Librarian's Choice
Librarian's Choice
Source/publisher:
National Workshop on Reforms for Economic Development of Myanmar, Naypyitaw, 19 – 21 August, 2011
Date of publication:
2011-08-21
Description:
Miicro and Macro Economic Policy:
1. Economic matters dealing with a household, a
business firm, or a village fall under microeconomics.
2. Economic matters dealing with the whole
economy, such as the total output of a country,
the national income, consumption, saving,
investment, national budget, balance of
payments, labour force, employment, etc.; fall
under macro-economics....
1. Generally speaking, microeconomics look at trees.
2. Macroeconomics look at forest.
3. Sometimes, by paying too much attention to trees,
we do not see the forest.
4. It can also happen, by concentrating too much on
forest, we do not see the trees.
5. Both trees and forest are important.
6. At this workshop we look at the forest, keeping in
mind trees are just as important. Because without
trees there won?t be any forest.
U Myint
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-17
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
379.62 KB
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Source/publisher:
National Workshop on Reforms for Economic Development of Myanmar, Naypyitaw, 19 – 21 August, 2011
Date of publication:
2011-08-21
Description:
"Aims off present workshop
1. To distinguish between a disease and its
symptoms.
2. The idea that the global crisis represents a
warning that something is very wrong with
the present world financial system.
3. If so, what is basically wrong with the
present system?
4. How can this wrong be corrected?
5. How does all this affect poor countries?..." The presentation looks at the international financial system and and the "Bottom Billion" (BB)
U Myint
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-17
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
329.01 KB
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Source/publisher:
"The New Light of Myanmar" 16 October 2011
Date of publication:
2011-10-16
Description:
NAY PYI TAW, 15 Oct— President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein held talks with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan
Singh on matters of mutual interest between the two countries, at the Conference Room of Hyderabad House in New Delhi yesterday noon.
After the meeting, the joint statement was released as follows:-
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-16
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
India-Burma relations
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
355.42 KB
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Source/publisher:
Amnesty International
Date of publication:
2011-10-12
Description:
"The release of at least 120 political prisoners in Myanmar today is a minimum first step, and authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all remaining prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International said.
Prisoners of conscience make up the majority of the political prisoners still jailed after the measure.
?This release of political prisoners is welcome, but is not consistent with the authorities? recent promises of political reform in Myanmar?, said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International?s Myanmar researcher. ?Unless the figure rises substantially, it will constitute a relaxation of reform efforts rather than a bold step forward?...."
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
76 KB
Local URL:
AI-press-release-POCsfreed-2011-10-12.pdf
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Source/publisher:
Mahidol Migration Center (MMC)
Date of publication:
2011-10-00
Description:
"Thailand is well-known for its pristine beaches
and spicy food. But this is not what attracts low
skilled migrants from neighboring countries into
the country. Prospects of work and security, higher
wages than they can earn at home and an
opportunity to explore new places and people
instead pull migrants from Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar, Vietnam and even China into Thailand.
Thailand?s rapid economic growth has created
wealth and opportunities. Development has
resulted in increased demand for labour, or to
be more precise, cheap low skilled foreign labour
to do dirty, dangerous and difficult work that
Thais often will not themselves do. To sustain a
growing economy and in order to compete in
international markets for low cost export of
goods, Thailand continues to be dependent on
a cheap migrant workforce of more than 2 million
people.
However for more than two decades since the
early 1990s, policy makers in Thailand have not,
at least until more recently, been willing or able
to effectively regularise migration flows into the
country. As a result, and left without legal and
official means to enter Thailand, migrant workers,
employers and industries employing migrants
turn to smugglers to get workers into the country
to fill significant gaps in the labour market. These
smugglers, usually referred to as ?brokers,? may
be complete strangers to the migrant workers
themselves. But sometimes they are closely
linked to friends and relatives. Links with officials
on both sides of Thailand?s borders is an
undeniable reality.
The push factors in migrant home countries that
bring them to Thailand include poverty, a lack
of opportunities for work and earning money
and repressive political environments - sometimes
even physical repression from their own
governments. When migrants hear stories from
friends and relatives about well-paid jobs in
Thailand, their decision to migrate is inevitable.
Yet without legal documents, knowledge about
Thailand?s employment system and an inability
to read and speak the Thai language, migrants
rely on brokers not only to smuggle them into
the country but also, unless they already have
strong networks in Thailand, to find them work,
accommodation and a new life.
For too many, this position of vulnerability means
that before they even realise it, migrants have
been sold into a situation where they are working
long hours without rest or pay on a fishing boat,
their freedom of movement is restricted on a
Snap Shot Stories from Invisible Victims of Trafficking in Thailand
7
construction site, they have been turned into a
virtual slave or, in the most extreme cases, forced
to provide sexual services against their will.
Migrant workers who find themselves in such
situations of exploitation often report fear in
approaching the police or other Thai government
officials for assistance as they are undocumented
and fear they will be arrested, extorted, abused
or deported. All of these outcomes lessen a
migrant?s opportunity to earn money for their
families back home, burden them with more
debt or even, in some cases, increase their risk
of human rights abuses further. For others, seeking
assistance from the police sees them sent back
to their employers where severe punishment or
even death awaits them. Workers who are victims
of exploitation report that police appear as a
key enemy and perceive many officials as deeply
involved in systems of exploitation of which
they have become victims..."
Andy Hall (editor)
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-11
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Trafficking: Burma-specific material
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
860.74 KB
Local URL:
MMC-Trafficking(en).pdf-red.pdf
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Source/publisher:
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Date of publication:
2011-09-30
Description:
"AAPP defines a political prisoner as anyone who is arrested because of his or her perceived or
real active involvement or supporting role in political movements with peaceful or resistant
means. AAPP maintains that the motivation behind the arrest of every individual in AAPP?s
database is political, regardless of the laws they have been sentenced under..."...List of laws commonly used to arbitrarily detain activists or criminalize dissent.... N. B. the texts of all of these laws can be found in the Law And Constitution section of the Online Burma/Myanmar Library
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-11
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
230.59 KB
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Source/publisher:
"The New Light of Myanmar"
Description:
This is a link to OBL?s "New Light of Myanmar" page for 2011. See "ACTIVITIES OF THE HLUTTAWS" for reports of the preceding day?s procedures.
