From our correspondent in Madrid
The EU and ASEAN have called for the release of rapists, murderers, paedophiles and thieves in a joint statement issued at a Ministerial Summit in Madrid. They say that releasing “those under detention” will “contribute to making the elections more inclusive and help bring about a peaceful political transition.”
The surprise shift in policy is part of a new policy of engagement by the EU, which is restarting the same dialogue which it tried for 14 years until 2002, during which time the human rights and political environment deteriorated, rather than improved.
The statement did not explain why the EU and ASEAN think paedophiles and other criminals have an important role to play in the political process in Burma. In the past they have called for the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
It is thought to be the first time the two blocs, representing 37 countries between them, have told a country that it should release all criminals in its jails, and seems to be at odds with wording in the same statement which says: “Ministers affirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar.”
Analysts have dismissed suggestions that the wording is a mistake caused by the two blocs not wanting to use the words ‘political prisoners’, arguing that it is inconceivable that the EU would behave in such an unprincipled way, and also argue that even if they did want to downplay the seriousness of human rights abuses in Burma, as some activists have alleged, there is no way they would make such a stupid gaffe.
So far there has been no response from the junta in Burma. It is not known how many criminals are held in Burmese jails.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Failure to Arrest Serial Killer Sparks Row in USA
Failure to Arrest Serial Killer Sparks Row in USA
From our correspondent in New York
A row is growing in the USA over how to deal with a serial killer who has been active for 22 years and is thought to have killed thousands of people across the country.
Relatives of the victims and many NGOs are demanding that police investigate the crimes committed by the serial killer, with a goal of arresting and prosecuting him. In addition to murder, crimes committed by the serial killer are thought to include rape, arson, torture, mutilations, paedophilia, kidnappings and theft.
However, police forces in the US are divided over how to approach the serial killer, with none even publicly admitting that what is taking place are crimes that require police to intervene.
Some police forces argue that as the killings have taken place inside the killers home, it is a private matter and they cannot intervene, even though police standing outside the house while killings are taking place can hear victims screaming for help.
Other police forces argue that investigating and imprisoning the killer would be counter-productive, and instead a less confrontational approach should be taken, befriending the killer.
"It is possible that the killer has no friends, and feels lonely, we should let him join local social clubs, said one police force in the same area as the killer."Once he has made friends with more normal people, maybe some normality will rub off on him.”
However, one ex-police officer, who now claims to be an expert on serial killers, blamed the victims and their friends for the ongoing crisis, saying how they responded to the killings, demanding justice, is the real problem. "The killer is forced to keep killing because people keep saying he must stop. My personal view is that taking the killer on holiday would pretty much solve the problem."
The killer’s confidence that he can act with impunity seems to have grown in recent years, leading to an increase in the murders he carries out. Bodies of victims, some with brutal injuries and even beheaded, are left in the killer’s front garden for all to see, but still police have failed to act.
In desperation, NGOs have been conducting their own investigations, compiling evidence in the hope that presented with the facts police will feel compelled to act. So far however, police have ignored the evidence.
NGOs believe that the evidence they have compiled, even with their limited resources, is more than enough to justify a full scale investigation. Many crimes have been committed which break local and national laws.
"Unlike some serial killers, who prefer a particular type of victim, this killer is more indiscriminate, but clearly has a preference for ethnic minorities," said one NGO worker.
Federal police, who some argue have a legal duty to investigate the killer, have also avoided intervening in the case. They say that it would take a Council Committee vote before they can intervene.
NGOs express frustration at this, saying friends and neighbours of the killer are on the council, and that these neighbours even have joint business investments with the killer.
NGOs are now calling on US President Obama to intervene and show leadership, but so far he has remained silent.
While the debate over who should do what and when continues, so do the killings, several victims in the past month have been children.
From our correspondent in New York
A row is growing in the USA over how to deal with a serial killer who has been active for 22 years and is thought to have killed thousands of people across the country.
