viernes, 12 de marzo de 2010
Buzek on Burma/Myanmar new election laws: "This is a move in the wrong direction"
"I deplore the election laws as they target pro-democracy campaigners such as Aung San Suu Kyi"
Buzek on Burma/Myanmar new election laws: "This is a move in the wrong direction"
The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek made the following statement on the new election laws in Burma/Myanmar.
"I deplore the decision of Burma/Myanmar authorities on the new election laws. These laws clearly target pro-democracy campaigners such as Aung San Suu Kyi. They are politically motivated and restrictive. This is a move in the wrong direction. I am disappointed and doubt that the elections promised for later this year would be inclusive, free and fair."
Addressing Aung San Suu Kyi personally, EP President Jerzy Buzek said: "During my own political life, I have worked to establish democracy. Like you I opposed an authoritarian system. I understand the difficulties and challenges you are facing. I wish you every strength and determination in your struggle for freedom and democracy for the people of Burma/Myanmar. "
EP President Buzek stated: "The new election law is not only sad and deplorable news for defendants of democracy and human rights but also jeopardises the chances for national reconciliation in Burma/Myanmar.
For the people of Burma/Myanmar and the whole international community Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a figure of hope, human resilience and political courage for over 20 years. The European Parliament on a number of occasions called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and to allow them to fully participate in public and political life.
As a sign of our full and continuous support, a large banner on the facade of the European Parliament building in Brussels is still calling for her release and reminds us of her battle for democracy.
In line with previous resolutions of the European Parliament and statements from the international community I repeatedly call on the authorities of Myanmar/Burma to immediately and unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi."
jueves, 11 de marzo de 2010
LLUEVE REPRESIÓN SOBRE RANGÚN- SE INICIAN LAS PROTESTAS CONTRA LA JUNTA
La junta militar de Myanmar designó hoy una comisión electoral de 17 miembros para supervisar las elecciones de este año y anuló oficialmente los resultados de los comicios de 1990, que deberían haber llevado al poder a la opositora Aung San Suu Kyi, informaron hoy medios gubernamentales.
La Comisión Electoral estará presidida por Thein Soe, un alto responsable de la Justicia, y comprende otras figuras de alto rango. El organismo tendrá competencias para decidir qué partidos políticos pueden concurrir a las elecciones, establecer las normas que los regirán y excluir a cualquier partido o candidato que considere que ha violado dichas leyes.
Enviar postales, E-cards - SALVA LA VIDA BIRMANIA- BIRMANIA POR LA PAZ
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Carta a los alcaldes por la Paz en Birmania- Envia esta carta a tus representantes electos- ELECCIONES EN BIRMANIA
ALCALDES POR
LLAMAMIENTO A LAS CIUDADES Y PUEBLOS PARA APOYAR EL PROCESO DE PAZ Y RECONCILIACIÓN EN BIRMANIA
A los representates elegidos por los ciudadanos y ciudadanas de nuestras ciudades y pueblos.
CONSIDERANDO QUE:
Tenemos presente que muchos de ustedes vivieron el proceso de transición de la dictadura hacia la democracia en su pais.
Somos conscientes que han jurado respetar
Sabemos de su preocupación por el sufrimiento del pueblo birmano en su largo camino hacia la democracia
Hayandonos en esta tensa espera dramática donde los refugiados son deportados desde Tailandia, India y Bangladesh. Viendo como
Despues de haber leído el ultimo informe de Naciones Unidas por los Derechos Humanos, donde considera que
Nosotros miembros de
SOLICITAMOS POR TANTO
A todos los paises, a todas las ciudades, a todos los pueblos que utilicen su libertad para promover el máximo de presión politica a Naciones Unidas por la liberación de Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, los presos politicos y la realización de unas elecciones en Birmania libres y democráticas.
Animamos a todos los Alcaldes por
Recomendamos de buena fé, que abran espacio político en su municipio a favor de Birmania, que cedan sus cámaras, plenos y agoras por aquellos que no tienen voz.
Solicitamos la apertura del espacio humanitario, para las fronteras de Tailandia, India y Bangladesh. Mediante el apoyo a las organizaciones no gubernamentales y civiles que trabajan dando apoyo a los millones de refugiados y desplazados
Le solicitamos a todos los ciudadanos y ciudadanas de cualquier ciudad y pueblo que hagan llegar esta carta a sus representantes electos, pidiendoles la petición firmada de esta solicitud
Fecha y firma:
Nombre:
Cargo: ( alcalde, concejal, autoridades electas representativas, candidatos alcaldables)
Nombre de la autoridad local:
Ciudad o Pueblo:
Gracias a todos por acoger este llamamiento a los Alcaldes por
En solidaridad con el pueblo birmano en su camino hacia la democracia.
Birmania por
La Junta anula los resultados de las elecciones de 1990 que ganó Suu Kyi
La Junta Militar birmana anunció hoy la anulación oficial de los resultados de las últimas elecciones, celebradas en 1990, en las que ganó el partido opositor liderado por Aung San Suu Kyi, aunque el régimen nunca acató el escrutinio.
La nueva ley, publicada esta mañana en la prensa estatal, establece que "los resultados electorales previos quedan automáticamente invalidados porque ya no son acordes con la Constitución", ya que la nueva Carta Magna birmana fue aprobada en referéndum en 2008.
Birmania (Myanmar) tiene previsto celebrar este año sus primeros comicios desde 1990 pero el régimen todavía no ha anunciado la fecha.
La ley electoral aprobada por los generales también prohíbe a las personas que cumplan una pena presentarse a la votación, por lo que los militares cierran una nueva puerta a la participación de Suu Kyi, que cumple una condena de arresto domiciliario de 18 meses.
La Nobel de la Paz también tiene vetada la militancia política por el mismo motivo, según la Ley de Registro de Partidos Políticos difundida ayer en la prensa, y tampoco puede optar a la jefatura de Estado porque estuvo casada con un ciudadano extranjero y sus hijos disponen de pasaporte del Reino Unido.
El partido que dirige Suu Kyi, la Liga Nacional para la Democracia (LND), en activo desde 1988, tendrá que volver a registrarse bajo la nueva regulación y sin su histórica líder, para lo que dispone de 60 días que empezaron a contar el 8 de marzo.
La Junta Militar que gobierna Birmania comenzó esta semana a desvelar el contenido de la ley electoral que regulará las elecciones parlamentarias de este año.
Birmania está regida por una dictadura militar desde el golpe militar de Ne Win en 1962.
La NLD reabre las oficinas regionales en Birmania con permiso de la Junta
Myanmar's military government has allowed the party of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to reopen regional branch offices that have been closed since May 2003, a party spokesman said on Thursday.
"So far as we have heard, about 100 branch offices have been reopened across the country, effective Wednesday," said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD).