Date of entry/update:
2011-10-06
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
The South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre ( SAHRDC)
Date of publication:
2011-09-29
Description:
"India lacks a coherent legal framework for the protection of refugees, treating them
simply as non-citizens who may be a potential threat to society. As a result of this
treatment, which is also reflected in societal attitudes, many of India?s refugees suffer
severe hardship. The South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre ( SAHRDC)
recently interviewed seven representative Burmese refugees about their experiences as
refugees in Delhi. Each of the seven refugees detailed a grim life of poverty and
insecurity, often accompanied by physical danger. Their stories underscore the urgent
need for India to adopt national legislation that grants refugees rights and protects them
from exploitation and abuse inherent in the vulnerable situation in which refugees find
themselves...Conclusion:
Coherent national legislation granting refugees rights and protections in India could go a
long way toward alleviating the climate of fear and insecurity in which Burmese refugees
live in India. It could start to shift governmental and societal attitudes towards refugees.
Instead of the current legal framework that sees foreign threats everywhere; new
legislation could send the right message that refugees are not threats but rather persons
unfairly persecuted by their country of origin who deserve India?s protection..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-30
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese refugees in India
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
57.56 KB
Local URL:
Burmese_Refugees_in_Delhi-HRF2011-09.pdf
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Source/publisher:
National Public Radio (NPR)
Date of publication:
2011-09-24
Description:
"Myanmar mostly makes news in the West these days with blood and iron, when the brutal military regime cracks down on monks and others protesting for democracy. Host Scott Simon chats with Thant Myint-U, author of "Where China Meets India: Burma and the New Crossroads of Asia", who says the country may have a bright and bold future as a bridge between China and India?s growing economies."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-25
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Dialogue/reform/transition in Burma/Myanmar - analyses and statements, China-Burma-India relations, China-Burma relations
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
Green November 32
Date of publication:
1993-09-00
Description:
This report by Green November 32 in 1993 was the first ever NGO perspective report written on the Yadana gas pipeline and on the border dams as they were first discussed by Thai and Burmese governments around that time. It was actually one of the first detailed reports on any of the post 1988 environmental issues by any Burmese- or border- based organisation, and is of particular interest in the light of the current opposition to the Irrawaddy dam projects...
"Officials of the Thai government and the SLORC military regime have for some years now been planning a series of huge energy joint ventures to be undertaken in some of the most fought over territory in Burma. The energy projects, if they are endorsed by the Thai Government - and implemented with the participation of Japanese and Western corporations - will have extremely serious, possibly even terminal repercussions for the Burmese pro-democracy movement which is based in these same areas of the Burma -Thai border. Indeed, this seems to be what a number of the proponents of the development projects intend to achieve, particularly the generals in Rangoon. The SLORC, as well as politicians, military men and businessmen in Thailand and abroad would garner great benefit from the destruction of the Burmese opposition groups along the border, and the opening of the way to even more unrestrained natural resource exploitation than is currently taking place.
There are ten planned energy development joint ventures, comprising two offshore natural gasfield developments and eight hydro-electric dams. These are: •The Martaban Gasfield developments led by Total CFP of France •The Yetagun Gasfield exploratory program led by Texaco of the US •The Upper Salween Dam, •The Lower Salween Dam •The Nam Kok Project •The Nam Moei 3 Project •The Nam Moei 2 Project •The Klong Kra Project •The Nam Moei 1 Project, and •The Nam Mae Sai Project...
The energy projects will lead to environmental and social havoc on a scale comparable to the largest development projects in the world. Indeed, the Upper Salween Dam will be among the largest in the world. Altogether the projects will directly result in the flooding and deforesting of thousands of square kilometers of the forests bordering Burma and Thailand. The projects will displace many thousands of indigenous peoples, some of them already refugees from the forty-five years of bloody civil war in Burma. Many have already been affected by military operations of the SLORC and Thai armies, operations which can easily be seen in the context of clearing the way for the development of the 820-1,000 kilometre gas pipeline or the construction of the eight dams...
The energy projects will put billions of dollars into the control of an ultra-nationalist military regime that is one of the world?s worst human rights violators and that is rapidly building up a large and extraordinarily aggressive army which poses a significant threat to the stability of the region. The massive input of funds from the Western and Japanese multinational oil and energy development companies, combined with the cheap sale and presents of Chinese weaponry, and the profits from the heroin traffic that the SLORC is alleged to control, has funded this huge expansion of the SLORC armed forces...
The energy joint ventures will, if signed, mark the second and higher level of engagement in the much criticised ASEAN policy of "constructive engagement" towards the SLORC regime, which through the activities of the logging, oil and fishing companies have already caused untold damage to Burma?s environment. The multinational corporations, the Keidanrens
and the Thai state oil and electricity institutes PTT and EGAT are therefore amongst the most powerful influences supporting the SLORC in its brutal and undemocratic suppression of the peoples of Burma."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-24
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Energy -- general, Oil and gas, Dams and other hydropower projects (global, regional), Dams and other projects on rivers in Burma/Myanmar (countrywide)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.3 MB
Local URL:
Deadly_Energy-ocr.pdf
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Source/publisher:
International Crisis Group -- Asia Briefing N?127
Date of publication:
2011-09-22
Description:
"Six months after the transition to a new, semi-civilian
government, major changes are taking place in Myanmar.
