http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1677-tcg-work-not-to-be-affected-by-kyaw-thus-transfer-un.html
by Mizzima News
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 14:14
New Delhi (Mizzima) - The Burmese military junta's reshuffle of its ministry last week that saw Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu dumped to an inactive minister level portfolio will have no impact on the chairmanship and the work of the Tripartite Core Group, which he heads now, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Burma said on Monday.
Bishow Parajuli, during a press conference in Bangkok on Monday, said the transfer of Kyaw Thu, who leads the UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Burmese government's Tripartite Core Group, will make no differences to the work of the TCG.
"I don't think this will seriously affect the work of TCG," Parajuli told Mizzima.
Last week, Burma's military regime secretly transferred Kyaw Thu from his post of Deputy Foreign Minister to the Civil Service Selection and Training Board, which is a minister level post with little to do.
While the junta made no official announcement regarding the reshuffle, its official mouthpiece the New Light of Myanmar on Thursday mentioned Kyaw Thu as the chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board.
The New Light of Myanmar report showed photographs of Kyaw Thu at Wednesday's 61st anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence Day in Rangoon.
Parajuli, however, believes that the changes will not impact TCG's work. Rather he believes it will help Kyaw Thu to be more dedicated to his responsibilities as the Chairman of the group.
"I hope he can put in more effort for TCG as he's been transfered to another position which will makes him less busy," Parajuli told Mizzima on the sidelines of a Press Conference held after the TCG's review meeting in Bangkok.
The TCG said it will require nearly US $ 700 million to reconstruct the damage caused by Cyclone Nargis that left about 140,000 dead or missing and 2.4 million lives devastated.
Kyaw Thu, on Monday was seen attending the TCG's work review but failed to make an appearance at the Press Conference held after the meeting.
Reporting by Zarni, writing by Mungpi
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
TCG work not to be affected by Kyaw Thu's transfer: UN
Tension Mounts between Wa and Burmese Army
http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=15085
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By SAW YAN NAING Tuesday, February 10, 2009
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Rising tension between the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Burmese government forces is reported by sources in Shan State and along the Sino-Burmese border.
Saeng Juen, assistant editor of the Thailand-based Shan Herald Agency for News, said the Burmese army had deployed an estimated 2,000 reinforcements since the middle of January in Mong Ping, Mong Hsnu, Tang Yan and Kunlong.
The reinforcements included troops under Military Operation Command 16, he said.
Soldiers of the United Wa State Army on patrol in Shan State. (Photo: AFP)
The sound of weapons fire was reported from around Hopang and Panlong, regions close to the Sino-Burmese border where the tension between Burmese army and Wa troops is mounting. Border-based analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw said a Wa unit based in Hopang had tested its weapons two days ago.
Aung Kyaw Zaw said that although the Burmese army was on the alert there was no military activity involving government forces or Wa troops at the moment.
Saeng Juen said Burmese authorities had halted the construction of a bridge on the upper Salween River in Shan State after the UWSA prohibited further work.
Aung Kyaw Zaw said tension between the UWSA and Burmese forces had been increasing for several reasons, including a Wa announcement in January describing Wa-controlled areas as a special autonomous region known as the “Government of Wa State, Special Autonomous Region, Union of Myanmar.”
Tensions also reportedly rose after the Wa ignored a Burmese government demand for drug dealer Aik Hawk to be handed over.
In a recent raid in Rangoon, a Burmese special drugs force arrested several associates of Aik Hawk, also known as Hsiao Haw, following the seizure of a quantity of heroin. Aik Hawk is the son-in-law of UWSA chairman Bao Youxiang.
The Burmese government believes Aik Hawk is being protected by Wa forces in Panghsang, headquarters of the UWSA, which is heavily involved in the drugs trade.
Another cause of rising tension was an incident on January 19, when a 30-member Burmese delegation led by Lt-Gen Ye Myint, chief of Military Affairs Security, was forced to disarm during a visit to Wa-held territory in Shan State.
An estimated force of 20,000 UWSA soldiers is currently deployed along Burma’s borders with Thailand and China, while an estimated 60,000 to 120,000 Wa villagers inhabit areas of lower Shan State.
Myanmar: UN Launches Post-Cyclone Recovery Plan
Tuesday, 10 February 2009, 9:52 am
Press Release: United Nations
Myanmar: UN Launches Post-Cyclone Recovery Plan
Speaking at the launch of a plan to rebuild the lives of millions in Myanmar affected by last year’s Cyclone Nargis, the top United Nations official to the region today stressed that strong foundations need to be in place to move beyond emergency relief to restoring economies and social services.
The three-year Post-Nargis Response and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) provides the blue-print for the reconstruction of communities devastated by the cyclone, which battered the country in early May, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and displacing 800,000 from their homes.
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“Strong institutions, effective mechanisms and accountable processes are needed to plan and orchestrate the various components of the recovery effort,” said Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Noting that the process of recovery, from humanitarian relief to economic development, would take several years, Ms. Heyzer said the importance of the right “architecture” could not be overemphasized.
“The PONREPP provides us with a framework for the medium- and long-term post-Nargis recovery effort, including the priorities of supporting food security and livelihood recovery, improving public health, restoring economic and social infrastructure, and integrating disaster risk reduction into the recovery process,” she said.
The recovery plan was developed by the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) which consists of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Government of Myanmar and the UN.
To ensure that the Plan translates into real support for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, “the continued engagement of the international community is essential,” Ms. Heyzer stressed in her message delivered at ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok.
