Series of unexplained bomb blasts around Myanmar

People in Myanmar get increased anxiety for a series of bomb blasts in major series of Myanmar in the past week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/world/asia/2-dead-and-american-wounded-in-myanmar-blasts.html?_r=0

According to the news related to the above article, my personal concerns for innocent people in Myanmar has raised. This is like the old stories made by the leaders to control the nation's political conditions which were created in the past. But, in this case, a series of unexplained bomb blasts around Myanmar  become the questions for people in Myanmar.

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Daw Aung San Su Kyi is going to accept "Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought " which was awarded by European Parliament 1990. It is heart breaking to know that  she can accept that price 23 years after which was awarded due to more than 20 years of house arrestment. That price is also awarded to famous human right heroes such as "Kofi Annan" and "Nelson Mandela".

photo: Internet

http://www.myanmaronlinenews.net/2013/10/sakharov.html

General Aung San's Family Tree

General Aung San's Family Tree

Passport Issue Impossible

Sayadaw U Virathu ( aka U We-ya-thu) is a famous political religious activist in Myanmar. He said to Yangon Times Daily News on 6th Oct, 2013 about his passport application. His passport application in Yangon is currently over one year and six months and cannot get exact information from the office.
http://www.theyangontimes.com/

U We-ya-thu, Buddhist monk ( photo : Internet)

Is child soldiers an ongoing problem in Myanmar?

Although the government has facilitated a number of reforms within the past two years and has developed a new willingness to sign commitments such as the ‘Joint Action Plan’ on child soldiers, child soldiers is one of the ongoing problem in Myanmar.

Very few female political leaders in Myanmar

NLD ( National League for Democracy)  party leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi said  " The main reason why there are very few female political leaders in Myanmar is living under the military rules for very long years" at International Women Leadership Conference in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar on 4th October, 2013.  ( Thit Lwin Htoo News)

Hundreds of Peaceful Demonstrators are Detained

Ko Tait Naing, secretory of AAPP ( Assistance Association of Political Prisoner),said to RFA to cancel  law 18; permission under the peaceful procession and peaceful assembly law. Because the government is breaking that law which was stated in July 2012. There were 30 human rights activists, demonstrators were arrested and more than 100 are facing trials at the courts.

Naw Ohn Hla was arrested ( photo: DVB)

Human Rights Activists in Myanmar are still arrested

I am very upset to know my mother land still has human rights problems. The military government is constantly arresting human right activists in Myanmar. Naw Ohn Hla, and nine others were arrested on 13 August, 2013. Naw Ohn Hla is a Karen from Mawbee township in Rangoon, and has spent her life campaigning for human rights and democracy. The military related government still retains absolute power and it is a stark reminder that those new freedoms can be snatched away at any time.

http://www.dvb.no/dvb-video/the-face-of-defiance-naw-ohn-hla-burma-myanmar-latpadaung/32128
http://www.dvb.no/news/activists-slam-association-law-that-would-criminalise-dissent/31914

Aung Soe, one of the leaders of demonstrators peacefully protesting against the Latpaduang Copper Mine, is arrested by police in Rangoon on 2 December 2012. (DVB)

Prayer for peace(Myanmar Peace Song).mp4

UNFC asked ""Why repeatedly signing the ceasefire agreement?"

The following article gave me some information relating to my question for Shan State and the Myanmar military leaders'  so many times ceasefire agreements. There had been ceasefire signing ceremonies between military and ethnic groups in Myanmar for a long time after 1988.
 

Unilateral ceasefire and fulfilling Panglong Agreement key to reconciliation success

Wednesday, 02 October 2013 13:15 Sai Wansai

By Sai Wansai
Wednesday, 02 October 2013

Sai Wansai

The optimistic gesture, stemming from the ambitious nationwide ceasefire signing ceremony, feverishly lobbied by U Aung Min, President Thein Sein’s top peace negotiator, couldn’t be louder, now that former President Jimmy Carter has openly urged the Kachin Independence Organization/ Army (KIO/KIA) to agree to ink the much talked about, signing of agreement, this coming November. Originally, the signing ceremony was earmarked to take place in October.

Shan State still has Battles with Myanmar Military

Burmese military had battles with SSA ( Shan State Army) and RCSS ( Restoration Council of Shan State) in September 2nd and 3rd week, 2013. 
SSA leader said that there were more than 80 victims (most injured  and some died) in these battles within ten days. There were at least 8 battles between September 13-24, 2013.
There were more than 100 battles between RCSS/SSA and Myanmar Military in Shan States even though  both leaders already signed for ceasefire.
http://www.burmese.panglong.org/news/86-2008-08-01-03-20-45/4379-2013-09-30-10-31-38.html

SSA lieutenant general (photo: Internet)

Recent ceasefire in Karen State is now on business and not on peace

After I had a health problem for a year and full recovery from major brain operation, I am able to do my old habits and activities.  Though I am currently physically away from the people from Karen State, my soul has a strong desire to do something for Karen people. When I see the following news from "KAREN NEWS", my concerns for Karen people become greater.  "In an exclusive interview with Karen News, General Baw Kyaw Heh, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and is its second highest commander explained his concerns about the current peace building process with the government and why he thinks the recent ceasefire focus is now on business and not on peace."

A Karen Boy (photo internet)

                        

 

KNU Gen. Baw Kyaw Heh Exposes How Ceasefire Agenda has Shifted to Business

September 5, 2013 |

• Author: Eh Na

| Posted in Articles, Recommended | Tags: business, Ceasefire, Karen fighter, KNLA

In an exclusive interview with Karen News, General Baw Kyaw Heh, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and is its second highest commander explained his concerns about the current peace building process with the government and why he thinks the recent ceasefire focus is now on business and not on peace.
Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, a former Karen Special Forces officer is highly regarded by his soldiers as a tough but disciplined military commander. Gen Baw Kyaw Heh is the former head of the KNLA’s Brigade 5 and is renown within the Karen community as a ‘cleanskin’ – someone without the baggage of having conflicting business interests. Karen villagers in Mutraw District spoke highly to Karen News of General Baw Kyaw Heh’s commitment to their security and wellbeing. General Baw Kyaw Heh’s denied to Karen News that his position on the ceasefire with the government is too harsh.

Letter from Burma: An Old Friend (Written by Aung San Suu Kyi)

August 27, 2012(Mainichi Japan)

One of the greatest joys of my recent travels abroad was the opportunity to meet old friends again, particularly friends of my student days with whom I could pick up where we left off decades ago. The old friend about whom I am now about to write is not, however, one of them. In fact he is not a real person but a fictional character: Commissaire Maigret, whom I have already mentioned in a previous Letter from Burma, many years ago. 

When I visited France last June, President Holland presented me with a 27 volume set of the complete works of George Simenon. These were among the first books I packed to bring with me to Naypyidaw. The first hour of leisure I had after we (my dog Taichito and I) had settled into our new, temporary abode, I looked through the volumes to see how many Maigret stories there might be that I had not yet read. I was pleased to find there were several; not many, but enough to fill me with happy anticipation. The security personnel I came to know during my trips to Thailand and Europe were so very likeable I have developed a soft spot for the police and I thought that reading about my favorite policeman would be a most pleasant way to end each long working day. Moreover, as it would help me to improve my French, I could feel virtuous as well. Therefore I placed Volume 1 of the Simenon collection at my bedside with extreme satisfaction. (Of course, I felt a little guilty about skipping the non-Maigret parts of the collection but I could always go back to those later.)