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Zin Linn

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Zin Linn was born on February 9, 1946 in a small town in Mandalay Division. He began writing poems in 1960 and received a B.A (Philosophy) in 1976. He became an activist in the High School Union after the students' massacre on 7th July 1962. He then took on a role as an active member in the Rangoon Division Students' Union. He Participated in a poster-and-pamphlet campaign on the 4th anniversary of 7 July movement and went into hiding to keep away from the military police. He was still able to carry out underground pamphlet campaigns against the Burmese Socialist Programme Party ( BSPP). However, in 1982, he fell into the hands of MI and served two years imprisonment in the notorious Insein prison. In 1988 he took part, together with his old students' union members, in the People's Democracy Uprising. In November of that year, he became an NLD Executive Committee Member for the Thingangyun Township and later became superintendent of the NLD Rangoon Division Office. In 1991, he was arrested because of his connections with the exiled government, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison. In last week of December 1997 he was released. Zin Linn was an editor and columnist and contributed articles to various publications, especially on international affairs, while in Burma. He fled Burma in 2001 to escape from military intelligence and worked as information director for the NCGUB from 2001 to 2012. He is also vice president of the Burma Media Association which is affiliated with the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers. Zin Linn is still writing articles and commentaries in Burmese and English in various periodicals and online journals on a regular basis.

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SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 10, 2014
Is Burma's reform backtracking as press freedom at stake? The embassies of the United States and Britain in Rangoon have called on the Government of Burma to open a transparent investigation into the current killing of a local journalist by the Government Army. The US Embassy said in a statement that it is "deeply concerned and saddened" by the reports of the death of journalist Aung Kaw Naing alias Par Gyi, while in custody of the Burma Army in early October.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, May 22, 2011
Burma dreams "Poverty Alleviation' without stopping civil war To most citizens of Burma, "Poverty Alleviation' should start fighting against the corruption or the practice of bribery. And it is also necessary to trim down the defense spending.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 2, 2015
Burma: Shackling press freedom, Reform will be futile it is very important that the freedom of expression and the press must be guaranteed and protected as democratic elections are going to be held. Media personnel, such as journalists, reporters and editors, should be able to do their jobs without restraints. Even more important is to promise the right to seek and receive information during the upcoming elections.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Burma's junta pays no heed to Freedom of Expression Burma's junta deems journalists as its harmful enemy after the dissident politicians. Media is often targeted during periodic crackdowns on opposition. Further arrests of journalists cannot be excluded. Journalists based in Rangoon say the detentions were part of a continued crackdown by the military authorities on those involved in the mass anti-government protests in September 2007.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Burma needs transparency extracting natural resources Burma's faulty legislation and centralized government control of land and natural resources often fails to protect local populations from corruption and may lead to growing inequalities or frustrations between rich and poor, state and civilian, and also between and amongst various ethnic groups and numerous regions of the country.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 20, 2010
No Space for Press Freedom in Burma's Elections Burma is at a critical political junction. While the military regime wants to maintain its power via sham elections, the people, who long for genuine change, are demanding freedoms of expression and association. But the junta is in no mood to allow civil rights.
This photo was taken on March 12th 2012 and shows over 400 villagers from Shweygin and Kyauk Kyi Townships protesting the Shweygin Dam in Nyaunglebin District/ Eastern Bago Region. [Photo: KHRG], From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 14, 2014
Failing land policy in Burma Myanmar remains a mostly rural country, in which the majority of the population relies on small farms for their livelihoods. Regrettably, the rate of landless farmers has been on the rise for several years. Then, the row of land confiscation seems to be rising now and again.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 18, 2014
Myanmar should chew on defense expenses The country’s citizens are very poor not because the country has meager resources, but because the mismanagement of the country’s leaders, including the incumbent semi-elected government, who refuse to acknowledge the exceedingly heavy burden of the defense budget.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 21, 2014
Burma needs good human rights records As Myanmar National Human Rights Commission has a massive responsibility to scrutinize human rights violations of the government. Besides, Myanmar has to do more on human rights rule and regulation clearly. If the government officials breach the laws, the relevant officials have to keep an eye on and call attention to violations. The formation of the MNHRC seems totally against international standards.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, September 2, 2012
Burma must end Kachin war to show sympathy for refugees There are about 30,000 IDPs in Burmese government controlled areas and about 60,000 IDPs are currently taking refuge in KIO controlled areas. Several hundreds of civilians continue escaping their native places because of scared of bullets, bombs, forced labors, rape, tortures and violence.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Who will save the mother-river of Myanmar? Suu Kyi has been calling on promoters of the Myitsone dam project to reassess the plan, pointing out concerns that dams on the Irrawaddy River damage the environment, decrease rice production, dislodge ethnic peoples. Besides, it would hurt livelihoods of local communities and there is a risk of possible destructive earthquakes.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, November 30, 2013
