Burma Democratic Bekymring (BDC) krever UNSC hastemøte: Tid for å iverksette umiddelbare tiltak
11 mars 2010
Burma Democratic Bekymring (BDC) krever FNs sikkerhetsråd om å innkalle til krisemøte etter Burma-krisen er svært kritisk situasjon. Vi må ta affære besluttsomt og kollektivt for å gripe inn Burma-krisen for å unngå totalt ødeleggende.
Burmesiske juntaen er fullt ut rettet opp å slukke demokrati, menneskerettigheter og rettssikkerhet i Burma. Junta er rørende sin endelige børsten for å eliminere alle de demokratiske stemmene ved utstedelse av sine såkalte valg lov om 8 mars 2010 hvor effektivt å snu ryggen til nasjonal forsoning i Burma.
Den såkalte Junta's valgprosessen loven at politiske partier er forbudt fra å ha en fange som partimedlem, betyr det at Aung San Suu Kyi og alle politiske fanger kan ikke delta i valget. Dessuten annonserte juntaen at innen 60 dager fra kunngjøringen dato, vil den endelige fristen være den 7. mai 2010; gjeldende juridiske partier som NLD må registrere deg for å delta i 2010 valg som vil legitimere militærstyre i Burma eller møte opphør av eksisterende som lovlig parti.
Dilemmaet er at hvis NLD ønsket å holde den juridiske eksistens, må de utvise Aung San Suu Kyi som leder sin eller annet ansikt dissolving partiet. Hvis NLD samtykker i å registrere, betyr det at de må gi opp opprettholde den "Shwe-Gone-Daing" erklæring som må sted for å få ekte nasjonal forsoning i Burma.
Junta er alt gjør dette fordi internasjonale samfunnet ikke klarer å gjøre noe praktisk i fortiden. Internasjonale samfunnet er villedet av juntaen og falle ned i regimets ligger mer enn 20 år nå.
Vi ønsker å gi melding til verdens ledere om at "å få rettferdighet realiteter i Burma, må UNSC iverksette tiltak praktisk. I mange tiår har vi vært scarifying tusenvis av liv for å få til rettferdighet realitetene i Burma. Hvor mange flere liv må dø for å ta praktisk handling på Burma. Hvor mange år mer trenger vi å vente med å ta praktisk handling på Burma? "
Vi ber om at FNs sikkerhetsråd om å gripe inn i denne meget kritisk situasjon eller annet Burma vil møte uro. Vi ønsker å oppfordre alle rettferdighet kjærlige mennesker rundt om i verden til å ringe for FNs sikkerhetsråd til å ta praktisk handling på Burma.
For mer informasjon kontakt Myo Thein, direktør i Burma Democratic Bekymring (BDC) på 00-44-78 7788 2386 eller 00-44-20 8493 9137.
Må gjøre UNSC handlinger på Burma:
1. UNSC må erklære at den ikke vil anerkjenne juntaen planlagte 2010 valget og dets resultater
2. UNSC må erklære juntaen er humbug 2008 grunnlov som ugyldige
3. UNSC må implementere påfølgende FNs generalforsamling resolusjon om Burma kaller for "å gjenopprette demokrati og implementere resultatene av 1990 valget"
4. UNSC må erklære at den vil gjenkjenne Aung San Suu Kyi ledede National League for Democracy (NLD) som den legitime regjeringen i Burma mandat av folket i Burma i 1990 Parlamentsvalget
Bakgrunnsinformasjon:
• Selve juntaen holdt valget i 1990 der Aung San Suu Kyi ledet parti NLD vant skredet seier. Men, ignorerer juntaen fortsatt å hedre 1990 valgresultatet før nå og da de planlegger å holde valg i 2010 til opphever 1990 valgresultat samt for å legitimere militære styre i Burma. Vår legitime leder, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, hadde forutsett regimets utspekulerte planer, slik at hun allerede hadde uttrykt sine meninger om hva vi må gjøre om viktigheten av å gjennomføre 1990 valgresultatet.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sier:
• Resultatene av disse valgene vil være gyldige inntil som medlemmer av parlamentet valgt i 1990 av folket har hatt en sjanse til å komme sammen og bestemmer hva neste steg skal være. Verden har å gjøre sikker på at utfallet av disse valgene er beæret.
• Hvis dette landet er å oppnå ekte demokrati, må resultatet av valget av 1990 bli gjenkjent. Det må bli gjenkjent av militærregimet, som det har blitt anerkjent av folket og av verden for øvrig. Det er gjennom denne erkjennelsen at vi vil kunne lage ekte fremgang i Burma. Resultatene av 1990 General Elections må iverksettes som et vedtak som allerede er tatt av FN. Vi vet allerede at Generalforsamlingen i FN har akseptert ideen om at Folkets vilje er uttrykt i 1990 General Elections. Dette er noe vi kan ikke forlate. Det vil være til skade for landet vårt hvis etter et valg er holdt resultatene ikke er innfridd, og vi ikke motstå forsøk på å bagatellisere det.
