Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
END OF INTERVENTION BY MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
New York Times
Opinion
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
The End of Intervention
By MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
Published: June 11, 2008
Washington
THE Burmese government’s criminally neglectful response to last month’s cyclone, and the world’s response to that response, illustrate three grim realities today: totalitarian governments are alive and well; their neighbors are reluctant to pressure them to change; and the notion of national sovereignty as sacred is gaining ground, helped in no small part by the disastrous results of the American invasion of Iraq. Indeed, many of the world’s necessary interventions in the decade before the invasion — in places like Haiti and the Balkans — would seem impossible in today’s climate.
The first and most obvious reality is the survival of totalitarian government in an age of global communications and democratic progress. Myanmar’s military junta employs the same set of tools used by the likes of Stalin to crush dissent and monitor the lives of citizens. The needs of the victims of Cyclone Nargis mean nothing to a regime focused solely on preserving its own authority.
Second is the unwillingness of Myanmar’s neighbors to use their collective leverage on behalf of change. A decade ago, when Myanmar was allowed to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, I was assured by leaders in the region that they would push the junta to open its economy and move in the direction of democracy. With a few honorable exceptions, this hasn’t happened.
A third reality is that the concept of national sovereignty as an inviolable and overriding principle of global law is once again gaining ground. Many diplomats and foreign policy experts had hoped that the fall of the Berlin Wall would lead to the creation of an integrated world system free from spheres of influence, in which the wounds created by colonial and cold war empires would heal.
In such a world, the international community would recognize a responsibility to override sovereignty in emergency situations — to prevent ethnic cleansing or genocide, arrest war criminals, restore democracy or provide disaster relief when national governments were either unable or unwilling to do so.
During the 1990s, certain precedents were created. The administration of George H. W. Bush intervened to prevent famine in Somalia and to aid Kurds in northern Iraq; the Clinton administration returned an elected leader to power in Haiti; NATO ended the war in Bosnia and stopped Slobodan Milosevic’s campaign of terror in Kosovo; the British halted a civil war in Sierra Leone; and the United Nations authorized life-saving missions in East Timor and elsewhere.
These actions were not steps toward a world government. They did reflect the view that the international system exists to advance certain core values, including development, justice and respect for human rights. In this view, sovereignty is still a central consideration, but cases may arise in which there is a responsibility to intervene — through sanctions or, in extreme cases, by force — to save lives.
The Bush administration’s decision to fight in Afghanistan after 9/11 did nothing to weaken this view because it was clearly motivated by self-defense. The invasion of Iraq, with the administration’s grandiose rhetoric about pre-emption, was another matter, however. It generated a negative reaction that has weakened support for cross-border interventions even for worthy purposes. Governments, especially in the developing world, are now determined to preserve the principle of sovereignty, even when the human costs of doing so are high.
Thus, Myanmar’s leaders have been shielded from the repercussions of their outrageous actions. Sudan has been able to dictate the terms of multinational operations inside Darfur. The government of Zimbabwe may yet succeed in stealing a presidential election.
Political leaders in Pakistan have told the Bush administration to back off, despite the growth of Al Qaeda and Taliban cells in the country’s wild northwest. African leaders (understandably perhaps) have said no to the creation of a regional American military command. And despite recent efforts to enshrine the doctrine of a “responsibility to protect” in international law, the concept of humanitarian intervention has lost momentum.
The global conscience is not asleep, but after the turbulence of recent years, it is profoundly confused. Some governments will oppose any exceptions to the principle of sovereignty because they fear criticism of their own policies. Others will defend the sanctity of sovereignty unless and until they again have confidence in the judgment of those proposing exceptions.
At the heart of the debate is the question of what the international system is. Is it just a collection of legal nuts and bolts cobbled together by governments to protect governments? Or is it a living framework of rules intended to make the world a more humane place?
We know how the government of Myanmar would answer that question, but what we need to listen to is the voice — and cry — of the Burmese people.
Madeleine K. Albright was the United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001.
Opinion
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
The End of Intervention
By MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
Published: June 11, 2008
Washington
THE Burmese government’s criminally neglectful response to last month’s cyclone, and the world’s response to that response, illustrate three grim realities today: totalitarian governments are alive and well; their neighbors are reluctant to pressure them to change; and the notion of national sovereignty as sacred is gaining ground, helped in no small part by the disastrous results of the American invasion of Iraq. Indeed, many of the world’s necessary interventions in the decade before the invasion — in places like Haiti and the Balkans — would seem impossible in today’s climate.