Land Confiscation: A serious question in Burma Burma/Myanmar remains a mostly rural country, in which the majority of the population relies on small farms for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, the rate of landless farmers has been on the rise for several years. Then, the row of land confiscation seems to be rising now and again.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 28, 2014
Why does battles maintain in Shan State of Burma? Although peace talks are taking place, there seems to be no end in sight in the war against the ethnic rebels, especially in Kachin and the Shan states. For instance, the President Thein Sein Government has reached a truce with the Shan State Army (SSA), but the Government Army seems no notice of the agreement.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Burma: "Sustaining Ethnic Media" via "Third Ethnic Media Conference" In 2015, Myanmar ranked 145 out of 180 on the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) Press Freedom Index, 6 places higher than the previous year. The incumbent government has made 6-place progress because it makes some free space for coming back of several exiled media.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 24, 2013
Burma: Energy price hiking damages poverty alleviation scheme For the time being, the parliament has temporarily suspended the electricity price hike by the Ministry for Electric Power as an answer to the proposal urging to slash the electricity price hike. The parliament made the decision following consumers' complaint against the measure introduced by the authorities, adding the problem will maintain under assessment until the start of the 2014-15 fiscal year.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 18, 2010
ASEAN should not be taken in by unprincipled Burma ASEAN aims to promote regional peace and stability through respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the U.N. Charter. Yet it shuts its eyes while extrajudicial killings and violence against women and children take place daily in one of its member countries. There is no law and order at all under Burma's military dictators.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 4, 2015
After the 67th Anniversary of Independence, Burma has still lost her choice But people continue doubtful of political transformation under President Thein Sein who claims his regime as a reformist government. The reason is that the regime just changes its uniform rather than its high-handed stance. People believe country's independence has been crushed as several natural resources of the country have been sold out on cut-rate to China by the successive military-backed regimes.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, December 1, 2014
Burma's constitutional crisis crack up its reform Burma's political scenario in last quarter of 2014 seems more complicated than ever because there will be do-or-die struggles between the 'pro-2008 Constitution faction' and 'anti-2008 Constitution parties' that is basically connected with the presidential selection in 2015.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Will Burma faithfully carry on its political reform? In an interview with Reuters on 3rd April, the Nobel laureate told Reuters that her opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party was "ready to govern" but that President Thein Sein was insincere about reform and might try to postpone the election. It is also remarkable that Aung San Suu Kyi has an option of boycotting the upcoming elections.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, August 14, 2014
Can Burma make a difference in peacemaking without hostilities? The national ceasefires agreement between the government and more than a dozen ethnic armed groups has also been at a state of gridlock for several months. However, the popular peace process is not likely to be sustainable unless negotiations begin soon on the topic of the deep-seated political, social and economic causes of conflict.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 17, 2014
Burma: Is there a solution for Kachin Conflict? KIO has been calling for a true political dialogue for decade-long old warfare. But, U Thein Sein government stays away from political talks since its key interest is to sign a nationwide ceasefire accord rather than solving the root cause of the conflict.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, November 11, 2010
China and ASEAN honor the worst vote rigging in Burma The vote is over now but the complaints come forward as a result of lack of transparency in vote-counting and no privacy in many of the nation's nearly 40,000 polling booths. Parties also complained of threats from local authorities and forced early voting for the junta's proxy party. Most of the leaders from opposition parties say unanimously that this election is completely far away from free, fair and openness.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 9, 2008
Burma; Free Dr.Zaw Myint Mg! Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." But Zaw Myint Maung has been suffering from torture and three unjust prison sentences for almost 37 years.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, October 25, 2014
Burma needs to investigate extrajudicial killing of a journalist If the junta is sincere regarding democratic reforms, the journalists must be free at the outset since access to information is essential to a healthy democracy. But in Burma, the political opposition as well as journalists and media personnel are under the strictest controls by the quasi-civilian government.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 4, 2009
Burma seeks global support for press freedom The lifeblood of democracy is the free flow of information. Burma's media workers hope for assistance and support from international media groups so they can play a role in their country's transformation. Without press freedom, a nation cannot have social equality or democracy.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, September 22, 2013
Is Burma's Government interested in genuine democracy? Afterward, the current President Thein Sein government took office by swearing to defend the 2008 Constitution. It indicates the current regime also is no different to its predecessors.It seems opposing autonomy or self-determination of the ethnic groups while it has to defend the latest constitution.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 16, 2013
Can Burma boost educational funding, as military control the budget? In March 2011, National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi criticized the previous 2011-2012 budget for allocating too much of its funds to the military and not a sufficient amount to social services such as health and education. According to the aforesaid budget allotments, 23.6 per cent of the 2011-12 budget used for defense while just 1.3 per cent for health and 4.3 per cent for education.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 24, 2013
