Archive for January 18th, 2009
World focus on Burma (18 January 2009)
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Bringing light into Myanmar’s darkness: Group helps political prisoners in Myanmar
International Herald Tribune, France -
Myanmar’s most famous political prisoner, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the pro-democracy movement, is barred by the military government from leaving her …
ASEAN calls for $700m for Burmese cyclone victims
Australia Network News, Australia -
“The TCG, the Tripartite Core Group, which we established in order to do the day to day work in Myanmar, in Yangon overseeing the assistance to the victims …
Backbreaking project from World War II is revived
Baltimore Sun, United States -
They gave their lives to build a 1079-mile road across northern Burma (now Myanmar) to reinforce Allied troops, a project derided by British Prime Minister …
Christians struggling to aid lepers in Burma
Spero News -
A group of nuns in Kengtung, Myanmar, struggles to find the funds to treat over 520 leprosy patients and aid 44 children. By UCA News Nan Shan Kham says she …
Casting Light on Plight of Burmese Dissidents
New York Times, United States -
… to a reporter and a handful of former political prisoners who have settled in this small Thai city on the border with Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. …
VIEW: Regional fallout from Thai turmoil —Bertil Lintner
Daily Times, Pakistan -
We want to bring good change in Myanmar (Burma).” Statements such as these may not be well received by other, more autocratic members of ASEAN such as Laos …
Sri Lanka-based Burmese political weblog wins “Best Asia Blog …
Asian Tribune, Thailand -
Democratic norms, human rights, counter-terrorism, refugees, civilian casualties in domestic battles between warring factions etc. …
Treat refugees humanely, process them transparently
South China Morning Post (subscription), Hong Kong -
A tragedy was always likely given the heartless way in which the migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh were treated after arriving on Thailand’s Andaman …
Thai navy Vs Abandoned Boat-people from Burma and Bangladesh (3)
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Growing anger at claims refugees were set adrift ‘to die’
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -
After allegedly being left to their fate by the Thai military, hundreds of the boat people trying to escape Burma drifted as far as India’s Andaman Islands. …
Boat people ‘forced back to sea’
The Age, Australia -
THAI authorities have detained up to 1000 boat people from Bangladesh and Burma in the past month and sent them back to sea in boats without engines, …
PM: Thailand will investigate migrant abuse allegations
Thai News Agency MCOT, Thailand -
Meanwhile, human rights groups on Sunday urged Thai authorities to investigate Myanmar’s Muslim minority abuse accusations. Mr. David Mathieson, an expert …
With Thailand accused, India says hundreds feared dead at sea
AFP -
The Thai navy is accused of detaining the migrants, from a Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, after they washed up on the Thai coast — and then towing them …
Thai PM to hold talks on migrant abuse allegations
ABC Online, Australia -
Survivors accuse Thai authorities of detaining migrants from Burma’s Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority after they washed up on the southern Thai coast, …
FM Kosit: Reports on abuse of Rohingya migrants won’t affect …
Thai News Agency MCOT, Thailand -
Both Thailand and Myanmar, and eight other Southeast Asian countries are members of ASEAN. The BBC earlier reported that the Royal Thai Navy mishandled …
Rights groups condemn Thai refugee abuses
Radio Netherlands, Netherlands -
… with dismay at reports that the Thai navy set hundreds of refugees from Myanmar adrift at sea. The refugees belong to a Burmese Muslim minority group. …
Indian Coast Guard rescues migrants, Thailand accused
AsiaOne, Singapore -
PORT BLAIR, India (AFP) – The Indian Coast Guard said Sunday it had rescued hundreds of migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar who claimed to have been …
The Thai navy is accused of detaining the migrants, from a Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, after they washed up on the Thai coast — and then towing them …
LOST AT SEA
Dallas Morning News, TX -
Thai authorities recently detained as many as 1000 boat people from Bangladesh and Myanmar and sent them back out to sea in boats without engines, …
Migrants allegedly mistreated in Thailand
United Press International -
18 (UPI) — Charges that illegal immigrants from Burma were dumped at sea in boats with no food and no engines will be investigated, the Thai government …
Thai PM to meet rights groups on violation reports
Reuters India, India -
The Rohingyas are Muslims from Myanmar. Many have fled the Buddhist-dominated, army-ruled country to escape repression and economic hardship, …
At Least 300 Bangladesh, Myanmar Boat People Missing, NYT Says
Bloomberg -
18 (Bloomberg) — At least 300 people from Bangladesh and Myanmar are reported to be missing at sea as Thai authorities turn illegal migrants away, …
Expect more boatpeople on tourist coast, Thai military warns
South China Morning Post (subscription), Hong Kong -
Thai authorities have been warned by the military to expect far greater numbers of boatpeople arriving on Phuket and along the Andaman coast in coming weeks …
Myanmar: Gen. Anupong confirms no maltreatment toward Rohingya …
ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland -
In addition, General Anupong has also planned to discuss this matter with the Myanmar authority, but would have to allow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs …
Thailand probes refugees’ claims
Straits Times, Singapore -
The illegal immigrants – Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh, known as Rohingyas, and Bangladeshi nationals – were attempting to land on the shores of Thailand …
Treat refugees humanely, process them transparently
South China Morning Post (subscription), Hong Kong -
A tragedy was always likely given the heartless way in which the migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh were treated after arriving on Thailand’s Andaman …
Hundreds dead, set adrift by Thais
South China Morning Post (subscription), Hong Kong -
The Muslim Rohingya hail from an area along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. One horrific incident is described in a transcript of survivor interrogations, …
Thailand accused of abusing migrants
The National, United Arab Emirates -
Rohingyas, who need permission from Myanmar’s ruling military junta to marry or travel outside of their western Burma state have no legal right to own land …