The government closed down NLD branch offices after an attack on Suu Kyi's convoy by pro-regime elements on May 30, 2003. Scores of NLD followers were killed, according to her supporters.
Nyan Win gave a guarded welcome to the government's move.
"Yes, it's a positive step," he said. "I think they want us to take part in the election, but we still haven't made up our mind about this. We still need to talk it over among the top leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."
The junta plans elections at an unspecified date this year, although the poll has been widely derided in advance as a sham to make the country appear democratic, with the military retaining control over key ministries and institutions.
This week it began publishing a series of election laws in state media.
The second, published on Wednesday, obliges the NLD and some other parties to re-register within 60 days with a new election commission. Failure to do so means they will have to fold.
In order to register, they have to exclude party members who are serving prison terms.
That would include Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention and is now serving 18 months in house detention for breaching security laws.
Many other senior NLD members are among more than 2,000 political prisoners in Myanmar, according to rights activists. All would effectively be barred from taking part in the election.
Nyan Win described some of the provisions of the new law as "completely unacceptable".
Parties wanting to register also have to give a written commitment to uphold the constitution passed in 2008, which the NLD rejects and campaigned against. "It's completely impossible for us," Nyan Win said on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by David Fox)
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-46820820100311?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
"So far as we have heard, about 100 branch offices have been reopened across the country, effective Wednesday," said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD).
The government closed down NLD branch offices after an attack on Suu Kyi's convoy by pro-regime elements on May 30, 2003. Scores of NLD followers were killed, according to her supporters.
Nyan Win gave a guarded welcome to the government's move.
"Yes, it's a positive step," he said. "I think they want us to take part in the election, but we still haven't made up our mind about this. We still need to talk it over among the top leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."
The junta plans elections at an unspecified date this year, although the poll has been widely derided in advance as a sham to make the country appear democratic, with the military retaining control over key ministries and institutions.
This week it began publishing a series of election laws in state media.
The second, published on Wednesday, obliges the NLD and some other parties to re-register within 60 days with a new election commission. Failure to do so means they will have to fold.
In order to register, they have to exclude party members who are serving prison terms.
That would include Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention and is now serving 18 months in house detention for breaching security laws.
Many other senior NLD members are among more than 2,000 political prisoners in Myanmar, according to rights activists. All would effectively be barred from taking part in the election.
Nyan Win described some of the provisions of the new law as "completely unacceptable".
Parties wanting to register also have to give a written commitment to uphold the constitution passed in 2008, which the NLD rejects and campaigned against. "It's completely impossible for us," Nyan Win said on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by David Fox)
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-46820820100311?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
miércoles, 10 de marzo de 2010
BIRMANIA EL CORAJE DE RESISTIR- UN DOCUMENTAL PARA EL 2010
" Birmania, el coraje de resisitr", narra la historia de la dictadura más larga del planeta y la lucha noviolenta de un pueblo camino de la democracia. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Zoya Phan, Cynthia Maung, Daw San San, Charm Tong, mujeres que han trabajado a favor de la paz y la reconciliación, que han sido capaz de estructurar la resistencia más sutil e invisible... que han hecho sombra a la Junta Militar desde prisiones, escuelas, hospitales y lo más oscuro de la selva.
Estas mujeres y la resistencia civil narran en " Birmania, el coraje de resisitr", sus vidas: asesinatos, secuestros, esclavitud, torturas, familias cruzando la selva para llegar al Hospital en Tailandia, el infierno de los Rohingyas en Bangladesh, la hambruna de los cristianos en India,...
Un pueblo que se levanto en la Revolución Azafran, sobrevivió al Nargis y ahora se enfrenta a la batalla por la democracia: octubre del 2010.
¿ Permitirá la Junta Militar a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi presentarse a las proximas elecciones?, ¿ Qué rol tendrán las etnias en todo este proceso ?, ¿ Que hará la sociedad civil para reivindicar su espacio politico?, ¿Qué se ha hecho para defender Birmania a nivel internacional ?
" Birmania el coraje de resistir", tiene tambien una guia didáctica para enseñar el conflicto birmano en el aula en català, castellano, gallego y euskera. Una herramienta perfecta como campaña de sensibilización, cultura de paz y dialogo reconciliador.
Existen dos versiones:
30 minutos disponible el 1 de Septiembre de 2010
75 minutos disponible el 1 de Noviembre de 2010
¡Encarga un pre- estreno en tu ciudad ya!.
mail: elcorajederesistir@yahoo.es
Un documental de Flavio Signore
Estas mujeres y la resistencia civil narran en " Birmania, el coraje de resisitr", sus vidas: asesinatos, secuestros, esclavitud, torturas, familias cruzando la selva para llegar al Hospital en Tailandia, el infierno de los Rohingyas en Bangladesh, la hambruna de los cristianos en India,...
Un pueblo que se levanto en la Revolución Azafran, sobrevivió al Nargis y ahora se enfrenta a la batalla por la democracia: octubre del 2010.
¿ Permitirá la Junta Militar a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi presentarse a las proximas elecciones?, ¿ Qué rol tendrán las etnias en todo este proceso ?, ¿ Que hará la sociedad civil para reivindicar su espacio politico?, ¿Qué se ha hecho para defender Birmania a nivel internacional ?
" Birmania el coraje de resistir", tiene tambien una guia didáctica para enseñar el conflicto birmano en el aula en català, castellano, gallego y euskera. Una herramienta perfecta como campaña de sensibilización, cultura de paz y dialogo reconciliador.
Existen dos versiones:
30 minutos disponible el 1 de Septiembre de 2010
75 minutos disponible el 1 de Noviembre de 2010
¡Encarga un pre- estreno en tu ciudad ya!.
mail: elcorajederesistir@yahoo.es
Un documental de Flavio Signore
NO A LA GUERRA- NO A LAS BASES MILITARES YA- QUEREMOS UN MUNDO EN PAZ
On March 20, 2010, it will be seven years since the Invasion of Iraq started.
A multinational force led by troops from the United States and the United Kingdom has occupied Iraq, causing hundreds of thousands of, or over one million, deaths and making refugees of 4.7 million people within and outside Iraq. In its spite of failure to prove Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction which was crafted to justify the invasion, the US continues its occupation of Iraq.
President Obama replaced George W. Bush, who pursued his “War on Terror”, and clearly promised the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq. In spite of the promise, the US continues its occupation of Iraq.
Moreover, the President Obama ordered an extra 17,000 soldiers to reinforce his troops in Afghanistan soon after his inauguration in January 2009. In December 2009, announced a further surge of thirty thousand soldiers and their withdrawal starting from July 2011.
We are concerned that more and more people in Afghanistan and now Pakistan continue to be killed and injured by the US initiated war.