In the last two months, President Thein Sein has moved
rapidly to begin implementing an ambitious reform agenda
first set out in his March 2011 inaugural address. He is
reaching out to long-time critics of the former regime,
proposing that differences be put aside in order to work
together for the good of the country. Aung San Suu Kyi
has seized the opportunity, meeting the new leader in Naypyitaw
and emerging with the conviction that he wants
to achieve positive change. The Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) seems convinced that Myanmar
is heading in the right direction and may soon confer upon
it the leadership of the organisation for 2014. This would
energise reformers inside the country with real deadlines
to work toward as they push for economic and political
restructuring. Western policymakers should react to the
improved situation and be ready to respond to major steps
forward, such as a significant release of political prisoners..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-22
Type:
Individual Documents
Format :
pdf
Size:
376.63 KB
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Source/publisher:
George Washington University
Date of publication:
2011-08-31
Description:
Abstract: "Burma?s dictatorial government maintains its power by coupling political
repression and social control methods to cultivate a compliant citizenry. Yet non-violent
and violent opposition to military rule continues. Armed resistance groups began fighting
for independence and autonomy from the state prior to Burma?s independence. Large-scale
protests occurred in every decade since military takeover in 1962, the most recent were the
monks? protests in September 2007.
How do oppositions maintain their ability to challenge an authoritarian state over
long periods? Authoritarian conditions necessitate that opposition movements resist by
utilizing two imperatives: challenging the regime and ensuring their own survival.
Resistance in Burma encompasses the offensive position of the challenge imperative and
the defensive position of the survival imperative.
Challenge activities confront the authority of the governing regime; the
authoritarian government and its entities are the primary audience, although it is beneficial
if other segments of society witness the action. Oppositional activities do more than just
challenge the state. Oppositions conduct activities that also ensure their survival in the face
of repression. Political activities serve to signal in-group solidarity, transfer information to
other facets of the political movement and encourage long-term participation. For an
opposition to survive repression, member retention is critical and activist family networks
help individuals overcome regime-constraints to participation.
i x
The challenge and survival imperatives demonstrate that protest does not erupt
?from out of nowhere.? Over-relying on protest as a proxy measure of the existence of
opposition overlooks the wide range of resistance options available to discontented citizens,
especially those living under authoritarian rule. Using a protest events dataset and
interviews with activists, soldiers and citizens of Burma, this dissertation examines the
range of political resistance used in Burma to challenge the dictatorial regime."
Linnea M. Beatty
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-17
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Village and urban resistance
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
United Nations (A/HRC/17/27)
Date of publication:
2011-05-16
Description:
Summary:
"This report explores key trends and challenges to the right of all individuals to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through the Internet. The Special
Rapporteur underscores the unique and transformative nature of the Internet not only to
enable individuals to exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, but also a
range of other human rights, and to promote the progress of society as a whole. Chapter III
of the report underlines the applicability of international human rights norms and standards
on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the Internet as a communication
medium, and sets out the exceptional circumstances under which the dissemination of
certain types of information may be restricted. Chapters IV and V address two dimensions
of Internet access respectively: (a) access to content; and (b) access to the physical and
technical infrastructure required to access the Internet in the first place. More specifically,
chapter IV outlines some of the ways in which States are increasingly censoring
information online, namely through: arbitrary blocking or filtering of content;
criminalization of legitimate expression; imposition of intermediary liability; disconnecting
users from Internet access, including on the basis of intellectual property rights law; cyberattacks;
and inadequate protection of the right to privacy and data protection. Chapter V
addresses the issue of universal access to the Internet. The Special Rapporteur intends to
explore this topic further in his future report to the General Assembly. Chapter VI contains
the Special Rapporteur?s conclusions and recommendations concerning the main subjects
of the report. The first addendum to the report comprises a summary of communications sent by
the Special Rapporteur between 20 March 2010 and 31 March 2011, and the replies
received from Governments. The second and third addenda contain the findings of the
Special Rapporteur?s missions to the Republic of Korea and Mexico respectively."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-16
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Specialist organisations and resources
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
134.63 KB
Local URL:
Internet-Frank_LARUE.pdf
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Source/publisher:
United Nations
Description:
Mandate:
The Special Rapporteur is mandated by HRC resolution 7/36:
(a) To gather all relevant information, wherever it may occur, relating to violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, discrimination against, threats or use of violence, harassment, persecution or intimidation directed at persons seeking to exercise or to promote the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including, as a matter of high priority, against journalists or other professionals in the field of information;
(b) To seek, receive and respond to credible and reliable information from Governments, non-governmental organizations and any other parties who have knowledge of these cases;
(c) To make recommendations and provide suggestions on ways and means to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression in all its manifestations; and
(d) To contribute to the provision of technical assistance or advisory services by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Working methods
In the discharge of his mandate the Special Rapporteur:
a) Transmits urgent appeals and letters of allegation to Member States on alleged violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The Special Rapporteur summarises these communications as well as replies received from Governments in an annual report submitted to the Human Rights Council (See Individual Complaints).
b) Undertakes fact-finding country visits.
c) Submits annual reports covering activities relating to the mandate to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly (starting in 2010 for the latter).
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-16
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Specialist organisations and resources
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
OpenNet Initiative
Date of publication:
2010-12-22
Description:
"Despite very low connectivity, Internet
users in Burma have managed to
communicate valuable information
to the outside world during explosive
political events. The Burmese military
government continues to enforce
stringent overall access restrictions,
the most extreme of which occurred
during the complete shutdown of the
Internet in Burma in September and
October 2007. On top of these barriers to access, the government also polices Internet
content through one of the most severe regimes of information control in the
world..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-16
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Media - control of media in Burma, Freedom of opinion and expression: - the situation in Burma/Myanmar - reports, analyses, recommendations
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
Myanmar Mission, Geneva, via UN Human Rights Council
Date of publication:
2011-09-13
Description:
"...Today, I am here in your midst to highlight the importance that the Government of Myanmar attaches to the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
As you are well aware, a constitutional government has been formed recently in Myanmar. In his inaugural speech, the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar outlined the policies and objectives of the new government with a view to building a modern and democratic nation. The priorities of the new Government are to achieve good governance, clean government, fundamental rights of the citizens, rule of law, transparency, accountability, fight against corruption, reduction of income disparity, creation of a harmonious society, economic reform and environmental conservation.
