China's new European trade hub: An Irish town of 18,000 - Christian Science Monitor
The Athlone Institute of Technology hosts more than 200 Chinese students – one of the links that helped bring the trade hub to the town, says Prof. Ciaran Ó Catháin, the president of the school and one of the players in the project negotiations. Professor Ó Catháin would not disclose ...
Vietnam’s Problems, Promises - Asia Sentinel/RTÉ World Report
“We tend to lose around 20% of our staff every year after Tet” (the Vietnamese New Year), said Kim Jung Hee, manager of a factory in Binh Duong province, an hour's drive from Saigon's centre. Her Korean company NB Blue employs a thousand workers, in a clean and well-lit factory ...
Thailand sentences American to prison for insulting king - Los Angeles Times
"In Thailand they put people in jail without proof," Lerpong said Thursday, his arms and legs shackled, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. "I was born in Thailand, but this does not mean I am Thai. I am proud to be an American citizen."
DMZ: Road trip to the world's most heavily armed border - CNNGo
SEOUL - As the tour bus moves from central Seoul to the city outskirts, the seamless transition from one of the world's biggest and most vibrant cities to the world's most heavily armed border is as surreal as it is functional, with roadside bus-stops giving way to military watchtowers even ...
Potent mix for Timor-Leste - Asia Times
DILI - Land, corruption and poverty are all on the table as Timor-Leste gets into political mode ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2012, with one controversial figure already throwing his hat into the ring.
If Samuel Beckett met Pol Pot - Asia Sentinel/Irish Examiner
TIK PANHAO, CAMBODIA - In some of Cambodia’s thousands of killing fields, the bones of the dead can sometimes be seen, rising to the surface after storms or rain, like grisly emblems of an unburied past. Perhaps 16,000 died at the s-21 Detention Camp in Phnom Penh, or at Choeung ...
Voting ends in southern Sudan referendum - Sunday Tribune
Kyeli, Blue Nile State, Sudan - “Soon after we married, my husband was killed during the war”, says Hawa Abdul-Gadr. Her eyes show a suppressed grief, but her demeanour is purposeful. That said, there is a perceptible sadness - long-kept under wraps but perhaps closer to the surface than she ...
An unbreakable bond? – Asia Times
JERUSALEM – In 'The Great Divorce' C.S. Lewis attempted to allegorise about a reality which he admitted he could not know, but tentatively hoped to suggest. The US-Israeli relationship, to most, seems like an unbreakable bond, and any potential divorce might be regarded as unimaginable. But when Israeli Prime Minister ...
Narcotic use, drought rob babies of food – The Washington Times
DIRE DAWA, Ethiopia | When drought and food shortages hit, it is the very young who suffer first, and most. Weighing only 10 pounds, Ayaan is among nearly 100,000 Ethiopian children whose lives are at risk. Just four days before her first birthday, she is lighter than an average 3-month-old ...
Corruption trumps tribalism – New York Times (IHT)
Kenyans were cynical about their political establishment long before the latest election violence. One wisecrack doing the rounds since last year says "there is more chance of a Luo becoming president of the United States than president of this country" - referring to Barack Obama, whose father hails from the ...
ASIA: Human rights body’s shaky beginnings – IRIN
October 26th, 2009
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86745
HUA HIN, 26 October 2009 (IRIN) – After only a few days Southeast Asia’s inter-governmental human rights body is
Kraisak Choonhavan speaking at the AIPMC press conference, Hua Hin (Photo: Simon Roughneen)
already being criticized over its terms of reference as well as its ability to have any impact on human rights in Myanmar.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched its Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on 23 October with the signing of the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration at the 15th ASEAN summit held in Hua Hin, Thailand, over the weekend.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and ASEAN chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva said it “showed the commitment of ASEAN member-states to realize the historic quest of the people of Southeast Asia for freedom”.
But critics say its mandate is limited and that its undertaking to “promote human rights within the regional context, bearing in mind national and regional particularities and mutual respect for different historical, cultural and religious backgrounds” does not go far enough, given that Myanmar continues to be cited by human rights watchdogs as one of the world’s worst violators.
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the country’s military government had yet to demonstrate a willingness to adhere to principles of democratic governance under the ASEAN charter.
And ASEAN’s long-held assertion that Myanmar’s political and human rights issues were internal affairs was no longer applicable, particularly since such problems had affected other countries in the region, he said. (more…)
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – ISN
October 26th, 2009
Burmese delegate Khin Ohn Mar expresses disappointment at ASEAN leaders (Photo: Simon Roughneen)
ASEAN’s new human rights commission is a tiger with no teeth and highlights the organization’s continuing unwillingness to confront member states who thumb their nose at democracy, writes Simon Roughneen for ISN Security Watch.
By Simon Roughneen in Hua Hin, Thailand for ISN Security Watch
As current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN), Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva formally launched the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) here in Hua Hin on 23 October.