We are also concerned that among the US troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan were those from the US bases stationed in Japan. In 2004, 5,000 Marines based in Okinawa were sent to the battle of Fallujah, Iraq, where 50 died and 221 were injured. It goes without saying that the battle killed far more Iraqis both fighters and civilians.
We do not want the Futenma base to be relocated. We want all Military bases to be removed.
The mis-named “War on Terror” has also continues in Palestine. In its 2008 New Year offensive, the Israeli Forces killed more than 1,400 people and injured 5,000 in Gaza. Gaza remains locked down and East Jerusalem occupied. Israel must accept giving up occupied land for justice and lasting peace.
Neither American nor Israeli militarism cannot bring peace and security to people, just as Japanese militarism failed in Asia and the Pacific in the 20th century.
Withdraw all US bases from Okinawa. End violence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
WORLD PEACE NOW
(Original in Japanese, summary and translation by Tomoko Kashiwazaki)
http://www.worldpeacenow.jp/ (Japanese site)
Aung San Suu Kyi Election Ban Final Nail In Coffin For Burma ‘Elections’
The Burma Campaign International on the United Nations Security Council to reengage on the issue of Burma, following the publication of election law that bans Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in ‘elections’ due in Burma later this year.
Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from membership of a political party as she has a criminal conviction after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house last year and refused to leave. The generals used this as a pretext to charge her with breaking the law, and she was found guilty in August 2009 following a sham trial.
“This is the final nail in the coffin for the credibility of the elections,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “They won’t be free and fair, and even if they were, the new constitution guarantees continued dictatorship anyway. The entire process is a sham. It is time the United Nations Security Council enforced its demands for a genuine process of reform by passing a binding resolution, and discussing imposing an arms embargo.”
The United Nations Security Council, United Nations Secretary General, and UN General Assembly have repeatedly called on Burma’s generals to enter into genuine dialogue with the National League for Democracy and genuine ethnic representatives. However, the international community seemed content to sit back and hope that the dictatorship’s so-called road map to democracy could be adapted to introduce real change. At last it should now be clear that the fake elections due later this year will not bring any change to Burma.
The hard line approach of the generals, underlined by the lack of willingness by the dictatorship to respond in the smallest way to requests by the UN and others, is demonstrated by the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi is not only barred from taking part in the elections, but also barred from membership of a political party, meaning that the National League for Democracy is required to expel her, or face being banned itself.
The election laws are being published in instalments in a national newspaper. Yesterday, the laws covering the election commission were published, which state that the generals will hand-pick election officials, rather than allowing an open process involving political parties or impartial UN or international officials.
“Burma’s generals are directly defying the United Nations Security Council, shamelessly rigging elections, and slaughtering ethnic minorities,” said Anna Roberts. “The Security Council can no longer hide behind the hope that the elections will bring change, and now must to wake up to its responsibilities and take action.”
El peligro de la Crisis Humanitaria en la zona Tailandesa- Irrawaddy
The Burmese Constitution's failure to address “ethnic aspirations” could mean that conflict in the border areas would continue for “many more years to come,” according to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC).
In its latest report, the humanitarian agency—which oversees aid for nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border—said the conflict had become a “peripheral issue” because of the international attention now commanded by the 2010 election.
“Whilst everyone hopes that the general election will indeed lead to meaningful change, the new constitution does not address ethnic aspirations and conflict could go on for many more years to come,” the report said.
“There was a danger that ethnic conflict in the border areas, remote from Rangoon, might increasingly become the 'side-show.'” the report added.
It warned that a “major emergency” was possible if the Burmese regime decided to “push for an early military solution.”
The TBBC report said last year had been a difficult one for the organization, which works with a tight budget to care for hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees and internally displaced people. This year's operating budget amounts to 1,230 million baht (US $37 million).
According to relief groups in Burma's Karen State, recent military action by government troops and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army in Taungoo and Papun District had caused more than 2,000 Karen villages to flee and hide in the jungle.
The government troops are from Light Infantry Battalions 421, 427, 434, 702 and 704, 434. They were accused by the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People of attacking villages with mortars and killing civilians.
CRISIS POLITICA, HUMANITARIA Y DE DERECHOS HUMANOS EN BIRMANIA por Concha Pinós-
La crisis politica, humanitaria y de derechos humanos en Birmania continua creciendo en flagrante deterioro. La diana ahora son los refugiados en las fronteras de Tailandia, India y Bangladesh. Tailandia a amenazado con deportar 1,5 millones.
Es urgente una medida internacional de acción que asegure la supervivencia de estas personas. La Junta Militar Birmana planea las vergonzosas elecciones del 10 de Octubre. Birmania por la Paz como miembro del Thai Burma Border Consortium, de las Campañas Internacionales y como sostenedora del proceso de paz y reconciliación de la sociedad civil birmana clama a la Presidencia Española de la Unión Europea acción
Estamos en los Campos de Tailandia, los tenemos documentados en informes, fotografias y video. Son testimonios de evidentes violaciones de derechos humanos en el Estado Karen, Rohingya, Chin y Kachin... incluyendo el uso sistematico de trabajo forzado, tortura, violación y asesinato.
Birmania por la Paz considera que estas violaciones pueden ser considerados crimenes de guerra y crimenes contra la humanidad. Este verano visitamos ya los campos de refugiados que habian huido hacia Tailandia en Junio. Diez dias más tarde el Ejercito Tailandes deporto a los refugiados a las zonas minadas de Birmania- zona controlada por la Junta Militar-, donde pudimos obtener testimonios en primera linea de los refugiados que habian sufrido las injurias militares. Estuvimos hace un mes y volvimos a contrastar el deterioro progresivo
Eso fue el principio de una nueva estrategia que consiste en desplazar a los " trabajadores ilegales birmanos" y a los " desplazados internos no-documentados" hacia Birmania, desde la frontera de Tailandia, India y Bangladesh.. Pero, ¿ adonde puede ir esta pobre gente?. El suyo es un grito en la oscuridad, un pueblo olvidado que sufre continuamente. Que no ha experimentado la libertad en los ultimos 45 años. ¿Nadie quiere cuidar del pueblo birmano?.
Sabemos que el mundo sabe lo que hay en los campos de refugiados, y fuera de los campos... y dentro de Birmania, lo peor... lo indecible. Queremos comunicaros que los birmanos estan sufriendo lo indecible.