Relatives of the victims and many NGOs are demanding that police investigate the crimes committed by the serial killer, with a goal of arresting and prosecuting him. In addition to murder, crimes committed by the serial killer are thought to include rape, arson, torture, mutilations, paedophilia, kidnappings and theft.
However, police forces in the US are divided over how to approach the serial killer, with none even publicly admitting that what is taking place are crimes that require police to intervene.
Some police forces argue that as the killings have taken place inside the killers home, it is a private matter and they cannot intervene, even though police standing outside the house while killings are taking place can hear victims screaming for help.
Other police forces argue that investigating and imprisoning the killer would be counter-productive, and instead a less confrontational approach should be taken, befriending the killer.
"It is possible that the killer has no friends, and feels lonely, we should let him join local social clubs, said one police force in the same area as the killer."Once he has made friends with more normal people, maybe some normality will rub off on him.”
However, one ex-police officer, who now claims to be an expert on serial killers, blamed the victims and their friends for the ongoing crisis, saying how they responded to the killings, demanding justice, is the real problem. "The killer is forced to keep killing because people keep saying he must stop. My personal view is that taking the killer on holiday would pretty much solve the problem."
The killer’s confidence that he can act with impunity seems to have grown in recent years, leading to an increase in the murders he carries out. Bodies of victims, some with brutal injuries and even beheaded, are left in the killer’s front garden for all to see, but still police have failed to act.
In desperation, NGOs have been conducting their own investigations, compiling evidence in the hope that presented with the facts police will feel compelled to act. So far however, police have ignored the evidence.
NGOs believe that the evidence they have compiled, even with their limited resources, is more than enough to justify a full scale investigation. Many crimes have been committed which break local and national laws.
"Unlike some serial killers, who prefer a particular type of victim, this killer is more indiscriminate, but clearly has a preference for ethnic minorities," said one NGO worker.
Federal police, who some argue have a legal duty to investigate the killer, have also avoided intervening in the case. They say that it would take a Council Committee vote before they can intervene.
NGOs express frustration at this, saying friends and neighbours of the killer are on the council, and that these neighbours even have joint business investments with the killer.
NGOs are now calling on US President Obama to intervene and show leadership, but so far he has remained silent.
While the debate over who should do what and when continues, so do the killings, several victims in the past month have been children.
Monday, April 12, 2010
National League for Democracy Appeals to Next Generation of Activists
From our correspondent in Rangoon
Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced new reforms that they hope will bring in a new generation of activists working for the restoration of democracy to Burma.
The new reforms come as a critical time for the organisation, which won 82 percent of seats in an election held in 1990, but was never allowed to take power. The party now faces being banned on May 7th after deciding not to register as a party under new election laws, which they claim are unjust.
“We will continue our struggle, whether or not the election commission declares us an illegal party, we will still be here,” said party spokesman Nyan Win Oo. “Therefore we continue the reforms that began with the new Central Committee. In order to appeal to our younger people we are lowering the minimum NLD membership age from sixty to fifty. Now young people will be able to play a fuller role in the struggle.”
However, the radical reforms have caused controversy among some members, who argue that having such young and inexperienced members could cause problems for the party. “Hot-headed youths could get us into trouble, we need calm people who respect authority and will wait and see what happens,” said one leader speaking off the record from his sick-bed.
Others have welcomed the reform as long overdue. “We must be practical,” said one CC member. “When the SPDC allowed us to reopen some offices it caused us major problems as in several places the local members were too old and ill to physically get to the office.”
Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced new reforms that they hope will bring in a new generation of activists working for the restoration of democracy to Burma.
The new reforms come as a critical time for the organisation, which won 82 percent of seats in an election held in 1990, but was never allowed to take power. The party now faces being banned on May 7th after deciding not to register as a party under new election laws, which they claim are unjust.
