tagged w/ Burma Politics
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An Analysis of "The Forthcoming 2010 Election in Burma"
Conclusive Analysis on 2010 Election
A. 2010 Election: Not A Plan to Step Down but to Strengthen SPDC’s Power
The Establishment of The Nay-Pyi-Daw (New Capital)
The Creation of Well-Founded Fear of Being Persecuted
the location of the state institutions
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
B. Are All Elections Stepping Stones for a Gradual Democratization?
C. 2010 ELECTION: Is it a gradual change for democratization?
(1)The Nexus Between Constitution and Election
(2) Granting Impunity or Denying Impunity
(3) Political Environment of the CountryAn Analysis of "The Forthcoming 2010 Election in Burma"
Conclusive... more
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Ricky Gervais features in this video showing why "The Real Disaster In Burma is The Government".
In the wake of the devastating Cyclone Nargis that hit Burma on 2 May, more than one million people are homeless, up to 128,000 killed. This natural disaster was turned into a man-made catastrophe by Burma's brutal regime. They blocked international aid and left thousands without food, shelter or medicine. The real disaster in Burma is the government.
Ricky Gervais features in this video showing why "The Real Disaster In Burma is... more
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The Burmese military junta is instrumental in making a mockery of human tragedy. Over 100,000 lives were lost and two million rendered homeless by cyclone Nargis and yet relief material donated by the international community and aid agencies have found their way into the markets. Such is the scale of corruption in Burma.
Local residents said they saw foreign made biscuits, dried meat, instant noodles, tarpaulins and plastic sheets on sale in Nyaunpinlay market, Mingalar market, Bogale market, Theingyi market and other markets in Rangoon.
"I bought biscuits with labels like CNE (green), MCS, PMUS, DIS, IT --- brands made in Thailand, Japan and China, and ready to eat meat, instant noodles that I have never found in these markets before," a man who bought the stuff from Bogale market told Mizzima.
Another local resident said that the biscuits put on sale in the market are the same as the ones distributed to cyclone victims on May 11 in South Dagon Township by the local authority.
The Mizzima correspondent in Rangoon said tissue packets with Red Cross labels were seen in a store in Mingalar market.
Another local resident in Rangoon said he saw army trucks from the Navy Supplies Depot, in Mingaladon, Syriam and Labutta bringing the relief materials to the markets.
"I found the same biscuits in the Nyaungpinlay market and the shopkeeper was shouting -- 'foreign biscuits available'," he said.
Similarly, he said he saw foodstuff, part of the relief supplies, at the residence of his friend who works at the airport.
"When I visited my friend's house on Tuesday, I saw a dozen tins of sardines and about five packets of biscuits in his home. When I asked him, he said he got it from his work place."
An aid worker expressing concern told Mizzima that relief supplies donated for the cyclone victims are on sale in Rangoon markets.
"The aid workers have got photographic evidence of these supplies being put on sale in the markets. The rice sacks and condensed milk tins with 'World Food Program' (WFP) logos and Japanese flags are on sale," said the aid worker.
The aid worker added that mosquito nets with (UNH) logos were also spotted at the corner of Bar Street, in Rangoon. Instant noodles are being sold at Kyat 600 per sachet as the price tag in Nyaungpinlay market. Moreover US made makeshift tents designed for patients are available at Kyat. 87,000 per unit in Mingaladon market, the aid worker rued.
But, Paul Risley of the World Food Program said the organization has not received any reports regarding the aid materials being sold in the markets instead of being distributed among cyclone victims.The Burmese military junta is instrumental in making a mockery of human tragedy. Over... more
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kushan
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added this
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3 years ago
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The United Nations on Thursday made fresh calls to Burma's military rulers to allow international aid workers to access cyclone-affected areas for greater and faster mobilization of aid.
The UN also revised upward its estimate of those in need from 1.5 million to 2.5 million of people in need.
In a press conference on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "Even though the Myanmar [Burmese] Government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short."
"The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers," he added.
Echoing Ban Ki-moon's concern, the UN's top relief official, John Holmes, said the biggest problem was the government's restrictions on international humanitarian from accessing cyclone-affected region in the Irrawaddy Delta.
Holmes, under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, called on Burmese authorities "to open up in this area as much as they can and as soon as they can, because that could make a huge difference. It's perfectly obvious, I think, to everyone that the national resources that they have are not adequate to cope with the problems."
Holmes said aid is arriving in increasing quantities and that it is crucial for the government to allow access to the devastated areas.
Ban Ki-moon announced that he is meeting with leaders from the Association of South-east Asian Nations, which the UN says has greater influence on Burma, to discuss concrete measures to help cyclone victims.
Mr. Ban, however, said that "until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and energy in facilitating aid, getting food in, and visas being issued."
Meanwhile, a report by the UN Security Council said it has been discussing, both at the expert level and in informal consultations, the humanitarian situation in Burma since Cyclone Nargis struck on May 2.
The report said the Council is expected to appeal to member states to offer emergency aid and assistance.
"It seems that a text is being consulted with various members of the Council and that it may appeal to member states to offer emergency aid and assistance and urge the government of Myanmar [Burma] to establish a coordinating mechanism to assist and facilitate in the delivery of aid," the report by the UNSC said.The United Nations on Thursday made fresh calls to Burma's military rulers to... more
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kushan
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3 years ago
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Burma's draft constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters, state radio announced Thursday.
The announcement read out by Chief Justice Aung Toe, head of the Referendum Holding Committee, said 92.4 percent, or 20,786,596 voters out of the more than 22 million voters, cast ballots in favor of the draft constitution in a referendum held on May 10.
Aung Toe said 1.3 million votes were cast against the draft constitution, while 334,584 ballots were canceled. He put the voter turnout at 99.07 percent.
The results announced were compiled from voting in 278 out of the 325 townships across the country. It excluded 47 townships in the Irrawaddy Delta and Rangoon division, as polling in these regions was postponed until May 24 because of the cyclone.
Critics say the draft constitution is the junta's plan to cement its rule, while authorities say it is part of a long transition to a civilian government. The charter would allow the military to control 25 percent of all legislative seats. The junta has said it would hold multi-party elections in 2010.
Critics say the atmosphere under which the polling took place was far from free and fair. And they blasted the government for going ahead with the referendum in most of the country despite widespread devastation from Cyclone Nargis, which struck May 2 and 3.
A voter in Rangoon division said the referendum results does not reflect the peoples desires as the ruling junta intimidated people to vote in favor of the constitution.
"The result only proves that they [the junta] are doing whatever they want. It is illegitimate," said the voter.Burma's draft constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters, state radio... more
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kushan
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added this
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3 years ago
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