Es tiempo ya que España desde la Presidencia de la Unión Europea tome acción, que Estados Unidos, ASEAN, China, India, Japón, Rusia, Australia y Canada; todos miembros de Naciones Unidas fuercen un mensaje contundente: la Junta esta cometiendo crimenes contra la humanidad, no se puede aceptar por más tiempo y ha provocado una CRISIS POLITICA, HUMANITARIA Y DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
La presión no puede ser simplemente el embargo de armas, hay que solicitar al Gobierno de Tailandia, Bangladesh e India que no deporten a los refugiados, que no los intimide y abra el ESPACIO HUMANITARIO ( para que podamos seguir ayudando), y a las Agencia Internacionales de Ayuda Humanitaria y Emergencia que activen mecanismos que garanticen la supervivencia de los millones de birmanos que sufren malnutrición y hambre.
El regimen birmano planea unas elecciones vergonzosas y las etnias birmanas principalmente están sentenciadas a muerte
Nuestras sugerencias son :
Presión politica urgente ( derechos humanos y elecciones)
Apertura del espacio humanitario y tratamiento de " emergencia para el pueblo birmano" en las fronteras
A todos aquellos que les concierna, que no silencien más las voces de Birmania, porque muy pronto su grito será imparable. Ayudar a los Birmanos
Es urgente una medida internacional de acción que asegure la supervivencia de estas personas. La Junta Militar Birmana planea las vergonzosas elecciones del 10 de Octubre. Birmania por la Paz como miembro del Thai Burma Border Consortium, de las Campañas Internacionales y como sostenedora del proceso de paz y reconciliación de la sociedad civil birmana clama a la Presidencia Española de la Unión Europea acción
Estamos en los Campos de Tailandia, los tenemos documentados en informes, fotografias y video. Son testimonios de evidentes violaciones de derechos humanos en el Estado Karen, Rohingya, Chin y Kachin... incluyendo el uso sistematico de trabajo forzado, tortura, violación y asesinato.
Birmania por la Paz considera que estas violaciones pueden ser considerados crimenes de guerra y crimenes contra la humanidad. Este verano visitamos ya los campos de refugiados que habian huido hacia Tailandia en Junio. Diez dias más tarde el Ejercito Tailandes deporto a los refugiados a las zonas minadas de Birmania- zona controlada por la Junta Militar-, donde pudimos obtener testimonios en primera linea de los refugiados que habian sufrido las injurias militares. Estuvimos hace un mes y volvimos a contrastar el deterioro progresivo
Eso fue el principio de una nueva estrategia que consiste en desplazar a los " trabajadores ilegales birmanos" y a los " desplazados internos no-documentados" hacia Birmania, desde la frontera de Tailandia, India y Bangladesh.. Pero, ¿ adonde puede ir esta pobre gente?. El suyo es un grito en la oscuridad, un pueblo olvidado que sufre continuamente. Que no ha experimentado la libertad en los ultimos 45 años. ¿Nadie quiere cuidar del pueblo birmano?.
Sabemos que el mundo sabe lo que hay en los campos de refugiados, y fuera de los campos... y dentro de Birmania, lo peor... lo indecible. Queremos comunicaros que los birmanos estan sufriendo lo indecible.
Es tiempo ya que España desde la Presidencia de la Unión Europea tome acción, que Estados Unidos, ASEAN, China, India, Japón, Rusia, Australia y Canada; todos miembros de Naciones Unidas fuercen un mensaje contundente: la Junta esta cometiendo crimenes contra la humanidad, no se puede aceptar por más tiempo y ha provocado una CRISIS POLITICA, HUMANITARIA Y DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
La presión no puede ser simplemente el embargo de armas, hay que solicitar al Gobierno de Tailandia, Bangladesh e India que no deporten a los refugiados, que no los intimide y abra el ESPACIO HUMANITARIO ( para que podamos seguir ayudando), y a las Agencia Internacionales de Ayuda Humanitaria y Emergencia que activen mecanismos que garanticen la supervivencia de los millones de birmanos que sufren malnutrición y hambre.
El regimen birmano planea unas elecciones vergonzosas y las etnias birmanas principalmente están sentenciadas a muerte
Nuestras sugerencias son :
Presión politica urgente ( derechos humanos y elecciones)
Apertura del espacio humanitario y tratamiento de " emergencia para el pueblo birmano" en las fronteras
A todos aquellos que les concierna, que no silencien más las voces de Birmania, porque muy pronto su grito será imparable. Ayudar a los Birmanos
EL FUTURO DE AUNG SAN SUU KYI- ELECCIONES 2010
Aung San Suu Kyi and Political Prisoners Banned from Forming and Participating in the Election;
NLD will be Abolished If It will not Re-Register within 60 Days, without DASSK and Imprisoned Party Leaders
Some Points in the Regime’s Election Law
The military regime in Burma announces its “Union Election Commission Law” (State Peace and Democracy Council Law No. 1/2010) and “Political Parties Registration Law” (State Peace and Democracy Council Law No. 2/2010) today. These were published in today newspaper with supplementary pages. Than Shwe signed these Laws.
English version of these Laws will be out soon. Meanwhile, here are some points I would like to highlight.
(1) With the “Union Election Commission Law”, the regime will form the Election Commission soon with those whom they trust. The regime authorizes the Commission to convene the election and gives final decision making power, regarding election postponement, rejection, monitoring, forming sub-commissions, formation of constituencies, compiling list of eligible voters, forming of tribunals to judge election dispute, funding to sub-commissions, etc. It also authorizes the Commission to administer, supervise, and direct the political parties.
(2) With the “Political Parties Registration Law”, the regime bans all monks, nuns, and leaders of other religions, government staff, political prisoners and prisoners, foreigners, members of and those related to unlawful associations and insurgent groups, and drug addicts, from forming of and participation in a political party (Article 4 and 10).
The Article 6 of the Law states that the political parties are to submit a pledge in writing in the application to the Commission, stating that they will abide and protect the 2008 Constitution.
The Article 12 states that any party, which is not able to field at least three candidates in the election, is not allowed to continue to exist. Article 12 also states that the party, which do not dismiss its members, who are not eligible to be party members as described in Article 10, should not be allowed to exist.
The Article 25 states that the existing political parties, such as National League for Democracy (NLD), are required to submit new application to the Commission if they want to continue to exist, within 60 days from the date of announcement of the Law. The Commission will decide whether it will allow or not, according to the Law. If there is no application within 60 days from an existing political party, it is considered that such party is already automatically abolished.
According to this Article 25, NLD has 60 days, from Mar 9, 2010 , to decide whether it will submit an application to the Commission for its continued existence. The Commission may accept or reject its application. As other new parties’ registration, the NLD also needs to make a written pledge, stating that it will abide and protect the 2008 Constitution. If NLD decides to re-register at the Commission, it will be asked by the Commission to exclude DASSK, and other leaders and members who are in prisons, according to Article 4 and 10. Even so, NLD will not be allowed to exist if it does not field at least 3 candidates in the election.