• Vi står fast for gjennomføring av resultatene av 1990-valget.
• Hvis du vil ignorere resultatet av 1990-valget er å ha total mangel på respekt for folket og er også en fornærmelse mot folket.
• Vi ønsker å se FN står svært godt av Generalforsamlingen resolusjon * på Burma, og å prøve å gjennomføre vilkårene i oppløsning så raskt som mulig. Og vi ønsker hele internasjonale samfunnet til å støtte FN og denne. (* 19. november 2002 vedtok FNs generalforsamling en resolusjon som sterkt oppfordret regjeringen i Myanmar "for å gjenopprette demokrati og implementere resultatene av 1990-valget og sørge for [...] uten forsinkelse i materielle og strukturert dialog mot demokratisering og nasjonal forsoning [...] å løslate betingelsesløst og umiddelbart alle politiske fanger. ")
Hva er 2010 election?
• Den juntaen planlagte 2010 valget er bare et narrespill designet for å legitimere militærdiktaturet i Burma. Med seier i blikket Junta har allerede laget planer for etter valget klart angi dette valget er en svindel. Selvfølgelig vil det ikke være nødvendig å telle stemmer, siden det ville være en øvelse i nytteløse. Før vi kunne mulige adresse Junta forslag 2010 valg vi må ta tak gyldigheten av den nylig tilpasset grunnlov.
Hva er "Shwe-Gone-Daing" Declaration?
• Aung San Suu Kyi og hennes parti National League for Democracy (NLD), den enstemmige seierherrene av 1990-valget, tydelig oppgitt sin posisjon i "Shwe-Gone-Dine" Erklæring om at behovet for å plassere for å få ekte nasjonal forsoning i Burma, dvs.
1. Løslate alle politiske fanger
2. Review 2008 Constitution
3. Gjenkjenne 1990 valgresultat
4. Skje politisk dialog
Hva er 2008 grunnlov?
• utarbeidet av juntaen, dette dokumentet er langt fra troverdig eller konstitusjonelle. Gratis, rettferdig og all inclusive er ikke hva dette dokumentet representerer. Det internasjonale samfunnet bør være klar over håpløst uforenlige innholdet i grunnloven som ble vedtatt i 2008. Folkeavstemningen ble innledet i eksistens under tvilsomme forhold, inkludert utpressing og rigget stemmesedler. Vi ønsker å trekke særlig oppmerksomhet på disse punktene:
1. Junta har gitt seg selv amnesti fra forbrytelser mot menneskeheten har begått gjennom Burma under sitt terrorvelde.
2. Militærregimet systematisk tok 25% av parlamentarisk seter. Den militære øverstkommanderende ble også gitt absolutt myndighet til å oppløse parlamentet til enhver tid effektivt nøytraliserer stemmen til folket.
• Gi militærjuntaen 25% av parlamentarisk seter, tøylesløs autoritær kontroll og en selv serverer amnesti for forbrytelser mot menneskeheten var virkelig ikke det vil av den burmesiske folket. Legitimerer den kriminelle regimet var heller ikke vilje til menneskene, og dette er uforståelig og helt uakseptabelt for det burmesiske folk. Essensen i 2008 Grunnloven er å garantere straffefrihet på ubestemt tid, og i 2010 valget vil gjennomføre det. Derfor er vi ringer for opphør av Burmas 2008 Grunnloven av FNs sikkerhetsråd.
Hva kan du gjøre?
• Please sign the petition "Iverksette 1990 valgresultatet i Burma" http://www.gopetition.com/online/22158.html
• Ring til regjeringen for å ringe etter FNs sikkerhetsråd krisemøte
• Ring til regjeringen for å ringe etter FNs sikkerhetsråd til å erklære juntaen er humbug 2008 grunnlov som NULL & VOID
• Ring for regjeringen til å erklære Aung San Suu Kyi ledede National League for Democracy (NLD) som den legitime regjeringen i Burma
• Ring til regjeringen for å ikke å anerkjenne juntaen planlagte forloren 2010 valg og dens resultater
http://bdcburma.org/Statements.asp?Id=78
Friday, 12 March 2010
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for UNSC Emergency Meeting: Time to take immediate action
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for UNSC Emergency Meeting: Time to take immediate action
11 March 2010
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for United Nations Security Council to convene emergency meeting since Burma crisis is in very critical situation. We must take action decisively and collectively in order to intervene Burma crisis so as to avoid total devastating.
Burmese junta is fully geared up to extinguish democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma. Junta is touching its final brush to eliminate all the democratic voices by issuing its so-called the electoral law on 8 March 2010 which effectively turning their back on national reconciliation in Burma.
