12.10.2009

Burma's News World's News

Stephen Bosworth's arrival in South Korea
Photo: AP

U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, center, arrives with others after visiting North Korea, at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, 10 Dec 2009

'Useful' US Visit to North Korea Yields No Date for Nuclear Talks

Stephen Bosworth's traveled to Pyongyang in hopes of coaxing North Korea back to six-nation talks on ending its nuclear

Gunmen Seize at Least 75 Hostages in Philippines

Military officials say the gunmen abducted the residents of a village on Mindanao island


Photo: AP

A U.S. soldier chats with his colleagues while patrolling through the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan, 02 Dec 2009

Gates Says US, Afghan Ties Are Long-Term

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that the relationship is one 'forged in blood'


Barack Obama
Photo: AFP

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize during a ceremony at the Oslo City Hall in Oslo, 10 Dec 2009

President Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize

Barack Obama said his accomplishments are slight compared to Nobel laureates such as Martin Luther King Jr. and

AMERICAS Obama defends 'just war' at Nobel award
US President Barack Obama defends the waging of "morally justified" war as he collects the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

India to create new southern state
India announces that a separate state is to be formed in part of Andhra Pradesh, after days of violent protests.
Facebook faces criticism over privacy changes
Facebook members, rights groups and bloggers line up to criticise the social network site's revamped privacy policy.
Latest World News
Burmese women singing out aloud on December 9, 2009 at the 10th anniversary of the founding of...Sittwe beach, a favourite holiday resort in Western Burma's Arakan state, is once again being...

Burmese Women's Long Journey

Burmese women singing out aloud on December 9, 2009 at the 10th anniversary of the founding of...

NLD denies using media

The National League for Democracy (NLD) has rubbished allegations by the state owned media, which has alleged Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD have created confusion by...

Burma, second worst-hit by climate change: Report

Military-ruled Burma is the second worst country affected by extreme weather caused by climate change, a Berlin-based Climate Watchdog said in a new report that assesses...

BH Global Marine into ‘Joint Venture’

Singapore’s BH Global Marine Limited said it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with two Burmese businessmen to export marine products to military-ruled Burma. A BH Global...
Global MPs call for UN action on Burma

Dec 10, 2009 (DVB)–More than 440 Members of Parliament around the world today marked International Human Rights Day with a call for the UN to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. - more


Freelance journalists under fire in Burma

Dec 10, 2009 (DVB)–Burma continues to be one of the world’s largest prisons for journalists, according to a media watchdog that warns of a global increase in the jailing of freelance media workers. - more


Thailand to register migrant children

Dec 10, 2009 (DVB)–Children of migrant workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia will soon be registered by the Thai government and eligible to enroll in school, migrant organisations have announced. - more


Burmese women to block 2010 elections

Dec 10, 2009 (DVB)–Burma’s 2010 elections will prolong poverty and violence against women and should not be supported by the international community, an exiled Burmese women’s rights group said. - more


US official sees no progress in Burma

Dec 10, 2009 (AFP)–There are no signs of progress towards democratic change in Burma despite Washington's decision to hold direct talks with the country's military rulers, a senior US diplomat said Wednesday. - more


Collective Statement Calling for National Reconciliation
Before 2010 Elections

Burma Partnership
"Strengthening Cooperation for a Free Burma"


Collective Statement Calling for National Reconciliation Before 2010 Elections

Dear friends and supporters,
On International Human Rights Day, civil society groups from Burma and around the world stand united in their demand for genuine political reconciliation before Burma’s elections next year. The one hundred and nineteen groups call on the international community to insist that the junta meet key benchmarks:


    1. Release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Khun Htun Oo, and Min Ko Naing.


  • National Reconciliation: Inclusive dialogue with key stakeholders from democracy groups and ethnic nationalities, including a comprehensive review of the 2008 Constitution.



  • Cessation of systematic human rights abuses and criminal hostilities against ethnic groups, political activists, journalists, and civil society.
  • Please see the full statement in English below or download here. The Burmese version is available here.
    In Solidarity,
    Burma Partnership Secretariat
    ---
    COLLECTIVE STATEMENT ON 2010 ELECTIONS
    Calling for Genuine Political Reconciliation Before Elections in Burma
    December 10, 2009
    We, the united voice of people, communities, and organizations from Burma and around the globe, strongly reaffirm the necessity for genuine political reconciliation before the 2010 elections and call on the international community to take immediate action to ensure viable democratic change occurs in Burma. The people of Burma are entitled to have a genuine choice and the international community has an obligation to ensure that the people get this choice.
    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 21) states, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government”; however, the military regime in Burma continues to use coercive measures to hold onto power. Activists, community leaders, journalists, and monks continue to be arrested and harassed for voicing independent thought. Villages continue to be subjected to crimes against humanity under the regime’s brutal policy of controlling ethnic communities. The regime continues to manipulate the political sphere in order to secure their victory in the 2010 elections – based on the 2008 Constitution that was crafted by the military regime in order to perpetuate impunity and prolong their hold on power. Inclusive solutions proposed by democracy and ethnic leaders have been discarded with severe persecution. Once again, the regime is poised to repeat its systematic use of force, manipulation, and corruption during the 2008 constitutional referendum.
    We call on the international community to insist that the regime meets crucial benchmarks in order to bring peace and stability to Burma before the elections, i.e.:


    1. Release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Khun Htun Oo, and Min Ko Naing.


  • National Reconciliation: Inclusive dialogue with key stakeholders from democracy groups and ethnic nationalities, including a comprehensive review of the 2008 Constitution.