However the AICHR is toothless. Apparently it work to promote the concept of human rights, but lacks any competence to sanction member states for human rights abuses, which Abhisit acknowledged in his launch speech. He said that $200,000 was available to fund the AICHR, but added that he hoped more money from ASEAN, and beyond, would be made available. ASEAN will review the Commission’s terms of reference every five years to “further develop and strengthen the mandate and function of the body,” according to the Thai PM, who stressed that critics should not see the AICHR as “an end in itself, but a work in progress.”
The launch was overshadowed by a row between ‘civil society’ groups from the ASEAN member states, and the heads of government. At 11:30pm on last Thursday, Thai Foreign Ministry officials informed the delegates – elected at a meeting of the ASEAN People’s Forum 18-20 October – that the governments of Burma, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines had vetoed the NGOs chosen to meet the heads of government the following morning as part of the Summit proceedings in the resort city of Hua Hin. (more…)
Suu Kyi’s House Arrest could be Relaxed: Burmese PM – The Irrawaddy
October 24th, 2009
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17059
By WAI MOE AND SIMON ROUGHNEEN
CHA-AM, Thailand — The Burmese military government will consider relaxing Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest terms, if she “maintains a good attitude,” according to Japanese foreign ministry spokesperson Kazuo Kadama.
Kadama gave what he termed “a brief summation” of remarks made by Burmese Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein at meetings held between Asean leaders and their Chinese, Japanese and South Korean counterparts early on Saturday at the 15th Asean Summit.
When asked to clarify the specifics of the statement, the spokesman said “it is not for me to interpret the Myanmar [Burma] prime minister, but I am merely giving an account of his comments to us.” (more…)
Thailand-Cambodia Dispute Overshadows Summit – The Irrawaddy
October 24th, 2009
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17057
CHA-AM, Thailand — An uncharacteristically edgy summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) threatened to boil over yesterday as Thai-Cambodian relations took another turn for the worse.
A visibly exasperated Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjjiva hit back at his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, calling him “seriously misinformed” over the latter’s remarks comparing fugitive former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra with Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Hun Sen had earlier offered Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 coup, a job as an economics advisor and said that if the exiled media mogul chose to come to Cambodia, he would not face extradition to Thailand to face corruption charges.
“Thaksin can stay in Cambodia as the guest of Cambodia and also be my guest as my adviser on our economy,” said Hun Sen.
His remarks comparing the former Thai prime minister with Aung San Suu Kyi raised many eyebrows among summit delegates, as he attempted to capitalize on the international media attention on Asean this weekend to highlight his view that Thaksin’s plight is politically driven. (more…)
ASEAN: Human Rights Botch – The Irrawaddy
October 23rd, 2009
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17051
Asean civil society delegates protest the exclusion of five delegates from a meeting with Asean heads of government. (Photo: Simon Roughneen)
HUA HIN, Thailand. Pictures beamed into the ASEAN summit media center from the informal foreign ministers dinner showed the Burma’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win relaxing tableside with his counterparts from the regional bloc. Later, as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva formally launched the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the six heads of government present joined hands with the ten commission members on stage, in what was meant to be highlight of the ASEAN summit.
Despite the fanfare, the real worth of the AICHR was questioned before today. Since the terms of reference for the body were announced earlier this year, the AICHR was decried for having limited mandate. Aung Din is Executive Director of the US Campaign for Burma. He testified on Burma to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 21. Discussing the new body with The Irrawaddy, he said “It will be run by government officials. Burma, along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei, will resist and block any meaningful action proposed by other more open members.”
While the AICHR will ostensibly work to promote the concept of human rights, it lacks any competence to sanction member states for human rights abuses. PM Abhisit acknowledged as much in his launch speech, noting “criticisms by analysts” of the terms of reference for the new body.
As current ASEAN Chair, the Thai Prime Minister said that the Cha-am/Huahin Declaration launching the new Commission “showed the commitment of ASEAN member-states to realise up the historic quest of the people of southeast Asia for freedom”.
That commitment was rendered hollow very quickly however. Launching the AICHR, PM Abhisit stated that “civil society groups should rest assured that you now have a partner that works for you”. However, thirty minutes later, a delegation of ASEAN civil society organisations denounced the new commission, saying that government attitudes to civil society “sabotaged the credibility” of the AICHR. (more…)
Asean Hopes for a Calm, Constructive Summit – The Irrawaddy
October 23rd, 2009
http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=17050
Masked Thai dancers wearing colorful costumes perform during the opening of the 15th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: Reuters)
HUA HIN, Thailand — The 15th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) gets underway on Friday, with host Thailand welcoming heads of government from member states, including Burma’s Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein.
Before the summit started, the US stole some of Asean’s spotlight by announcing that it would send a delegation on a “fact-finding” trip to Burma, possibly within a few weeks
There are few signs that Asean members will pressure Burma to move toward democratization and reconciliation during the current summit.