“We will continue our struggle, whether or not the election commission declares us an illegal party, we will still be here,” said party spokesman Nyan Win Oo. “Therefore we continue the reforms that began with the new Central Committee. In order to appeal to our younger people we are lowering the minimum NLD membership age from sixty to fifty. Now young people will be able to play a fuller role in the struggle.”
However, the radical reforms have caused controversy among some members, who argue that having such young and inexperienced members could cause problems for the party. “Hot-headed youths could get us into trouble, we need calm people who respect authority and will wait and see what happens,” said one leader speaking off the record from his sick-bed.
Others have welcomed the reform as long overdue. “We must be practical,” said one CC member. “When the SPDC allowed us to reopen some offices it caused us major problems as in several places the local members were too old and ill to physically get to the office.”
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Burma’s Isolationalist Regime Launches International TV Station
From our correspondent in Rangoon
Burma’s notoriously isolationalist dictatorship has launched a new 24 hour English language TV station, Myanmar International TV. The station replaces MRTV3, which has been broadcasting globally for many years.
The new TV station features foreign presenters, including one who is apparently English and, perhaps embarrassed by her new employers, only gives her name as Sophie.
Early features on the new TV station included a visit to Burma by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, and a planned Burmese delegation visit to India. As well as news, the station also broadcasts several programmes promoting tourism to Burma, as well as business investment and trade. Programmes also featured the recently expanded international airport in Rangoon, which has two million passengers a year and is served by 16 international airlines. Pop music video’s feature Rangoon’s busy port docks as a backdrop.
China Central Television (CCTV), Cable Networks News (CNN) of the USA, and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) are providing news items for the channel.
Chinese news agency Xinhua reported: “MITV beams reach North America, Europe, Australian, New Zealand, China, India and Indochina regions and arrangements have been made for its round-the-clock programs to cover the whole world.”
Analysts cited the station as yet more evidence of the futility of western and other foreign countries attempting to put pressure on Burma’s generals, who have used foreign investment and trade to double the size of Burma’s army, and who have at least $5bn hidden in bank accounts in Singapore.
“A 24 hour English language TV station being broadcast worldwide via satellite at great expense demonstrates once again that Burma’s generals don’t care about world opinion, and that only uncritical engagement will make a difference,” said one analyst.
Aung Myint Oo, an American author who has visited Burma on many occasions, and who claims that western sanctions reinforce the generals ‘default position’ of isolationalism, was not available for comment.
Burma’s notoriously isolationalist dictatorship has launched a new 24 hour English language TV station, Myanmar International TV. The station replaces MRTV3, which has been broadcasting globally for many years.
The new TV station features foreign presenters, including one who is apparently English and, perhaps embarrassed by her new employers, only gives her name as Sophie.
Early features on the new TV station included a visit to Burma by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, and a planned Burmese delegation visit to India. As well as news, the station also broadcasts several programmes promoting tourism to Burma, as well as business investment and trade. Programmes also featured the recently expanded international airport in Rangoon, which has two million passengers a year and is served by 16 international airlines. Pop music video’s feature Rangoon’s busy port docks as a backdrop.
China Central Television (CCTV), Cable Networks News (CNN) of the USA, and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) are providing news items for the channel.
Chinese news agency Xinhua reported: “MITV beams reach North America, Europe, Australian, New Zealand, China, India and Indochina regions and arrangements have been made for its round-the-clock programs to cover the whole world.”
Analysts cited the station as yet more evidence of the futility of western and other foreign countries attempting to put pressure on Burma’s generals, who have used foreign investment and trade to double the size of Burma’s army, and who have at least $5bn hidden in bank accounts in Singapore.
“A 24 hour English language TV station being broadcast worldwide via satellite at great expense demonstrates once again that Burma’s generals don’t care about world opinion, and that only uncritical engagement will make a difference,” said one analyst.