The so-called junta’s electoral law states that political parties are prohibited from having a prisoner as a party member; it means Aung San Suu Kyi or all the political prisoners cannot participate in the election. Addition, the junta announced that within 60 days from the announcement date, the final deadline will be on 7 May 2010; the current legal parties such as NLD have to register to take part in 2010 election which will legitimise military rule in Burma or face the cessation of to existing as legal party.
The dilemma is that if NLD wanted to hold the legal existence, they have to expel Aung San Suu Kyi as their leader or else face dissolving the party. If NLD agrees to register, it means they have to give up upholding the “Shwe-Gone-Daing” declaration that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation in Burma.
Junta is all doing this because international community fails to take action practically in the past. International community is misled by junta and fall into the regime’s lies for more than 20 years now.
We would like to give message to the world leaders that “To bring about justice realities in Burma, UNSC must take action practically. For many decades we have been scarifying thousands of lives to bring about justice realities in Burma. How many more lives need to die in order to take practical action on Burma. How many years more do we need to wait to take practical action on Burma?”
We call for United Nations Security Council to intervene in this very critical situation or else Burma will face turmoil. We would like to urge all the justice loving people around the world to call for United Nations Security Council to take practical action on Burma.
For more information please contact Myo Thein, the Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) on 00-44-78 7788 2386 or 00-44-20 8493 9137.
Must do UNSC actions on Burma:
1. UNSC must declare that it won’t recognize junta’s planned 2010 election and its results
2. UNSC must declare junta’s sham 2008 constitution as NULL and VOID
3. UNSC must implement the successive UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma calling for “to restore democracy and implement the results of the 1990 election”
4. UNSC must declare that it will recognise Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) as the legitimate Government of Burma mandated by people of Burma in 1990 general election
Background information:
• The very junta held the election in 1990 in which Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD party won the landslide victory. But, junta still ignores to honour the 1990 election results until now and again they are planning to hold election in 2010 to nullify 1990 election result as well as in order to legitimise military rule in Burma. Our legitimate leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, had foreseen regime’s cunning plans so that she had already expressed her views on what we must do regarding the importance of implementing 1990 election results.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said:
• The results of these elections will remain valid until such time as the Members of Parliament elected in 1990 by the people have had a chance to get together and decide what the next step is going to be. The world has to make certain that the outcome of these elections is honoured.
• If this country is to achieve genuine democracy, the result of the elections of 1990 must be recognized. It must be recognized by the military regime, as it has been recognized by the people, and by the world at large. It is through this recognition that we will be able to make genuine progress in Burma. The results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented as a resolution already taken by the United Nations. We already know that the General Assembly of the United Nations has accepted the notion that the will of the people has been expressed in the 1990 General Elections. This is something we cannot abandon. It will be to the detriment of our country if after an election has been held the results are not honoured and we do not resist attempts to trivialise it.
• We stand firm for implementation of the results of the 1990 general elections.
• To ignore the result of the 1990 elections is to have total disrespect for the people and is also an insult to the people.
• We would like to see the UN standing very firmly by the General Assembly resolution* on Burma and to try to implement the terms of the resolution as quickly as possible. And we would like the whole international community to support the UN and this. (*On November 19, 2002, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution strongly urging the Government of Myanmar “to restore democracy and implement the results of the 1990 election and to ensure [...] without delay into substantive and structured dialogue towards democratisation and national reconciliation [...] to release unconditionally and immediately all political prisoners.”)
What is 2010 election?
• The junta’s planned 2010 election is only a charade designed to legitimise the military dictatorship within Burma. With victory in their sights the junta has already made plans for after the election clearly indicating this election is a sham. Obviously there will be no need to count the votes since it would be an exercise in futility. Before we could possible address the junta’s proposed 2010 election we must address the validity of the recently adapted constitution.
What is “Shwe-Gone-Daing” Declaration?
• Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy (NLD), the unanimous victors of the 1990 election, clearly stated their position in the “Shwe-Gone-Dine” Declaration that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation in Burma, i.e. to
1. Release all the political prisoners
2. Review 2008 Constitution
3. Recognise 1990 election result
4. Take place political dialogue
What is 2008 constitution?
• Drafted by the junta, this document is far from credible or constitutional. Free, fair and all inclusive is not what this document represents. The International Community should be aware of the hopelessly irreconcilable contents of the constitution that was adopted in 2008. The referendum was ushered into existence under questionable conditions including extortion and rigged ballots. We would like to draw particular attention on these points:
1. The Junta gave itself amnesty from the crimes against humanity it has perpetrated throughout Burma during their reign of terror.
2. The Military regime systematically took 25% of the parliamentary seats. The military commander in chief was also given absolute authority to dissolve the parliament at any time effectively neutralizing the voice of the people.