Burma still has a row on unitary state v. federal union The current regime standpoint is that the ethnic groups must dump their stubborn attitude of grasping the principle of Panglong Agreement. They also want the ethnic groups to be faithful to the Burma Army backed unitary state rather than the federal union system. This means they must lay down their arms together with their hope for autonomy.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 19, 2010
Burma: Don't be taken in by the unprincipled junta It is baseless to believe that the military dictators are going to build a democratic country by means of the 2008 constitution. But, it's regrettable Asean has been supporting the unprincipled regime in Burma that gives various miseries to its own people.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, December 12, 2013
How will Burma overcome its political fiasco? Without addressing and honoring the ethnic people's representation and self-determination, the latest parliament-based government seems unable to stop political and civil strife all over ethnic areas. In reality, ethnic people's demand for equal rights is not a new one but already mentioned in the 1947-Panglong agreement.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Burma: MPs untrue to the voters as they support electricity price-hiking Burma or Myanmar’s public improvement also depends on fair and square electricity charges, without which health, education, home industries and other essential services certainly suffer shortcoming. The sitting government has many more to do with the electrification problem to be addressed step by step in an attempt to guarantee promoting the living standard of the greater part of population.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, October 3, 2013
Burma needs "responsible investment" of foreign capital "If you are going to try to revive the economy, you need capital," Suu Kyi said, when asked whether investors should wait for more political stability before committing resources to the country. "I wouldn't advise you to draw out. I would like you to continue your investments. But make them as responsible as possible," Aung San Suu Kyi said.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Burma closed down the democratic reform in December 2014 Despite much talk about needed economic reform, President failed to mention the corruption and unprofessional conduct of officials from UMEHL and MEC. Without officially recognizing the well embedded corrupt practices in society, there can be no means to adequately address the issue.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Is Burma's Kachin maneuver anti-reform practice? Some analysts deem armed conflicts in Burma probably will not settle down easily since more ethnic armed groups refuse to accept the 2008 new constitution which gives supreme political and economic authority to the military institution.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Will secure peace take place in Myanmar? The UNFC leaders also called for military commander-in-chief, Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, to take part in talks supporting the nation-wide ceasefire agreement, saying that the army's contribution would guarantee the contract more trustworthy.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, September 27, 2013
Will Burma amend constitution for genuine Federalism? If General Aung San did not promise equal opportunity and self-determination, the country might never have been founded under the title of the Union of Burma. The Panglong agreement was aimed at setting up a federal union on the foundation of equality and autonomy for every ethnic nationality.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 1, 2009
ASEAN should respect its moral values ASEAN leaders must consider whether Burma is heading toward an authoritarian empire or a democratic state. According to a Burmese saying, while the elephant is in front of you, you needn't search for its footprints.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Is Myanmar peace process going well? Even though U Thein Sein’s government has announced its self-styled reform repeatedly, people rarely see any sign of genuine change in ethnic areas. As a result, displaced communities are cautious because security concerns hang around, including landmine problem and various persecutions of the armed forces.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, June 21, 2013
Burma: Government reaches an 8-point agreement with Karenni rebels Burma's Union Peace-Making Committee and the KNPP have taken part in a settlement promising to move forward with a national ceasefire accord. The Peace-Making Committee and KNPP held negotiations on 19 and 20 June in Loikaw. The talks was convened with Minister Aung Min on the government side and deputy chairman Khun Oo Reh on the KNPP side plus military chief General Bee Htoo.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 14, 2011
River Irrawaddy becomes National Cause of Burma In the past, Kachin people had made an official plea to the former junta's boss Senior-General Than Shwe to stop the project due to environmental damage. But he always turned a deaf ear to the call. The junta boss regularly obeys the rules of the Chinese authorities over the dam projects.
President Thein Sein held a press conference with European Commission President Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso at the office of the European Commission in Brussels of Belgium on 5 March 2013, Tuesday. (Photo: President Office Website), From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 9, 2013
Burma President seeks termination of EU sanctions The most controversial point is that President Thein Sein highlights the importance of political reforms as crucial to change the country into a democracy. On the contrary, he and his government take hold of the undemocratic 2008 constitution which does not help ensuring involvement of all the citizens in the political process concerning equal rights, especially for the ethnic population.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, June 9, 2014
Can Burma improve bilateral trust for truce? If Burma Army is reluctant to pull out from conflict areas, no ceasefire may not be materialized, particularly locations close to rural villages. It is also necessary that both armies should reduce troops, army bases, checkpoints and weapons inventories to show the change to peace.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Will Laiza Ethnic Summit make another historic landmark? The leaders of the ethnic rebel-groups will talk about reaching a nationwide ceasefire treaty, which the President U Thein Sein's government seriously wants all groups to sign in approaching November. Most ethnic rebel leaders may consider the Laiza summit is important for the whole reconstruction of a federal union guaranteeing autonomy for respective ethnic groups.