Aung Myint Oo, an American author who has visited Burma on many occasions, and who claims that western sanctions reinforce the generals ‘default position’ of isolationalism, was not available for comment.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
State Dept Official Speaks Out Against US ‘Timidity’ On Burma
State Dept Official Speaks Out Against US ‘Timidity’ On Burma
From our Washington DC correspondent
2nd March 2010
A senior foreign policy advisor at the US Department of State has spoken out against what he described as ‘timidity and inflexibility’ in the Obama administration’s approach to Burma, which he says may backfire and ‘give succour’ to Burma’s generals. Burma has been ruled by military dictatorships since 1962.
A nine month policy review last year led to a change in approach from previous US policy, which had favoured sanctions and outspoken criticism of the junta. The US is now trying direct engagement, among other measures. However, this new approach is far too limited, according to one official, speaking off the record.
The official, who previously worked as an adviser to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and for his successor, Ban Ki-moon, described himself as ‘shackled’ by inflexibility from State Department officials.
“Issuing statements saying we are ‘concerned’ and ‘deeply concerned’ is not enough,” said the official. “We have to remember that this is a brutal military dictatorship with no interest in reform. We need to be doing much more.”
The USA should follow the lead of the United Nations, said the official. “If you look at the statements of successive Secretary General’s you will see that they were much more flexible and creative. They expressed how they were ‘seriously concerned’, ‘gravely concerned’, ‘increasingly concerned’, and ‘remained concerned’. Yet in six statements the US State Department has made in the past year in response to topical events in Burma, we have only said we are’ concerned’ or ‘deeply concerned’ and once ‘stressed’ concern. This approach is like going into a boxing ring with one arm tied behind our back.”
A US State Department spokesperson rejected the criticism, saying that the USA is in the early stages of a process of dialogue, and needed to give it time to work. “We hope Burma’s generals are willing to reform. We are trying to persuade the generals to reform, but if we use strong language about their human rights abuses they might get upset and refuse to relinquish power.”
However, he also indicated that US patience is not endless, and there could come a time when US and international patience with the dictatorship, which has ruled Burma for almost 50 years, would run out. “Obviously they need time to consider their options, but we are willing to step up pressure if there is no concrete change soon. If worse comes to worse we could even go as far as saying we are ‘extremely concerned’.
One Burma analyst dismissed the comments of the State Dept advisor as sour grapes after being dismissed by the UN Secretary General before moving to the State Dept. “The Secretary General decided to try a major new strategy expressing disappointment instead of concern, but this advisor is totally wedded to statements of concern, and so had to go.”
From our Washington DC correspondent
2nd March 2010
A senior foreign policy advisor at the US Department of State has spoken out against what he described as ‘timidity and inflexibility’ in the Obama administration’s approach to Burma, which he says may backfire and ‘give succour’ to Burma’s generals. Burma has been ruled by military dictatorships since 1962.
A nine month policy review last year led to a change in approach from previous US policy, which had favoured sanctions and outspoken criticism of the junta. The US is now trying direct engagement, among other measures. However, this new approach is far too limited, according to one official, speaking off the record.
The official, who previously worked as an adviser to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and for his successor, Ban Ki-moon, described himself as ‘shackled’ by inflexibility from State Department officials.
“Issuing statements saying we are ‘concerned’ and ‘deeply concerned’ is not enough,” said the official. “We have to remember that this is a brutal military dictatorship with no interest in reform. We need to be doing much more.”
The USA should follow the lead of the United Nations, said the official. “If you look at the statements of successive Secretary General’s you will see that they were much more flexible and creative. They expressed how they were ‘seriously concerned’, ‘gravely concerned’, ‘increasingly concerned’, and ‘remained concerned’. Yet in six statements the US State Department has made in the past year in response to topical events in Burma, we have only said we are’ concerned’ or ‘deeply concerned’ and once ‘stressed’ concern. This approach is like going into a boxing ring with one arm tied behind our back.”