Opening the proceedings, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told his counterparts that one of the goals of the summit was to further Asean integration, and, “We are working together to try to overcome the impact of the global economic crisis.”
But as usual, the issue of Burma looms over the regional bloc’s attempts to develop new institutions, and to move on from its traditional emphasis on consensus and non-interference, to promoting democracy and human rights.
On Friday, Asean officially launched its Asian Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. However, the new body can do little beyond promoting the concept of human rights, and it seems unlikely that it will be able to make any difference to rights violations in Burma or in other Asean-member states.
Sean Turnell, a Burma expert based at Macquarie University, told The Irrawaddy that Asean could use the summit more effectively if it “put something real into its human rights charter.”
A bit of controversy emerged before the summit officially began, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen offering sanctuary to fugitive ex-Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (more…)
Burma, Bangladesh Border Build-Up – ISN
October 21st, 2009
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch/Detail/?lng=en&id=108738
Bilateral tensions remain high as a complex maritime dispute spills over onto refugees and regional politics, Simon
Burmese troops marching during Armed Forces Day, March97 (cc) Stephen Brookes/flickr
Roughneen writes for ISN Security Watch.
Bangladesh announced on 8 October that it would ask the UN to resolve a regional maritime wrangle, which involves India, Burma and Bangladesh. Four days later, what Bangladeshi army spokespersons called “a massive military build-up,” took place on the Burmese side of the land border, and on the same day, the Burmese navy based in Arakan State stationed five warships close to the disputed area. A day later, the Chittagong-based Bangladeshi navy sent four warships to the disputed area in response.
Burma’s military junta had earlier protested against Bangladesh’s exploration of oil and gas in the disputed maritime zone, and warned against oil companies going ahead based on exploration rights granted by Dhaka.
Foley Hoag, the law firm taking the arbitration case on behalf of Bangladesh, spoke of intimidation of oil companies granted concessions by Dhaka, by Burmese naval vessels operating in the Bay of Bengal, the site of the disputed maritime zones.
However, a spokesperson for Tullow Oil – one of the oil companies mentioned in a press release by Foley Hoag – told ISN Security Watch that the company “no longer has any operations in the maritime area adjacent to Burma,” but added that a UK-based oil and gas multinational had recently been granted a new offshore block adjacent to India. The Bay is believed to contain huge undersea oil and gas reserves.
This is not the first time both countries have rattled sabers over natural resources in the Bay of Bengal. (more…)
Asean & Burma: Getting Beyond Spin, Addressing Substance – The Irrawaddy
October 16th, 2009
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17005
NEWS ANALYSIS
| By SIMON ROUGHNEEN |
BANGKOK — With the US announcing its Burma policy review on Sept 28, the focus now switches to the Asean summit to be held in Thailand next week. It appears that the regional bloc has been handed a golden opportunity to affect developments in Burma – by working more closely with a US that is “back” in southeast Asia - as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton remarked in Phuket in July.
The US is retaining sanctions on the Burmese regime, to the chagrin of many Asean nations, which do business with the junta and have urged an end to sanctions. However the US has started talking to the junta, the onset of what Assistant Secretary Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell regards as likely to be “a long, slow and step-by-step process.”
In his Senate testimony on Burma, Campbell referred only to “direct, senior-level dialogue with representatives of the Burmese leadership,” while mentioning consultation with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Burmese opposition. Suu Kyi’s response was to welcome the prospect of bilateral talks, supplemented by her request that the US to “engage” with the political opposition in Burma, as well as the regime. (more…)
Burmese migrants struggle in Malaysia – IRINnews
October 14th, 2009
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86574
PENANG, 14 October 2009 (IRIN) – In the tourist city of Penang in northern Malaysia, the Buddhist temple has become the locus of social and economic support for migrants from Myanmar.
“l was a contractor at home, but left Burma [Myanmar] 19 years ago, arriving in Malaysia after crossing from Thailand,” said Aung Tin, a foreman on the construction site of a new pagoda.
Burmese workers on the job at the new pagoda under construction at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang (Photo: Simon Roughneen)
Penang is one of Malaysia’s main economic and industrial centres, and the Burmese Buddhist temple provides social and religious support for the Burmese community.
At the construction site, all 14 staff supervised by Aung Tin – who would only talk to IRIN using a pseudonym – are Burmese migrants. (more…)
Burma’s precarious peace – RTÉ World Report
October 11th, 2009
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1011/worldreport.html
Presented by Colm Ó Mongáin
Saints and sinners
Brian O’Connell, London Editor, reports that Catholics turning out to to see St Thérèse de Lisieux have been on the receiving end of some surprising invective
Burma’s precarious peace
Simon Roughneen reports that the military junta in Burma is risking alienating its Chinese supporters. (more…)