Immediately after its formation, the Government has begun launching a series of economic, social and policy reforms to improve the socio-economic life of the people..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-14
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
39.49 KB
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Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2010-00-00
Description:
This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the worker advice on how to interact with her/his employer to achieve a mutually satisfactory working environment and system of remuneration and benefits for the worker.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Domestic Workers - standards and guides
Language:
Thai
Format :
pdf
Size:
561.64 KB
Local URL:
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(Thai).pdf
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(Thai).pdf more
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2010-00-00
Description:
This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the worker advice on how to interact with her/his employer to achieve a mutually satisfactory working environment and system of remuneration and benefits for the worker.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Domestic Workers - standards and guides
Language:
Shan
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.71 MB
Local URL:
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(Shan).pdf
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(Shan).pdf more
Title: Domestic Work - Decent Work -- a ?Smart Guide? for Domestic Workers in Thailand (S?gaw Karen)
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2010-00-00
Description:
This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the worker advice on how to interact with her/his employer to achieve a mutually satisfactory working environment and system of remuneration and benefits for the worker.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Domestic Workers - standards and guides
Language:
S?gaw Karen
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.01 MB
more
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2010-00-00
Description:
This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the worker advice on how to interact with her/his employer to achieve a mutually satisfactory working environment and system of remuneration and benefits for the worker.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Domestic Workers - standards and guides
Language:
Pwo Karen
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.01 MB
more
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2010-00-00
Description:
This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the worker advice on how to interact with her/his employer to achieve a mutually satisfactory working environment and system of remuneration and benefits for the worker.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-12
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Domestic Workers - standards and guides
Language:
Burmese
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.07 MB
Local URL:
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(bu).pdf
Domestic_Work-Decent_Work-handbook(bu).pdf more
Source/publisher:
Washington State University (Doctoral Dissertation)
Date of publication:
2010-12-00
Description:
Abstract: "Burma?s ethnic conflict is one of the longest conflicts in the world. The conflict has been ongoing since 1948. The conflict has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and thousands more have become refugees or internally displaced persons. This study attempts to explain the root causes of ethnic conflict in Burma through an in-depth analysis of the Mon ethnic group as a case study. Based on the results of the analysis, the study presents possible solutions to the conflict.
The results show that the conflict is caused by three major factors: threats to ethnic identity, nationalist sentiments, and images of out-group. When the Mon ethnic identity was identified and measured, the Mons are highly nationalistic and strongly identified with their group. Thus, they are prompted to respond to threats to their identity. Major factors explaining the threats to Mon ethnic identity are the loss of territory, downgrading of identity, restrictions on the teaching of language and literature, and practicing of culture, the destruction of national symbols, internal migrations and population transfer, intermarriage, and threats of annihilation.
The Mon have a barbarian image of the Burman because they see Burman as superior in capability, inferior in status, and as having harmful intentions. The level of in-group identity also
v
has a positive correlation with the level of barbarian image. These two variables (identity and barbarian image) also have positive correlations with the level of conflict. This implies that those who have higher levels of in-group identity and a greater barbarian image of the Burman results in higher levels of conflict. The level of barbarian image also shows a positive correlation with the forming of alliances with other non-Burman ethnic groups and fighting against the Burman.
The current Burmese government?s ―seven steps road map‖ will not provide a solution to the ethnic conflict in Burma. Burma?s ethnic problems could be solved by dialogue among all stakeholders, democratization, power-sharing, and the forming of a super-ordinate identity. These can happen through the establishment of a genuine federal political system that guarantees autonomy to all ethnic groups in Burma."
Pon Nya Mon, Ph.D.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-11
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Mon (cultural, political), Education in Mon State
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.68 MB
Local URL:
Mon_wsu-PonNyaMon.pdf-red.pdf
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Source/publisher:
"The New Light of Myanmar" 6 September 2011
Date of publication:
2011-09-06
Description:
NAY PYI TAW, 5 Sept—"The Union Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar issued
Notification No. 34/2011 dated 5-9-2011 as follows:-
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Union Government
Notification No. (34/2011)
8th Waxing of Tawthalin1373 ME
(5 September, 2011)...Formation of Myanmar National Human Rights
Commission
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission was formed with the following persons with a view
to promoting and safeguarding fundamental rights of citizens described in the constitution of the Republic of
the Union of Myanmar..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-10
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
171.45 KB
more
Source/publisher:
Wikipedia
Description:
"The Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris on 7-9 October 1991. They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General Assembly in its Resolution 48/134 of 1993. The Paris Principles relate to the status and functioning of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights.
In addition to exchanging views on existing arrangements, the workshop participants drew up a comprehensive series of recommendations on the role, composition, status and functions of national human rights institutions (NHRIs)...
Five stipulations:
The Paris Principles list a number of responsibilities for national institutions, which fall under five headings. First, the institution shall monitor any situation of violation of human rights which it decides to take up. Second, the institution shall be able to advise the Government, the Parliament and any other competent body on specific violations, on issues related to legislation and general compliance and implementation with international human rights instruments. Third, the institution shall relate to regional and international organizations. Fourth, the institution shall have a mandate to educate and inform in the field of human rights. Fifth, some institutions are given a quasi-judicial competence.
"The key elements of the composition of a national institution are its independence and pluralism. In relation to the independence the only guidance in the Paris Principles is that the appointment of commissioners or other kinds of key personnel shall be given effect by an official Act, establishing the specific duration of the mandate, which may be renewable."
