Burma: regime blocked cyclone aid from reaching people

12 posts / 0 new

Sat, 2009-02-28 19:31

Quote:
International aid for cyclone victims in Burma was deliberately blocked by the military regime, the first independent report into the disaster has found.
The junta's wilful disregard for the welfare of the 3.4 million survivors ofcyclone Nargis – which struck the Irrawaddy delta last May, killing 140,000 people – and a host of other abuses detailed by the research may amount to crimes against humanity under international law.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/27/regime-blocked-aid-to-burma-...

Tue, 2009-03-03 14:05

Protests continue, ALTSEAN reports:

Quote:
In February, the SPDC’s ongoing political repression and economic mismanagement sparked new campaigns across Burma.

· 5 February: Generation Wave group launched a new campaign calling for government change. Activists sprayed graffiti, put up posters, and distributed leaflets in several Rangoon Townships.

· 12 February: The NLD launched a signature campaign calling for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo.

The campaign quickly spread from Rangoon to other parts of Burma.

· 14 February: Generation Wave, All Burma Federation of Student Unions, and Best Fertilizer groups promoted a rose campaign to call for a peaceful resolution of Burma’s crises. Activists asked people to offer roses at pagodas, send postcards, and wear clothes featuring roses.

· 16 February: Residents in Meikhtila, Mandalay Division, sent a letter signed by over 500 people to local SPDC authorities and to Naypyidaw demanding 24-hour power and water supply. NLD members in Chauk, Magwe Division, launched a similar petition, collecting over 800 signatures.

· 17 February: NLD members in Meikhtila Township, Mandalay Division, and in Pegu offered alms to monks and held prayers for the release of all political prisoners.

[color=red][url=http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Burma%20Bulletin/BBFebruary09.php]Download ALTSEAN reports at http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Burma%20Bulletin/BBFebruary09.php[/url][/...

Tue, 2009-03-03 18:02

Kindrid

But Burma is socialist

Wed, 2009-03-04 01:17

Ken Burch

Nobody here is an apologist for the Myanmarian junta, kindrid.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Our Demands Most Moderate are/ We Only Want The World! -James Connolly

Mon, 2009-05-04 19:44

[url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15549]National League for Democracy reviving?[/url]

[url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15570]One year after Cyclone Nargis[/url]

[url=http://uscampaignforburma.org/arrestyourself2009]"Arrest yourself" in solidarity with Burmese political prisoners[/url]

Mon, 2009-05-04 23:12

Ken Burch

The best thing the NLD could do would be to break with all the privatization rhetoric and, in addition to its "pro-democracy" stance, take a clear pro-worker and pro-social justice one as well.

There's no reason for them to keep acting like a 1989 East European opposition group.

Mon, 2009-05-04 23:50

Fidel

Kindrid wrote:
But Burma is socialist

Are you saying Burma has socialized medicine, a national pension plan, daycare, public housing, and strong unions?

Mon, 2009-05-11 13:00

Chrétien's former chief of staff now lobbyist for Canadian mining firm with ties to Myanmar military regime (from Canadian Friends of Burma):

Quote:
Chretien's chief of Staff now lobbyist for Ivanhoe despite firm’s Burma ties

Canadian Friends of Burma

May 7, 2009

Ottawa - Vancouver-based mining firm Ivanhoe Mines has recently hired two big names to lobby the Canadian government on its behalf, Eddie Goldenberg, former chief of Staff for Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Allan Gotlieb, former Canadian Ambassador to the US. According to filings with the Commissioner for Lobbying, Goldenberg and Gotlieb are to lobby Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian Ambassador to Mongolia about "Canada's position regarding foreign investments in Mongolia."

Lobbyist filings contain misleading information

Both Goldenberg and Gotlieb have indicated in their filings with the Lobbyist Commissioner that their client Ivanhoe Mines "does not have any subsidiaries that could be affected by the outcome of the undertaking." In fact Ivanhoe's latest Annual Information form filed with the SEC lists several "principle subsidiaries" that could be affected by their lobbying these include Ivanhoe's fully owned Mongolian subsidiary Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc and SouthGobi Energy Resources Ltd which is 80% owned by Ivanhoe and has substantial coal interests in Mongolia.

