Tuesday, February 12, 2013

KNU leader: 2008 Constitution does not benefit ethnic people


11 Feb 2013

KNU General Secretary, Padoh Kwe Htoo, in an exclusive interview 
with Karen News stressed that the KNU remains committed to peace, 
but warns Burma’s government to enact further reforms.

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Tourism sector in Arakan suffers from prohibition of foreigners visit


11 Feb 2013

The tourism sector in Arakan state is suffering from authorities in the tourism 
department who have barred foreigners visiting Arakan’s ancient City Mrauk U, 
said a hotel owner.

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Political prisoner committee gives reason for hope and caution



11 Feb 2013

The announcement by the office of President Thein Sein that a committee 
will be formed to review political prisoner cases in Burma [Myanmar] 
could represent a major breakthrough in solving the issue of political prisoners. 
While hundreds of political prisoners have been released in the past two years, 
there have been disagreements about how many remain in jail. 
The figure is certainly in the hundreds, and could be much higher.

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Japanese NGO voices concern over Thilawa evictions



11 Feb 2013

Tokyo-based NGO Mekong Watch has sent an open letter to the Japanese government 
and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) calling on them
 to immediately address the Burmese government on preventing the forcible eviction
 of residents in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), 
which is to be largely run by Japanese companies.

NHRC to translate, disseminate human rights documents


11 Feb 2013

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced 
that human rights documents including UN conventions will be translated
 into Myanmar language and disseminated among the public, according to
 a report in Eleven News Media on Saturday, February 9.

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Environmentalists push for Myanmar river conservation commission



11 Feb 2013

Environmentalists have called for the formation of a river conservation commission
 to to cover all Myanmar rivers following the establishment of the Irrawaddy River
 Conservation Commission by Mandalay Region Legislative Assembly Committee 
on February 6.