Democracy In Crisis: What we know and what we don't

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/black-white-and-grey/news/democracy-crisis-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-1633951

Ali Riaz

That democratic values and democratic institutions are in crisis all around the world is no longer a revelation; casual observation of the current global scene is enough to bear this out. For years, empirical data provided by the Freedom House and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in their annual reports have been indicating that democracy is in a downward spiral. According to a Freedom House report, almost 67 percent people in the world now live under political systems which are either “not free” or “partly free”, or in other words undemocratic. One-third of the global population lives in outright authoritarian regimes according to the EIU, and many Asian countries are hybrid regimes—i.e., ostensibly democratic but essentially authoritarian.

Myanmar files lawsuit against Arakanese leader and author

Arakan national political leader Dr. Aye Maung and author Wai Hin Aung whom

Myanmar government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and Army chief Min Aung Hlaing 

including Suu Kyi's confidants like Arakan State Puppet Chief Minister Mr. Nyi Pu filed

suits in sittwe court in the lost Arakan to Myanmar  since January 18,2018.

After they were charged by Myanmar Government on the accusation of three cases,

they were thrown into cell of sittwe jail without letting them out of jail on bail.

Those three cases are high treason, incitement and unlawful association. As usually

Myanmar always oppresses our Arakanese people, they terminate extraordinary our

people and leaders. Most of our Arakanese leaders are ended up in the prison from

time to time by Burma.

On Monday, The court had dropped a charge of unlawful association against Arakanese

leader and author but maintained another two cases – high treason and incitement - when their lawyer prefixed petition before the judge to drop all the charges.  

“Even if we have nothing, not even a toothpick, we are being charged with high treason”

Dr. Aye Maung , political leader of Arakan said.

“ We did not commit a crime but we have been charged. It means judicial system is very bad “

said Arakanese author Wai Hin Aung.

Both of them, delivered speech on the occasion to mark the 233^rd anniversary of the fall of Arakan

kingdom to Burma(Myanmar)  at the literary talk in Rathedung township in Arakan.

Burma government imposes to ban literary talks nowadays across the lost Arakan to Myanmar.

The Netherlands stops supporting Syrian rebels, ahead of Idlib offensive Politics

The Netherlands has stopped funding the Syrian opposition in the civil war against president Assad, foreign https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/09/the-netherlands-stops-supporting-syrian-rebels-ahead-of-idlib-offensive/

minister Stef Blok and trade 

minister Sigrid Kaag have told MPs in a briefing. 

x

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/09/the-netherlands-stops-supporting-syrian-rebels-ahead-of-idlib-offensive/

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/09/the-netherlands-stops-supporting-syrian-rebels-ahead-of-idlib-offensive/

The chance that rebel forces will be able to win the civil war is, the ministers say, now ‘extremely limited’. Dutch support for the rebels has ‘not had the desired effects’, the ministers said. The Netherlands had set aside €70m to fund the opposition.

In addition to funding ‘moderate’ rebels, the Netherland had also put money into their police forces and to the White Helmets programme, the civilian rescue service. Funding for the first two programmes has stopped immediately while the White Helmet support will end in December. 

The Netherlands will, however, continue to support Syrian people ‘which will be extremely necessary’ in the coming period, ministers said. Some three million people live in Idlib, which is the last rebel stronghold and where a major offensive by Assad supporters Russia is said to be about to take place. 

In their briefing ministers are pessimistic about the current situation in Syria, saying that a military victory by Assad’s forces is ‘imminent’ and that the ‘inherent instability’ means the prospects for lasting peace are gloomy.

 However, the Netherlands will continue to strive for a political solution and to support Syria’s neighbouring countries which have also been hit by the conflict, the letter said. 

Arakanese old woman beaten by Myanmar administrator and stooges

There is a burnt field or land in Sittwe city, capital of Arakan , in western part of so-called Myanmar. Arakanese people ,who live in a burnt field in sittwe city with bamboo huts ,are being attacked and forced to leave by Myanmar administration. 

Under the Myanmar rule, Arakanese people are suffering from all the sides at the same time and most of them had lost their plots of land at a burnt field when Myanmar government with Myanmar Army conspired communal conflict in Arakan since 2012s.

Their houses were burned to ground while the wave of communal conflict became turbulence. After that, Myanmar administration expelled them from a burnt field but they resisted to living on their own plots of land. (the burnt field)

Carrying deadly weapons, last month, Myanmar administrators (city and village level) together with police men and stooges invaded forcefully into a burnt field. They destroyed Mrs. Kyawt Ma Tha’s house and severely beat up her. They handcuffed her son and then took him to police station.

Mrs. Kyawt Ma tha was admitted to hospital in critical condition. She recovered nowadays and complained at police station against the culprits for legal action but police refused to file chargesheet.

Under the Myanmar or Burma rule, Arakanese people are being persecuted.

(This report is also published differently on Arakanese News Agency – www.narinjara.com – facebook page)

Myanmar enjoys to build natural gas-fired plants one after another

As most of Arakanese people are living without electricity in Arakan , western so-celled

Myanmar , majority Burma builds natural gas-fired power plants one after another in their Burmese regions. Natural gas for plants which Burma or Myanmar grabs from Arakan coast in bullying way.