“It’s extremely disappointing that both Mr. Gotlieb and Mr. Goldenberg are not taking the office of the commissioner seriously by means of hiding the fact that Ivanhoe does indeed have several subsidiaries that would benefit from their lobbying,” says Kevin McLeod, member of the board of directors of the Canadian Friends of Burma. "I wonder if they are neglecting to include any other information about their lobbying for Ivanhoe," he added.

Goldenberg was seen as a key member of the Chretien brain trust. He served as a senior policy advisor to Chretien from November 1993 till June 2003 when taking over as the Prime Minister's Chief of staff, a role he filled till the end of Chretien's tenure as prime minister. Allan Gotlieb was as an important senior civil servant in Ottawa during the Trudeau era before being appointed Canadian Ambassador to the US in 1981, a position that he held till 1988. Mr. Gotlieb also served on the board of directors of Hollinger, the defunct media giant controlled by now jailed tycoon Conrad Black.

Ivanhoe Chairman Friedland believes Mongolia perfect place for waste dumps

In 2005 Ivanhoe Chairman Robert Friedland angered many Mongolians when he boasted to an audience at an American mining conference about the benefits of Ivanhoe's Mongolian project. "The nice thing about this, there's no people around. ...There's no NGOs. ...You've got lots of room for waste dumps without disrupting the population." (The Globe and Mail, 30 September 2005). In light of Mr. Friedland's comment, it is hardly surprising that he was burned in effigy at a massive protest held in the Mongolia capital, an apparent first for a Canadian mining executive.

Many Mongolians fear that Ivanhoe's planned Oyu Tolgoi Project which will require huge amounts of water that will drain the Mongolian countryside of already dwindling supplies of water. Instead what little clean water that is available will be turned into poisoned mining waste.

CFOB deeply concerned about Ivanhoe's Burmese activities and murky blind trust

In 2007 Ivanhoe's partner in Mongolia, Rio Tinto acquired a 9.95% stake in Ivanhoe Mines in a deal that stated that Ivanhoe was withdrawing from Burma. Despite Ivanhoe's claims that they withdrew from Burma, the firm by way of a blind trust created in February 2007 continues to own a 50% stake in Myanmar Ivanhoe Copper Company Limited (MICCL), the joint venture created by Ivanhoe with the Burmese military regime to operate Burma's largest mine the Monywa copper project. The "blind trust" is extremely convenient for Ivanhoe because the firm can continue to own a 50% stake in the mine and claim they've pulled out of Burma. Ivanhoe has refused to seriously address toxic pollution caused by the mine which has severely impacted neighbouring farmland.

Just days before President Bush left office this past January the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added (MICCL), the joint venture now held by the blind trust, to the US government's Burma sanctions list. Ivanhoe has so far declined to comment on this major development, preferring to leave shareholders in the dark about it.

Does Ivanhoe yearn for better Burmese days again?

CFOB believes that Ivanhoe is determined to remove MICCL from the US sanctions list and also lift Canada's Burma sanctions regime, says Tin Maung Htoo, executive director of CFOB.

"The fact that Ivanhoe still owns a 50% stake in MICCL is deeply troubling but hardly surprising given that the copper mine was so profitable. Canadians should be deeply disturbed by Ivanhoe's arrogance and total disdain for human rights," he added.

The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma since 1991. Contact: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1; Tel: 613.237.8056; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.cfob.org

Fri, 2009-05-15 14:11

Quote:
CFOB condemns Suu Kyi’s transfer to Insein, protest planned in Ottawa

Canadian Friends of Burma
May 14, 2009

Ottawa - The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was transferred yesterday to the notorious Insein prison in Burma and has been charged with violating her house arrest. The Burmese military regime will be putting Burma’s most famous political prisoner on trial ostensibly because a foreigner secretly entered her house. American John Yettawa was arrested last week after he reportedly swam across Inya lake to Suu Kyi’s Rangoon residence where she has lived for much of the last 20 years under house arrest.

Regardless of what Mr. Yettaw’s intentions were, his uninvited visit couldn’t have come at a worse time as Suu Kyi’s house arrest was set to expire this month and the military regime will almost certainly be using this incident as an excuse to further her detention. Suu Kyi’s doctor has also been arrested, as has her house keeper and the housekeeper’s daughter.