• Giving the military junta 25% of the parliamentary seats, unbridled authoritarian control and a self serving amnesty for the crimes against humanity were truly not the will of the Burmese people. Legitimizing the criminal regime was also not the will of the people and this is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable to the Burmese people. The essence of the 2008 Constitution is to guarantee impunity indefinitely and the 2010 election will implement it. Therefore, we are calling for the nullification of the Burma’s 2008 Constitution by the UN Security Council.
What you can DO?
• Please sign the petition “Implement 1990 election results in Burma” http://www.gopetition.com/online/22158.html
• Please call for your government to call for United Nations Security Council emergency meeting
• Please call for your government to call for United Nations Security Council to declare junta’s sham 2008 constitution as NULL & VOID
• Please call for your government to declare Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) as the legitimate Government of Burma
• Please call for your government to not to recognise junta’s planned sham 2010 elections and its results
11 March 2010
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for United Nations Security Council to convene emergency meeting since Burma crisis is in very critical situation. We must take action decisively and collectively in order to intervene Burma crisis so as to avoid total devastating.
Burmese junta is fully geared up to extinguish democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma. Junta is touching its final brush to eliminate all the democratic voices by issuing its so-called the electoral law on 8 March 2010 which effectively turning their back on national reconciliation in Burma.
The so-called junta’s electoral law states that political parties are prohibited from having a prisoner as a party member; it means Aung San Suu Kyi or all the political prisoners cannot participate in the election. Addition, the junta announced that within 60 days from the announcement date, the final deadline will be on 7 May 2010; the current legal parties such as NLD have to register to take part in 2010 election which will legitimise military rule in Burma or face the cessation of to existing as legal party.
The dilemma is that if NLD wanted to hold the legal existence, they have to expel Aung San Suu Kyi as their leader or else face dissolving the party. If NLD agrees to register, it means they have to give up upholding the “Shwe-Gone-Daing” declaration that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation in Burma.
Junta is all doing this because international community fails to take action practically in the past. International community is misled by junta and fall into the regime’s lies for more than 20 years now.
We would like to give message to the world leaders that “To bring about justice realities in Burma, UNSC must take action practically. For many decades we have been scarifying thousands of lives to bring about justice realities in Burma. How many more lives need to die in order to take practical action on Burma. How many years more do we need to wait to take practical action on Burma?”
We call for United Nations Security Council to intervene in this very critical situation or else Burma will face turmoil. We would like to urge all the justice loving people around the world to call for United Nations Security Council to take practical action on Burma.
For more information please contact Myo Thein, the Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) on 00-44-78 7788 2386 or 00-44-20 8493 9137.
Must do UNSC actions on Burma:
1. UNSC must declare that it won’t recognize junta’s planned 2010 election and its results
2. UNSC must declare junta’s sham 2008 constitution as NULL and VOID
3. UNSC must implement the successive UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma calling for “to restore democracy and implement the results of the 1990 election”
4. UNSC must declare that it will recognise Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) as the legitimate Government of Burma mandated by people of Burma in 1990 general election
Background information:
• The very junta held the election in 1990 in which Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD party won the landslide victory. But, junta still ignores to honour the 1990 election results until now and again they are planning to hold election in 2010 to nullify 1990 election result as well as in order to legitimise military rule in Burma. Our legitimate leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, had foreseen regime’s cunning plans so that she had already expressed her views on what we must do regarding the importance of implementing 1990 election results.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said:
• The results of these elections will remain valid until such time as the Members of Parliament elected in 1990 by the people have had a chance to get together and decide what the next step is going to be. The world has to make certain that the outcome of these elections is honoured.
• If this country is to achieve genuine democracy, the result of the elections of 1990 must be recognized. It must be recognized by the military regime, as it has been recognized by the people, and by the world at large. It is through this recognition that we will be able to make genuine progress in Burma. The results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented as a resolution already taken by the United Nations. We already know that the General Assembly of the United Nations has accepted the notion that the will of the people has been expressed in the 1990 General Elections. This is something we cannot abandon. It will be to the detriment of our country if after an election has been held the results are not honoured and we do not resist attempts to trivialise it.
• We stand firm for implementation of the results of the 1990 general elections.
• To ignore the result of the 1990 elections is to have total disrespect for the people and is also an insult to the people.
• We would like to see the UN standing very firmly by the General Assembly resolution* on Burma and to try to implement the terms of the resolution as quickly as possible. And we would like the whole international community to support the UN and this. (*On November 19, 2002, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution strongly urging the Government of Myanmar “to restore democracy and implement the results of the 1990 election and to ensure [...] without delay into substantive and structured dialogue towards democratisation and national reconciliation [...] to release unconditionally and immediately all political prisoners.”)
What is 2010 election?
• The junta’s planned 2010 election is only a charade designed to legitimise the military dictatorship within Burma. With victory in their sights the junta has already made plans for after the election clearly indicating this election is a sham. Obviously there will be no need to count the votes since it would be an exercise in futility. Before we could possible address the junta’s proposed 2010 election we must address the validity of the recently adapted constitution.
