tagged w/ Aung San Suu Kyi
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BRUSSELS (AP) — Multiparty elections scheduled for 2010 in Burma will be seen as illegitimate unless the ruling military junta frees all political prisoners — particularly Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the European Union said Monday.
The remarks by EU foreign ministers came after opposition groups said Burma's military rulers have stepped up suppression of its political opponents and jailed a number of members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
"Elections in 2010 will not have any credibility unless the authorities ... unconditionally release all political prisoners, notably Aung San Suu Kyi," the ministers said in a statement.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been under house arrest for more than 12 of the past 19 years.
EU foreign ministers also urged the military government to start talking with all opposition parties and minority ethnic groups ahead of the vote.
The junta has announced general elections in 2010 as part of its "roadmap to democracy." It follows a national referendum in May that approved a set of constitutional amendments.
Critics say these cement the power of the military in government affairs. But the government insists the changes are a major step forward in restoring civilian rule.
The junta came to power in 1988 in Burma — formerly known as Burma — after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy uprising, killing as many as 3,000 people. It organized multiparty elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results after Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly.
Copyright 2008 The Associated PressBRUSSELS (AP) — Multiparty elections scheduled for 2010 in Burma will be seen as... more
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The United States on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest by renewing its call for Myanmar's military rulers to swiftly release the pro-democracy leader.
"As of October 24, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent a total of 13 years under house arrest," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said in a statement.
"Over the many years, Aung San Suu Kyi has endured unlawful detention, she has remained a steady beacon of hope and inspiration to those seeking a peaceful, democratic Burma," he said.
"We again call upon the Burmese regime to immediately and unconditionally release her and the more than 2,000 political prisoners it holds."
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, has been confined to her home for 13 of the past 19 years. Her National League for Democracy swept elections in 1990, but was never allowed by the military to take power.
Recalling that Friday is also the anniversary of the coming into force of the United Nations charter in 1945, Wood reiterated US support for UN efforts to obtain the release of political prisoners in Myanmar and encourage its shift to democracy.
"Releasing Aung San Suu Kyi would be a first step toward Burma's reintegration into the world community," he said.
"We further join the United Nations and the rest of the international community in calling upon the regime to engage credibly in an inclusive, time-bound dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic and ethnic minority leaders to bring about a genuine democratic transition."
Myanmar -- whose former name Burma is still used by the United States and other Western nations -- has been ruled by successive military juntas since 1962, 14 years after its independence from British colonial rule.The United States on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's... more
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Here are 10 people who stood up for peace and human rights. And inspired countless others to do the same.
When looking back through the mystique of history, we tend to impose super-human status to those who stood up for their beliefs in a revolutionary way.
For some of them, the decision to act was conscious defiance to the status quo. For others, they were simply in the right place at the wrong time, and found themselves acting on behalf of others lacking the courage to speak out.
We should rightly remember these people. But we should also remember that they were (or are) ordinary human beings, who made a choice.
And just like them, the rest of us have the opportunity to choose to engage in creating a better world. In short, we can be revolutionary every day.
1. Lt. Ehren Watada Refusing The War
The first commissioned officer of the U.S. armed forces to refuse deployment to Iraq, First Lieutenant Ehren Watada created a furor with his objection and public denunciation of the war in January 2006.
Watada entered into the army fully believing the official justifications for the invasion. However, after researching the history of Iraq and the events leading to the American invasion, he concluded that the war was based on false evidence presented to Congress—specifically the existence of the elusive weapons of mass destruction.
Watada therefore believed his own involvement would be constituted as crimes against peace under command responsibility. He asked to be deployed to Afghanistan, where he felt there was a true moral imperative to defend the United States, but when the army refused his request or his resignation, Watada did not board the plane with his unit.
Military authorities subjected Watada to a court martial in February 2007 and the judge declared a mistrial after deciding Watada’s defense of not following unlawful orders could not be decided in a military court.
