The outgoing government has released 102 prisoners across the country, announced Zaw Htay, director of the President's Office, on Facebook. The list does not include students who are still on trial after their arrest around March 10 last year.
The students were not prisoners but were under investigation in the courts and they were engaged in the legal process, he said.
Under the leadership of the All Burma Federation Student Unions, the students demanded reform of the National Education Law.
In Letpadan, Bago Region, there was a large crackdown on them and Phyoe Phyoe Aung, Nanda Sit Aung, Min Thway Thit and other supporters were detained at Thayawady Prison. Their trials continue. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Rights groups upset over jailing of activist for Facebook post
A prisoner amnesty in Myanmar on Friday does not go nearly far enough as scores of peaceful activists remain behind bars, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said.
The government announced on January 22 the release of 102 prisoners, including at least 16 prisoners of conscience who Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had campaigned for.
Those released include three convicted of religious defamation in late 2014 for allegedly insulting an image of a Buddha in a bar advertisement. New Zealand citizen Philip Blackwood and his Myanmar business partners Ko Tun Thurein and Ko Htut Ko Ko Lwin were sentenced to two and half years hard labour. Other political prisoners released include land rights activists involved in protests at the Letpadaung copper mine and in Yangon. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The government announced on January 22 the release of 102 prisoners, including at least 16 prisoners of conscience who Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had campaigned for.
Those released include three convicted of religious defamation in late 2014 for allegedly insulting an image of a Buddha in a bar advertisement. New Zealand citizen Philip Blackwood and his Myanmar business partners Ko Tun Thurein and Ko Htut Ko Ko Lwin were sentenced to two and half years hard labour. Other political prisoners released include land rights activists involved in protests at the Letpadaung copper mine and in Yangon. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Cops step up ops over market shootings
The police have stepped up their operation over the Selayang market incident, with 53 more suspects rounded up.
This brings to 176 the total number of suspects nabbed since the incident, in which a two-year-old boy was shot and wounded.
Police have enlisted the help of City Hall, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Immigration Department, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), National Anti-drugs Agency (AADK) and JPJ in their all out “war” against those involved. (Courtesy of The Star Online)
Foreigners allowed to purchase condominium apartment in Myanmar
Foreigners have been allowed to purchase not over 40 percent of condominium apartment in Myanmar in accordance with the approved Condominium Law beginning this year, official sources said Saturday.
The Condominium Law is applied to high-rise residential building having minimum six floors and it should be built on an area of 20,000 square feet or over. (Courtesy of Shanghai Daily)
The Condominium Law is applied to high-rise residential building having minimum six floors and it should be built on an area of 20,000 square feet or over. (Courtesy of Shanghai Daily)
Numerous AA suspects arrested
The security agency known as the Sa Ya Pha has reportedly detained three young militants in Rakhine State.
The three were apparently arrested at their homes in Leikamaw village, Kyaukpyu Township, for possible connection with the Arakan Army (AA).
“They have been detained as they’re suspected of links with the AA. But I’m not sure about that. My brother Maung Aye was taken by force from his home on January 21. There is growing concern about them among their families and other villagers. Such an aggressive act shouldn’t have happened in this democratic era,” said Maung Daung, brother of Maung Aye.
The other two detained were named as Thar Tun Phyu and Zaw Win Maung. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
The three were apparently arrested at their homes in Leikamaw village, Kyaukpyu Township, for possible connection with the Arakan Army (AA).
“They have been detained as they’re suspected of links with the AA. But I’m not sure about that. My brother Maung Aye was taken by force from his home on January 21. There is growing concern about them among their families and other villagers. Such an aggressive act shouldn’t have happened in this democratic era,” said Maung Daung, brother of Maung Aye.
The other two detained were named as Thar Tun Phyu and Zaw Win Maung. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
Govt must realise that it needs the media
The media should play the role of watchdog but it can also be manipulated to reflect the agenda of a powerful owner. The authorities need to be proactive, strategic and professional in their relationship with the news media. Willingly or not, it has long been recognised that the police and media can become locked into a complex loop of interdependence.
The media depends on the police for the constant release of “crime and crash” information as the lifeblood of their news stories and the police depend on media coverage for help in crime prevention and detection, and also in the promotion of a positive image for policing work.
The effective management and use of information has an important role to play in crime prevention, reduction and investigation strategies, and the amount of information that police officers encounter in the course of their work is considerable.
Depending on how transparent a news article is, one can determine its reliability and make assumptions or draw one’s own conclusions from the findings. Media transparency brings up issues concerning freedom of speech since governments may censor what information is conveyed in order to sway public opinion. Corruption has been a major issue in areas of the world where there is a lack of media transparency. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
The media depends on the police for the constant release of “crime and crash” information as the lifeblood of their news stories and the police depend on media coverage for help in crime prevention and detection, and also in the promotion of a positive image for policing work.
The effective management and use of information has an important role to play in crime prevention, reduction and investigation strategies, and the amount of information that police officers encounter in the course of their work is considerable.
Depending on how transparent a news article is, one can determine its reliability and make assumptions or draw one’s own conclusions from the findings. Media transparency brings up issues concerning freedom of speech since governments may censor what information is conveyed in order to sway public opinion. Corruption has been a major issue in areas of the world where there is a lack of media transparency. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
Challenges Abound for Suu Kyi and Peace Process
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, told an Independence Day event at NLD headquarters on January 4 that the first priority of an NLD government would be building internal peace.
She will lead the peace process launched by President U Thein Sein’s administration after her government takes office on April 1. I would like to discuss the challenges the NLD government may face in achieving peace.
The former military government made no attempt to hold a political dialogue with armed ethnic groups and even though it reached bilateral ceasefire agreements with many of them, it stopped short of discussing a national truce. It also tried to coerce armed ethnic groups into forming border guard forces that would be under Tatmadaw command. Resistance to forming the BGFs lead to tension and fighting erupted with some armed ethnic groups. After President U Thein Sein’s government took office in 2011, peace talks began as part of a concerted attempt to reach a ceasefire accord. Months of negotiations resulted in an agreement being reached on a draft text for a national ceasefire agreement on March 31, 2015. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
She will lead the peace process launched by President U Thein Sein’s administration after her government takes office on April 1. I would like to discuss the challenges the NLD government may face in achieving peace.
The former military government made no attempt to hold a political dialogue with armed ethnic groups and even though it reached bilateral ceasefire agreements with many of them, it stopped short of discussing a national truce. It also tried to coerce armed ethnic groups into forming border guard forces that would be under Tatmadaw command. Resistance to forming the BGFs lead to tension and fighting erupted with some armed ethnic groups. After President U Thein Sein’s government took office in 2011, peace talks began as part of a concerted attempt to reach a ceasefire accord. Months of negotiations resulted in an agreement being reached on a draft text for a national ceasefire agreement on March 31, 2015. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
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