What is “Shwe-Gone-Daing” Declaration?
• Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy (NLD), the unanimous victors of the 1990 election, clearly stated their position in the “Shwe-Gone-Dine” Declaration that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation in Burma, i.e. to
1. Release all the political prisoners
2. Review 2008 Constitution
3. Recognise 1990 election result
4. Take place political dialogue
What is 2008 constitution?
• Drafted by the junta, this document is far from credible or constitutional. Free, fair and all inclusive is not what this document represents. The International Community should be aware of the hopelessly irreconcilable contents of the constitution that was adopted in 2008. The referendum was ushered into existence under questionable conditions including extortion and rigged ballots. We would like to draw particular attention on these points:
1. The Junta gave itself amnesty from the crimes against humanity it has perpetrated throughout Burma during their reign of terror.
2. The Military regime systematically took 25% of the parliamentary seats. The military commander in chief was also given absolute authority to dissolve the parliament at any time effectively neutralizing the voice of the people.
• Giving the military junta 25% of the parliamentary seats, unbridled authoritarian control and a self serving amnesty for the crimes against humanity were truly not the will of the Burmese people. Legitimizing the criminal regime was also not the will of the people and this is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable to the Burmese people. The essence of the 2008 Constitution is to guarantee impunity indefinitely and the 2010 election will implement it. Therefore, we are calling for the nullification of the Burma’s 2008 Constitution by the UN Security Council.
What you can DO?
• Please sign the petition “Implement 1990 election results in Burma” http://www.gopetition.com/online/22158.html
• Please call for your government to call for United Nations Security Council emergency meeting
• Please call for your government to call for United Nations Security Council to declare junta’s sham 2008 constitution as NULL & VOID
• Please call for your government to declare Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) as the legitimate Government of Burma
• Please call for your government to not to recognise junta’s planned sham 2010 elections and its results
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Junta Provides Details of First Election Law
RANGOON — Burma's ruling junta will appoint the commission that will have final say over the country's first elections in two decades, state-run newspapers announced Tuesday as the country's military rulers began unveiling the laws that will govern this year's balloting.
There are growing fears among pro-democracy groups that the election—a date for which has not been announced—will be weighted in favor of the military and its supporters, and the first of five election-related laws to be published is likely to increase that unease.
Residents of Rangoon listen to news on new election laws being broadcast by state-run radio as they sit at a pavement tea shop on March, 8. (Photo:AP)
The laws enacted Monday will set out the mechanisms and rules for the election and campaigning, and the conditions under which parties may participate. Details were to be released in the state-run media over the coming days.
The first explained was the Union Election Commission Law, signed by junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. It stipulates that the junta will appoint a Union Election Commission with a minimum of five members including the chairman. Decisions of the body would be final.
Members, who cannot be members of political parties, must be persons "deemed prominent and reputable" by the junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council.
Burma's military government announced in early 2008 that elections would take place sometime in 2010. A 1990 election was won by the National League for Democracy party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military refused to hand over power.
The party of Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest until November, has not yet committed itself to taking part in the polls because it claims the new constitution of 2008 is unfair. It has clauses that would ensure that the military retains a controlling say in government and bars Suu Kyi from holding office.
The party has said the election laws will help it determine whether it will participate.
The remaining four laws are said to cover the polls for the Pyithu Hluttaw, or House of Representatives; the polls for the Amyotha Hluttaw, or House of Nationalities, the other house of parliament; the polls for Region and State parliaments; and the Political Parties Registration Law.
The national and regional legislatures will all include military personnel nominated by their commander in chief.
The 440-member House of Representatives will have 330 elected civilians and 110 military representatives; while the 224-member House of Nationalities will seat 168 elected candidates and 56 nominated by the military chief.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years. The Supreme Court last month dismissed her latest appeal for freedom. She was convicted last August of violating the terms of her previous detention by briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside home, and sentenced to a term of house arrest to end this November.
The sentence was seen as a ploy to effectively keep Suu Kyi locked up during any election campaign.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed disappointment Monday that Suu Kyi's appeal was rejected, adding that the legitimacy of the elections rests on the freedom of political prisoners.
"Most importantly, all the political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released as soon as possible, so that all of them can take part in elections," Ban said.
Ban said he wrote Than Shwe about 10 days ago "first of all expressing my concern about the lack of progress and also emphasizing the importance of the election ... to be (held in) a most credible, inclusive and transparent manner."
http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=17986
There are growing fears among pro-democracy groups that the election—a date for which has not been announced—will be weighted in favor of the military and its supporters, and the first of five election-related laws to be published is likely to increase that unease.
Residents of Rangoon listen to news on new election laws being broadcast by state-run radio as they sit at a pavement tea shop on March, 8. (Photo:AP)
The laws enacted Monday will set out the mechanisms and rules for the election and campaigning, and the conditions under which parties may participate. Details were to be released in the state-run media over the coming days.