Putting journalists in jail at this critical political juncture in Burma is terribly dangerous for the people., From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 18, 2015
Is Burma's reform abortive as journalists under threats? Putting journalists into jail and attacking the media by using goons will make the country a failed state. While the country is at a juncture of political change, the media workers in the country are looking forward to have more pragmatic backing from the global media groups, especially for the security supports.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, August 16, 2012
Burma: Government says peace plan while its army keeps on maneuver He said that accords have been reached with 10 out of 11 groups at the State level or the Union level. He also said that signing peace deals would not merely establish peace. Being a fragile situation, it can be reversible at any time, he made a remark.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Burma should end every hostility for true peace The ethnic armed groups do not trust fully on government's offer for peace talks. The fact is that while offering peace plan, the government has been escalating its deployment of armed forces in the conflict zones.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 8, 2013
Norway welcomes indecisive Kachin peace-talks amid autonomy row Even though Jens Stoltenberg and Espen Barth Eide give the impression of brilliant appearance, the focal point on economic development is generally risky in the surroundings of resource-rich ethnic regions. Ethnic areas are intertwined with lucrative development and divergence of political beliefs.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 6, 2013
Burma: Conflict and human trafficking on the Kachin-China border The report highlights 24 cases of actual or suspected trafficking from Kachin border areas since the resumption of fighting in June 2011, mostly involving young women and girls displaced by the war, who have been tricked, drugged, raped, and sold to Chinese men or families as brides or bonded laborers for as much as 40,000 Yuan (about $6,500 USD) per person. Some ended up as far east as Shandong and Fujian provinces.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 14, 2012
Burma: Sanctions must be maintained -- Why? The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), Burmese government in exile, has advised Washington not to hurriedly relieve sanctions against Burma's current quasi-civilian government. The NCGUB and various rights groups support U.S. engagement with Burmese government, but they also would like to pressure for transform.
SHEDAGON PAGODA YANGON MYANMAR JAN 2013, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Burma: New report calls for transparency and local-benefits on Kaladan Project Possible risks are likely to be happened such as the use of forced labor during project construction; land confiscation and forced eviction; disruption of and loss of livelihoods; increased presence of Burma Army troops; restrictions on freedom of movement and access to transportation; illegal taxation and extortion; pollution and environmental degradation; and violations of indigenous peoples' rights.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 29, 2010
Burma plans an election at the gun point Although they have discovered the elephant in front of them, EU and ASEAN have been suggesting the unfortunate people to be patient to find out the foot-print of the creature. The EU-ASEAN Joint statement seems to be a proper letter and it may not deter the elections-at-the-gunpoint in Burma. The consequences may throw the nation into a fresh all-out civil war.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, November 14, 2013
Burma: Seizing new strategic sites means damaging peace deal! The government has expected that the ethnic rebel groups would vow to sign the ceasefire at the Myitkyina consultation, in keeping with peacemaking agents. But, their estimation went wrong as they could not make a breakthrough for nationwide ceasefire agreement. The preliminary talks ended earlier than expected, according to media reports from Myitkyina.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 10, 2013
Burma: Suu Kyi draws attention to constitutional change during a seminar According to Suu Kyi, Burmese people did not have confidence with the court and did not trust in justice made by the court and that for decades the courts were not free from the executives, she told the meeting. She emphasized the important of amending the constitution should be everybody's concern in the country so that it would meet the standard of a valid democratic society.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Burma's Military Chief must abandon his old tricks There is a contradiction between allowing Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with western diplomats and the heartless tone of Than Shwe's speech at the meeting with war veterans. People are concerned about the situation of her exploitation by the crooked military chief. The aim of allowing the Lady to meet with western diplomats seems to be to ease the sanctions.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, July 26, 2013
Is china worried with Burma's look west policy? Burma watchers believe the frequent visits of Chinese high-level delegations indicate about China's serious concerns due to Burma's look west foreign policy towards the US and EU countries.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, October 3, 2014
Burma: Conflicts carry on as President urges nationwide ceasefire for 2015 election Even though there have been quite a lot of meetings between the government delegates led by Union Minister Aung Min and the Representative of the Ethnic Rebel groups one by one or jointly, the bargaining result for peace is no trouble-free topic. And after several decades of fighting for better self-determination, the distrust between the ethnic rebels and the Burma army -- the Tatmadaw -- goes on with uncompromising.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Civil War Knocking At Burma's Doors The Burmese military regime is attempting to legalize the military dictatorship with a sham constitution. Most citizens assume the junta's new 2010 election as a nothing but a declaration of war against its own people.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Burma's new fake civilian government will not allow liberty As the self-styled new civilian government is the rebirth of the same military itself, the ethnic autonomy seems to be out of question. Correspondingly, national reconciliation proposal by Burma's Nobel laureate has also to be faced the same destiny. Thus, people of Burma have to continue struggle for national reconciliation plus self-determination.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Burma must stop using rape as a weapon of war It is very unlikely that any of the soldiers involved in the rape will even be formerly investigated for their actions. Burma's newly created national human rights commission has said that it will not probe allegations against the army or other incidents that are reported to have happened in conflict areas.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, July 21, 2011
Does Burma launch colonial war in Kachin state? In hope of setting up political dialogue, the KIO signed a ceasefire agreement with the then junta on February 24, 1994 and supported the military-favored 2008 constitution. However, no political dialogue happened in the 17-year ceasefire time and the KIO was squeezed transforming into the government-controlled Border Guard Force (BGF) before the November 7 election.
