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Showing posts from November, 2011

Suu Kyi briefs U.S. think tank as Clinton visits Myanmar

CNN Yangon, Myanmar (CNN) -- A day after she announced she intends to run for Parliament, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi planned Thursday for her first meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- a dinner at the U.S. Chief of Mission residence. It will be the first time the U.S. secretary of state has met the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the world's most famous pro-democracy supporters, but they have spoken on the phone before, a senior State Department official said. The dinner wraps up a busy schedule for Clinton -- the first American secretary of state in 50 years to visit to the reclusive state. Clinton's schedule Thursday included meetings with Myanmar President Thein Sein, Foreign Minister Wunna Muang Lwinand and members of both houses of Parliament. Before her dinner with Suu Kyi, Clinton was scheduled to visit the ornate Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the former national capital, which also is known as Rangoon. On Wednesday,

Iran set to dominate EU foreign ministers talks

BBC   Mr Hague said there had been a "degree of regime consent" in the British embassy attack Discussion of new measures against Iran is expected to dominate a meeting of European foreign ministers on Thursday. Ministers will consider responses to a report by the UN nuclear watchdog that said Iran had carried out tests related to "development of a nuclear device". Iran denies this, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Britain may press for further sanctions against Iran's energy sector, reports say, after the storming of British diplomatic compounds in Tehran. On Wednesday, the UK announced that it was expelling all Iranian diplomats and closing the Iranian embassy in London after the attacks of the previous day. The British Foreign Secretary William Hague also announced that all UK diplomatic staff in Tehran had been evacuated and the embassy closed. BBC Iran correspondent James

Hillary Clinton visit: Burma hails new chapter in ties

BBC   Hillary Clinton is the first secretary of state to visit Burma since 1955 Continue reading the main story Burma: Battle for Democracy Exiles watch and wait Is Burma change for good? Suu Kyi party to rejoin politics Law to allow labour unions Burmese President Thein Sein has hailed a "new chapter" in relations with the US during talks with Hillary Clinton in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Mrs Clinton, the most senior American to visit the country in half a century, told the president she was "encouraged" by recent policy changes. The US maintains tight sanctions on senior figures in Burma's hierarchy. But a series of reforms this year has led to speculation that decades of isolation could be about to end. However, US officials have stressed that there is unlikely to be any major announcements on sanctions during Mrs Cl

PM leaves for Vietnam Wed despite illness

The Nation Photo : Voravit Pumpuang November 30, 2011 4:55 pm Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday afternoon leave for Vietnam as scheduled even though she has not yet fully covering from food poisoning, Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said Wednesday. A medical team will accompany her to Vietnam and she will skip the dinner reception hosted by Vietnam. Yingluck was admitted to Praram 9 Hospital early Tuesday after suffering from food poisoning believed to have been caused by seafood she had at a restaurant. Surapong said the premier and her delegation will leave Bangkok for Hanoi at 1pm and will return to Bangkok at 8pm. He quoted Yingluck as telling him on Tuesday that she did not want to cancel the Vietnam visit because Vietnam has made the preparations to receive her. If her condition was not better after the visit, she would return to the hospital. Topics of discussion between Yingluck and Vietnam leaders will involve the purchase of natural

BMA agrees to open four more sluice gates

Bangkok Post Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has agreed to raise four more sluice gates to allow water from neighbouring Pathum Thani province to flow into canals now that the floodwater in many Bangkok areas has receded. MR Sukhumbhand announced the decision on Wednesday. He said water levels in major canals such as Khlong Rangsit have also fallen. This meant several inner areas would not be at risk of flooding. As the situation was not worrying, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will raise four major sluice gates on the northern and eastern sides of Bangkok to allow northern runoff to flow into the canals, the governor said. The four are Khlong Phraya Suren, Khlong Sam Wa, Lam Bueng Khwang and Lat Krabang sluice gates. The Khlong Phraya Suren watergate will be raised from one metre to 1.3 metres, he said. However, the BMA reserved the right to adjust the sluice gate opening if necessary, he added. The Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate will be raised to 90

Clinton Arrives in Myanmar to Assess Reforms

 New York Times Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton with Deputy Foreign Minister Myo Myint of Myanmar, left, after her arrival in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. NAY PYI DAW, Myanmar — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here on Wednesday to measure the depth of the political and economic opening the country’s new government has unexpectedly begun. After years of abysmal relations between the United States and Myanmar, the Obama administration has promised to respond to progress — Mrs. Clinton’s trip being the most significant reward so far — even as it presses for more significant steps to end the country’s repressive rule and international isolation. Those include freeing hundreds more political prisoners, an end to often violent repression of democracy advocates and ethnic groups, and clarification of the country’s illicit cooperation with North Korea on developing ballistic missiles and, possibly, nuclear technolog