The first explained was the Union Election Commission Law, signed by junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. It stipulates that the junta will appoint a Union Election Commission with a minimum of five members including the chairman. Decisions of the body would be final.
Members, who cannot be members of political parties, must be persons "deemed prominent and reputable" by the junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council.
Burma's military government announced in early 2008 that elections would take place sometime in 2010. A 1990 election was won by the National League for Democracy party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military refused to hand over power.
The party of Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest until November, has not yet committed itself to taking part in the polls because it claims the new constitution of 2008 is unfair. It has clauses that would ensure that the military retains a controlling say in government and bars Suu Kyi from holding office.
The party has said the election laws will help it determine whether it will participate.
The remaining four laws are said to cover the polls for the Pyithu Hluttaw, or House of Representatives; the polls for the Amyotha Hluttaw, or House of Nationalities, the other house of parliament; the polls for Region and State parliaments; and the Political Parties Registration Law.
The national and regional legislatures will all include military personnel nominated by their commander in chief.
The 440-member House of Representatives will have 330 elected civilians and 110 military representatives; while the 224-member House of Nationalities will seat 168 elected candidates and 56 nominated by the military chief.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years. The Supreme Court last month dismissed her latest appeal for freedom. She was convicted last August of violating the terms of her previous detention by briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside home, and sentenced to a term of house arrest to end this November.
The sentence was seen as a ploy to effectively keep Suu Kyi locked up during any election campaign.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed disappointment Monday that Suu Kyi's appeal was rejected, adding that the legitimacy of the elections rests on the freedom of political prisoners.
"Most importantly, all the political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released as soon as possible, so that all of them can take part in elections," Ban said.
Ban said he wrote Than Shwe about 10 days ago "first of all expressing my concern about the lack of progress and also emphasizing the importance of the election ... to be (held in) a most credible, inclusive and transparent manner."
http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=17986
Burma rulers to 'hand-pick' election commission
Burma's military government announced on Monday that the long awaited laws had been passed - a crucial step.
No date for the poll has been set, but the ruling generals have promised that it will be sometime this year.
Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military's grip on power.
There are five election laws in total and so far the details of the first, concerning the election commission, have been made public.
Integrity
There are few surprises and little comfort for pro-democracy campaigners.
The commission itself will be hand-picked by the current military government, and its decisions will be final.
Each member of the election body must be at least 50 years old, be deemed by the ruling generals to be a person of integrity, and not a member of any political party.
Critics fear that in effect, that means the election commission will be staffed by military loyalists.
The details of four more laws will be published in the coming days.
They focus on the two new houses of parliament, the polls for regional and state elections and the registration of political parties.
The details of the new laws will be carefully scrutinised for any sign that Burma's first election for two decades could be more transparent and representative than many fear.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently wrote to the head of the Burmese military government to express his concern about the credibility of the vote and the process leading up to it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8557042.stm
No date for the poll has been set, but the ruling generals have promised that it will be sometime this year.
Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military's grip on power.
There are five election laws in total and so far the details of the first, concerning the election commission, have been made public.
Integrity
There are few surprises and little comfort for pro-democracy campaigners.
The commission itself will be hand-picked by the current military government, and its decisions will be final.
Each member of the election body must be at least 50 years old, be deemed by the ruling generals to be a person of integrity, and not a member of any political party.
Critics fear that in effect, that means the election commission will be staffed by military loyalists.
The details of four more laws will be published in the coming days.
They focus on the two new houses of parliament, the polls for regional and state elections and the registration of political parties.
The details of the new laws will be carefully scrutinised for any sign that Burma's first election for two decades could be more transparent and representative than many fear.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently wrote to the head of the Burmese military government to express his concern about the credibility of the vote and the process leading up to it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8557042.stm
Saturday, 6 March 2010
American policy on burma needs sharper teeth
Apart from urging the junta to hold free, fair elections, the world should also keep it away from North Korea
After the initial four high-level contacts with the Burmese junta since last August, the US administration has been trying hard to engage the junta for two major reasons.
The first is to convince Burma that it would be in the country's as well as the regime's interest to hold an all-inclusive, free and fair election this year. The second, and an equally important, reason is to create a distance between the Burmese and North Korean regimes in terms of the sale of weapons and nuclear arms proliferation.
Washington believed its enthusiastic, softer approach would convince the junta that the planned elections should be carried out in a manner that is internationally acceptable and one that would help the regime join the global community.
So far, the regime has not yet set a date for the elections or given the world a peek at any electoral laws. It is clear that the enthusiasm for the elections is quickly evaporating, if not disappearing, within the administration. The junta has its own roadmap to follow and will certainly not pay attention to the guidelines being suggested by well-wishers in other capitals.
