Women’s League of Burma expresses concern about ongoing conflicts Skip to main content

Women’s League of Burma expresses concern about ongoing conflicts

By 
The Women’s League of Burma, in a statement to mark the 18th Anniversary of the founding of their organization, has expressed concern about the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar, the negative effects on civilians, and the fallout from the Rakhine crisis.

The following is the statement of the Women’s League of Burma issued on December 9:

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the Women’s League of Burma (WLB). WLB was founded on December 9, 1999. The mission of WLB is to promote a transition towards a federal democracy in Burma, support women's empowerment, and advance the status of women on every level. The organization also works to increase the participation of women in all sectors of society and at all levels of the struggle for democracy and lasting peace. WLB is an umbrella organization that comprises 13 women's groups of different ethnic backgrounds from across Burma.

The WLB is firmly committed to the national reconciliation process and the formation of equitable and lasting peace that incorporates all ethnic nationalities within a federal democratic system. The organization has been working with victims that have been negatively impacted by the ongoing conflict, seeking justice for women and those who are struggling under the military regime for the past eighteen years.

While the Union government continues to implement a Burma/Myanmar peace process aimed at stopping ethnic conflicts, military offensives is still continuing in ethnic conflict zones. Civilians continue to face serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced labor, threats, torture, rape, sexual harassment, and physical and economic insecurity. Thousands of local people have been internally displaced.

The WLB reinforces our concern for the increasing number of IDPs and refugees that have been displaced due to ongoing fighting with military forces. WLB has found that women's insecurity extends beyond conflict zones, and women continue to lack protection due to weak rule of law. Drug problems are also creating more aggression within communities nationwide, which creates more violence against women.

Since August 2017, the conflict in Rakhine state has escalated to a level that is deeply threatening the safety and security of all citizens, in addition to our national sovereignty. Following a campaign of operational clearings carried out by the state army (Tatmadaw), civilians have experienced severe and negative impacts to their safety and livelihoods. Ongoing violence has led thousands of refugees from the Rakhine ethnic group and other minority backgrounds to flee to neighboring Bangladesh in order to find protection. We are very concerned for the security and health of IDPs and refugees, especially women and children.

WLB continues to work towards a peaceful and just society in Burma, based on a federal democratic system, which includes self-determination, ethnic equality and equality for all women. We urge the parliament, government and Tatmadaw; all ethnic armed organizations; all political parties and civil society organizations to work cooperatively to bring peace. WLB urges the government to take action on the elimination of drugs.

The WLB has committed to work with other alliances and democratic forces to raise the voices of women in local communities - those whose voices remain unheard. At the 18th anniversary of the WLB, we continue to be committed.

http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/women%E2%80%99s-league-burma-expresses-concern-about-ongoing-conflicts

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in ...

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...