The first and most obvious reality is the survival of totalitarian government in an age of global communications and democratic progress. Myanmar’s military junta employs the same set of tools used by the likes of Stalin to crush dissent and monitor the lives of citizens. The needs of the victims of Cyclone Nargis mean nothing to a regime focused solely on preserving its own authority.
Second is the unwillingness of Myanmar’s neighbors to use their collective leverage on behalf of change. A decade ago, when Myanmar was allowed to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, I was assured by leaders in the region that they would push the junta to open its economy and move in the direction of democracy. With a few honorable exceptions, this hasn’t happened.
A third reality is that the concept of national sovereignty as an inviolable and overriding principle of global law is once again gaining ground. Many diplomats and foreign policy experts had hoped that the fall of the Berlin Wall would lead to the creation of an integrated world system free from spheres of influence, in which the wounds created by colonial and cold war empires would heal.
In such a world, the international community would recognize a responsibility to override sovereignty in emergency situations — to prevent ethnic cleansing or genocide, arrest war criminals, restore democracy or provide disaster relief when national governments were either unable or unwilling to do so.
During the 1990s, certain precedents were created. The administration of George H. W. Bush intervened to prevent famine in Somalia and to aid Kurds in northern Iraq; the Clinton administration returned an elected leader to power in Haiti; NATO ended the war in Bosnia and stopped Slobodan Milosevic’s campaign of terror in Kosovo; the British halted a civil war in Sierra Leone; and the United Nations authorized life-saving missions in East Timor and elsewhere.
These actions were not steps toward a world government. They did reflect the view that the international system exists to advance certain core values, including development, justice and respect for human rights. In this view, sovereignty is still a central consideration, but cases may arise in which there is a responsibility to intervene — through sanctions or, in extreme cases, by force — to save lives.
The Bush administration’s decision to fight in Afghanistan after 9/11 did nothing to weaken this view because it was clearly motivated by self-defense. The invasion of Iraq, with the administration’s grandiose rhetoric about pre-emption, was another matter, however. It generated a negative reaction that has weakened support for cross-border interventions even for worthy purposes. Governments, especially in the developing world, are now determined to preserve the principle of sovereignty, even when the human costs of doing so are high.
Thus, Myanmar’s leaders have been shielded from the repercussions of their outrageous actions. Sudan has been able to dictate the terms of multinational operations inside Darfur. The government of Zimbabwe may yet succeed in stealing a presidential election.
Political leaders in Pakistan have told the Bush administration to back off, despite the growth of Al Qaeda and Taliban cells in the country’s wild northwest. African leaders (understandably perhaps) have said no to the creation of a regional American military command. And despite recent efforts to enshrine the doctrine of a “responsibility to protect” in international law, the concept of humanitarian intervention has lost momentum.
The global conscience is not asleep, but after the turbulence of recent years, it is profoundly confused. Some governments will oppose any exceptions to the principle of sovereignty because they fear criticism of their own policies. Others will defend the sanctity of sovereignty unless and until they again have confidence in the judgment of those proposing exceptions.
At the heart of the debate is the question of what the international system is. Is it just a collection of legal nuts and bolts cobbled together by governments to protect governments? Or is it a living framework of rules intended to make the world a more humane place?
We know how the government of Myanmar would answer that question, but what we need to listen to is the voice — and cry — of the Burmese people.
Madeleine K. Albright was the United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001.
CARTOONS ABOUT BURMA
I got it from my friend and apologize to the owner as i can't mention the right one.
Friday, August 1, 2008
8888 to 080808 (HISTORY STILL GOING ON)
Burma political blog
Aug/01/2008
8888 to 080808 (history still going on)
In August 8th, it would be 20 years after mass demonstration in Burma had been destroyed by military.A lots of students and people died in 1988 and it was horrible experience to our burmese people.Although we still crave for Democracy though we do not know which is the best way. Personally, i accept every mode of action against military to get Democracy.On the other hand, a lots of people will die if we demonstrate our desire on the road which is the usual method used by army to quell the demonstration. At the same time, we should sacrifice our lives like some people who died, have been in prisons for their belief. How about you? Everybody afraid of being dead, most but with some exception.Not all the people, but personally i hope to get new students and people who dare to give their lives to our country.I do not expect too much from our generation Y (youths) as they have so many ambitions in their lives.But at lest i hope they will never forget about 8888 demonstrations brutally cracked down by the military.I collected some viedos of 8888 on youtube and posted so that youths can see this sad event.