The irony of it all is that the junta is managing to successfully buy time to maximise on the outcome of its grand political strategy - staying in power at all costs without ever giving in. Most importantly, the junta leaders want to keep opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi away from all political activities prior to the elections. Her party won the elections in May 1990 by a landslide, but the regime annulled the victory and took over.
Therefore, it is commendable that women like Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams, along with other well-known human rights activists, are working to highlight the extreme violence being inflicted on women living in Burma. Their call to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court should be supported because in the past two decades, the Burmese junta has committed lots of crimes against humanity, not to mention innocent people being raped and tortured. In fact, the junta is known for using rape as a weapon of war against minorities. Thus, the international community should join hands and work towards the noble aim of ensuring safety and freedom for all people.
As for the second objective, Washington also has so far been unable to distance the two rogue states that have not only normalised their relations, but have over the past few years intensified their cooperation on military hardware.
The Burmese junta wants the kind of lethal weapons from North Korea that will allow it to project its military might on neighbouring countries. The reports on Rangoon's efforts to become nuclear capable should be taken seriously, though at this moment it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for Burma to develop such capacity.
However, in say 10 to 15 years, Burma can very easily build up its nuclear capacity with assistance from other rogue states that are willing to sell their technology and know-how. Like many other new, nuclear-ready states, such as Iran, the governments in power know exactly how to hide their burgeoning nuclear facilities. The world, especially Thailand, should watch out and not be fooled by the junta.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Kurt Campbell will be in Thailand next week, and might drop by in Burma if his planned itinerary is approved. If given the go-ahead, perhaps he will use this visit as an opportunity to tell the junta that time is running out and that it should stop dragging its feet in opening the door to democracy.
After the initial four high-level contacts with the Burmese junta since last August, the US administration has been trying hard to engage the junta for two major reasons.
The first is to convince Burma that it would be in the country's as well as the regime's interest to hold an all-inclusive, free and fair election this year. The second, and an equally important, reason is to create a distance between the Burmese and North Korean regimes in terms of the sale of weapons and nuclear arms proliferation.
Washington believed its enthusiastic, softer approach would convince the junta that the planned elections should be carried out in a manner that is internationally acceptable and one that would help the regime join the global community.
So far, the regime has not yet set a date for the elections or given the world a peek at any electoral laws. It is clear that the enthusiasm for the elections is quickly evaporating, if not disappearing, within the administration. The junta has its own roadmap to follow and will certainly not pay attention to the guidelines being suggested by well-wishers in other capitals.
The irony of it all is that the junta is managing to successfully buy time to maximise on the outcome of its grand political strategy - staying in power at all costs without ever giving in. Most importantly, the junta leaders want to keep opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi away from all political activities prior to the elections. Her party won the elections in May 1990 by a landslide, but the regime annulled the victory and took over.
Therefore, it is commendable that women like Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams, along with other well-known human rights activists, are working to highlight the extreme violence being inflicted on women living in Burma. Their call to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court should be supported because in the past two decades, the Burmese junta has committed lots of crimes against humanity, not to mention innocent people being raped and tortured. In fact, the junta is known for using rape as a weapon of war against minorities. Thus, the international community should join hands and work towards the noble aim of ensuring safety and freedom for all people.
As for the second objective, Washington also has so far been unable to distance the two rogue states that have not only normalised their relations, but have over the past few years intensified their cooperation on military hardware.
The Burmese junta wants the kind of lethal weapons from North Korea that will allow it to project its military might on neighbouring countries. The reports on Rangoon's efforts to become nuclear capable should be taken seriously, though at this moment it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for Burma to develop such capacity.
However, in say 10 to 15 years, Burma can very easily build up its nuclear capacity with assistance from other rogue states that are willing to sell their technology and know-how. Like many other new, nuclear-ready states, such as Iran, the governments in power know exactly how to hide their burgeoning nuclear facilities. The world, especially Thailand, should watch out and not be fooled by the junta.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Kurt Campbell will be in Thailand next week, and might drop by in Burma if his planned itinerary is approved. If given the go-ahead, perhaps he will use this visit as an opportunity to tell the junta that time is running out and that it should stop dragging its feet in opening the door to democracy.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Exim Bank reassesses lån til Burma
Exim Bank reassesses lån til Burma
Export-Import Bank of Thailand vil åpne samtaler med regjeringen om sine fire milliarder baht lave inteerst lån til den burmesiske regjeringen bør gjennomgås, assisterende finansminister Pruektichai Damrongrut sier.
Mr Pruektichai ville rådføre finansminister Korn Chatikavanij og Exim Banks juridiske team denne uken.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Innehavere av politiske posisjoner fredag hersket tidligere statsminister Thaksin Shinawatra hadde misbrukt sin autoritet med Exim Bank lån til Burma.
Mr Pruektichai ikke si hvordan banken vil vurdere kontrakten.
