We congratulate the NLD [opposition party] who won the election. At the same time we also wish and pray that you may build the nation in spite of enormous challenges that lie in wait. The people of Myanmar have invested their hopes and future in your fragile hands, knowing that power of empty hands has ‘sent away the mighty and raised the lowly’. You have shown your sagacity by proposing a government of national reconciliation. Church joins in your Good will and efforts to bring peace with justice. . . .
The world stands in awe at the graceful way the president and the USDP [ruling party] accepted the verdict and welcomed the victors. For the last five years you have done a lot for this country ensuring that the incremental democracy brings greater inclusiveness. Your good will at peaceful transfer of power is a great example to the world where enormous blood shed is the norm in transfer of power. History will gratefully remember you for your generosity and statesmanship. (Courtesy of WSJ)
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Suu Kyi hold talks with top officials from MPC
Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the National League for Democracy, held a discussion with the Myanmar Peace Center delegation led by Union Minister at the President’s Office Aung Min, over the current peace processes and political dialogues, in Nay Pyi Taw on December 23.
The NLD delegation includes CEC members Win Htein and Dr Zaw Myint Maung, the Central Committee members Naing Ngan Lin and Phyo Zeyar Thaw and in-charge of the NLD chairperson office Dr. Tin Mar Aung. Union minister Aung Min was accompanied by Tin Maung Than, Hla Maung Shwe, Dr Min Zaw Oo, Dr Kyaw Yin Hlaing and Aung Naing Oo.
Hla Maung Shwe, senior advisor to the MPC said: “It was attended by the MPC’s six-member delegation led by Union Minister Aung Min and the five-member NLD team led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The meeting focuses on the ongoing peace process and political dialogues. Both sides discussed the MPC’s works. Today’s meeting lasted about one hour. There may be talks in the future if necessary. The crucial point is that holding a discussion on the current works is good.”
According to the NLD’s release, both sides exchanged the views on the current peace process, holding of the Union Peace Conference and coordination on holding preliminary political dialogues.
Win Htein said: “At today’s call, the MPC submitted the topics which will be discussed at the conference scheduled for 12, 13 and 14 January to Aung San Suu Kyi. A preliminary meeting will be held on 5, 6 and 7 January for the conference. At the preliminary meeting, we will coordinate the agenda for the conference. The main point is Minister Aung Min and officials from the MPC will submit the MPC’s works. And it will be approved. Aung San Suu Kyi will continue working on the peace-making processes.
In doing so, there are two points. The first one is to recognize the MPC’s efforts and congratulate the MPC on the signing of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) despite it not being ideal. The NCA would bring good results when it is implemented under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. The above-mentioned matters are discussed. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
The NLD delegation includes CEC members Win Htein and Dr Zaw Myint Maung, the Central Committee members Naing Ngan Lin and Phyo Zeyar Thaw and in-charge of the NLD chairperson office Dr. Tin Mar Aung. Union minister Aung Min was accompanied by Tin Maung Than, Hla Maung Shwe, Dr Min Zaw Oo, Dr Kyaw Yin Hlaing and Aung Naing Oo.
Hla Maung Shwe, senior advisor to the MPC said: “It was attended by the MPC’s six-member delegation led by Union Minister Aung Min and the five-member NLD team led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The meeting focuses on the ongoing peace process and political dialogues. Both sides discussed the MPC’s works. Today’s meeting lasted about one hour. There may be talks in the future if necessary. The crucial point is that holding a discussion on the current works is good.”
According to the NLD’s release, both sides exchanged the views on the current peace process, holding of the Union Peace Conference and coordination on holding preliminary political dialogues.
Win Htein said: “At today’s call, the MPC submitted the topics which will be discussed at the conference scheduled for 12, 13 and 14 January to Aung San Suu Kyi. A preliminary meeting will be held on 5, 6 and 7 January for the conference. At the preliminary meeting, we will coordinate the agenda for the conference. The main point is Minister Aung Min and officials from the MPC will submit the MPC’s works. And it will be approved. Aung San Suu Kyi will continue working on the peace-making processes.