Boys in Burma peek out a window. The future they'll see is in transition., From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 17, 2015
A Shattered Dream of Burma? The split deepens in recent weeks once the USDP under Shwe Mann ignored some senior military officials to accept as its candidates for the upcoming elections. Over a hundred of army officers resigned their military ranks to play a part in the election but only 59 were accepted as candidates.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, December 10, 2008
U.N. must be tough on Burma's dictators This month marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Communities, organizations and governments around the world will celebrate U.N. Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.To people's disappointment, Burma is still lacking in human rights education and practices.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 7, 2012
Burma's Democracy? President Urged to End War Against Kachin People In the face of President Thein Sein's second order to stop the offensive against the Kachin rebels, Burma Army has incessantly continued its aggressive operation against the KIA and Kachin civilians so far.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 8, 2012
As Burma's civil-war goes on, Kachin Rebels shot down Burma Army's copter While President of Burma is saying to amity and unison among the ethnic groups on 4 January Independence Day, his armed forces have been fighting fiercely against the Kachin Independence Organization in the Kachin State up to date. It is inconsistent terminology of the president since the regime has been launching war against the Kachin rebels in full swing.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Burma: Will constitutional review allow Suu Kyi to become president? During a visit to India last year, Suu Kyi addressed an audience in Delhi on November 16 that the general election to be held in 2015 will not be fair, even though it is free, lacking compulsory amendments of the constitution.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tragedy Behind Burma's Vote Rigging Elections Since 1962, the military has violently seized power and has committed countless crimes: looting country's natural resources by using brutal dictatorship, launching warfare against dissenting ethnic nationalities, keeping down civil and political liberties, downgrading the nation's educational facilities, neglecting public healthcare and causing widespread hunger.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 27, 2013
The Drug Question: A Major Political Challenge of Burma? To stop growing poppy, an alternative cash crop must be provided. According to some political analysts, poppy growing and opium production in Shan State have increased over the past two years due to political volatility and growing economic despondency caused by cronyism, corruption and unprofessional conduct of the government.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 10, 2013
Could investments derail the peace process in Burma? The survey reflects the vulnerability of the ceasefire agreements, and the possibility of grievances growing deeper due to unfettered investments in disputed areas.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 25, 2012
Arizona Congressman urges all-inclusive dialogue to end "Kachin War' in Burma In fact, the government's armed forces are behind war crimes and crimes against humanity. The human rights violations of Burmese soldiers in Kachin State are severe breaches of international laws. It is also the duty of the current government to provide humanitarian assistance to thousands of war refugees and internally displaced populations in various ethnic states.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 1, 2013
No Change in favour of the grassroots in Burma Even though it uses the slogan "Change', the government was formed with former military generals, who themselves wrote the 2008 Constitution. The biggest flaw in the constitution is the privileged 25 percent of seats in parliament that are reserved for soldiers who are basically appointed to the legislative body by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Who breach the treaty of peacemaking in Burma? To date, some serious questions between government and the KNU are still unresolved. For instance, the systematic relocations of the Burma Army troops from Karen State and other conflict ridden Karen areas are unanswered. Besides, the Code of Conduct, which was drafted by the KNU and submitted to the government to negotiate, is still up in the air.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, July 4, 2013
Shan rights group condemn Burma Army's continuous attacks As said by the SHRF, on June 23, after sending in reconnaissance planes, over the Light Infantry Battalions 525 and 569 launched an artillery attack on the village of Wan-Warb, 30 kilometers north-west of the SSA-N headquarters at Wan Hai, in Ke See township. As government soldiers used 60 mm and 79 mm field gun, the Buddhist temple and seven houses were smashed, injuring four villagers. Besides, a 90-year-old woman died of fr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Without honoring Panglong Treaty, Burma's reform may not do well If General Aung San did not promise equal opportunity and self-determination, the country might never have been founded under the title of the Union of Burma. The Panglong agreement was aimed at setting up a federal union on the foundation of equality and autonomy for every ethnic nationality.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 3, 2013
Burma restarts peace-talks with KIO amid charter dispute On this political issue, there is a big gap between the military junta and the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi. To the military autocrats, allowing the ethnic minorities to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights is a risk towards a collapse of sovereignty.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Will civil strife recur in Burma? It is time for China, India and ASEAN to pressure the Burmese junta to comply with the United Nations' consecutive decisions. The world body should encourage regional players, including Japan, to push for a meaningful dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the incumbent military rulers as soon as possible.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 12, 2013
Burma:President sends a rhetorical style message to Parliament However, people may consider the President's message as a rhetoric expression since it is far away from true-life situation. While President Then Sein is sending his message to the Union Parliament, the fierce offensive against the KIO has been constantly going on amid air-strikes.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, November 18, 2010
Aung San Suu Kyi aims to restore Panglong Spirit in Burma Basically, Burma turned out to be an independent sovereign nation in 1948 via Panglong Agreement since all the different ethnic nationalities agreed to collaborate in an even way. Today, Burma is facing a very grave catastrophe due to the non-adherence to the spirit of Panglong Agreement.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 1, 2010
Burma Question Needs the UN Intervention The U.N. Security Council ought to pressure the Burmese generals to sit at the dialogue table in the pursuit of national reconciliation. Without a reconciliation process, no election can solve the time-consuming question of Burma. Burma seems to be on the brink of a fresh civil war.