Compliance with the Paris Principles is the central requirement of the accreditation process that regulates NHRI access to the United Nations Human Rights Council and other bodies. This is a peer review system operated by a subcommittee of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-10
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
United Nations
Date of publication:
1993-12-20
Description:
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993 ...Five stipulations
The Paris Principles list a number of responsibilities for national institutions, which fall under five headings. First, the institution shall monitor any situation of violation of human rights which it decides to take up. Second, the institution shall be able to advise the Government, the Parliament and any other competent body on specific violations, on issues related to legislation and general compliance and implementation with international human rights instruments. Third, the institution shall relate to regional and international organizations. Fourth, the institution shall have a mandate to educate and inform in the field of human rights. Fifth, some institutions are given a quasi-judicial competence. [2]
"The key elements of the composition of a national institution are its independence and pluralism. In relation to the independence the only guidance in the Paris Principles is that the appointment of commissioners or other kinds of key personnel shall be given effect by an official Act, establishing the specific duration of the mandate, which may be renewable." [3]
Compliance with the Paris Principles is the central requirement of the accreditation process that regulates NHRI access to the United Nations Human Rights Council and other bodies. This is a peer review system operated by a subcommittee of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs. (from the Wikipedia page on the Paris Principles)
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-10
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English (Arabic, Chinese,French, Russian and Spanish also avaialble)
more
Source/publisher:
Burma Campaign UK
Date of publication:
2011-09-00
Description:
Introduction:
"Since November 2010 there have been a series
of political developments in Burma, many of
which have variously been hailed as ?new?,
?unprecedented? and ?progress?.
In August 2011 the slow drip of ?positive?
developments became a steady stream, with a
number of initiatives which have gained positive
publicity for the dictatorship. While some remain
cautious, there is an increasing perception that
something new is happening in Burma.
Once again, many governments are arguing that
now is not the time to increase pressure for reform
or for an improvement in human rights. They argue
that we must wait and see what happens. Some
are even arguing for some existing measures to
be relaxed. This is despite the fact that on the
ground in Burma, the human rights situation has
deteriorated, most significantly with the increase
of rape and gang rape of ethnic minority women
committed by the Burmese Army.
The dictatorship in Burma has a long track record
of lying, and of dangling the prospect of impending
change to the international community, in order to
avoid increased pressure, or to try to get pressure
relaxed.
This briefing paper assesses whether events in
Burma in the past year really are new.
Are recent events in Burma a sign that real change
is on the way at last? Or is this more spin and
propaganda from the dictatorship, designed to relax
international pressure while maintaining their grip
on power?"
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-10
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
Austral Policy Forum 06-30A 24 August 2006
Date of publication:
2006-08-24
Description:
"while countries in the neighbouring regions - particularly India and Thailand, but also Australia and Japan - may have important roles to play, China wields far more leverage. For those who wish to influence Burma in a positive direction, it is therefore essential to consider ways that change could be stimulated with the active participation of China, whether through sanctions, constructive engagement and/or any form of dialogue."
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Nautilus Institute. Readers should note that Nautilus seeks a diversity of views and opinions on contentious topics in order to identify common ground..."
Ã
shild Kolås & Stein Tønnesson
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-09
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
137.15 KB
Local URL:
Geopolitics_of_Gas.pdf
Geopolitics_of_Gas.pdf more
Source/publisher:
Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC)
Date of publication:
2010-10-00
Description:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...
1. INTRODUCTION:
1.1 Humanitarian Flux in Burma / Myanmar*;
1.2 Methodology...
2. MILITARISATION AND DISPLACEMENT:
2.1 Militarisation and Vulnerability;
2.2 Scale and Distribution of Displacement...
3. CHRONIC POVERTY:
3.1 Demographic Pressures:
3.2 Housing, Water and Sanitation Conditions;
3.3 Education and Malnutrition Status of Children;
3.4 Agricultural Assets;
3.5 Household Income and Expenditures;
3.6 Food Security;
3.7 Livelihood Shocks, Debt and Coping Strategies...
4. EASTERN BURMA / MYANMAR SITUATION UPDATE:
4.1 Southern Shan State;
4.2 Karenni / Kayah State;
4.3 Northern Karen / Kayin Areas;
4.4 Central Karen / Kayin State;
4.5 Mon Areas;
4.6 Tenasserim / Tanintharyi Division...
APPENDICES:
1. Internally Displaced Population Estimates (2010)...
2. Destroyed, Relocated or Abandoned Villages (2009-2010)...
3. Relocation Sites (2010)...
4. SPDC Military Command in Eastern Burma / Myanmar (2010)...
5. 2010 Survey Guidelines...
6. Acronyms and Place Names.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-09
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
7.99 MB
Local URL:
TBBC-IDPreport-2010(en).pdf
TBBC-IDPreport-2010(en).pdf more
Source/publisher:
United States Institute for Peace
Date of publication:
2010-03-10
Description:
Summary:
"After decades of domestic conflict, military rule and authoritarian governance, Burma?s economy could provide a viable entry point for effective international assistance to promote peace. Doing so would require a detailed understanding of the country?s complex and evolving political economy.
The lingering income and distributional effects of the 2008 Cyclone Nargis, anticipated changes associated with the new constitution and the 2010 elections and the Obama administration?s decision to devote more attention to Burma suggest that the time is ripe for the creative application of economic mechanisms to promote and sustain peace.
Looming challenges could derail Burma?s prospects for economic and political stability. These challenges include irrational macroeconomic policies, failing to ensure all citizens enjoy benefits accrued from natural resources, endemic corruption, a flourishing illicit economy, a dysfunctional financial system and critical infrastructure bottlenecks. Failure to address these problems would frustrate peacebuilding efforts.
A conflict sensitive economic strategy for Burma would focus on effective capacity-building, sustained policy reform, progressive steps to reduce corruption, fiscal empowerment of subnational authorities and prudent natural resource management. Success in these areas requires unwavering political will for sensibly sequenced policy improvements by domestic actors and finely targeted support from Burma?s international partners."