In doing so, there are two points. The first one is to recognize the MPC’s efforts and congratulate the MPC on the signing of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) despite it not being ideal. The NCA would bring good results when it is implemented under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. The above-mentioned matters are discussed. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Three university student activists freed from prison
MANDALAY—Three students – Aung Hsan Oo, Jit Tue and Nyun Lin Htet – from Yadanarpon University were freed from Obo Prison in Mandalay Region on December 22 after completing their prison sentences.
The three students were sentenced for violating Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law, for taking part in assemblies against the government and for of defamation of the state.
Naing Ye Wai, chairman of the Yadanarpon University Student Union, remains in prison because he was charged with two counts of violating Section 18.
“Although we were freed from the prison, we are not happy because we were unfairly detained. Our comrades remain in other prisons, including Thayawady. We urged the government to release the detained students, political prisoners, activists and farmers at once. We are going to try as soon as possible to secure the release of those prisoners who are being unfairly detained in prisons across the nation. Then, we will demand official recognition of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions,” said Jit Tue. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
The three students were sentenced for violating Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law, for taking part in assemblies against the government and for of defamation of the state.
Naing Ye Wai, chairman of the Yadanarpon University Student Union, remains in prison because he was charged with two counts of violating Section 18.
“Although we were freed from the prison, we are not happy because we were unfairly detained. Our comrades remain in other prisons, including Thayawady. We urged the government to release the detained students, political prisoners, activists and farmers at once. We are going to try as soon as possible to secure the release of those prisoners who are being unfairly detained in prisons across the nation. Then, we will demand official recognition of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions,” said Jit Tue. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
NLD to appoint ethnic minority MPs as chief ministers
The National League for Democracy (NLD), which won this year’s national election, plans to appoint state chief ministers from among its newly appointed representatives who belong to ethnic minority communities, said Nan Khin Htwe Myint, a member of the NLD's central executive committee.
She revealed the plan in response to a question about how regional chief ministers would be chosen.
“We will mainly choose ethnic minority people who are NLD members. Chief ministers will be from our party. This is because we were canvassing for votes so that we could form a government," said Nan Khin Htwe Myint.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the November 8 elections. However, the party won only eight out of 35 parliamentary seats in two ethnic region parliaments—34 in Rakhine State and one in Chin State. The Rakhine State-based Arakan National Party won 22 seats, but the Rakhine State chief minister is likely to be an NLD member.
If the NLD has an elected Rakhine representative, we will appoint him or her. I have said that we can form a government only if we become chief ministers," said Nan Khin Htwe Myint. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
She revealed the plan in response to a question about how regional chief ministers would be chosen.
“We will mainly choose ethnic minority people who are NLD members. Chief ministers will be from our party. This is because we were canvassing for votes so that we could form a government," said Nan Khin Htwe Myint.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the November 8 elections. However, the party won only eight out of 35 parliamentary seats in two ethnic region parliaments—34 in Rakhine State and one in Chin State. The Rakhine State-based Arakan National Party won 22 seats, but the Rakhine State chief minister is likely to be an NLD member.
If the NLD has an elected Rakhine representative, we will appoint him or her. I have said that we can form a government only if we become chief ministers," said Nan Khin Htwe Myint. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Construction slows down in Yangon
The number of building projects in Yangon fell from 600 to 400 per month between November and December, according to the Building Department under the Yangon City Development Committee.
“The rate dropped in these two months. We had to permit only 400 projects last month,” said an official from the department.
Many people blame the sluggish market and lowering demand for apartments for the drop.
“The property market is rather inactive. I expect demand will get higher again along with the shift in government next year,” said Myo Myint, a building contractor in Yangon. (Courtesy Eleven Myanmar)
“The rate dropped in these two months. We had to permit only 400 projects last month,” said an official from the department.
Many people blame the sluggish market and lowering demand for apartments for the drop.