When a new court martial date was set, Watada’s attorney claimed double jeopardy—his client could not be tried again under the same charges. Today Watada works at Fort Lewis with the continuous threat of a 6-8 year prison term looming over him for the crime of speaking truth to power.
*********************SEE THE REST OF THE LIST AT THE LINK!*************************************Here are 10 people who stood up for peace and human rights. And inspired countless... more
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Aung San Suu Kyi has reportedly added a hunger strike to her arsenal of weapons against Burma's ruling junta, which has kept her under house arrest since 1989. Critics fear the United Nations has been duped into believing the junta plans to restore a democratically elected civilian government in 2010.Aung San Suu Kyi has reportedly added a hunger strike to her arsenal of weapons... more
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Burma’s detained democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, met with her lawyer yesterday to discuss a legal challenge to the ruling junta’s decision to extend her house arrest earlier this year.
NLD spokesman Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy on Monday that Suu Kyi’s meeting with her lawyer—the third since early August—concerned a lawsuit that she is mounting against her continuing detention, which was extended in May. She has been under house arrest since May 2003.
Nyan Win said that time constraints made it impossible for Suu Kyi and her lawyer to finish their business.
“Her discussions with her lawyer couldn’t conclude because the meeting was limited to just 30 minutes,” he said, adding that it was not clear when the authorities would allow Suu Kyi and her lawyer to meet again to discuss her case.
Political observers in Rangoon noted that this was the first time that Suu Kyi had attempted to use the courts to challenge the junta’s right to keep her under house arrest. Some also said that she was in touch with members of her party and the authorities to discuss the case.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source suggested that Suu Kyi could be released before the end of this year. However, other sources said that Suu Kyi would also demand the release of all political prisoners if the junta decides to free her.
Suu Kyi’s meeting with her lawyer came amid rumors that she had begun a hunger strike.
Her lawyer, Kyi Win, said that Suu Kyi made no mention of a hunger strike, and in response to questions about her condition, quoted her as saying: “I am well, but I have lost some weight. I am a little tired and I need to rest.”
**CONTINUES**Burma’s detained democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, met with her lawyer... more
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Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, has begun a hunger strike in protest at the country's continued military rule, unconfirmed reports suggest.
Suu Kyi, 63, who has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, is said to have rejected food delivered to her home.
Nyan Win, spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD), said bags of food sent to Suu Kyi's heavily guarded house yesterday were not picked up. He would not say whether this meant the Nobel laureate was refusing to eat.
The reports are unconfirmed as Suu Kyi's supporters are barred from meeting with her. It is known that the pro-democracy leader relies on the NLD's food deliveries for survival.
Nyo Ohn Myint, the NLD's head of foreign affairs, said the party leader had refused all food deliveries since August 15 and would continue to do so until her demands were met. He could not say whether the action constituted a hunger strike as his group had no direct contact with Suu Kyi.
"If Suu Kyi continues to refuse food from her comrades, her health will be of serious concern," the NLD said in a statement. "Two people living with Suu Kyi are also refusing food. The international community's immediate action is necessary."
Suu Kyi has previously told Burma's military regime she wants a resumption of talks on national reconciliation.
She has requested the installation of a satellite dish at her house and an agreement that her personal assistant, Khin Win, is free to come and go from the property.
Suu Kyi repeatedly cancelled meetings with the UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, during his six-day visit to the country that ended on Saturday. He left without seeing her.
Supporters have said Suu Kyi appears frustrated with the UN's failure to bring about change to the dictatorship.
On Sunday, Nyan Win said Gambari had wasted his time in Myanmar. He criticised the UN envoy for failing to meet the country's leader, General Than Shwe, and failing to get any commitment from the junta for national reconciliation talks with the opposition.
Nyan Win criticised Gambari for offering to help the junta prepare for planned 2010 elections.
Suu Kyi's party has criticised the planned polls, which follow a constitutional referendum earlier this year that critics say was imposed via a vote that was not free and fair.
The new constitution guarantees 25% of parliamentary seats to the military and allows the president to hand over all power to the military in a state of emergency.