Britain shuts Iran embassy after evacuating staff

AP ©AFP / Atta Kenare Iranian diplomats have been told to leave the UK within 48 hours TEHRAN (AFP) - Britain closed its Tehran embassy on Wednesday after evacuating all its diplomats from Iran as part of a "very tough" response to the storming of the mission the day before by Iranian protesters. Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain had also ordered Iran to vacate its embassy in London by Friday, stressing it did not mean diplomatic ties between the two countries had been entirely cut off. The pull-out of all British embassy staff from Iran to Dubai in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates was completed by late Wednesday, Western diplomats told AFP. Britain's moves followed violent scenes on Tuesday, when protesters rampaged for hours through its two diplomatic compounds in Tehran. They tore down the British flag, smashed windows, trashed embassy offices, set documents alight, and briefly blocked the movements of six British diplomats. No Br

Clinton in Myanmar to gauge 'true intentions'

Naypyidaw, Myanmar (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton arrived in reclusive Myanmar on Wednesday in search of "flickers of progress," the first visit there in 50 years by a U.S. secretary of state. "I will obviously be looking to determine for myself what the intention is of the current government with respect to continued reforms," Clinton said from Busan in South Korea before taking off for Naypyidaw, the capital. "We and many other nations are very hopeful that these flickers of progress as President (Barack) Obama called them in Bali will be ignited into a movement for change that will benefit the people of the country." The historic two-day visit comes as the Asian country is undergoing a period of rapid political change that the Obama administration cautiously says it finds encouraging as well as promising. Clinton's trip is an indication that the time could be right to forge a new relationship between the nations, the White House has said. Ruled b

British workers strike over retirement benefits

CNN London (CNN) -- Mass strikes began across the United Kingdom Wednesday, with up to 2 million public sector workers walking off jobs in schools, hospitals and police stations to protest proposed pension reforms. Chaos was predicted at Heathrow airport near London, one of the world's busiest international airports, but Wednesday morning operations were more or less normal, officials said. Lines at immigration counters were moving smoothly, but BAA, the company that operates Heathrow, said they could get worse and incoming passengers could expect waits of two to three hours because of strikes by border control staff. British Airways said it had not canceled any of its own flights, although a few code-sharing flights were called off. BAA could not say how many flights were being canceled. Unite, the country's biggest trade union, said strikes and marches were taking place in cities across the country. The proposed pension reforms have prompted wide anger among publi

'Hopeful' Hillary Clinton starts Burma visit

BBC Hillary Clinton's plane landed at the airport in the remote capital Nay Pyi Daw US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Burma on the first visit by such a senior American diplomat in 50 years. Mrs Clinton says she is "quite hopeful" that reforms undertaken by the government could lead to a broader "movement for change". She is due to meet Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein on her two-day visit. No US politician of her seniority has visited since an army takeover in 1962. Burma has been largely isolated since then, under an autocratic and unpredictable military regime. The military oversaw elections last year that transferred power to a military-backed, nominally civilian government. But the new government under Thein Sein - a former general - has undertaken some steps towards reform. 'Flickers of progress'   Mrs Clinton landed in the remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, on Wednesday aftern

UK to expel all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack

BBC The UK is to expel all Iranian diplomats following the storming of its embassy in Tehran, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced. He said he had ordered the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London. Tuesday's attack by hundreds of protesters followed Britain's decision to impose further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. Iran's parliament had previously voted to reduce diplomatic ties with the UK. Mr Hague said he was demanding the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London, with all its staff to leave the UK within 48 hours. He said there had been "some degree of regime consent" in the attacks on the embassy and on another UK diplomatic compound in Tehran. He said all UK diplomatic staff in Tehran had been evacuated and the embassy closed. "They cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here," Mr Hague told MPs. However, Mr Hague said the UK was not severing relations with Iran entirely. Corr

China Challenges Clinton for Myanmar’s Attention

Reuters Hillary Clinton waves alongside Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Myo Myint (L) upon her arrival at Naypyidaw November 30, 2011. With U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton scheduled to visit Myanmar today, China has spent the week pitching the benefits of friendship to its politically isolated yet strategically important neighbor. On Monday, Vice President Xi Jinping proposed China and Myanmar bolster military cooperation during a meeting with the commander of Myanmar’s Armed Forces, Min Aung Hlaing. Mr. Xi, who is expected to succeed Chinese President Hu Jintao, faces the challenge of shoring up relations with China’s neighbors, including Myanmar, which have grown increasingly suspicious of Beijing’s growing influence across the region. “China will work with Myanmar to further bolster the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation,” Mr. Xi said during the meeting, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. It wasn’t clear whether this week’s meetings were

What can Clinton achieve in Myanmar?