CFPB strongly condemns the Burmese military regime’s continued imprisonment of Suu Kyi and the ridiculous show trial that is set to transpire. We call for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and the release of the more than 2,000 other political prisoners jailed in Burma's gulags. Says Tin Maung Htoo CFOB Executive Director “this latest attack on Daw Suu is a desperate attempt by an illegitimate regime to remove the National League for Democracy and its leader from the political scene in advance of next years election.”

Ottawa Protest at Junta Embassy planned for Monday
CFOB will be holding a protest on Monday May 18 in front of the Burmese military regime's Embassy to protest Suu Kyi's continued detention.

Place: Sidewalk opposite the Burmese Embassy, 85 Range Road, Ottawa (near the intersection of Templeton Street and Range road)
Date: May 18 (Monday), 2009
Time: 1:30 – 3:30pm
Place: Burmese Embassy, 85 Range Road, Ottawa

Direction: For Bus take the #5 and exit at Laurier and Range road (next to Strathcona Park). Or take #16 and get off at Range Road and Templeton if you are on the Bus heading towards Hospital. For #16 heading to Lincoln Fields get off near Chapel and Templeton and walk one block east on Templeton to Range Road.

-30-

Sun, 2009-05-17 16:43

#10

Protests across Canada – part of Global Action Day for Aung San Suu Kyi

Ottawa

Place: Burmese Embassy, 85 Range Road, Ottawa

Date: May 18, 2009 Monday

Time 1:30 PM

Contact: 613-297-6835

Toronto

Place: Queen’s Park (In front of Ontario Legislative Assembly)

Date: May 18, 2009 Monday

Time: 1:30 PM

Contact: 416-358-2318

Vancouver

Place: Robson Square (Vancouver Downtown)

Date: May 18, 2009 Monday

Time: 12:00 noon

Contact: 604-619-1270, or 778-789-9603

Wed, 2009-05-20 14:00

#11

Quote:
Quick-link

|Special coverage on Canada’s response on Suu Kyi’s detention|

—brought to you by Canadian Friends of Burma (www.cfob.org)— May 20, 2009

Action News:

Epoch Times: Suu Kyi Supporters Condemn ‘unfair’ Arresta

AFP: Canadians protest Aung San Suu Kyi trial

Rabble: Supporters rally for Burma's Suu Kyi in Toronto

Georgia Straight: Victoria Day protests for Suu Kyi and other pol. prisoners

Ottawa Citizen: A Nobler way to spend Victoria Day

Related News:

AFP: Canada renews calls for Aung San Suu Kyi release

Toronto Star: American 'fool' lands Suu Kyi in trouble

CBC News: Trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader begins

Press Releases/Statements:

Canadian Foreign Minister’s Statement

Canadian Opposition leader’s Statement

Question and Answer in House of Commons: Hon. Jack Layton, NDP Leader and Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (America)

PFOB calls on ASEAN for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

CFOB Condemns Suu Kyi's Transfer to Insein, Protest planned in Ottawa

________________________________________

Action News:

Suu Kyi Supporters Condemn ‘unfair’ Arrest

By Pam McLennan| Epoch Times Staff| May 18, 2009

A group of Burmese and their supporters gathered in front of the Burmese Embassy Monday to speak out against the arrest and to call for Suu Kyi’s immediate release. In addition to rallies in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, Burmese groups held events in over 30 countries, calling on their governments to put sanctions on Burma and to condemn the unfair arrest of Suu Kyi.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17001/

Canadians protest Aung San Suu Kyi trial

OTTAWA (AFP) — Protesters marched in front of Yangon's embassy in Canada on Monday demanding the release of pro-democracy activist and 1991 Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who earlier went on trial at a Myanmar prison.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLvZqQsjPhW2m6FpIhzcX047a-5g

Supporters rally for Burma's Suu Kyi in Toronto

By John Bonnar|rabble.ca| May 20, 2009

Over 100 people participated in a global day of action at Queen’s Park on Monday in support of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing a visitor to stay at her home without official permission.

