Een eerbetoon aan Howard Zinn

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Myanmar, a diverse country of over 55 million people has entered a new era of unprecedented democratic reform after decades of military rule. The success of the country's transition hinges on peace negotiations with multiple armed ethnic groups. These minorities represent more than one-third of the population in the resource-rich borderlands of the country. In the past year, ceasefire agreements have been signed with 13 rebel armies, but one conflict in Kachin state remains the key stumbling block.

101 East - Myanmar's fragile peace

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Op zondag 12 januari 2014 23:39 schreef deelnemer het volgende:

101 East - Myanmar's fragile peace

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Kachin State

The majority of the state's 1.2 million inhabitants are ethnic Kachin, also known as Jinghpaw. The state is home to other ethnic groups including the Rawang, Lisu, Zaiwa, Lawngwaw, Lachik, Bamar, Shan and a small number of Tibetans. Christianity (Protestant and Roman Catholic) is the main religion in Kachin State. The Kachin language is the state's lingua franca.

Renewed fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burmese army began on June 9, 2011 at Ta-pein hydropower plant and continued throughout 2012. Initial reports suggested that from June to September 2011 a total of 5,580 Internally Displaced Persons from 1,397 households arrived at 38 IDP camps under Myanmar Government control.[13]

In August, 2012 Thousands of Kachin refugees were forced by the Chinese Government back into Myanmar despite the continued fighting there, calls to cease such action by NGOs like Human Rights Watch and the illegality of doing so under international law.[14]

As of Oct 9, 2012, over 100,000 IDPs are taking shelter in various camps across Kachin State. The majority of IDPs (est. 70,000) are currently sheltering in KIA controlled territory.[15] Fatality estimates were difficult to estimate but most reports suggested that between government troops, Kachin Independence Army rebels, and civilians upwards of 1,000 people had died in the conflict.

People & Power - Blood and Gold: Inside Burma's Hidden War

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The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and government peace makers pledged to work together towards a nation-wide ceasefire on Thursday, marking the end of a three-day round of meetings in the state capital Myitkyina.

Kachin peace agreement

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Saffron Revolution

In August 2007, an increase in the price of diesel andpetrol led to a series of anti-government protests that were dealt with harshly by the government. The protests then became a campaign of civil resistance(also called the Saffron Revolution. led by Buddhist monks, hundreds of whom defied the house arrest of democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi to pay their respects at the gate of her house. The government finally cracked down on them on 26 September 2007.

Inside the Protests - Burma

Frost over the World - Myanmar - 28 Sep 07

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Karen people

Reports as recently as February, 2010, state that the Burmese army continues to burn Karen villages, displacing thousands of people.[17] Many Karen, including people such as former KNU secretary Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and his daughter, Zoya Phan, have accused the military government of Burma of ethnic cleansing.

Video from Burma: SHOOT ON SIGHT

Burma's ethnic cleansing vs Karenni Army

101 East - The world's longest ongoing war

No peace without ethnic rights

Caught in a Two-Front War in Post-Ceasefire Karen State door Karen News

Suu Kyi visits refugee camp in Thailand

2013 review

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Military rule

On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma through a coup d'étatand the government has been under direct or indirect control by the military since then.

In May 1990, the government held free elections for the first time in almost 30 years and the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 out of a total 489 seats (80% of the seats).

However, the military junta refused to cede power and continued to rule the nation as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) until 1997, and then as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) until its dissolution in March 2011.

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Roadmap to democracy

1. Reconvening of the National Convention that has been adjourned since 1996.

2. After the successful holding of the National Convention, step by step implementation of the process necessary for the emergence of a genuine and disciplined democratic system.

3. Drafting of a new constitution in accordance with basic principles and detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention.

4. Adoption of the constitution through national referendum.

5. Holding of free and fair elections for Pyithu Hluttaws (Legislative bodies) according to the new constitution.

6. Convening of Hluttaws attended by Hluttaw members in accordance with the new constitution.

7. Building a modern, developed and democratic nation by the state leaders elected by the Hluttaw; and the government and other central organs formed by the Hluttaw.