Finally, the regime declares to the world that it will not release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners from prisons, and it will also ban them from forming and participating in any political party. Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners are not only released, but also not allowed to form and participate in the political party. Now, the ball is in the court of the United Nations, United States, and the international community, who have been repeatedly calling for the regime to make a inclusive, free and fair election. I hope they will transform their words into a collective and effective action. The regime already proves that it does not care statements and speeches.
CRISIS HUMANITARIA EN BIRMANIA- TOMAS DE OJEDA PRESENTA SU INFORME SOBRE LAS ELECCIONES EN BIRMANIA
ese
2010 ELECTIONS IN
THE
ELECTION WATCH BULLETTIN
February 2010
Executive summary
The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in
NLD has expanded the Central Committee and is asking to convene a meeting of the Central Executive Committee including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. U Tin Oo, former General and NLD Deputy Chairman, has been released on February 13 after serving a long term house arrest. U Tin Oo will continue to work fully for the party. In an interview, he declared that it is too early for NLD to decide whether it will participate in the election. He recalled the importance of the respect of freedoms of association and expression and also stated that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be granted a future key political role for the seek of reconciliation. Instead, the NLD leader’s appeal on her last sentence has been turned down by the Supreme Court. The lawyers have announced that they will issue a new appeal, the last possible internal remedy, before the Nation Chief of Justice.
CRISIS HUMANITARIA EN BIRMANIA- Comisión de la Ley Electoral en Birmania
The following is the unofficial translation of the Election Commission Law by the Burmese regime dated 8 March 2010. Though the junta published the election commission law in Burmese in state-run newspapers, no English version has been published so far. Mizzima translates it.
CRISIS HUMANITARIA EN BIRMANIA- ROHINGYA- FRONTERA DE BANGLADESH
Physicians for Human Rights released today its emergency report,
STATELESS AND STARVING - Persecuted Rohingya Flee Burma and Starve in
Bangladesh. This report is based on a February 2010 survey of 100
refugee households as well as in-depth interviews with 55 refugees and
key informants in the region.
PHR warns that critical levels of acute malnutrition (18.2% GAM) and a
surging camp population without access to food aid will cause more
deaths from starvation and disease if the humanitarian crisis is not
addressed.
Informe de la situación
STATELESS AND STARVING - Persecuted Rohingya Flee Burma and Starve in
Bangladesh. This report is based on a February 2010 survey of 100
refugee households as well as in-depth interviews with 55 refugees and
key informants in the region.
PHR warns that critical levels of acute malnutrition (18.2% GAM) and a
surging camp population without access to food aid will cause more
deaths from starvation and disease if the humanitarian crisis is not
addressed.
Informe de la situación
http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/report-2010-03-08.html
CRISIS HUMANITARIA EN BIRMANIA- la situación de Suu Kyi en las elecciones
Myanmar's new election laws have barred opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from joining a political party, and thus from running in elections planned this year.
Myanmar's state-run newspapers on Wednesday published the Political Parties Registration Law, according to which more than 2,000 political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi are barred from contesting a general election.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, was convicted last August of violating the terms of her house arrest by briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside residence.
The date of the upcoming polls, which would be the first in Myanmar in 20 years, has yet to be announced.
The last elections in 1990 were won overwhelmingly by Suu Kyi's party, but the military refused to hand over power.
Myanmar's state-run newspapers on Wednesday published the Political Parties Registration Law, according to which more than 2,000 political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi are barred from contesting a general election.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, was convicted last August of violating the terms of her house arrest by briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside residence.
The date of the upcoming polls, which would be the first in Myanmar in 20 years, has yet to be announced.
The last elections in 1990 were won overwhelmingly by Suu Kyi's party, but the military refused to hand over power.
CRISIS HUMANITARIA EN BIRMANIA- Tomas de Ojeda- Relator Especial de Derechos Humanos considera la actitud de la Junta de Crimenes contra la Humaniadd
The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 10/27 of 27
March 2009 and covers human rights developments in Myanmar since the Special Rapporteur’s
second report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC 10/19) and his report to the General
Assembly (A/64/318) in October 2009.
The Special Rapporteur has travelled three times to Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur
conducted his third country visit from 15 to 19 February 2010 at the invitation of the Government after several postponements of planned visits by the Government.
The report elaborates on the issues related to the protection of human rights. Despite calls,
by the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon, the Human Rights Council,
government representatives from many nations, Nobel Laureates and other respected leaders, forthe release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the more than 2100 prisoners of conscience, the Government of Myanmar has not yet met this important step in its preparations for transition to democracy, in the lead up to the 2010 election. Likewise, the international community has urged the Government of Myanmar to announce an election date and an electoral framework that adheres to international standards for a free, fair, participatory and transparent election process.
For far too many of Myanmar’s people their basic rights to food, shelter, health and education, which are not only human rights in and of themselves, but are also essential for the exercise of other human rights, are denied . At the same time, conflicts along the border areas continue to abet serious human rights abuses against civilian populations, including the ongoing recruitment of child soldiers. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned about the systematic and endemic
discrimination faced by the Muslim community in Northern Rakhine State. This discrimination,
which is framed as an immigration problem, leads to basic and fundamental human rights being
denied to this population. Measures taken against this population include restriction of
movement, limitations on permission to marry, and forced labor.
As the Special Rapporteur stated in previous reports, there is a pattern of gross and
systematic violation of human rights which has been in place for many years and still continues.
Given the gross and systematic nature of human rights violations in Myanmar over a period of
many years, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights
violations are the result of a state policy that originate from decisions by authorities in the
executive, military and judiciary at all levels. The Government of Myanmar needs to take prompt and effective measures to investigate these facts.
Quien desee una copia del informe completo, escribanos
March 2009 and covers human rights developments in Myanmar since the Special Rapporteur’s
second report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC 10/19) and his report to the General
Assembly (A/64/318) in October 2009.
The Special Rapporteur has travelled three times to Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur
conducted his third country visit from 15 to 19 February 2010 at the invitation of the Government after several postponements of planned visits by the Government.
The report elaborates on the issues related to the protection of human rights. Despite calls,
by the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon, the Human Rights Council,
government representatives from many nations, Nobel Laureates and other respected leaders, forthe release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the more than 2100 prisoners of conscience, the Government of Myanmar has not yet met this important step in its preparations for transition to democracy, in the lead up to the 2010 election. Likewise, the international community has urged the Government of Myanmar to announce an election date and an electoral framework that adheres to international standards for a free, fair, participatory and transparent election process.
For far too many of Myanmar’s people their basic rights to food, shelter, health and education, which are not only human rights in and of themselves, but are also essential for the exercise of other human rights, are denied . At the same time, conflicts along the border areas continue to abet serious human rights abuses against civilian populations, including the ongoing recruitment of child soldiers. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned about the systematic and endemic
discrimination faced by the Muslim community in Northern Rakhine State. This discrimination,
which is framed as an immigration problem, leads to basic and fundamental human rights being
denied to this population. Measures taken against this population include restriction of
movement, limitations on permission to marry, and forced labor.