This photo was taken on March 12th 2012 and shows over 400 villagers from Shweygin and Kyauk Kyi Townships protesting the Shweygin Dam in Nyaunglebin District/ Eastern Bago Region. [Photo: KHRG], From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Burma keeps on grabbing land against native communities' rights Eastern Myanmar remains highly militarized, as investment actors more and more join together with local and national authorities to get hold of land in eastern part of the country. The local communities know that asking for getting back of their own land brings a prearranged threat.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 18, 2013
Burma President must fight against corruption, in favor of reforms Burma remains one of the world's least developed countries, and was ranked 149 out of 187 countries in the 2011 UN's Human Development Index. The HDI represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income.
Several journalists along with the Committee For Freedom of Press (Myanmar) gathered at a media workshop at the Yuzana Garden Hotel in Yangon on 12 March calling the government to revoke the draft Printing and Publishing Bill.{Photo: Committee For Freedom, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, March 14, 2013
Burma government urges to rescind draft printing bill the interim Press Council has been assigned drafting a code of conduct and to offer its input in rewriting a draft media law proposed by the Information Ministry.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, June 28, 2013
Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking still at large in Burma The total opium-poppy cultivation area in Myanmar in 2012 was estimated at 51,000 ha, a 17% increase from the 43,600 ha cultivation area in 2011. In 2012, potential opium production increased by 13% to 690 mt. During the year, an estimated 300,000 households were involved in opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Who is the grand-master of civil war in Burma? Who is the decision-maker of the war against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)? Although, President Thein Sein has been speaking about the national unity for many times, the wars with ethnic groups continue. If these wars are not launched by the government, then the person responsible for this war may be the present military boss General Min Aung Hlaing.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, April 4, 2010
US and EU should pressure more on Burma People of Burma are looking forward to the international community to stand with them. They hope not only from European Union but also from governments around the globe to say publicly that they do not take into account the regime's election and prearranged outcome, and pressure the regime to make substantive and positive change for Burma.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 26, 2010
ASEAN must have a specific evaluation on unfair polls in Burma The UN should also urge Asean leaders to make concerted efforts on democratization in Burma. Burma is likely to come under the international limelight for its continued detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and 2,200 political prisoners ahead of its so-called elections for disciplined democracy.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, December 26, 2009
No Sign of political growth in Burma The Burmese populace feels it is time for the international community to raise this half-century-long political conflict in the next U.N. Security Council. They hope for aglobal arms embargo against Burma's military junta, and an investigation into crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the military regime. The people of Burma are hoping that the international community will not put aside their fate.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, September 30, 2009
U.S. Policy Shift on Burma: The release of Aung San Suu Kyi must be the main focus of attention The military regime in Burma has declared plans to hold the country's first election in two decades next year as part of its 7-step road map which actually designed as a sham to entrench the military's hold on power. People around the world, who are interested in Burma question, keenly watch the new diplomatic shift of the US towards the military ruled country. According to Mrs. Clinton, the US will engage directly with Burmes
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 1, 2011
Burma needs wide-ranging international pressure for political change Not only Mr. Ban but also ASEAN leaders should stop reciting rhetorical verses via media, said some observers in the country. At least, they should show their pragmatic supporting towards Quintana's Commission of Inquiry proposal.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, September 20, 2010
Is China interfering Burma's Internal Affairs? China defended the upcoming elections as Burma's internal affair and urged other countries not to interfere. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that the international community can provide constructive help to the upcoming election and refrain from making any negative impact on the domestic political process and the regional peace and stability.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, July 10, 2009