By Hilary Whiteman, CNN November 30, 2011 -- Updated 0024 GMT (0824 HKT) Hong Kong (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton's arrival in Myanmar is something many never expected to see. It's been 50 years since a U.S. Secretary of State stepped foot in the country, now shattered and isolated after decades of military rule. U.S. President Barack Obama announced Clinton's impending visit in late November, an unexpected move following a series of surprising concessions by Myanmar's new government. At the time, Obama said the U.S. was seizing an opportunity to forge a new relationship with the country, which is also known as Burma. "That possibility will depend upon the Burmese government taking more concrete action," Obama said. OPINION: Clinton visit presents opportunity Clinton added that she wanted to test Myanmar's commitment to both economic and political reform. "How real it is, how far it goes -- we will have to make sure we have a better understan

Burmese try to make sense of rapid reforms

By Peter Shadbolt for CNN November 30, 2011 -- Updated 0540 GMT (1340 HKT) (CNN) -- When Hillary Clinton arrives in Myanmar on Wednesday she will be looking for signs of real change from the government reforms undertaken by the one-time reclusive military state. The historic two-day visit, the first by a U.S. Secretary of State in 50 years, comes in the wake of concessions by the new government of President Thein Sein. His government freed dozens of political prisoners last month following the earlier release of Nobel Peace Laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But Myanmar democracy veteran Win Tin, the 82-year-old National League for Democracy free speech campaigner who spent almost 20 years in prison, says the changes are cosmetic and will only benefit the country's ruling elite. "Changes happen, but actually they happen on paper," Win Tin told CNN's Paula Hancock. "(There have been) announcements to the media and (talks with) Aung San Suu Ky

What is driving closer ties between the U.S. and Burma?

Mizzima (Commentary) – Since the new Burmese government was inaugurated in March 2011, it began a reform process by meeting with opposite leader Aung San Suu Kyi, releasing about 200 political prisoners, securing the chair The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2014, relaxing media censorship somewhat, forming the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), engaging in talk with non-cease-fire ethnic armed groups, and amending the political party registration laws. US President Barack Obama, left, stands by Burma's President Thein Sein, right, as they participate in the East Asia Summit family photo, part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Indonesia on November 19, 2011. Photo: AFP In reality, these unexpected changes surprised most Burma observers including opposition groups. In return, the government desperately wants to receive positive recognition from domestic opposite groups and Western countries – particularl

Burma’s NLD to let five 88-student activists run as candidates

Chiang Mai ( Mizzima ) – 88-generation student activists say the National League for Democracy (NLD) has agreed that if they join the NLD, they can run in five constituencies in the coming by-election under the NLD banner. Phyo Min Thein, an 88-generation student group leader. Photo: Mizzima Phyo Min Thein, one of the student group’s leaders, said that Aung San Suu Kyi told him on Friday that the NLD would let the students contest in the elections as NLD-backed candidates. "The NLD will let five students be NLD candidates––from 88-generation students to current generation students," Phyo Min Thein said. Phyo Min Thein formed a political party, the Union Democratic Party (UDP), prior to the 2010 general election and served as the UDP chairman. He resigned from the party before the election, saying it would not be free and fair. He has decided to join the NLD, but it's early to say whether he will stand as an NLD candidate, he said. The NLD has invited

Burma’s oil and natural gas sectors eyed by Malaysia

Chiang Mai ( Mizzima ) – Malaysian companies are preparing to invest more in Burma’s inland oil and natural gas blocks. Transocean International’s semi-submersible drilling rig the Actinia. Last autumn, the Actinia was contracted to drill in Burmese waters. Nineteen Malaysian companies and Burmese businessmen will discuss investment opportunities on Tuesday at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) office in Rangoon.   In mid-July, foreign energy companies were invited to bid for permits for exploratory rights for oil and natural gas on 18 inland blocks along the Irrawaddy River. A total of 52 companies including the 19 Malaysian companies applied for permits through their embassies. Some of the blocks are offshore blocks. The ministry did not disclose the exact number. Half of the companies' proposals were rejected, the ministry said. "Tomorrow local businessmen will explain the investments, the laws and other things

Burma’s Western Border as Reported by the Diplomatic Correspondence

Burma’s Western Border as Reported by the Diplomatic Correspondence (1947 – 1975) [A] Aye Chan  (Kanda University of International Studies, Japan) (a) Introduction If one explores the diplomatic records of the British Commonwealth in the National Archives in London, two files bound with the corresponding letters between the British Embassy in Rangoon, the Foreign Office in London, the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Karachi, Pakistan and the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Dacca (Dhaka) will be found in the accession to the Southeast Asia Collection. According to the British Archival Law, they were kept secret as government documents until 1979 and 2005. Both files consist of the correspondence between these diplomatic missions, regarding Burma-East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) border problems. Burma (Myanmar) was a British colony until 1948 and the Arakan (Rakhine State) that shares an international boundary of 45 miles was the first Burmese province a