Dealing with the Devil - Burma

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Several attempts have been made to conclude a form of peace with Burma's military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), but with little success. The 2004 peace talks yielded only an informal ceasefire which the regime used to reinforce their frontline troops. Analysts realized this was a ruse, and sure enough, offensives against KNU held areas have resumed in earnest.

Black Friday Massacre - Burma

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Announcement Nos 1/2008 and 2/2008 issued

Approval of the Constitution draft will be sought in National Referendum to be held in May 2008. In accordance with the forthcoming state Constitution the multi-party democracy general elections will be held in 2010.

Myanmar - National Referendum to be held in May 2008

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Burmese constitutional referendum, 2008

Among the changes that the referendum seeks to make are:

- One quarter of all parliamentary seats would be reserved for military officers.

- The Ministry of Home Affairs would fall exclusively under military control.

- Anyone married to a non-Burmese would be barred from running for the office of president.

First cyclone, now 'sham' vote CNN

Dissidents Denounce Burma Referendum

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Documentary about the road to the November 2010 elections in Burma/Myanmar. The film deals with the circumstances surrounding these first elections in Burma since 1991:
- the new constitution
- the fraud during the 2008 referendum
- the generals that took of their uniform and became civilian politician overnight,
- the so-called independent political parties
- the elections boycott by the National League of Democracy.

101 East - Myanmar elections

The Generals' Elections in Burma (Documentary - 2010)

The Story Behind Burma's Elections - Burma

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Op zaterdag 18 januari 2014 22:35 schreef waht het volgende:
Wat maakt Birma zo relevant?

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Burmese by-elections, 2012

The by-elections occurred on 1 April 2012 and the NLD won 43 of the 45 available seats. The 2012 by-elections were also the first time that international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process in Burma.

(ENGLISH) Aung San Suu Kyi's 2012 Campaign TV Speech w/ English subtitles

Burma After the Election

Aung San Suu Kyi takes seat in Burma parliament

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Myanmar President U Thein Sein first exclusive TV interview with an international broadcaster. President Thein Sein reveals his plans to navigate for Myanmar's potentially difficult journey towards democracy.

Myanmar President Thein Sein Interview with Channel NewsAsia

BBC HARDtalk - U Thein Sein - President of Burma (2/10/12)

Road to Democracy - Myanmar's election struggle

101 East - Myanmar's Turn

President Obama Speaks at the University of Yangon (HD)

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Freedom from Fear speech by Aung Sang Suu Kyi, 1990

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

Most Burmese are familiar with the four a-gati, the four kinds of corruption. Chanda-gati, corruption induced by desire, is deviation from the right path in pursuit of bribes or for the sake of those one loves. Dosa-gati is taking the wrong path to spite those against whom one bears ill will, and moga-gati is aberration due to ignorance. But perhaps the worst of the four is bhaya-gati, for not only does bhaya, fear, stifle and slowly destroy all sense of right and wrong, it so often lies at the root of the other three kinds of corruption.

Just as chanda-gati, when not the result of sheer avarice, can be caused by fear of want or fear of losing the goodwill of those one loves, so fear of being surpassed, humiliated or injured in some way can provide the impetus for ill will. And it would be difficult to dispel ignorance unless there is freedom to pursue the truth unfettered by fear. With so close a relationship between fear and corruption it is little wonder that in any society where fear is rife corruption in all forms becomes deeply entrenched.

Public dissatisfaction with economic hardships has been seen as the chief cause of the movement for democracy in Burma, sparked off by the student demonstrations 1988. It is true that years of incoherent policies, inept official measures, burgeoning inflation and falling real income had turned the country into an economic shambles. But it was more than the difficulties of eking out a barely acceptable standard of living that had eroded the patience of a traditionally good-natured, quiescent people - it was also the humiliation of a way of life disfigured by corruption and fear.

Rangoon University set to reopen

101 East - Restoring Rangoon