As the Special Rapporteur stated in previous reports, there is a pattern of gross and
systematic violation of human rights which has been in place for many years and still continues.
Given the gross and systematic nature of human rights violations in Myanmar over a period of
many years, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights
violations are the result of a state policy that originate from decisions by authorities in the
executive, military and judiciary at all levels. The Government of Myanmar needs to take prompt and effective measures to investigate these facts.
Quien desee una copia del informe completo, escribanos
martes, 9 de marzo de 2010
Zoya Phan: "Yo dialogaría con el asesino de mi padre" por Gaspar Hernandez
Mientras ella trabajaba por los derechos humanos, su padre, el líder birmano Mae Shan, fue asesinado y su madre murió en un campo de refugiados.
--Para los animistas, la naturaleza es la parte más importante de nuestra existencia: la naturaleza lo es todo. Tanto mi padre como mi madre me criaron en ese entorno y fuimos a la selva con mi hermano cuando la junta militar birmana bombardeó nuestro pueblo. En el pueblo karén se considera una tradición fundamental el culto a la naturaleza.
--¿Qué hacía en la selva?
--Nadar con mis padres, pescar, coger setas, flores y mangos. Y estar en contacto con los espíritus.
--¿...?
--Nosotros creemos en los espíritus Nagas que viven en la naturaleza.
--¿Dónde están los espíritus?
--En las montañas, en los seres humanos, en los campos de arroz. Reverenciamos al arroz.
--¿Literalmente?
--Sí. Para nosotros la planta del arroz es la más importante. Cuando plantamos arroz, lo reverenciamos, porque su espíritu nos salva la vida. Lo respetamos tanto que cuando crece le hacemos una ofrenda para agradecerle que nos haya salvado la vida.
Más
Assalamo Alaikum- Carta al Primer Ministro de Bangladesh sobre los Rohingya
H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Prime Minister Office
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Subject: Concern on the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Your Excellency
‘Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuh’
We would like to express our serious concern about the plight of Rohingyas in Bangladesh. We are dismayed by the current crackdown on unofficial Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Particularly from first week of January hundreds of unofficial Rohingya refugees were arrested, pushed back across the Burmese border or jailed under immigration law from Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts. As in danger, some of those who were pushed back to Burma were arrested, tortured, extorted and jailed by the Burmese junta’s authorities.
In order for them to escape from the ongoing crackdown, a large number of unofficial Rohingya refugees, including those self-settled Rohingyas, have fled and flocked to Kutupalong makeshift camp in Ukhia in search of safety, where they receive no food assistance or succour from UNHCR or NGOs. While the refugees have to fend for themselves, they are being denied to a livelihood, as they are arrested by the law enforcement agencies and organized local villagers if they were to leave the camp to look for work to feed their families. A serious humanitarian disaster is looming due to food insecurity and starvation is spreading rapidly. During recent weeks more than 30 refugees are reported dead in Kutupalong makeshift camp.
The “Rohingya problem” is a problem of ethnic, religious and political persecution to rid Arakan of the Muslim population. The Rohingya are denied citizenship and are thus effectively stateless. They are victims of systematic, persistent and widespread human rights violations, including denial of citizenship rights, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, education, marriage and religion, forced labour, rape, land confiscation, arbitrary arrests, torture, extra-judicial killings and extortion on daily basis. Such human rights violations, which amount to ‘crimes against humanity’, are the root causes of their flights into Bangladesh in search of shelter and protection. As such, the unregistered Rohingya refugees are stateless asylum seekers, who fled systematic persecution in Burma, entitled to international protection, including shelter and humanitarian assistance from Bangladesh because of her geographical situation. In this connection, Bangladesh as necessary or at request should receive assistance from the world community. As mandated by the international community, the UNHCR has to play a greater role to ensure that these refugees are fully protected, are given assistance, and that durable solutions are sought.
The “Rohingya Refugee Crisis” is a problem rooted in the Burmese military’s junta’s specific deeply discriminatory policies targeting them, and the issue must be resolved first and foremost within Burma, where they are not recognized as an ethnic group and denied citizenship. Until these root causes are addressed by the ruling junta, Bangladesh, as a first country of asylum for most Rohingyas, has to bear the brunt of the Rohingya problem, as a cyclic matter. Arrests or pushback is not a solution. It only encourages accelerating the “Rohingya extermination” design of the ruling junta causing constant outflows of refugees from Arakan into Bangladesh and other countries.
Last not least, we are very appreciative of your giving shelter to our persecuted people time after time, on humanitarian ground, despite resource constraints. Having deep traditional and historical relationship in the bond of Islamic fraternity and contiguity in geographical position, Bangladesh is the only immediate place of refuge for our endangered people fleeing persecution in Burma.
We, therefore, urge your Excellency:
- To immediately cease arrests, pushback and forced displacement of the unregistered Rohingya population in Bangladesh,
- To recognise that unregistered Rohingyas are stateless asylum seekers fleeing systematic persecution in Burma and are refugees in need of international protection;
- To provide them with adequate protection, access to livelihood and other basic necessities for life;
- To involve and consult with UNHCR to ensure that these refugees are fully protected, are given assistance and that durable solutions are sought;
- To exercise your good offices for a ‘permanent solution’ of the long standing Rohingya problem.
We thank you for your immediate attention in this matter.
Yours very truly,
- Arakan Rohingya Refugee Committee, Malaysia
- Arakan Rohingya Organisation Japan
- Burmese Rohingya Association Japan
- Burmese Rohingya Association Thailand
- Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia
- Burmese Rohingya Community in Norway
- Burmese Rohingya Organisation Germany
- Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
- Canadian Burmese Rohingya Association ,Canada
- National Democratic Party for Human Rights (in Exile) Central, France
- Oregon Rohingya Society, USA
- Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma), KSA
Birmania por la Paz- Burma Campaign Spain
Canada renueva su apoyo al TBBC - Refugiados y desplazados birmanos
Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) ― On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, today announced the Government of Canada will continue support for Burmese refugees and displaced persons living in Burma's border areas.
"Canada's renewed support builds on the significant results being achieved in Burma's border areas. Over the past five years, CIDA-funded health care initiatives have treated nearly one million cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and severe malnutrition, provided food aid to approximately 145,000 refugees, and health care services to approximately 500,000 refugees," said Minister Oda. "These results, along with support for community-based organizations working on human rights and environmental issues, demonstrate how Canada's assistance is helping those in need."
"Canada, through this support, is focusing on meeting the needs of people in the border areas," said Ms. Block. "This funding will contribute to building capacity within the Burmese population, while ensuring that basic services, such as health care and food are provided to both refugees and surrounding communities."