ENDS
Campaigners urge EU to tighten sanctions on junta
http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/1676-campaigners-urge-eu-to-tighten-sanctions-on-junta.html
by Salai Pi Pi
Monday, 09 February 2009 21:32
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Burma campaign groups from 13 European countries have urged the European Union to strengthen its policy of sanctions on Burma and to pressure the junta to release all political prisoners.
Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK, who attended the Burma Campaign Meeting in Barcelona during the weekend, told Mizzima that the meeting of campaigners has called on the EU to strengthen its Common Position on Burma, which will be renewed in April.
"We will call on the EU to impose sanctions against the regime by initiating a global arms embargo, financial transaction and in gas and oil sectors," Zoya Phan said on Monday.
The campaigners also urged the EU to exert more pressure on the Burmese military junta to release political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and to expedite political reforms and to improve the human rights situation in the country.
The Burma campaign groups from 13 European countries, under the banner of 'European Burma Network', held a meeting on February 7 and 8 in Barcelona, Spain.
"As long as the regime commits human right abuses in the country, EU should tighten the pressure on the Burmese junta," Phan said.
The EU in 1996 adopted a 'Common Position' on Burma which imposed restrictive measures towards Burmese military rulers.
The Common Position, which banned member countries from investing in Burma, was further tightened in areas of logging, mining and gemstone industries and the import of related items, following the Burmese junta's brutal crackdown on protestors in September 2007.
Despite the sanction, Phan said some companies from EU countries are still investing in Burma and are contributing to the military's human rights abuses.
"French company Total and other companies still remain in gas and oil sectors" said Phan, adding that the campaigners called on the EU to immediately tighten sanctions so as to force such companies to stop doing business in Burma.
Despite the sanctions, the EU donated €22 million in December 2008 for relief and recovery programmes after the deadly Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma. The EU also said it will provide another €18.5 million in 2009 for programmes targeting for the relief of highly vulnerable populations inside Burma and Burmese refugees in Thailand.
However, Phan said, EU's direct relief aid provided to Burmese refugees in Thailand is insufficient saying, "EU should also provide more cross-border aid for the refugees in eastern Burma."
Indian civil society endorse democracy in Myanmar
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15710132&catID=1&category=World
India and Myanmar (Burma) go for wider diplomatic and strategic relationship in the recent days, but the civil societies of the largest democracy prefer a democratic regime at Nay Pie Taw. The Indian vice president’s visit has been welcomed..
CJ: Nava Thakuria , 3 days ago Views:352 Comments:1
INDIA AND Myanmar (Burma) may go for wider diplomatic and strategic relationship in the recent days, but the civil societies of the largest democracy prefer a democratic regime at Nay Pie Taw. The endorsement of Indian civil society groups has come more visible at the time of vice president M Hamid Ansari’s visit to Myanmar.
As Ansari has arrived in Yangon (Rangoon), the former capital of Myanmar with a four-day official visit to the military-ruled country, civil society groups of India come forward for the cause of democracy in the Southeast Asian country. A memorandum has been prepared for submission to the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, where it is observed that India being the largest democracy “Needs to look beyond the bilateral relations and ’bring in the values of peace, justice and human rights in Myanmar.”
Mentionable that Ansari left for Myanmar, on February 5, with a delegation representing Indian diplomats and businessmen. The first Indian high-level official to visit Myanmar in 2009, Ansari had already gone for wide range of discussion with his counterpart Senior General Maung Aye in the context of increasing engagement between two neighboring countries.
Various Indian civil society groups welcome the goodwill trip of Ansari in the context of the long standing historic and cultural relationship between the two countries. The role of India in promoting and restoring peace, harmony, fraternity and stability in the region is also appreciated by the groups in the memorandum.
"We are aware that Myanmar is one of India’s critical strategic partner and biggest neighbour, which shares 1650 kms border. And we appreciate the present relations of the two governments which have reached to the utmost level since a Treaty of Friendship was signed in 1951," said in the memorandum.
New Delhi’s decision to promote Myanmarese people’s capacity, knowledge, and experience and technology know-how by signing series of bilateral MoUs was meant for the development of bilateral and regional relations, it added. Forwarded by Myanmar Centre Delhi, the memorandum is supposed to be submitted to the president and the External Affairs minister of India too.
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Meanwhile, in an official statement during a banquet hosted by the Myanmarese Senior General Maung Aye in Rangoon on February 5, Ansari had declared that the economic engagement between the two countries had expanded to embrace both the public and private sectors. Several positive developments had taken place recently in the areas of trade, investment, power, oil and natural gas, manufacturing, IT and the vocational training sectors, he added.
The memorandum stated that the people of India feel disturbed that New Delhi ’being the world’s largest democracy and a country that continually believes in the virtue of ethics, democracy, equality and human rights’ had ignored its initiative ’to promote its own ideologies to the Myanmarese people’, who had been desperately yearning for their goal for more than two decades.
The memorandum concluded urging New Delhi to bring in Indian humanism and democracy system to the people of Myanmar and assist them in their struggle for restoration of peace, human rights and democracy. It also appealed the union government to review the foreign policy in favor of peaceful transition of Myanmar in to a democratic state.
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၆၂ ႀကိမ္ေျမာက္ျပည္ေထာင္စုေန ့အခမ္းအနားနွင့္နိုင္ငံေရးအက်ဥ္းသားမ်ားလြတ္ေျမာက္ေရးဆႏၵျပပဲြ-TOKYO-JAPAN
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