.....လယ်ယာကဏ္ဍအတွက် ကြွေးမြီပြဿနာများ ပြေလျော့စေမှသာ ဖြစ်နိုင်ပေလိမ့်မည်။7 စီးပွားရေး
အခွင့်အလမ်း မရှိခြင်းနှင့် နိုင်ငံရေးအရ ဖိနှိပ်ထားခြင်းကြောင့် ရည်ရွယ်ချက်ကြီးမားပြီး၊ ပညာတတ်ကြ
သည့် နိုင်ငံသားများ အမြောက်အများ တိုင်းပြည်ပြင်ပသို့ ထွက်လာနေကြသည်။ နှစ်ပေါင်း(၂၀)
အတွင်းတွင် ပြည်ပသို့ ထွက်လာသူ ခန့်မှန်း (၃)သန်းမျှ ရှိနိုင်ပါသည်။
ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံသို့ ဓာတ်ငွေ့တင်ပို့ရောင်းချမှုမှ နိုင်ငံခြားငွေ အမြောက်အများ ဝင်မလာမီ၊ မူးယစ်ဆေးဝါး
(ဘိန်းဖြူနှင့် မီသာအမ်ဖီတမင်း) ရောင်းဝယ်မှုမှ ၁၉၉၀ ခုနှစ်များ နှောင်းပိုင်းတွင် နိုင်ငံခြားဝင်ငွေ
အများဆုံး ရရှိခဲ့သည်ဟု ခန့်မှန်းကြသည်။ ပြီးခဲ့သည့်နှစ်များတွင် ဘိန်းထုတ်လုပ်မှု သိသိသာသာ
ကျဆင်းသွားခဲ့သည်။ သို့သော်လည်း မှောင်ခိုစီးပွားနယ်ပယ်တွင်းသို့ ငွေမာများ စီးဆင်းဝင်လာနေမှုက
သိသိသာသာရှိနေသေးပြီး၊ အင်အားကောင်း အာဏာရှိနေသူများမှတဆင့် အစိုးရမူဝါဒများအပေါ်
လွှမ်းမိုးသက်ရောက်နိုင်မှု ရှိနေပါသည်။
အခြားမှောင်ခိုစီးပွားနယ်ပယ်တစ်ခုမှာ ကြီးထွားလာနေသည့် တရုတ်လူမျိုးများ၏ အခန်းကဏ္ဍ
ပင် ဖြစ်သည်။ တရုတ်နယ်စပ် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ၏ အချို့အစိတ်အပိုင်းများတွင် တရုတ် ရီမင်ဘီငွေကို
လှည့်လည်သုံးစွဲနေပြီး၊ ပြီးခဲ့သည့် နှစ်များအတွင်း မြောက်ဖက်ဒေသများ ၊ ပြည်နယ်များတွင်
တရုတ်လူမျိုး တစ်သန်းကျော် တရားမဝင် ဝင်ရောက်အခြေချနေထိုင်ခဲ့ကြပါသည်။ ဤဖြစ်ပေါ်
တိုးတက်မှုများက မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ၌ သုံးစွဲနေသည့် ငွေကြေးအမျိုးမျိုးကြောင့် ပေါ်ပေါက်လာရသည့်
ပြဿနာများကို အားဖြည့်ပေးပြီး၊ နိုင်ငံအဆင့် မက္ကရိုစီးပွားတည်ငြိမ်မှုတစ်ခုလုံးကိုပါ ထိခိုက်လာဖွယ်
အကြောင်း ရှိနေပါသည်။
Lex Rieffel, Raymond Gilpin
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-09
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English, Burmese
more
Source/publisher:
Youth Connect
Description:
"The idea for Youth Connect was sparked in late 2007 after Patrick Kearns and a team of researchers investigated youth employment in Mae Sot. After conducting more than 380 interviews with employers, students, parents, school and government officials over the course of three months, the team came back with the following conclusions:
* Businesses in Mae Sot needed more reliable, trained employees.
* Youths in Mae Sot needed more opportunities for quality employment.
* Youth did not have the skills or qualifications to access higher-quality jobs – especially basic math, Thai language and life skills.
* There was a lack of decent jobs for youth in Mae Sot without these skill sets...
Five months later, Patrick founded Youth Connect with funding from Child?s Dream.
Using the findings from the research, Youth Connect moved forward with a mission to tackle each of these problems with a comprehensive new program. Transitions addresses all of these issues by serving as a bridge between the employers and youths, offering educational and vocational training opportunities. The Transitions program is a four-pronged approach, offering in-school training in math, Thai and life skills, 9-week intensive trainings leading up to 3-month apprenticeships, a career center and job opportunities. For more information about the program, visit our Transitions Program page...
Since its inception, Youth Connect has seen remarkable growth in staff and clients served. In its first year, Youth Connect served 53 students; in its third, it served about 300. Youth Connect?s initial staff of 5 has quadrupled to 20 in three years, as well. Meet Youth Connect?s students and staff...
Volunteers also serve Youth Connect?s students by offering administrative support, short courses and English classes. Join our team today!"
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
Network Myanmar
Description:
Useful material: 1. Business and Investment News...
2. Basic Documentation on Trade and Investment in Myanmar...
3. Trade and Investment Data and Statistics
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Source/publisher:
Network Myanmar
Description:
More than 100 useful articles and reports from various sources -- academic, Myanmar Union Government, intergovernmental agencies, media etc.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English, (at least 1 Burmese item)
more
Source/publisher:
A/66/الجمعية العامةالأمم المتحدة 267
Date of publication:
2011-08-05
Description:
موجز
٢٤١ ويشمل الفترة / يُقدَّم هذا التقرير عملا بالفقرة ٣٠ من قرار الجمعية العامة ٦٥
من ٢٦ آب/أغسطس ٢٠١٠ إلى ٤ آب/أغسطس ٢٠١١ . وخلال الفترة المشمولة
بالتقرير، تم تنفيذ الخطوات المتبقية من خارطة الطريق السياسية التي يقودها مجلس الدولة
للسلام والتنمية، وهي إجراء انتخابات عامة في ٧ تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر ٢٠١٠ ؛ وانعقاد
البرلمان الجديد في كانون الثا ني /يناير ٢٠١١ ؛ ونقل السلطة من اﻟﻤﺠلس إلى الحكومة الجديدة
في ٣٠ آذار /مارس ٢٠١١ . وفي غضون هذه العملية، تم حل اﻟﻤﺠلس رسميا . وفي ١٣ تشرين
الثاني/نوفمبر ٢٠١٠ ، أي بعد أسبوع واحد من إجراء الانتخابات، ُأطلق سراح داو أونغ
سان سو كي، بعد احتجازها لمدة سبع سنوات رهن الإقامة الجبرية في مترلها.