The renewed funding amounts to $15.9 million over five years, and builds on CIDA's $12.4 million contribution for assistance in the region provided over the previous five years. CIDA is continuing to provide assistance in the region through Inter Pares Canada, a Canadian humanitarian organization, which supports numerous organizations, including the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium and the Mae Tao Clinic.
"Canada's renewed support builds on the significant results being achieved in Burma's border areas. Over the past five years, CIDA-funded health care initiatives have treated nearly one million cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and severe malnutrition, provided food aid to approximately 145,000 refugees, and health care services to approximately 500,000 refugees," said Minister Oda. "These results, along with support for community-based organizations working on human rights and environmental issues, demonstrate how Canada's assistance is helping those in need."
"Canada, through this support, is focusing on meeting the needs of people in the border areas," said Ms. Block. "This funding will contribute to building capacity within the Burmese population, while ensuring that basic services, such as health care and food are provided to both refugees and surrounding communities."
The renewed funding amounts to $15.9 million over five years, and builds on CIDA's $12.4 million contribution for assistance in the region provided over the previous five years. CIDA is continuing to provide assistance in the region through Inter Pares Canada, a Canadian humanitarian organization, which supports numerous organizations, including the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium and the Mae Tao Clinic.
Las elecciones birmanas deben incluir a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi- Secretario de Naciones Unidas
By Paul Tighe
March 9 (Bloomberg) -- Myanmar’s elections scheduled for this year must include detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
Political prisoners must be released so that “all of them can take part in elections,” Ban said in New York. “That would make the elections inclusive and credible.”
Ban commented as official newspapers in Myanmar began publishing details of new election laws, the Associated Press reported. The legislation establishes rules such as how long campaigning will last and conditions for parties contesting the ballot, AP said.
The UN and U.S. have dismissed the election as a bid by the military, which has ruled the country formerly known as Burma since 1962, to hold onto power. The ballot will take place under a constitution approved in a 2008 referendum that includes a clause effectively barring Suu Kyi from holding office.
Ban said he wrote to Senior General Than Shwe, the junta leader, last month emphasizing that the election must be held in a “transparent manner” and calling on the junta to issue new election laws.
“I repeatedly emphasized that, without the participation of Daw Aung Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive,” he said. The junta is holding an estimated 2,100 political prisoners, according to the U.S.
Details of five new election-related laws will be released in official newspapers in the next few days, AP said, citing state radio and television. A report today said one law will establish a five-member commission to oversee the ballot, it said.
Appeal Rejected
Suu Kyi, 64, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, had her house arrest order extended for 18 months in August after a court found her guilty of violating her detention terms, a decision that would ensure her being excluded from the elections. Myanmar’s Supreme Court last month rejected her appeal against the extension.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party hasn’t decided whether to take part in the elections. The government hasn’t set a date for the ballot.
“We don’t know what’s in the laws,” AP cited Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD as saying yesterday in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. “If elections are held this year, it won’t be fair because political parties are not given enough time” for registration and campaigning.
The U.S. has repeatedly called on the junta to release political prisoners before the election. President Barack Obama is pursuing a policy of engaging with the military leaders while maintaining trade and financial sanctions that are aimed at pressing the junta to make democratic changes in the country of more than 48 million people.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a8iOXJCL514U
March 9 (Bloomberg) -- Myanmar’s elections scheduled for this year must include detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
Political prisoners must be released so that “all of them can take part in elections,” Ban said in New York. “That would make the elections inclusive and credible.”
Ban commented as official newspapers in Myanmar began publishing details of new election laws, the Associated Press reported. The legislation establishes rules such as how long campaigning will last and conditions for parties contesting the ballot, AP said.
The UN and U.S. have dismissed the election as a bid by the military, which has ruled the country formerly known as Burma since 1962, to hold onto power. The ballot will take place under a constitution approved in a 2008 referendum that includes a clause effectively barring Suu Kyi from holding office.
Ban said he wrote to Senior General Than Shwe, the junta leader, last month emphasizing that the election must be held in a “transparent manner” and calling on the junta to issue new election laws.
“I repeatedly emphasized that, without the participation of Daw Aung Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive,” he said. The junta is holding an estimated 2,100 political prisoners, according to the U.S.
Details of five new election-related laws will be released in official newspapers in the next few days, AP said, citing state radio and television. A report today said one law will establish a five-member commission to oversee the ballot, it said.
Appeal Rejected
Suu Kyi, 64, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, had her house arrest order extended for 18 months in August after a court found her guilty of violating her detention terms, a decision that would ensure her being excluded from the elections. Myanmar’s Supreme Court last month rejected her appeal against the extension.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party hasn’t decided whether to take part in the elections. The government hasn’t set a date for the ballot.
“We don’t know what’s in the laws,” AP cited Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD as saying yesterday in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. “If elections are held this year, it won’t be fair because political parties are not given enough time” for registration and campaigning.
The U.S. has repeatedly called on the junta to release political prisoners before the election. President Barack Obama is pursuing a policy of engaging with the military leaders while maintaining trade and financial sanctions that are aimed at pressing the junta to make democratic changes in the country of more than 48 million people.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a8iOXJCL514U
lunes, 8 de marzo de 2010
Mujeres birmanas en remotas prisiones- Dia Internacional de la Mujer- We women of Burma
Three women political activists sentenced to jail terms during the recent visit of UN Human Rights Envoy to Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, were transferred from Rangoon's Insein Prison to remote upcountry prisons at the weekend, according to a source close to the prison.
Naw Ohn Hla, a former member of the National League for Democracy and a prominent woman activist in Burma in her late fifties, was transferred to Taungoo prison. Cho Cho Aye was sent to Yamethin prison, and San San Myint went to an unidentified prison, the source told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
The prison authorities did not inform family members of the transfers, the source said. Meanwhile, their lawyer, Kyaw Hoe, confirmed the women were transferred to remote prisons but he did not know the details.
The activists were arrested when they returned from a Rangoon monastery last year and charged with creating unrest.
Prior to their arrest, the women had made a weekly routine of praying for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners at the Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon, Burma's holiest shrine.
A court sentenced them to two years in jail in February, when Quintana was visiting the country to study human rights conditions in Burma ahead of the polls.
The Burmese regime has transferred many political dissidents to remote prisons, making it difficult for family members to visit them.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma, there are 2195 political prisoners in Burma.
Irrawaddy
4000 Obreros van a la huelga en Rangun- Irrawaddy
In the latest escalation of labor tensions in Burma, around 4,000 factory workers at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Rangoon staged a sit-in on Saturday to demand better pay, according to sources in the area.