A US State Department spokesperson rejected the criticism, saying that the USA is in the early stages of a process of dialogue, and needed to give it time to work. “We hope Burma’s generals are willing to reform. We are trying to persuade the generals to reform, but if we use strong language about their human rights abuses they might get upset and refuse to relinquish power.”
However, he also indicated that US patience is not endless, and there could come a time when US and international patience with the dictatorship, which has ruled Burma for almost 50 years, would run out. “Obviously they need time to consider their options, but we are willing to step up pressure if there is no concrete change soon. If worse comes to worse we could even go as far as saying we are ‘extremely concerned’.
One Burma analyst dismissed the comments of the State Dept advisor as sour grapes after being dismissed by the UN Secretary General before moving to the State Dept. “The Secretary General decided to try a major new strategy expressing disappointment instead of concern, but this advisor is totally wedded to statements of concern, and so had to go.”
Burma’s Suu Kyi Freed to Avoid ‘Disappointing’ Ban Ki-moon
Burma’s Suu Kyi Freed to Avoid ‘Disappointing’ Ban Ki-moon
Breaking news
From our correspondent in Rangoon
27th February 2010
Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was dramatically released from house arrest today, just one day after losing a court appeal against her detention.
The surprise decision was announced on the Saturday evening television news on MRTV, which has been used in the past for the release of important statements, including the holding of a referendum on a new constitution. MRTV reported that the decision had been made by Senior General Than Shwe, following UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s statement on Friday that he was ‘disappointed’ that Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal had been rejected.
“Myanmar respects the United Nations, which has always been a good friend to us, and we have taken this step as a gesture of goodwill, as the Secretary General’s statement of disappointment has clearly shown how seriously the UN takes this issue,” MTRV quoted Than Shwe as saying.
Some Burma analysts put the release down to a dramatic change in strategy from the Secretary General, who recently switched from a 20 year old UN policy of issuing statements of ‘concern’ to one issuing statements expressing ‘disappointment’.
Campaigners said they were delighted with the release, and conceded that their analysis that the generals would only start to make concessions if strong pressure was applied, such as the Security Council passing a binding resolution, imposing an arms embargo and establishing a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as countries imposing targeted economic pressure, had been wrong. “There was a magic bullet after all,” said one leading campaigner speaking off the record.
European Commission officials immediately called on the EU to lift all sanctions against Burma, and start channelling aid directly through Than Shwe’s personal bank account. “Now that Aung San Suu Kyi has been released all the problems of Burma are over, and it’s time to move on,” said Commission official Andreas Waldner.
Breaking news
From our correspondent in Rangoon
27th February 2010
Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was dramatically released from house arrest today, just one day after losing a court appeal against her detention.
The surprise decision was announced on the Saturday evening television news on MRTV, which has been used in the past for the release of important statements, including the holding of a referendum on a new constitution. MRTV reported that the decision had been made by Senior General Than Shwe, following UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s statement on Friday that he was ‘disappointed’ that Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal had been rejected.
“Myanmar respects the United Nations, which has always been a good friend to us, and we have taken this step as a gesture of goodwill, as the Secretary General’s statement of disappointment has clearly shown how seriously the UN takes this issue,” MTRV quoted Than Shwe as saying.
Some Burma analysts put the release down to a dramatic change in strategy from the Secretary General, who recently switched from a 20 year old UN policy of issuing statements of ‘concern’ to one issuing statements expressing ‘disappointment’.
Campaigners said they were delighted with the release, and conceded that their analysis that the generals would only start to make concessions if strong pressure was applied, such as the Security Council passing a binding resolution, imposing an arms embargo and establishing a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as countries imposing targeted economic pressure, had been wrong. “There was a magic bullet after all,” said one leading campaigner speaking off the record.
European Commission officials immediately called on the EU to lift all sanctions against Burma, and start channelling aid directly through Than Shwe’s personal bank account. “Now that Aung San Suu Kyi has been released all the problems of Burma are over, and it’s time to move on,” said Commission official Andreas Waldner.
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