Monday, January 7, 2008
News update
Shops are now removed from the road of downtown of Yangon
Earlier today , i found some people from YCDC together with a lots of police men forcing the shops to remove from the platform. They were using the force and some shop owners were detained . These shops used to be there for many years before i was born and the reason why they were removed is not clear yet. They not only detained the shop owners but collected properties of the shop keepers. It is true to say that these shops make the road more congested although a lots of accessories can be obtained from these shops. We have to wait for the reason of this event as we don't have any idea about what the junta is doing.
No Satellite : No DVB in Burma
Recently , the junta released a new taxation law on satellite TV seemingly attacking on most popular anti-goverment TV program DVB. We used to tax 6,500 kyats per year for satellite TV but now they increased the amount to 1,000,000 kyats . Everybody knows it is not fair enough and they want to ban DVB clearly . Another is that they want to promote the TV 5 program which is owned by the son of one of the ministers. But this law has not yet confirmed by junta although they released this news to local authorities .
Junta further tightens scholarship procedures
January 7, 2008 - Burma's ruling junta has further tightened the procedure for selection of scholars going abroad for further studies after reforming the selection committee.
Junta officials, during a meeting on December 27, 2007, reform the selection committee of scholarship programme by filling in more officials, with the level of directors, from several government ministries and departments.
According to the meeting Memo, scholars who are currently doing courses abroad would require returning home upon completing their courses and would only be allowed to resume further studies after the completion of serving the government for 3 years.
A Burmese student who is currently studying abroad under the scholarship programme said the move is a big blow for student who wish to continue further studies, as students would cross the age limits to continue their studies.
"By taking a break for three years in service most students would be overage to continue further studies. As most Burmese students going for scholarship are nearly overage," the student, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal told Mizzima.
According to the Memo, a copy of which is send to Mizzima by a source close to the military establishment, all students going for the programme will have to be guaranteed by their spouses or their family members, who will require to pay the sum of 5 million kyat (USD 3846) incase the student fail to return home after the programme.
"This is a kind of ransom. The government is making the students' family to sign and would not allow any family members to leave the country as a ransom against the student from staying in the host countries," the student said.
The memo, signed by secretary of the Military Government's cabinet Col Thant Shin, also imposed restrictions on women scholars to go for further studies alone but said, "at least two women should be send together for a scholarship programme."
The Memo also said that the previous selection committee formed in 1988, shall no longer be effective but recognizes the reformed committee with its new sets of criteria.
"This is only shows that the government does not care for the education of its people but are only concern for their power," the student said.
According the student, most scholarship programmes for Burmese students are funded or offered by the host countries or non-governmental organizations.
"Except for Russia and China, the government does not spend a penny on the students to go for scholarship programmes. But for Russia and China, they [the junta] sponsors military officers to go for training," added the student.
However, another student, who is preparing for the scholarship programme in Rangoon told mizzima, "rules and regulations are merely set, there are no officials from any department who is abiding strictly. Rules and regulation could be reflex if we can bribe them."
Sat TV fees drastically drop back in Burma
January 7, 2008 - Rumors are doing round in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon that the increased Satellite Television license fees would be drastically drop back from Kyat 10 million (US$800) to Kyat 50,000 (US $ 38).
In early January, Satellite Dish users in Rangoon, who went to pay the annual license fees, complaint when they find out the increased in the fee to Kyat 10 million from 6000 Kyat.
Just as several people in Rangoon as well as other parts of the country are ready to stop using Satellite Dishes due to the sudden hike in the license fee, on January 4, a rumor spread that the fee has dropped back to 50,000 kyat, which is 8 fold increased.
"There are two information spreading now, some said from 6000 Kyat it [the license fee] will increase to 50,000 Kyat. But no body knows the exact information as yet. The telecommunication office said they have not receive any direction on this regard and refuse to accept any license fees," a local resident of Rangoon, who went to the Mayangone telecommunication office to pay the annual fee for Satellite dish.
Another local resident of Rangoon's Bahan Township said, "Today I heard people were saying that the fees will be 50,000."
An official at the Yankin Telecommunication office, when contacted by Mizzima, refuse to answer, stating that there has been no official notification or direction on the matter.
However, a Burmese blog site named 'Dr. Lwun Swe' confirmed the information and said several Rangoon residents have re-install their Satellite Dishes, which they have it down last week.
