News & Articles on Burma
Saturday, 30 April, 2011
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My hero: Aung San
The 1955 Bandung Conference and its present significance
Burmese mortar shell falls in KIA area
Myanmar seeks help in military training
Burma gives fresh ultimatum for UWSA and NDAA to withdraw troops
Political parties ask EU to grant Burma lower tariffs
Aung San Suu Kyi Speaks to Feminists
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My hero: Aung San
'In spite of everything, the army has treated me as well as they have because I am my father's daughter'
Aung San Suu Kyi
The Guardian, Saturday 30 April 2011
Aung San, 1947. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images
My father is the most inspirational figure in my life, because my interest in politics came from him. I've always had great admiration for him, and great compassion too, because he was very young when he died. Perhaps this is one reason why I'm very much involved in this movement, because I feel it is mainly for young people.
I don't really remember my father at all. I was two years and one month old when he died. But I have I suppose what might be called re-enforced memories – my mother would always tell me about how he would pick me up the moment he got home. And I seem to remember him picking me up, though I'm not sure whether that's a genuine memory or not.
I think the army has empathy with me because of my father. In spite of everything, I think they have treated me as well as they have because I am my father's daughter. I think it's ingrained respect for him. Just before I was placed under house arrest for the third time, in between house arrests, I made a trip to the states of Rakhine and Chin in the west of Burma. I'd been told that the Chins were ethnocentric and not fond of the Burmese, but I received the warmest response I ever received anywhere in those two states. In both places, people would bring their children when they came to see me – quite often when my car was going by, they would be standing by the roadside, and parents would take their children up in their arms and say, "Look! This is Grandfather Aung San's daughter", which I found very touching.
I think all the ethnic nationalities agree that my father was honest with them, and I think they feel the same about me because I've never made easy promises.
Aung San Suu Kyi is guest director of the Brighton Festival, which runs from 7-29 May.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/apr/30/my-hero-aung-san-suu-kyi
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Jakarta Post:
The 1955 Bandung Conference and its present significance
Yayan GH Mulyana, Jakarta | Fri, 04/29/2011 10:11 PM | Opinion
Fifty-six years ago, on April 18-24, 1955, a conference that involved five sponsoring countries (Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and 24 participating countries from Asia and Africa convened in Bandung. The Bandung Conference turned out to be a historic watershed in the international relations of those countries.
Amid pressure from the growing Cold War bipolarism, those countries were able to concertedly affirm that they would choose neither the East nor the West but pursue their own path and strategy under the guidance of the “Bandung Principles”.
By the later stages, the Bandung Conference had inspired not only the independence of new countries in Asia and Africa and the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement but also the fight against racialism.
An African-American poet turned anti-racialism author, Richard Nathaniel Wright, said that the Bandung Conference had introduced something new, something beyond Left and Right. He added that there were extra-political, extra-social, and almost extra-human aspects to the Conference.
Wright was present in Bandung and directly observed the conference. He chronicled his observation in his book The Color Curtain: A Report on the Bandung Conference, which was published in 1956.
The Bandung Principles was one of the most important outcomes of the conference. Since their inception, the principles have been navigating countries in the Asian-African continents as well as those in other continents through the turbulence of the Cold War period.
Unlike inter-regional cooperation between Asia and Europe through ASEM or East Asia and Latin America through FEALAC, Asia-Africa inter-regionalism for many decades had been less structured.
This has no longer been the case since 2005 when Indonesia hosted the Asia-Africa Summit where more than 80 heads of state and government attended.
The Summit agreed on a New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP) that aimed to promote a deeper and more structured and systematic cooperation between Asia and Africa.
At the 2005 Summit, the Bandung Principles were enriched. New norms and values were embraced. Those new principles include among others democracy, promotion and protection of human rights and multilateralism.
The Bandung Conference has given Indonesia particular meanings. It revived the bebas aktif foreign policy, and now it has become a national heritage in the gallery of Indonesian as well as Bandung history.
For younger generations of the country, however, the conference and its meaning have unfortunately turned out to be less appealing than other more recent inter-state initiatives such as APEC, ASEM and G20.
The Bandung Conference is also an icon in the history of Indonesian diplomacy. It is a symbol of independence. Independence in policy, in action and in making choices.
In the present context of international relations, cooperation between Asian and African countries remains critical, and even becomes more important than ever before. Both Asia and Africa continue to experience changes.
Geo-economically speaking, Asia has become more and more strategic. With the rise of India and China, and emerging economies like Indonesia, Asia is in a position to contribute to global growth.
Democracy in Asia is also taking roots — becoming more substantive after a long process, whereas democratization in countries in North Africa and the Middle East has only just begun.