.A.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Arabic
Format :
pdf
Size:
228.45 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(ar).pdf
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Source/publisher:
Организация Объединенных Наций Генеральная Ассамблея (A/66/267)
Date of publication:
2011-08-05
Description:
Резюме
Настоящий доклад представлен в соответствии с пунктом 30 резолю-
ции 65/241 Генеральной Ассамблеи и охватывает период с 26 августа 2010 года
по 4 августа 2011 года. В ходе отчетного периода под руководством Государст-
венного совета мира и развития были реализованы остальные шаги в рамках
политической ?дорожной карты?, а именно: 7 ноября 2010 года были проведены
всеобщие выборы; в январе 2011 года был созван новый парламент; а 30 марта
2011 года Совет передал власть новому правительству. В ходе этого процесса
Совет был официально распущен. Через неделю после выборов, 13 ноября
2010 года, г-жа Аун Сан Су Чжи была отпущена на свободу после семи лет до-
машнего ареста.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Russian
Format :
pdf
Size:
324.86 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(ru).pdf
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(ru).pdf more
Source/publisher:
联合国 大 会 (A/66/267)
Date of publication:
2011-08-05
Description:
摘要
本报告是根据大会决议第65/241 号决议第30 段提交的，涵盖2010 年8 月
26 日至2011 年8 月4 日。在报告所述期间内，由国家和平与发展委员会领导推
行的政治路线图余下步骤均已实施，即于2010 年11 月7 日举行大选；2011 年1
月召开新议会；2011 年3 月30 日由委员会将权力移交新政府。在权力移交过程
中，和发会正式解散。大选后一个星期，被软禁7 年的昂山素季于2010 年11 月
13 日获释。
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Chinese
Format :
pdf
Size:
247.81 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(ch).pdf
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(ch).pdf more
Source/publisher:
Nations Unies Assembl?e g?n?rale (A/66/267)
Date of publication:
2011-08-11
Description:
R?sum?
Le pr?sent rapport est soumis en application du paragraphe 30 de la r?solution
65/241 de l?Assembl?e g?n?rale et porte sur la p?riode allant du 26 ao?t 2010 au
4 ao?t 2011. Au cours de la p?riode consid?r?e, les derni?res ?tapes de la feuille de
route politique du Conseil d??tat pour la paix et le d?veloppement ont ?t? mises en
oeuvre, ? savoir la tenue d??lections g?n?rales le 7 novembre 2010; la r?union du
nouveau Parlement en janvier 2011; la passation des pouvoirs du Conseil au nouveau
Gouvernement le 30 mars 2011. Ce faisant, le Conseil a ?t? officiellement dissous.
Le 13 novembre 2010, une semaine apr?s les ?lections, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a ?t?
lib?r?e apr?s sept ans d?assignation ? domicile.
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Fran?ais, French
Format :
pdf
Size:
108.33 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(fr).pdf
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(fr).pdf more
Source/publisher:
Naciones UnidasAsamblea General (A/65/367 )
Date of publication:
2011-08-05
Description:
Resumen:
"Este informe se presenta en cumplimiento de lo dispuesto en el p?rrafo 30 de la
resoluci?n 65/241 de la Asamblea General y abarca el per?odo comprendido entre el
26 de agosto de 2010 y el 4 de agosto de 2011. Durante el per?odo a que se refiere el
informe, se cumplieron las etapas que quedaban de la gu?a pol?tica impulsada por el
Consejo Estatal de Paz y Desarrollo, a saber: las elecciones generales se celebraron
el 7 de noviembre de 2010, el nuevo Parlamento se reuni? en enero de 2011 y el
Consejo traspas? el poder al nuevo Gobierno el 30 de marzo de 2011. En el proceso,
el Consejo fue oficialmente disuelto. El 13 de noviembre de 2010, una semana
despu?s de las elecciones, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi fue liberada despu?s de siete a?os
de arresto domiciliario."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Espa?ol, Spanish
Format :
pdf
Size:
192.7 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(sp).pdf
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(sp).pdf more
Source/publisher:
United Nations (A/66/267)
Date of publication:
2011-08-05
Description:
Summary:
"The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 30 of General Assembly
resolution 65/241 and covers the period from 26 August 2010 to 4 August 2011.
During the reporting period, the remaining steps of the political road map led by the
State Peace and Development Council were implemented, namely, the holding of
general elections on 7 November 2010; the convening of the new Parliament in
January 2011; and the transfer of power from the Council to the new Government on
30 March 2011. In the process, the Council was officially dissolved. On
13 November 2010, one week after the election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was
released after seven years of house arrest."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-08
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
86.94 KB
Local URL:
GA2011-SG-A-66-267(en).pdf
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Source/publisher:
Shwe Gas Movement
Date of publication:
2011-09-07
Description:
"Construction of various project components
to extract, process, and export the Shwe
gas - as well as oil trans-shipments from
Africa and the Middle East - is now well
underway. Local peoples are losing their land
and fishing grounds without finding new job
opportunities. Workers that have found lowpaying
temporary jobs are exploited and fired for
demanding basic rights. Women face unequal
wages, discrimination in the compensation
process, and vulnerabilities in the growing sex
industry around the project.
Resentment against the so-called Shwe Gas
Project is growing and communities are beginning
to stand up against abuses and exploitation.
Despite threats and risk of arrest, farmers and
local residents are sending complaints to local
authorities. Laborers are striking for better pay
and working conditions and women running
households are demanding electricity.