Burma has been in political deadlock since 1990 when Suu Kyi's party overwhelmingly won a general election but was not allowed to take power.
The UN has tried to push the regime towards open talks with the opposition, hoping the country's generals would respond following their internationally condemned suppression of anti-government protests in Rangoon last year.
In October, the regime appointed a retired major general, Aung Kyi, the labour minister, as the government liaison to Suu Kyi. The two held five meetings but have not met since January.Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, has begun a hunger strike in protest... more
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Burma's military junta extended the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today, ignoring worldwide appeals to free the Nobel laureate who has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years, an official said.
The duration of the extension was not immediately known, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
In the past, the junta has renewed Suu Kyi's detention for six-month or one-year periods.
Suu Kyi was personally informed of her continued imprisonment by officials from the Home Ministry who entered her home prior to the announcement, the official said.
The politician, who has been under house arrest continuously since May 2003, has long been the symbol of the regime's brutality and the focus of a worldwide campaign that has lobbied for her release.
The extension was issued despite a Myanmar law that stipulates no one can be held longer than five years without being released or put on trial.Burma's military junta extended the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu... more
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yai
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4 years ago
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The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why?
http://current.com/items/88936935_devastation_in_myanmar
The name change is confusing, but it has socio-political implications.
Burma has been the historic name of the region since the 11th century. Burma became an independent parliamentary democracy in 1948, but a 1962 coup gave a military junta absolute power. In 1988 citizens of Burma held a nationwide protest demanding an end to the junta. Reports indicate that soldiers fired on unarmed protesters, killing thousands. After the protests an internal coup emerged. The ruling faction then established an election, but only after imprisoning opposition party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a 1990 she received over 80% of the parliamentary seats. Democracy still doesn’t exist in the country.
In 1989 the ruling faction decided to rename the country, Myanmar, the Burmese word for “strong and fast.” As it stands Myanmar is a term that represents the ruling party, and not the people. The Burmese people who struggle for a fair democracy call their nation Burma. The policy of the European Union and the United States is to call the nation Burma, in symbolic protest of the dictatorship.
The issues in this country are complex. These are some links to learn more about Burma/Myanmar
Breaking news about the nation:
http://current.com/topics/77004662_burma
http://current.com/topics/77012082_myanmar
News sources run by exiled Burmese dissidents:
http://www.mizzima.com/
http://www.irrawaddy.org/
International human rights campaigns for Burma:
http://uscampaignforburma.org/
http://www.cfob.org/
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/
Further reading:
“Should it be Burma or Myanmar? “
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7013943.stm
“Global Business vs. Global Justice”
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/burma.html
CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html
BBC Country Profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm
Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.phpThe recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources... more
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UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived Thursday in Myanmar to try to press the ruling junta to include detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in promised multi-party elections.
Gambari was set to meet foreign diplomats later Thursday, and on previous missions has also been allowed to meet Aung San Suu Kyi and senior government officials.
However, on his last visit he was shunned by the regime's reclusive leader, Senior General Than Shwe, and it was unclear if he would see him this time.
The rest of his schedule has not been announced and his departure date has not been set, although diplomats expect him to leave on Sunday.
It is Gambari's third visit in all since last September's deadly crackdown on anti-government street protests, and the first since the junta's surprise announcement last month of a constitutional referendum in May and multi-party elections in 2010. UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived Thursday in Myanmar to try to press the ruling junta... more
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Opposition leader Suu Kyi will be barred from running for elections under a draft constitution proposed by the country's military government, not because of her political leanings or antagonistic relationship with the ruling military, but because she has been married to a foreigner. She was married to Michael Aris, a British citizen who died in 1999. This "announcement comes ahead of a May referendum on the new constitution which, if approved, will pave the way for democratic elections in 2010." Criticisms for this decision have come from Asean and from Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, though Asean is reported to be "powerless to do anything." NLD is not throwing up their hands so easily, calling the restrictions "unjust."