  • Cessation of systematic human rights abuses and criminal hostilities against ethnic groups, political activists, journalists, and civil society.
  • If the election is allowed to go ahead without these changes, then it will only serve to institutionalize one-party rule, with military still holding the strings of power. Even in the unlikely event that the elections are free and fair, they will not bring any real change to Burma because the fundamentally flawed Constitution that allocates vast powers to military, lacks any checks and balances, allows for the ongoing discrimination and persecution of ethnic nationalities, gender discrimination, and lacks protection of human rights. Such a Constitution is dangerous for a country emerging from conflict and post-conflict situations, and will continue to push Burma’s vast problems into neighboring countries and throughout the region if necessary measures aren’t taken.
    The inclusion of genuine democratic opposition parties in the democratic and constitutional process would not only assure political pluralism and a more effective representation of the people of diverse ethnicity, it would offer a sustained solution to decades-long political crisis. The Burmese opposition forces on Burma border’s area and across the world in reflecting the position of ethnic nationalities leadership and pro-democratic forces inside Burma, have developed a Proposal for National Reconciliation which offers solutions for the country to move forward, proposing ways that all groups, including the military can work together to finally bring democratic transition to Burma. We urge the international community to be united in their support for the will of the people of Burma, and act with firm resolve not to allow this sham election to proceed until national reconciliation is realized.
    Actions Birmanie – Brussels
    All Burma Democratic Lusei Women Organization
    Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma)
    Arakan League for Democracy (Exile - India)
    Arakan Liberation Party
    ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)
    Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
    Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
    Association Suisse-Birmanie
    Austrian Burma Center
    Back Pack Health Worker Team
    Birmania por la Paz (Burma Campaign Spain)
    Burma Action Ireland
    Burma Aktion Germany
    Burmese American Democratic Alliance
    Burma Campaign Australia
    Burma Campaign Korea
    Burma Campaign UK
    Burma Centre Delhi
    Burma Community Resource Center
    Burma Democratic Concern
    Burma Info (Japan)
    Burma Information Team
    Burma Lawyers Council
    Burma Lusei Union
    Burma Medical Association
    Burma Mobilize
    Burma Partnership
    Burma Point
    Burmese Women's Union
    Canadian Friends of Burma
    Chin Human Rights Organization
    Chin Students and Youth Federation
    Chin Women Organization
    Chin Youth Conference
    Christian Solidarity Worldwide
    Danish Burma Committee
    Dictator Watch
    Ethnic Nationalities Council
    Falam Chin Women Development
    Forum for Democracy in Burma
    - All Burma Federation of Student Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee
    - All Burma Student Democratic Front
    - Burmese Women’s Union
    - Democratic Party for New Society
    - Network for Democracy and Development
    - People Defense Force
    - Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association
    Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines)
    Free Burma Campaign (Korea)
    Free Burma Campaign Singapore
    Free Burma Campaign, South Africa
    Free Burma Coalition-Philippines
    Friends of Burma, Malaysia
    Friends of Burma, Thailand
    Friends of the Third World
    Health Equity Initiatives, Malaysia
    Hong Kong Coalition for a Free Burma
    Info Birmanie (France)
    Initiatives for International Dialogue
    International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
    International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP)
    Jamalpur Gandhi Ashram
    Karen Women’s Organization
    Kuki Students Democratic Force
    Kuki Women Human Rights Organization
    Lamkang Naga Students Union
    Lamkang National Council
    League for Democracy in Burma (Japan)
    Members of Parliament Union
    Naga National League for Democracy
    Naga Senior Citizens' Forum
    Naga Students Union Delhi
    Naga Youth Organization
    National Council of the Union of Burma – New Zealand Office
    National League for Democracy (Liberated Area)
    National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) – Korea Branch
    Nationalities Youth Forum
    - All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
    - All Kachin Students and Youth Union
    - Arakan Youth Network Group
    - Chin Students' Union
    - Karenni National Youth Organization
    - Karen Youth Organisation
    - Mon Unity League
    - Pa'O Youth Organisation
    - Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization
    - United Lahu Youth Organization
    - Zomi Students and Youth Organisation
    Norwegian Burma Committee
    Patriotic War Veterans of Burma
    Peace for Burma
    Peaceful Burma
    People in Need
    People's Forum on Burma (Japan)
    Social Upliftment Through Rural Action (SUTRA)
    Solidaritas Indonesia untuk Burma (Indonesian Solidarity for Burma)
    Student and Youth Congress of Burma
    - All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
    - All Burma Students’ Democratic Front
    - All Burma Students League
    -
    All Kachin Students and Youth Union
    - Arakan League for Democracy - Youth Wing (Exile)
    - Democratic Party for a New Society - Youth
    - Karen Youth Organization
    - Kayan New Generation Youth
    -
    Kuki Students Democratic Front
    - Mon Youth Progressive Organization
    - National League for Democracy – Liberated Area, Youth
    - Naga National League for Democracy – Youth
    -
    Pa-O Youth Organization
    - Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization
    - Tavoyan Youth Organization
    - Zomi Students and Youth Organization
    Student Federation of Thailand
    Shwe Gas Movement
    Taiwan Free Burma Network
    Women League of Chin-land
    Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma
    Zanniat Youth Organizations
    Zomi Community Committee
    Zomi National Congress
    Zomi Reunification Organisation
    Zomi Women Union

    No comments:

    Post a Comment