The information, however, could not be independently confirmed.
Earlier today , i found some people from YCDC together with a lots of police men forcing the shops to remove from the platform. They were using the force and some shop owners were detained . These shops used to be there for many years before i was born and the reason why they were removed is not clear yet. They not only detained the shop owners but collected properties of the shop keepers. It is true to say that these shops make the road more congested although a lots of accessories can be obtained from these shops. We have to wait for the reason of this event as we don't have any idea about what the junta is doing.
No Satellite : No DVB in Burma
Recently , the junta released a new taxation law on satellite TV seemingly attacking on most popular anti-goverment TV program DVB. We used to tax 6,500 kyats per year for satellite TV but now they increased the amount to 1,000,000 kyats . Everybody knows it is not fair enough and they want to ban DVB clearly . Another is that they want to promote the TV 5 program which is owned by the son of one of the ministers. But this law has not yet confirmed by junta although they released this news to local authorities .
Junta further tightens scholarship procedures
January 7, 2008 - Burma's ruling junta has further tightened the procedure for selection of scholars going abroad for further studies after reforming the selection committee.
Junta officials, during a meeting on December 27, 2007, reform the selection committee of scholarship programme by filling in more officials, with the level of directors, from several government ministries and departments.
According to the meeting Memo, scholars who are currently doing courses abroad would require returning home upon completing their courses and would only be allowed to resume further studies after the completion of serving the government for 3 years.
A Burmese student who is currently studying abroad under the scholarship programme said the move is a big blow for student who wish to continue further studies, as students would cross the age limits to continue their studies.
"By taking a break for three years in service most students would be overage to continue further studies. As most Burmese students going for scholarship are nearly overage," the student, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal told Mizzima.
According to the Memo, a copy of which is send to Mizzima by a source close to the military establishment, all students going for the programme will have to be guaranteed by their spouses or their family members, who will require to pay the sum of 5 million kyat (USD 3846) incase the student fail to return home after the programme.
"This is a kind of ransom. The government is making the students' family to sign and would not allow any family members to leave the country as a ransom against the student from staying in the host countries," the student said.
The memo, signed by secretary of the Military Government's cabinet Col Thant Shin, also imposed restrictions on women scholars to go for further studies alone but said, "at least two women should be send together for a scholarship programme."
The Memo also said that the previous selection committee formed in 1988, shall no longer be effective but recognizes the reformed committee with its new sets of criteria.
"This is only shows that the government does not care for the education of its people but are only concern for their power," the student said.
According the student, most scholarship programmes for Burmese students are funded or offered by the host countries or non-governmental organizations.
"Except for Russia and China, the government does not spend a penny on the students to go for scholarship programmes. But for Russia and China, they [the junta] sponsors military officers to go for training," added the student.
However, another student, who is preparing for the scholarship programme in Rangoon told mizzima, "rules and regulations are merely set, there are no officials from any department who is abiding strictly. Rules and regulation could be reflex if we can bribe them."
Sat TV fees drastically drop back in Burma
January 7, 2008 - Rumors are doing round in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon that the increased Satellite Television license fees would be drastically drop back from Kyat 10 million (US$800) to Kyat 50,000 (US $ 38).
In early January, Satellite Dish users in Rangoon, who went to pay the annual license fees, complaint when they find out the increased in the fee to Kyat 10 million from 6000 Kyat.
Just as several people in Rangoon as well as other parts of the country are ready to stop using Satellite Dishes due to the sudden hike in the license fee, on January 4, a rumor spread that the fee has dropped back to 50,000 kyat, which is 8 fold increased.
"There are two information spreading now, some said from 6000 Kyat it [the license fee] will increase to 50,000 Kyat. But no body knows the exact information as yet. The telecommunication office said they have not receive any direction on this regard and refuse to accept any license fees," a local resident of Rangoon, who went to the Mayangone telecommunication office to pay the annual fee for Satellite dish.
Another local resident of Rangoon's Bahan Township said, "Today I heard people were saying that the fees will be 50,000."
An official at the Yankin Telecommunication office, when contacted by Mizzima, refuse to answer, stating that there has been no official notification or direction on the matter.
However, a Burmese blog site named 'Dr. Lwun Swe' confirmed the information and said several Rangoon residents have re-install their Satellite Dishes, which they have it down last week.
The information, however, could not be independently confirmed.
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