Mr Ban Ki-moon's speech must not end just in Rangoon People of Burma did not surprise when they were informed about the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's dissatisfied story during his July 3-4 Burma-trip. Anyway, it will be at lease a good lesson for the top diplomat that the military dictatorship in this country knows no international norms or diplomatic tradition at all.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Burma's egocentric Minister confront the public concerning giant dam on Irrawaddy Burma's Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi released a letter on 11 August calling on promoters of the Myitsone dam project to reassess the plan, pointing out concerns that dams on the Irrawaddy River damage the environment, decrease rice production, dislodge ethnic peoples. Besides, it would hurt livelihoods of local communities and there is a risk of possible destructive earthquakes.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Burma blames embassies and media concerning news reports on Kachin war Even though the Defense Ministry said its troops stopped offensive operations except self-defense, its soldiers have increasingly sped up the offensive war to a new phase. It is not clear whether the government is saying one thing and doing another or the soldiers themselves are going against the President's orders.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, July 11, 2014
Does Burma's reform reverse as journalists got harsh prison term? The public has a right to be informed on a subject of general interest like the story covered by the Unity Journal. Journalists who are just doing their job must be protected, and if anyone has to be prosecuted, it should be the newspaper. Under no circumstances should journalists be imprisoned because of the content of their articles.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Burma President says more than done on human rights On the same day, the Kachin National Organization (KNO) issued a statement criticizing Thein Sein and the British government's red carpet treatment for the ex-army general many Kachin consider a war criminal. The KNO statement mentions that under Thein Sein's leadership Burma's military has carried out "crime against humanity, war crimes and violation of international law" in Kachin state.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 26, 2013
Burma would like ceasefire, but KIO calls for political talks The government armed forces have unreasonably violated the 1994 ceasefire agreement and invaded Kachin territory by force. Then, the government deployed more infantry units in Kachin region and refused to pull out even though have been constant calls from KIO and local residents. If government troops moved back up to the 1994 ceasefire-line, it means reinstatement of the ceasefire treaty.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 18, 2011
ASEAN urges for urgent peace dialogue in Burma The most important demand by the AIPMC is that Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, in his power as chairman of ASEAN, together with other ASEAN leaders have to reject Burma or Myanmar's application to chair ASEAN in 2014.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 22, 2009
ASEAN must support Aung San Suu Kyi The Burmese people feel that the military regime has been using membership in ASEAN as a shield to protect itself from international pressure over its dismal human rights record. Yet ASEAN's prestige has been tarnished because of the military regime's membership. To strengthen itself, ASEAN should insist on the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is guilty only of pursuing a peaceful and democratic Burma.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Media Watchdog calls for crimes against journalists in Burma Hence, Reporters Without Borders urges President U Thein Sein to create a Commission of Enquiry dedicated to combating impunity for crimes against news providers since 1962. It says that Burma is now starting a new page in history and the process of democratization begun by his government will not be complete without an official effort to render justice for the victims of the previous military junta's crimes.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, February 7, 2013
Burma initiates a committee scrutinizing the political prisoners left behind The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) is a human rights organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand that works for the release of all political prisoners and for the improvement of prison conditions inside Burma. Set up in 2000, AAPP is entirely run by former political prisoners.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 22, 2012
War continues in Burma's Kachin State, Sanctions must be maintained The Kachin News Group has also observed that on Tuesday, one day ahead of peace talks were set to begin in China, the Burmese army moved troops, artillery shells and armored vehicles to an area within firing range of the KIO's Laiza headquarters. The equipment and troop reinforcements that arrived are now stationed in Ga Ra Yang village less than 30 miles from Laiza, according to eyewitnesses in the area.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 18, 2015
Burma's Nationwide Ceasefire Accord looks like half-done Participation of all the ethnic armed groups was agreed during the Laiza Conference in November 2013 to sign the treaty. During an inspection tour in Kachin state On 16 March 2014, U Thein Sein promised to build a free and open society that encourages full participation of all national races, the state-run newspaper said.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 4, 2009
Can Mr. Ban Ki-moon cope with Burma's Political Crisis? The UN, the EU and the ASEAN ought to collaborate to convince China to cooperate in finding a solution for crisis in Burma. Regional players should urge the military regime to abandon its recalcitrant and counter-intuitive anti-dialogue policies in the interests of dialogue and reconciliation.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Burma must be sincere making peace contract with Kachin rebels In January, the KIO released an official statement towards the entire people of Burma, which reiterated the group's desire for a truly democratic and federal Burma. The statement says: "The root cause of the war is political. In order to end the war and bring about peace these problems must be solved by political means."