Burma?s military government is exporting massive world-class natural gas
reserves found off the country?s western coast, sacrificing the country?s future
economic security and dashing chances of electrification and job creation. The
?Shwe” offshore fields will produce trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that
could be used to spur economic and social development in one of the world?s
least developed nations. Instead it will be piped across the country to China,
fuelling abuses and conflict along its path.
Meanwhile active fighting has broken out between
armed resistance groups and government troops
in the area of the pipeline corridor in northern
Burma.
The Korean, Chinese and Indian companies
involved in this project are taking tremendous
risks with their reputations and investments.
Social tensions, armed conflict, human rights
abuses, and lack of project standards have
raised concerns in investor circles and caused at
least one pension fund to divest from the Korean
fi rm Daewoo International, the main developer of
the gas fields.
Genuine development can only be achieved
when community rights and the environment are
protected, affected peoples share in benefits, and
transparency and accountability mechanisms
are in place. The Shwe Gas and China-Burma
Pipelines projects must be suspended and all
financing frozen or divested until such conditions
exist..."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-07
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
2.87 MB 5.23 MB
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Source/publisher:
The Burma Medical Association, National Health and Education Committee, Back Pack Health Worker Team
Date of publication:
2010-10-19
Description:
Executive Summary: "This report reveals that the health of populations in conflict-affected areas of eastern Burma, particularly women and children, is amongst the worst in the world, a result of official disinvestment in health, protracted conflict and the abuse of civilians..."Diagnosis: Critical" demonstrates that a vast area of
eastern Burma remains in a chronic health
emergency, a continuing legacy of longstanding
official disinvestment in health, coupled with
protracted civil war and the abuse of civilians. This
has left ethnic rural populations in the east with
41.2% of children under five acutely malnourished.
60.0% of deaths in children under the age of 5 are
from preventable and treatable diseases, including
acute respiratory infection, malaria, and diarrhea.
These losses of life would be even greater if it were
not for local community-based health organizations,
which provide the only available preventive and
curative care in these conflict-affected areas.
The report summarizes the results of a large scale
population-based health and human rights survey
which covered 21 townships and 5,754 households
in conflict-affected zones of eastern Burma. The
survey was jointly conducted by the Burma Medical
Association, National Health and Education
Committee, Back Pack Health Worker Team and
ethnic health organizations serving the Karen,
Karenni, Mon, Shan, and Palaung communities.
These areas have been burdened by decades of civil
conflict and attendant human rights abuses against
the indigenous populations.
Eastern Burma demographics are characterized by
high birth rates, high death rates and the significant
absence of men under the age of 45, patterns more
comparable to recent war zones such as Sierra
Leone than to Burma?s national demographics.
Health indicators for these communities, particularly
for women and children, are worse than Burma?s
official national figures, which are already amongst
the worst in the world. Child mortality rates are
nearly twice as high in eastern Burma and the
maternal mortality ratio is triple the official national
figure.
While violence is endemic in these conflict zones,
direct losses of life from violence account for only
2.3% of deaths. The indirect health impacts of the
conflict are much graver, with preventable losses
of life accounting for 59.1% of all deaths and malaria
alone accounting for 24.7%. At the time of the
survey, one in 14 women was infected with Pf
malaria, amongst the highest rates of infection in
the world. This reality casts serious doubts over
official claims of progress towards reaching the
country?s Millennium Development Goals related to the health of women, children, and infectious
diseases, particularly malaria.
The survey findings also reveal widespread human
rights abuses against ethnic civilians. Among
surveyed households, 30.6% had experienced
human rights violations in the prior year, including
forced labor, forced displacement, and the
destruction and seizure of food. The frequency and
pattern with which these abuses occur against
indigenous peoples provide further evidence of the
need for a Commission of Inquiry into Crimes
against Humanity. The upcoming election will do
little to alleviate the situation, as the military forces
responsible for these abuses will continue to
operate outside civilian control according to the
new constitution.
The findings also indicate that these abuses are
linked to adverse population-level health outcomes,
particularly for the most vulnerable members of
the community—mothers and children. Survey
results reveal that members of households who
suffer from human rights violations have worse
health outcomes, as summarized in the table above.
Children in households that were internally
displaced in the prior year were 3.3 times more
likely to suffer from moderate or severe acute
malnutrition. The odds of dying before age one was
increased 2.5 times among infants from households
in which at least one person was forced to provide
labor.
The ongoing widespread human rights abuses
committed against ethnic civilians and the blockade
of international humanitarian access to rural
conflict-affected areas of eastern Burma by the
ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),
mean that premature death and disability,
particularly as a result of treatable and preventable
diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory
infections, will continue.
This will not only further devastate the health of
communities of eastern Burma but also poses a
direct health security threat to Burma?s neighbors,
especially Thailand, where the highest rates of
malaria occur on the Burma border. Multi-drug
resistant malaria, extensively drug-resistant
tuberculosis and other infectious diseases are
growing concerns. The spread of malaria resistant
to artemisinin, the most important anti-malarial
drug, would be a regional and global disaster.
In the absence of state-supported health
infrastructure, local community-based organizations
are working to improve access to health services in
their own communities. These programs currently
have a target population of over 376,000 people in
eastern Burma and in 2009 treated nearly 40,000
cases of malaria and have vastly increased access
to key maternal and child health interventions.
However, they continue to be constrained by a lack
of resources and ongoing human rights abuses by
the Burmese military regime against civilians. In
order to fully address the urgent health needs of
eastern Burma, the underlying abuses fueling the
health crisis need to end."
Date of entry/update:
2011-09-05
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Conflict and health, including violations of humanitarian and human rights standards as threats to health, Armed conflict in Burma - Impact on village life, including health and education, Internal displacement/forced migration of Karen villagers, Food Security in Burma/Myanmar - web searches, specialised groups, reports and statistics, Food Security and human rights in Burma, Right to Health: reports of violations in Burma, Health and internal displacement/forced migration, Backpack medics and other health projects in Eastern Burma
Language:
Burmese, English, Thai
Format :
pdf
Size:
5.32 MB
Local URL:
Diagnosis_critical(en)-red.pdf
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