Under the NAASP, leaders of Asia-Africa have agreed to cooperate in the strengthening of democratic institutions and popular participation by sharing experiences. Thus, Asia-Africa democracy cooperation is not only timely but also warranted.
Addressing piracy in the Somalian waters is another critical issue that Asian-African countries may consider discussing in their collaborative agenda. Piracy in the area has been increasing, and many incidents have seen Indonesian crews taken hostages.
The NAASP has mandated countries in both regions to jointly promote safety of navigation and communication as well as search and rescue operations in the Indian Ocean, which also includes the Gulf of Aden and Somalian waters, where piracy frequently takes place.
It is also critical to reflect on the best ways to tap the practical and normative meanings of the Bandung Principles in the current context of global politics. It is a daunting task to develop a collective understanding, let alone a collective response, to such emerging norms as a right to humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect.
One of the Bandung Principles clearly underlines the abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country. But in reality, there are conditions that humanitarian intervention will eventually be invoked if all other efforts have failed.
The Constitutive Act of the African Union, for example, includes the right to intervention as one of the principles to be adhered to in the functioning of the Union. Article 4 (h) and (j) stipulate respectively the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: War crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity; and the right of Member States to request intervention from the Union in order to restore peace and security.
There are many more issues that Asia and Africa can work together on. Poverty remains a pressing issue in both continents. Compounded by demographic challenges, poverty has become abject and more burdensome.
The situation in Africa is more difficult because the poorest billion people of the world’s total seven billion population live there. Moreover, it has become worse and worse whenever armed conflicts — often fueled by the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons — break out in countries on the continent.
What can Asia and Africa do to overcome all of those challenges?
Quoting president Sukarno’s opening speech at the Bandung Conference entitled “Let a New Asia and a New Africa be born,” the answer is that Asia and Africa can do much.
Now it depends on the commitment and determination of the countries in both continents. It is only natural that many quarters would expect the founding countries to take the lead in that regard.
I have full confidence that as always, Indonesia will be able to bear that responsibility when need arises.
The writer is assistant special staff to the President for international relations. The opinions expressed
are his own. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/29/the-1955-bandung-conference-and-its-present-significance.html
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Burmese mortar shell falls in KIA area
Friday, 29 April 2011 18:46 KNG
A Burmese Army mortar shell landed Wednesday, April 27, in the controlled area of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Hukawng Valley, in northern Kachin State, KIA sources said.
The shell fell in the territory of the KIA’s Battalion No. 14, based in Nambyu Village, near Kawng Ra village, on the Stilwell Road (or Ledo Road), near Danai (Tanai). No casualties have been reported, KIA officials said.
kachin_army_kachin_state
KIA soldiers are preparing for a possible offensive of Burmese troops in Kachin State, Northern Burma. Photo: Kachin News Group
KIA troops in the battalion were put on alert. However, the Burmese military apologized, saying the incident was a mishap during an exercise by the Burmese Army, sources from Battalion 14 said.
The Burmese Army’s Artillery Company No. 078 is based in Danai, in the valley.
No military response was made by the KIA, an official said.
The KIA’s 2nd Brigade is based in the Hukawng Valley. It has four battalions- including Battalion No. 14.
The military-controlled central government labeled the KIA “Insurgents” in October, last year. However, it has avoided offensives against the KIA since then.
The KIA, which has bases in Kachin State and Northern Shan State, said it will not start a war with the central government because it wants to solve the five-decade long political problems between them through peaceful negotiation.
However, if the government begins an offensive against the KIA, civil war will break out on the borders of Burma with India and China, KIA officials said. http://www.kachinnews.com/news/1895-burmese-mortar-shell-falls-in-kia-area.html
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Gulf Times: Latest Update: Saturday30/4/2011April, 2011, 01:51 AM Doha Time
Myanmar seeks help in military training
By Mizan Rahman, Dhaka
The newly-elected military government of Myanmar has expressed its keen interest to increase bilateral co-operation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and Myanmar through exchanging training and expertise.
This was stated yesterday by visiting Commander-in-Chief (Air) of Myanmar Air Force General Myat Hein while paying a courtesy call on President Zillur Rahman, who is also the supreme commander of the Bangladesh armed forces, at the president’s secretariat in Dhaka.
Noting that Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Gen Abdul Mubeen is expected to visit Myanmar next month, he said: “We’re interested to promote relations between the two armed forces.”
General Hein lauded the excellence of National Defence College (NDC) of Bangladesh and hoped that officials of Myanmar armed forces would get opportunities to get enrolled at the college in the coming days.
