditional Burmese culture. In many instances, they made it clear that this meant the ruling USDP. (Courtesy of Asia Sentinel)
Interfaith group provides Christmas meals to Myanmar's poor
For the poor children and families from the Irrawaddy riverside in Mandalay, where people live in temporary tents, one good meal is a special Christmas gift.
An interfaith group of woman comprised of Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus reached out to Mandalay's poor on Dec. 20 to provide meals as a way of conveying the Christmas message of joy.
"We find Jesus among the poor … so we show the simplicity and joy to the people. We need to get out and smell the sheep that Pope Francis said," Irish Columban Sister Kathleen Geaney, the group's founder, told ucanews.com.
Sister Geaney said the simple meal of rice and curry can go a long way to help the people, especially children, many of whom are malnourished. Meals are provided on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter, she said. However, the group distributes about 400 eggs each week among need families. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
An interfaith group of woman comprised of Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus reached out to Mandalay's poor on Dec. 20 to provide meals as a way of conveying the Christmas message of joy.
"We find Jesus among the poor … so we show the simplicity and joy to the people. We need to get out and smell the sheep that Pope Francis said," Irish Columban Sister Kathleen Geaney, the group's founder, told ucanews.com.
Sister Geaney said the simple meal of rice and curry can go a long way to help the people, especially children, many of whom are malnourished. Meals are provided on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter, she said. However, the group distributes about 400 eggs each week among need families. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
Roads being upgraded along international borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan, China
NEW DELHI: India is constructing and upgrading roads along the borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and Nepal and plans similar action along the Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar border as well, government told the Lok Sabha today.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said construction and upgradation of roads of 4,379 km along Indo-Bangladesh border has been going on.
Such a project is also being implemented in 689.95 km along the Indo-Pakistan border, he said during Question Hour.
Construction and upgradation of roads is also going on in 3,796 km along Indo-China border and 1377 km along Indo-Nepal border, the minister said.
Government has also plans for development of border along Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar border, he said. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said construction and upgradation of roads of 4,379 km along Indo-Bangladesh border has been going on.
Such a project is also being implemented in 689.95 km along the Indo-Pakistan border, he said during Question Hour.
Construction and upgradation of roads is also going on in 3,796 km along Indo-China border and 1377 km along Indo-Nepal border, the minister said.
Government has also plans for development of border along Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar border, he said. (Courtesy of The Economic Times)
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