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Will Burma's President do more tangible political improvement? Although Burma's Thein Sein's government seems to make softer its political stance against its opponents in recent weeks, it fails to do more tangible improvement. For example, the release of political prisoners and approval of press freedom remain intangible.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, October 7, 2010
Burma sponsors an abortive election exclusive of key oppositions Critics have dismissed the elections as a sham due to the exclusion of Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 12, 2011
Pang-Long Treaty has reached 64th Anniversary, But no Ethnic Equal Rights as yet National reconciliation and ethnic self-determination are two sides of the same coin, and they must be addressed in the new parliament and in regional and state parliaments. Without addressing and honoring the ethnic people's political aspirations, the new parliament-based fake civilian government will be unable to stop political and civil strife throughout ethnic areas.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Aung San Suu Kyi is key to reconciliation Aung San Suu Kyi is the key figure in any dialogue aimed at national reconciliation. Regional players in the international community should say with one voice that excluding Suu Kyi and other key ethnic leaders and stakeholders in the 2010 election planned by the regime will lead to new civil strife. Then, in cooperation with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, regional players should press for real democratic change in Burma.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Ownership of daily newspapers is still a major dilemma in Burma Some observers are worried that the media industry may also be fallen into the hands of the military's cronies who get in the way of free-market reform process. If the cronies monopolized the majority ownership of the media trade, there may not be free, fair and healthy competition through the media industry sector.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Burma: "Investigation Commission" needs more power to meet people's demands The worst was that the riot police have used inflammable bombs while they raided into the camps where monks peacefully slept at early hours of the full-moon day. The regime used riot police equipped with harmful weapons, although there was no situation of riot or disorder in those sites where monks recited Mitta Sutra.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, January 7, 2011
Burma: No ethnic autonomy under military dominated sham parliament As the self-styled new civilian government is the rebirth of the same military itself, the ethnic autonomy seems to be out of question. Correspondingly, national reconciliation proposal by Burma's Nobel laureate has also to be faced the same destiny. Thus, people of Burma have to continue struggle for national reconciliation plus self-determination.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Burma's Orwellian Regime Deserves Tougher Sanctions Burma's military rulers used to say that economic sanctions are the unilateral actions taken only by the big powerful countries on developing countries, ignoring the equality among the nations, which the international community accepts. Nevertheless, the Burma's rogue military regime does not put into practice self-criticism on the question of sanctions done by itself upon its own population.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Can Clinton manage to end civil war in Burma? Ahead of Clinton's visit most commentators have been focusing on the release of political prisoners and ending the war against the Kachin Independence Army in Northern Burma.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Burma's Upcoming Elections Bring Disgrace on ASEAN The major question is that the junta's constitution and election laws not only prevent the participation of main opposition parties but also ignore the ethnic people's political aspirations. Since, Burma is a member of ASEAN, it may be a crucial challenge to the grouping. It is required to pressure convincing its immoral member going along the right path in line with the organization's accountability.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 21, 2013
Burma President repeats peace while his army continues hostility The 16 Kachin organizations expressed serious concern over the widespread human rights violations being committed by the Burmese army against Kachin civilians, including the ongoing indiscriminate shelling of residential areas of Laiza, which recently led to the death of three civilians aged between 14 and 65, and injury of four others.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Burma Urgently Needs Democratic Reforms Sponsored by the UN Burmese Generals have been suppressing the candid critics of the regime's irresponsible move toward cyclone relief.The junta has propped up its political hallucination and annihilating democracy supporters.The member states of the UN ought to distinguish that they have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the UN, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freeedoms.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Burma Question - sill a matter of regional concern Burma is on the brink of a fresh civil strife, as a great number of population including younger generations have articulated dissatisfaction about the most unfair trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. The intolerant citizens have called for a nation-wide general strike to bring down the deep-rooted stratocracy in Burma, due to the junta's insistence of barring the Lady to participate in the country's political reform process.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Burma needs to probe ongoing rights abuses in ethnic areas Even though the President Thein Sein Government has been holding peace negotiations and signed ceasefire agreements with various ethnic armed groups, its armed forces are still launching military offensives, and committing widespread human rights violations in ethnic areas.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Do Asian Leaders Stand Up For Burma's Military Dictators? Putting the opposition in prison and banning the media from covering the elections, one cannot say these elections are free, fair and inclusive. The Philippines says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be damaged if next month's elections in military-ruled Myanmar or Burma are a sham.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 6, 2008
Who will give attention to the issue of Burma's longest serving prisoner of conscience? The UDHR's article 1 says: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." But, U Win Tin, famous prisoner of conscience of Burma, cannot even enjoy its first item.The United Nations must take responsibility to flex its muscles on issue of breaking the principle of UDHR by such unmanageable regime in Burma.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, August 15, 2009
Burma's verdict on Suu Kyi may bring civil strife The time is right for the United Nations to take practical follow-up steps. The Security Council must establish a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and impunity in Burma. The Security Council should take similar steps with regard to Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The international community, led by the United Nations, should keep in mind that in 2003 there was an attack on Suu Kyi and her supporters.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, July 16, 2010
Burma honors its fallen martyrs amid political insecurity General Aung San, the founding father of the Burma's Independence Army, never intended the army to intervene in governmental affairs.But unfortunately, on 19 July, 1947, he was assassinated y a foolish politician and the country lost a genuine national vanguard. Due to his death, the country's fledgling democracy and unison als
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Burma's junta makes a mockery of the democratic process Burma's new election rules forbid anyone convicted by a court from participating in the elections. And it is required of all political parties to depose all imprisoned members to be legalized parties. Since Suu Kyi is the most prominent Opposition figure, without her participation, the vote cannot have much credibility.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 17, 2010
World celebrates Aung San Suu Kyi's 65th birthday while under house arrest for 5349 days Without releasing 2,200 political prisoner, there may not be a meaningful dialogue. Without a meaningful dialogue, there may not be a true national reconciliation. Without a true national reconciliation, the junta's ongoing elections cannot be fulfilled the people's political aspirations. Instead, the 2010 elections in Burma will be a new cause for a new civil war.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 31, 2010
Burma needs practical agenda ahead of sham elections ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan told reporters on the sideline of the ASEAN Regional Forum that Myanmar's FM Nyan Win "got an earful" of criticism from his regional colleagues about the need for elections scheduled later this year, to be fair and credible. However, Mr. Surin and his regional colleagues should also distinguish who is the puppet and who is calling the shots in the military ruled country.

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