“The property market is rather inactive. I expect demand will get higher again along with the shift in government next year,” said Myo Myint, a building contractor in Yangon. (Courtesy Eleven Myanmar)
For migrants, the legal route brings few benefits: report
The formal channels funneling Myanmar labourers overseas are often proving just as corrupt, fee-inducing and negligent of the workers’ rights as the illicit smuggling networks. Workers embarking on the government-sanctioned route may even be worse off, according to research and interviews compiled by European non-profits Finnwatch and Swedwatch.
In Thailand’s poultry industry, Myanmar workers who waited through delays and jumped through all the proper legal hurdles to obtain their jobs are still encountering rights abuses that mirror their undocumented counterparts, the research found. The conditions and extortion are so dire they approximate forced labour, yet the groups who brokered the employment were government-backed recruiters.
The researchers detailed the conditions in six Thai poultry factories owned by four companies: Charoen Pokphand Foods, Laemthong, Centaco and Saha Farms Group. At each of the factories the majority of the workers were Myanmar and had gone through the legal system signed into place through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangkok and Nay Pyi Taw. Authorised recruitment agencies Today Top Star, Arbourfield Co Ltd, and Yun Nadi Oo and Associates facilitated the employment process, but according to the report, they diverged wildly from the accredited system. (Courtesy of MMTimes)
In Thailand’s poultry industry, Myanmar workers who waited through delays and jumped through all the proper legal hurdles to obtain their jobs are still encountering rights abuses that mirror their undocumented counterparts, the research found. The conditions and extortion are so dire they approximate forced labour, yet the groups who brokered the employment were government-backed recruiters.
The researchers detailed the conditions in six Thai poultry factories owned by four companies: Charoen Pokphand Foods, Laemthong, Centaco and Saha Farms Group. At each of the factories the majority of the workers were Myanmar and had gone through the legal system signed into place through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangkok and Nay Pyi Taw. Authorised recruitment agencies Today Top Star, Arbourfield Co Ltd, and Yun Nadi Oo and Associates facilitated the employment process, but according to the report, they diverged wildly from the accredited system. (Courtesy of MMTimes)
Government Invites Wa, Mongla Groups to Peace Dialogue
RANGOON — The government has invited leaders of the Wa and Mongla special regions to attend the Union Peace Conference scheduled to convene on Jan. 12, an invitation that de facto applies to the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burma’s largest ethnic armed group, and the National Democratic Alliance Army.
Thein Zaw, vice chairman of the government’s Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), urged leaders of the Wa to take part in Burma’s peace process as government negotiators met with them in Pangsang, the Shan State headquarters of the UWSA, on Saturday.
“We’d like to invite Wa ethnic leaders to take part in the peace process of the Union. The door to the Union Peace Conference and NCA [nationwide ceasefire agreement] is always kept open,” government newspapers quoted Thein Zaw as saying in state-run newspapers on Tuesday.
The UWSA is a non-signatory to Burma’s so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement, which was signed by the government and eight non-state armed groups on Oct. 15.
Lt-Gen Yar Pyae of the Burma Army accompanied the government negotiators and stressed the need for national reconciliation and national reconsolidation on the occasion, echoing Thein Zaw’s comments about an open door for the Wa. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Thein Zaw, vice chairman of the government’s Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), urged leaders of the Wa to take part in Burma’s peace process as government negotiators met with them in Pangsang, the Shan State headquarters of the UWSA, on Saturday.
“We’d like to invite Wa ethnic leaders to take part in the peace process of the Union. The door to the Union Peace Conference and NCA [nationwide ceasefire agreement] is always kept open,” government newspapers quoted Thein Zaw as saying in state-run newspapers on Tuesday.
The UWSA is a non-signatory to Burma’s so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement, which was signed by the government and eight non-state armed groups on Oct. 15.
Lt-Gen Yar Pyae of the Burma Army accompanied the government negotiators and stressed the need for national reconciliation and national reconsolidation on the occasion, echoing Thein Zaw’s comments about an open door for the Wa. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
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