Workers at two garment factories in South Dagon Township's No. 2 Industrial Zone began their strike at around 8 am, the sources said.
 |
| Workers in Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone stage a sit-in in February. (Source: www.niknayman-niknayman.co.cc) |
“When the workers got out of the company bus this morning, they refused to enter the factory compound,” said an eyewitness, adding that riot police arrived at the scene soon after the strike began.
The factories are owned by a company called SGI.
“The factory owner said he would comply with the workers' demands, but he forced them to go home,” said another person who witnessed this latest mass action by Burmese workers.
In recent months, workers employed by factories in Burma's commercial capital have shown growing dissatisfaction with stagnant wages, as inflation continues to erode the value of their earnings, most of which are spent on the purchase of basic commodities.
Meanwhile, there were also reports that several thousand factory workers in Shwepyithar Township, on the western outskirts of Rangoon, also staged a sit-in on Friday to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
Labor Ministry representatives were involved in negotiations between the workers and the factory management, the reports said.
According to a senior official from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), the unrest is related to recent pay hikes for government employees. Public servants' monthly salaries were raised by a flat rate of 20,000 kyat ($20) in January.
The UMFCCI senior official said that the wages of garment factory workers are significantly lower than that of workers in Cambodia and Vietnam.
“The basic monthly salary of workers here is US $30-50, while workers in Cambodia and Vietnam are earning at least $120 a month,” he said.
La privatizacion de Birmania- Elecciones 2010
Myanmar's military government has quietly begun what diplomats and businessmen here say is the largest sell-off of state assets in the country's history, including more than 100 government buildings, port facilities and a large stake in the national airline.
The move, which comes as the government prepares to introduce a new constitution and hold elections for the first time since 1990, is being compared by some analysts here to the massive privatisations in Russia after the Communist era.
Myanmar's military junta nationalised most industries when it took power in a 1962 coup and has controlled the lion's share of the economy ever since.
Diplomats and businessmen here speculate that the across-the-board sell-off is intended to build up cash for the ruling generals to finance election campaigns and possibly pay for future salary increases for government employees and other populist measures. Many of the assets are being sold to businessmen allied with the military, reinforcing the strength of a class of oligarchs. The privatisations could also have the effect of helping the moribund economy by injecting competition into what is an almost Soviet-style economic system.
The assets that have been sold or are for sale include the country's fuel import and distribution network, gem and tin mines, farmland and factories, according to businessmen who have seen announcements of the sales.
The government has put out word that it is selling factories producing soft drinks, cigarettes and bicycles, among other commercial goods, according to U Phone Win, the head of a non-profit organisation. Most of the sales have been announced to small groups of businessmen, and the news is spreading by word of mouth. The government is also opening the healthcare and education sectors to private enterprise, he said, issuing licences for the first time for private hospitals and schools.
The country's Privatisation Commission recently produced a list of 176 assets in Yangon, to be auctioned off sometime over the next few weeks. The 18-page list, which was shown to prospective buyers and which a businessman made available to the International Herald Tribune, includes a wide-ranging roster of buildings in Yangon worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Many former government offices, abandoned when the capital was moved to Naypyidaw in 2005, are included.
In recent weeks, the military has entered what appears to be full campaign mode. The state-run media runs articles daily about generals' inaugurating roads, railways, bridges and hydroelectric dams.
"It's a completely different environment from a few years ago," said Mr Steve Marshall, the head of the International Labour Organisation office here. "There is very much more acceptance for the need to work together. They want to be seen as a professional military." NYT
http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC100308-0000129/The-privatisation-of-Myanmar
The move, which comes as the government prepares to introduce a new constitution and hold elections for the first time since 1990, is being compared by some analysts here to the massive privatisations in Russia after the Communist era.
Myanmar's military junta nationalised most industries when it took power in a 1962 coup and has controlled the lion's share of the economy ever since.
Diplomats and businessmen here speculate that the across-the-board sell-off is intended to build up cash for the ruling generals to finance election campaigns and possibly pay for future salary increases for government employees and other populist measures. Many of the assets are being sold to businessmen allied with the military, reinforcing the strength of a class of oligarchs. The privatisations could also have the effect of helping the moribund economy by injecting competition into what is an almost Soviet-style economic system.
The assets that have been sold or are for sale include the country's fuel import and distribution network, gem and tin mines, farmland and factories, according to businessmen who have seen announcements of the sales.
The government has put out word that it is selling factories producing soft drinks, cigarettes and bicycles, among other commercial goods, according to U Phone Win, the head of a non-profit organisation. Most of the sales have been announced to small groups of businessmen, and the news is spreading by word of mouth. The government is also opening the healthcare and education sectors to private enterprise, he said, issuing licences for the first time for private hospitals and schools.
The country's Privatisation Commission recently produced a list of 176 assets in Yangon, to be auctioned off sometime over the next few weeks. The 18-page list, which was shown to prospective buyers and which a businessman made available to the International Herald Tribune, includes a wide-ranging roster of buildings in Yangon worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Many former government offices, abandoned when the capital was moved to Naypyidaw in 2005, are included.
In recent weeks, the military has entered what appears to be full campaign mode. The state-run media runs articles daily about generals' inaugurating roads, railways, bridges and hydroelectric dams.
"It's a completely different environment from a few years ago," said Mr Steve Marshall, the head of the International Labour Organisation office here. "There is very much more acceptance for the need to work together. They want to be seen as a professional military." NYT
http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC100308-0000129/The-privatisation-of-Myanmar
Carta a Moratinos por los civiles Karen- Enviala- ELECCIONES EN BIRMANIA
Dear Foreign Affairs Ministry
We, BIRMANIA POR
As Karen people in this country who have ourselves been forced to leave our homeland because of attacks, persecution and other human rights abuses, we appeal to your government to take action to stop the new attacks.
The news we have received from our homeland breaks our hearts. For six decades our people have been suffering. Since mid January the Burmese Army has stepped up attacks:
· Villagers have been shot on site
· A school has been mortar bombed
· One villager has been beheaded
· More than 80 homes have been destroyed
· Schools and health clinics have been burned down
· More than 2,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes
· Food stocks being stolen and destroyed
· The regime is stopping aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle
If these attacks had taken place in
We would like to request that your government take the following actions:
· Publicly call for an end to attacks against the Karen and other ethnic people in
· Call on the United Nations Security Council must demand an immediate end to the attacks, which break international law.
· Provide funding for cross-border aid, which is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks.
· Express public support for the United Nations setting up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese dictatorship.
· Publicly call for a global arms embargo against
·
A dictatorship that is genuine about reform does not fire mortar bombs at schoolchildren. Fake elections due later this year will not bring change to
The new wave of attacks is linked to the fake elections due in
We ask that your government take the above action, which we believe will save lives. We look forwards to your response.
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