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2009/05/supporters-rally-burma%E2%80%99s-suu-kyi-toronto

Victoria Day protests planned for Suu Kyi and other Burmese political prisoners

By Charlie Smith| Georgia Straight| May 18, 2009

The group Canadian Friends of Burma will hold rallies in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa today (May 18). The Vancouver gathering will take place at noon at Robson Square to call for the release of Nobel Peace Prize winnerAung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,000 other political protesters in Burma. She was arrested last week after an American man swam across a lake and entered her home.

http://www.straight.com/article-222088/monday-protest-planned-aung-san-suu-kyi-and-other-burmese-political-prisoners

A Nobler way to spend Victoria Day

By Kate Heartfield | Ottawa Citizen| 05-15-2009

As Tin Maung Htoo of Canadian Friends of Burma said when I spoke with him yesterday, this bizarre trick with Suu Kyi seems to be the way the junta is testing the limits of international tolerance, as they prepare for the "election" in 2010. CFOB is planning a protest in Ottawa for Monday, which is the day Suu Kyi's trial begins. The protest is planned for 1:30 pm at 85 Range Road (the Myanmar embassy).

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/worldnextdoor/archive/2009/05/15/a-nobler-way-to-spend-victoria-day.aspx

_______________________________________

Related News:

Canada renews calls for Aung San Suu Kyi release

OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada on Thursday called on Myanmar to release all political prisoners, specifically naming pro-democracy activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Our government is alarmed by the charges laid against Aung San Suu Kyi, and we call for her immediate release, along with all political prisoners in Burma," Canada's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Peter Kent said in the House of Commons.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hpG-EUIkbGWsJ5V4AyIfZso2d0SA

American 'fool' lands Suu Kyi in trouble

By Olivia Ward| Toronto Star| May 15, 2009

Burma's opposition icon in jail after harbouring intruder who swam across lake to see her

"This latest attack on Daw Suu is a desperate attempt by an illegitimate regime to remove the National League for Democracy, and its leader, from the political scene in advance of next year's election," said Tin Maung Htoo, executive director of Canadian Friends of Burma, which plans protests in Toronto, Ottawa and other cities on Monday, the day she will be in court.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/634695

Trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader begins

CBC News | Monday, May 18, 2009

The court hearing the case of Burma's jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi rejected a request Monday for an open trial that would have allowed the media and public to observe the proceedings.http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/18/suu-kyi-trial-burma337.html

________________________________________

Press Releases/Statements:

Canada Deeply Concerned Over New Charges Against Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi

May 14, 2009 (6:40 p.m. EDT) No. 131

Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denouncing the continued, unlawful detention of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/publication.aspx?publication_id=387166&lang=eng&docnum=131

Statement from Michael Ignatieff on the trial and detention of Aung San Suu Kyi

May 18, 2009

The unjustified trial and continued detention of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater vigilance by all governments to protect and promote democratic freedoms and expression around the globe.

http://www.liberal.ca/story_15847_e.aspx

PFOB calls on ASEAN for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB), calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to join forces in attaining the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from the notorious Insein Prison.http://www.cfob.org/news/PFOBCallsForReleaseofSuuKyi.html

CFOB Condemns Suu Kyi's Transfer to Insein, Protest planned in Ottawa

CFPB strongly condemns the Burmese military regime’s continued imprisonment of Suu Kyi and the ridiculous show trial that is set to transpire. We call for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and the release of the more than 2,000 other political prisoners jailed in Burma's gulags.

http://www.cfob.org/news/CondemnSuuKyiTransfer.html

________________________________________

The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma since 1991. Contact: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1; Tel: 613.237.8056; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.cfob.org

Sat, 2009-05-30 10:39

#12

Quote:
Chevron Corps has made it abundantly clear that it will not pull out of Burma but would retain its investments for compelling business reasons, and even if they do withdraw they will be replaced by other competitors.

Chevron’s stance was in response to a query by Mizzima regarding the company shareholder’s proposal to disclose the criteria it uses to start and end investments in high-risk countries particularly Burma.

The proposal by, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, an advocacy group for workers, to Chevron to disclose its criteria to decide on starting investments in a country, was supported by more than 25 per cent of the company’s share holders on Wednesday.

Teamsters (IBT) said the shareholders support indicates that there is growing concern among investors on Chevron’s investments in Burma.

In 2005 Chevron began investing in Burma after taking over the shares from another US Oil company UNOCAL, joining Total of France and PTTEP of Thailand in its investments on exploration of oil and natural gas.

[url=http://www.burmanet.org/news/2009/05/28/mizzima-news-chevron-determined-... News[/url]