“We’ve a new government and its aim is to rapidly increase co-operation with Bangladesh,” the Myanmar Air Chief said.
President Zillur Rahman said Myanmar is the next door neighbour and Bangladesh government has taken initiatives to establish direct rail and road connectivity with Myanmar.
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Burma gives fresh ultimatum for UWSA and NDAA to withdraw troops
By Zin Linn Apr 30, 2011 12:17AM UTC
The United Wa State Army and its ally the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) also called Mongla, were informed by the Burma Army yesterday, 28 April, to depart from their bases outside designated territories by tomorrow, 30 April, quoting informed sources from the Sino-Burma border, Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) said.
The messages were by phone calls by separate regional commands: The order to UWSA in Panghsang was from commanding officer of the Northeastern Region Command (Lashio), while the order to Mongla was from the commander of the Triangle Region Command (Kengtung). According to a source close to the Mongla leadership, the Burma Army would attack Wa and Mongla posts at anytime they wanted if the ethnic troops failed to withdraw their bases by the given time limit.
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has reportedly ordered all of its frontline units on 24-hour alert along the Salween river, a shared border with its ally the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’. The UWSA have alerted all of its troops to be ready to defend Wa State, although they do not want war. They will not fire the first shot, said a senior Wa officer.
In this April 17, 2010 photo, recruits of the Kachin Independence Army, one of the country's largest armed ethnic groups, march to their barracks after battle drills at a training camp near Laiza in Burma. Pic: AP.
SSA ‘North’ has been combating Burmese armed forces currently since the junta issued the ultimatum to accept the Border Guard Force program. Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ has been fighting with the Burmese Army since 13 March. It was given an ultimatum to surrender by the end of March and to pull out from all their bases deploying in areas outside its main base. The latest skirmishes between the two apparently took place twice in Kehsi Township.
The Burmese Army has had at least 30 killed and 100 wounded, while the SSA has had four killed and eight wounded, according to SSA sources.
According to the latest information, Shan State Army (SSA)-North’s core base Namlao in Tangyan township, the gateway to its ally the United Wa State Army (UWSA), was seized by the Burma Army on 15 March after heavy fighting between the two sides for almost half a day, according to sources from the SSA.
The Burma Army allegedly accused them of breaching their 1989 agreement that they would not make recruitment or expand their territories. Currently, the UWSA leaders are still holding an emergency meeting to discuss the ultimatum.
In the meantime, the NDAA has already pulled out from two of its tactical bases in Wan Kho and Pong Hiet in Shan State East’s Mong-yawng township by the side of the west bank of the Mekong. Wan Kho base was taken by the Burma Army on 27 April. And NDAA troops in Pong Hiet were reported to have pulled out yesterday, Shan Heral Agency for News said.
According to a Burma Army backed militia source, the Burma armed forces came with the strength of 100 soldiers and enclosed the group in the morning without firing a shot. After the NDAA troops left the area in the evening, Burmese soldiers from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 573 based in Mongphyak took over the post.
In March 2010, Chinese defense officials made an effort to repair the worsening relationship between the UWSA and the ruling military junta which demanded repeatedly the Wa accept its Border Guard Force plan. Despite the fact that details are lacking, sources say China is making another attempt to convince the Burmese junta of the futility of war against the UWSA.
Recently, two of the anti-Border Guard Force groups – United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) – were reportedly advised by China not to join in with any groups opposing the military junta. If not they would be under attacks similar to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Shan State Army (SSA) North, according to a Sino-Burma border source.
Chinese officials suggested that unless (UWSA) and (NDAA) get involved with the new ethnic alliance, the military junta will leave the two alone, a source said. The report has to be confirmed by Wa or Mongla authorities yet. Even if correct, it might be also a ploy by the junta. The junta doesn’t have the strength to make an offensive towards several ethnic groups at the same time, observers believe.
At present, the military junta has spread out more troops along the Salween River to break off a possible relationships between the UWSA and SSA ‘North’. The SSA is active in the west of the Salween while the UWSA is in the east.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/53472/burma-gives-fresh-ultimatum-for-uwsa-and-ndaa-to-withdraw-troops/
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Political parties ask EU to grant Burma lower tariffs
Friday, 29 April 2011 22:15 Tun Tun
New Delhi (Mizzima) – The ad hoc Group of Democratic Party Friends (GDPF), an alliance of 10 Burmese political parties and the All Mon Region Democratic Party, has asked the European Union to renew Burma’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status.