Opposition leader Suu Kyi will be barred from running for elections under a draft... more
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Swiss Chris is no ordinary drummer. This video is his tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient that is in jail for speaking of freedom and democracy in Burma.
Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?
* Known to much of the world as "Asia's Nelson Mandela", she currently leads a popular, nonviolent freedom struggle in Burma.
* In 1990, the year of Burma's last democratic election, her political party, the National League for Democracy, won 82% of the seats in parliament; however the ruling military regime refused to recognize the results.
* One year later, in 1991, while still under house arrest and leading a non-violent struggle for democracy she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
* The regime has kept her imprisoned for 11 of the past 16 years.
* She has won over 70 major international awards for her work on behalf of the people of Burma, including: the Nobel Peace Prize, Sakharov Prize (from the European Parliament) and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In an increasingly jaded world of political apathy and power-hungry institutions, Aung San Suu Kyi is truly that rare heroine of legend - a symbol of hope - championing the rights of individuals in the face of human rights violations and dictatorial oppression. Suu Kyi continues to stand alone in defiance of an unjust and brutal military regime with grace and Gandhi-like resolve.
Throughout 11 of the past 16 years, she has struggled in obscurity, with little or no contact with the world. Due to her perseverance amid growing concern for health and well-being, a determined community of individuals from around the world have rallied in support of Suu Kyi and the plight of the Burmese people.
The video displays his innovative techniques and electronic know how along with his passion for the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi. Besides the ordinary drum kit, Swiss Chris adds electronic pads that when hit with his drumsticks, triggers a multitude of sounds and video that he's prerecorded into his mixing unit. The result is a sound thats like having a backing band, including a vocalist if he wants as well as various video of current news, historic news and just about anything he wants that he gets clearance for.
Swiss has used this technology mainly for his human rights efforts for the Freedom campaign as well as his own organization, Saving With Instruments Samples and Soundz (SWISS). Swiss Chris is also the Music Director and Drummer for 5 time Grammy winner John Legend.
More info on Swiss can be found at: www.myspace.com/swisschristhemanonthedrums
Swiss Chris is no ordinary drummer. This video is his tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, a... more
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Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's stifled democracy movement, said in a statement released by the United Nations yesterday that she is ready to "cooperate" with the military government.Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's stifled democracy movement, said in a... more
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This short slideshow/documentary is a series of still and moving images with
factual, educational information about the country, people and the regime in Burma.(Myanmar)
The footage mainly highlights the *Future of the Burmese kids.
a Better fUtuRe Must Arrive.
...B.........U...R...M......A.......
*FREEDOM AND EDUCATION WILL ASSURE A BETTER FUTURE ANYWHERE IN OUR PLANET.
This short slideshow/documentary is a series of still and moving images with
factual,... more
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Aung San Suu Kyi was driven to a government guest house to meet with a representative sent by General Than Shwe. The move is seen as progress, though arrests of those who participated in last month's pro-democracy are apparently ongoing.Aung San Suu Kyi was driven to a government guest house to meet with a representative... more
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Tori
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4 years ago
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The protests in Myanmar have captured the attention of the world. We review the events that have taken place on the streets of Yangon.The protests in Myanmar have captured the attention of the world. We review the events... more
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No word on how the discussions went. Ibrahim Gambari was expected to express the international outrage over how the peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrations were shut down, and to try to convince the dictators to take the demands of protesters seriously. A second, surprise meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi after his meeting with Senior General Than Shwe gave many hope that there might be a chance for diplomacy in the country.No word on how the discussions went. Ibrahim Gambari was expected to express the... more
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Tori
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4 years ago
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The U.N. envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, met with the head of the opposition party, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday. She was allowed out of the house arrest she has been under for the past 19 years to meet with Gambari for an hour. He has still not spoken with either of the top two leaders of the government, as they keep pushing and delaying their scheduled meetings. Gambari was supposed to be leaving the country tomorrow.The U.N. envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, met with the head of the opposition party, Aung San... more
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Tori
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4 years ago
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