Exim Bank president Apichai Boontherawara sier banken vil også vurdere mulige skader som følge av kontrakten før du videresende den til finansministeren. Men han insisterte den burmesiske regjeringen var en god klient som gjorde vanlige nedbetaling.
Exim Banks myke lån til den burmesiske regjeringen var en av fem tilfeller der Høyesterett styrte Thaksin misbrukt sin autoritet som statsminister.
Banken lånte 4 milliard baht til den burmesiske regjeringen i 12 år til 3% rente, som er under dens driftskostnader.
Høyesterett sa utlån til en rente som var under bankens driftskostnader var ikke en objektiv av bankens etablering. Retten anslo at utlån til 3% over 12 år vil koste banken 670 millioner baht i erstatning.
Mr Apichai insisterte banken ikke taper penger på utlån, men sa at det ville ha å studere dommen grundig.
Retten også avgjort at Shin Satellite, et selskap hvor medlemmer av Shinawatra familie ble flertall aksjonærer, dratt nytte av lånet.
Burma har brukt det om kjøp av telekommunikasjonsutstyr og satellitt-tjenester fra Shin Satellite, bedre kjent nå som THAICOM.
Retten fant banken godkjente 4 milliard baht lån til Burma etter en instruks av Thaksin regjeringen.
I begynnelsen hadde det åpnet en kreditt på 3 milliarder baht for Burma, men Thaksin bedt banken å øke kredittgrensen ved milliard baht. Etter dette ble renten på lånet kuttet fra 5,5% til 3%.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/33889/exim-bank-reassesses-loan-to-burma
Exim Bank reassesses loan to Burma
The Export-Import Bank of Thailand will open talks with the government on whether its four billion baht low inteerst loan to the Burmese government should be reviewed, Deputy Finance Minister Pruektichai Damrongrut says.
Pruektichai: Talks to start this week
Mr Pruektichai would consult Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Exim Bank's legal team this week.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Friday ruled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had abused his authority with the Exim Bank loan to Burma.
Mr Pruektichai did not say how the bank would review the contract.
Exim Bank president Apichai Boontherawara said the bank would also assess the possible damage resulting from the contract before forwarding it to the finance minister. But he insisted the Burmese government was a good client which made regular repayments.
Exim Bank's soft loan to the Burmese government was one of five cases in which the Supreme Court ruled Thaksin abused his authority as prime minister.
The bank lent 4 billion baht to the Burmese government for 12 years at 3% interest, which is below its operating costs.
The Supreme Court said lending at an interest rate which was below the bank's operating cost was not an objective of the bank's establishment. The court estimated that lending at 3% over 12 years would cost the bank 670 million baht in damages.
Mr Apichai insisted the bank did not lose money from the lending, but said it would have to study the ruling thoroughly.
The court also ruled that Shin Satellite, a company in which members of the Shinawatra family were majority shareholders, benefited from the loan.
Burma spent it on buying telecommunications equipment and satellite services from Shin Satellite, better known now as Thaicom.
The court found the bank approved the 4 billion baht loan to Burma following an instruction by the Thaksin government.
Initially, it had opened a credit line of 3 billion baht for Burma, but Thaksin asked the bank to increase the credit line by one billion baht. After that, the interest rate on the loan was cut from 5.5% to 3%.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/33889/exim-bank-reassesses-loan-to-burma
Pruektichai: Talks to start this week
Mr Pruektichai would consult Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Exim Bank's legal team this week.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Friday ruled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had abused his authority with the Exim Bank loan to Burma.
Mr Pruektichai did not say how the bank would review the contract.
Exim Bank president Apichai Boontherawara said the bank would also assess the possible damage resulting from the contract before forwarding it to the finance minister. But he insisted the Burmese government was a good client which made regular repayments.
Exim Bank's soft loan to the Burmese government was one of five cases in which the Supreme Court ruled Thaksin abused his authority as prime minister.
The bank lent 4 billion baht to the Burmese government for 12 years at 3% interest, which is below its operating costs.
The Supreme Court said lending at an interest rate which was below the bank's operating cost was not an objective of the bank's establishment. The court estimated that lending at 3% over 12 years would cost the bank 670 million baht in damages.
Mr Apichai insisted the bank did not lose money from the lending, but said it would have to study the ruling thoroughly.
The court also ruled that Shin Satellite, a company in which members of the Shinawatra family were majority shareholders, benefited from the loan.
Burma spent it on buying telecommunications equipment and satellite services from Shin Satellite, better known now as Thaicom.
The court found the bank approved the 4 billion baht loan to Burma following an instruction by the Thaksin government.
Initially, it had opened a credit line of 3 billion baht for Burma, but Thaksin asked the bank to increase the credit line by one billion baht. After that, the interest rate on the loan was cut from 5.5% to 3%.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/33889/exim-bank-reassesses-loan-to-burma
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