Dr. Than Nyein, chairman of the National Democratic Force party, is one of 11 party leaders who are calling for the EU to renew Burma's status as a developing country that should receive lower tariffs. Photo: Mizzima
Dr. Than Nyein, chairman of the National Democratic Force party, is one of 11 party leaders who are calling for the EU to renew Burma's status as a developing country that should receive lower tariffs. Photo: Mizzima
A letter sent to the EU on Thursday said that if GSP status is renewed, small and medium-sized businesses throughout the country would have more economic opportunities.
Currently, the EU has granted GSP status to 176 developing countries, which includes lowering tariffs for those countries. The objective is to help developing countries expand the sale of their products to European countries and to promote the industrialization of developing countries, according to the EU’s Website.
‘If the EU grants GSP status to Burma again, ordinary people will gain great advantages’, said Dr. Than Nyein, the chairman of the National Democratic Force party. ‘Moreover, small and medium-sized businesses will get into the European market. If our goods are exempted from duty, we will have great opportunities’.
Democratic Party (Myanmar) chairman Thu Wai said that the EU is scheduled to review its GSP policies. ‘We sent the appeal letter because we heard that the EU will review its policy on underdeveloped countries around the world. If it is true, Burma is likely to be granted the GSP’.
The EU revoked Burma’s GSP status 15 years ago, he said, and as a result, Burma has missed many economic opportunities.
‘We urged the EU to grant the GSP to Burma again for the sake of the Burmese people’, Thu Wai said.
The letter also called on the EU to establish a direct relationship with the new Burmese government.
‘The local UN office recognizes our country’s requirements’, Than Nyein said. ‘Our country’s requirements are more support from the international community, a more effective relationship with other countries, and advanced technology’.
Since 1996, the EU has imposed economic sanctions against Burma, an arms embargo, banned top Burmese military officers from traveling to Europe, cancelled all trade preferences, suspended all assistance to Burma except humanitarian aid and frozen top military officers’ assets in EU countries.
On March 8, the GDPF sent an open letter to the EU urging it to lift sanctions against Burma. Later, the EU lifted the ban on some ministers and others in the new Burmese government from entering EU countries. However, the EU warned that if the new government failed to make basic political changes, the ban would be reinstated.
The EU has repeatedly urged the Burmese government to grant amnesty to all political prisoners and to hold an all-inclusive political dialogue with pro-democracy opposition groups and ethnic groups .
In the letter, the GDPF also called on the new Burmese government to put in place changes urged by Western nations in order to encourage the EU to lift sanctions on Burma.
‘If the government wants to call Burma a democratic country, the government needs to allow people freedom of expression and freedom in forming associations. We will cooperate with the government to undertake such important steps’, Thu Wai said.
He added, ‘They are a new government. Recently, we saw some small changes, but not any major changes. With regard to amnesty for all political prisoners, human rights and democracy, I hope that the new government will gradually try to meet the demands of the EU and the United States one by one’.
The Group of Democratic Party Friends is made up of the National Democratic Force, the Democratic Party (Myanmar), the Democracy and Peace Party, the Union Democratic Party, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, the Wunthanu NLD, the Chin National Party, the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party and the National Political Alliances League.
http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/5203-political-parties-ask-eu-to-grant-burma-lower-tariffs.html
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Aung San Suu Kyi Speaks to Feminists
April 29, 2011 by Stephanie Hallett
On Tuesday evening, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi spoke, via video, to guests at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Awards. Suu Kyi was given the Eleanor Roosevelt award for her tireless work for democracy and human rights in Burma, her home country. In her acceptance, the pro-democracy icon, who was released from 15 years of house arrest in November, seemed at first almost somber as she spoke. The audience was silent, transfixed, but suddenly Suu Kyi laughed, saying,
I believe women play the more important part in our world because not only are they entering the professional world, they still remain the pillars of their homes and families. So I hope the menfolk in this audience will forgive me for speaking in favor of women–for speaking out in favor of women–because I think only a woman can understand the troubles, the problems, the discrimination that other women have to face.
So, from this day onwards, until all the people in the world, particularly all the women in the world, are able to achieve their full potential, I hope we will be able to work together closely and in the true spirit of sisterhood.
The other awardees were Yolette Jeanty, passionate Haitian feminist and leader of one of the country’s most powerful women’s rights organizations, Kay Fanm; Sunita Viswanath, founder of Women for Afghan Women, which has opened domestic violence shelters for abused women in Afghanistan; and NPR Morning Edition host Renee Montagne, whose efforts to tell stories of Afghan women’s struggles and triumphs have helped to secure them a place in the international conversation. http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/04/29/aung-san-suu-kyi-speaks-to-women-from-burma/
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
News & Articles on Burma-Saturday, 30 April, 2011
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