Without will of Arakanese and without transparency, Burma or Myanmar has sold it to china. Burma uses some percentage of those gas for electricity but not for Arakanese people but for their own Burmese. Burma does not recognize Arakanese political party as a dialogue partner so that they can do whatever they want without caring Arakanese people.

How Burma purchases gas power engines and utilizes gas from Arakan to distribute electricity in their own region is that see below, please.

Gas-fired plant in Kyaukse to be built

CHAN MYA HTWE 04 SEP 2018          MYANMAR TIMES

The signing ceremony takes place in July. Photo - Supplied

A 145-megawatts natural gas-fired power plant will be built in Kyaukse of Mandalay Region, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

Myanmar urges donations

The websites of Myanmar embassies in different countries on Sunday have published a post titled 'Make a Donation' where the post read: 'Make a donation to give a helping hand in resolving the Rakhine State issue'

Tarek Mahmud – Dhaka Tribune

Myanmar has called on the international community to donate money for resettlement of Rohingyas and development of Rakhine state of the country.

The websites of Myanmar embassies in different countries on Sunday have published a post titled “Make a Donation” where the post read: “Make a donation to give a helping hand in resolving the Rakhine State issue.”

Information of two bank accounts were added to the post for giving donations. They are Myanmar Economic Bank (Account Number: EDU 600002) of Naypyidaw branch for United States of America currency USD money and another is Myanmar Economic Bank (Account Number: CF-003434) of Naypyidaw branch in terms of Myanmar currency Kyat.

Such a post was also seen on the website of Myanmar Embassy in Bangladesh by the Union Enterprise.

Clashes ongoing at border of India,Myanmar and Bangladesh

After Arakan Army and Myanmar Army clashed in six places for the whole days in the area with India in month of May, this year, clashes are ongoing again in upper area of Paletwa township

at the border of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh on 29.8.2018 according to Arakan Army’s

facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/thearakanarmy1/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdxqAu3uHaZ16p4JqumDnJN1HJQiNJHHRh1lGsse72PO-Q%3AAdyTkoKnkoGtPOu2K-8jSYQbbydvM7_f0zh-N-2LVdPpeA

Myanmar army shelled 81mm mortars and 60mm mortars on Arakan Army at random. Out of fear, around 100 villagers fled across the border.

During the ongoing clashes, Arakan Army (AA) seizes two 81mm mortars, two 60mm mortars,

*two land mines * , some firearms and ammunitions and uniforms, the AA said.

Myanmar police seizes National Registration Cards from Arakanese

Myanmar police deployed in northern Myanmar seized National Identity Cards

from Arakanese travelers who came to pass police post to look new job opportunity

in Shan State, Myanmar on 25.8.2018 . Myanmar police allowed all the travelers

to pass their post except Arakanese men and women from whom National Registration

Cards were forcibly and unlawfully seized and some of Arakanese were also detained at

police post but most of them managed to return back  where they started their

journey without getting back their cards from brutal arbitrary police.

Even if they were citizens and their card were valid, they were not allowed to pass police

post to reach work sites to get jobs in Shan State, Myanmar .Therefore they left their

futile, useless cards at police post and walking back long way (200-mile)on foot.

Fortunately, one Arakanese guy, who overheard police’s arbitrary   seizing  National

Registration Cards and his compatriots were on the returning way , came to get them

in his automobile.

The reason why citizens were blocked to travel just within and just inside Myanmar is yet

unknown but it is sure that Arakanese are discriminated and Arakanese are being recognized as second citizenship status by majority Burma who rules arbitrarily Myanmar.

Some sources disclosed that Myanmar military detective force which directed police to seize cards from Arakanese men and women.

Independent Arakanese News Agency, www.narinjara.com on its facebook page, also published

this story. According to Independent Arakanese News Agency, it wanted to contact police post on phone to interview but particular phone number of police post which news agency was not given clandestinely.

However, we, Arakanese people believe that majority Burma intentionally discriminates and deliberately persecutes  Arakanese people from time to time.  

NETHERLANDS NOT PREPARED FOR GAS SHORTAGES: REPORT

By Janene Pieters on August 24, 2018 - 11:20https://nltimes.nl/2018/08/24/netherlands-prepared-gas-shortages-report

Milieudefensie and Groningen residents dump fracking earthquake rubble in front of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in The Hague, 26 Oct 2017. Photo: @milieudefensie / Twitter

The Netherlands is not sufficiently prepared to deal with the consequences of a long-term gas shortage, according to a crisis plan from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate that EenVandaag got hold of by appealing to the freedom of information act.

The crisis plan describes possible steps the Netherlands can take if gas extraction in Groningen has to be halted sooner than planned, for example due to a massive earthquake, and if the country can't get enough gas from abroad to meet the demand. The plan dates from January 2018.

Retired Myanmar Army men attend International Buddhist Conference

From 23 to 26 August, 6^th International Buddhist Conference will be held

in New Delhi, in India.

As majority of Myanmar citizens are Buddhists, Myanmar minister for religious affairs

Aung Ko is attending along with Aung Thein Nyunt. Both of them were retired men

from Myanmar Army which kills, rapes, loots and massacres minority ethnics

(non-Burma) in so-called Myanmar until right now.

It is wonderful that former members of killer, rapist, looter organization of Myanmar

represent to attend 6^th International Buddhist Conference in New Delhi on behalf of Myanmar.