Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Ethnic alliance hammers out ‘federal’ goals before next round of talks
- Renowned ‘Moustache Brother’ Par Par Lay passes away
- Floods leave 33,000 in camps, three dead
| Ethnic alliance hammers out ‘federal’ goals before next round of talks Posted: 02 Aug 2013 07:46 AM PDT A federation of eleven armed ethnic organisations called for the drafting of a new constitution that will allow for the creation of a federal government in Burma following a four-day conference in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai. The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), along with representatives from more than 40 ethnic organisations, political parties and civil society groups, hashed out six 'important positions and decisions' ahead of a meeting with government-backed negotiators scheduled for the last week of August in Chiang Mai. "We have to hurry. All our advisors say that you are passive. You have to be proactive," said the UNFC's Vice Chairperson-2 David Thackabaw during an interview with DVB. "We have to hurry up with the talks about the political dialogue and the ceasefire dialogue. We have to hurry. We cannot go on and on without specifically pronouncing our terms and conditions for peace." In response to the increased pressure from their advisors, the group laid out six of the groups' positions during a press conference on Friday, which includes the commencement of a political dialogue with Naypyidaw-backed negotiators, the establishment of a future federal government in Burma and the promulgation of new constitution. The conference follows reports that a major rift has surfaced in Burma's ethnic movement between the UNFC and the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC) that was established to coordinate negotiations with the government and is funded by the Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office. According to Thackabaw, the WGEC is pushing ethnic groups to submit to Burma's military-backed constitution rather than calling for the establishment of a federal union that would provide the country's ethnic minorities with greater political rights. "But we [think] if we do that we will all become colonies. All the ethnic people would become colonies of the central military government," said Thackabaw. "This government is still military. We have to try and change it into a democratic government, a federal government." Following the group's press conference on Friday, DVB sat down with the UNFC's David Thackabaw to discuss the organisation's latest summit, the government's proposed nationwide ceasefire and the UNFC's grievances with the WGEC. |
| Renowned ‘Moustache Brother’ Par Par Lay passes away Posted: 02 Aug 2013 04:36 AM PDT Famed moustached comedian and political dissident Par Par Lay, who helped co-found the popular Moustache Brothers comedy troupe, died of kidney failure in his home in Mandalay on Friday aged 67. Fellow moustache brother Lu Maw said he was unaware of Par Par Lay's condition and noted that the brother had complained of back pain but remained committed to putting on shows despite the pain. "He started suffering from backaches in January this year, but he was not very attentive as he had busy schedules with the campaigns and performance shows," said Lu Maw. According to Par Par Lay's family, the comedian had also suffered from diabetes and coronary artery disease. "My brother was in prison three times. When he was in jail for six months in 1990, I looked after the family on his behalf. And then again when he was jailed for seven years in 1996," said Lu Maw. "Now I have to take the responsibility on behalf of my brother." The Moustache Brothers were comprised of Par Par Lay and his cousins Lu Zaw and La Maw. The famous troupe was popular among travellers passing through Mandalay. The comedians were well known for their slapstick humour and courage to criticise Burma’s military leaders during the junta's iron-fisted rule. The trio have been strong supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) and campaigned for the opposition party in the run up last year’s by-elections, where the Lady and 42 NLD members won parliamentary seats. Par Par Lay was jailed three times by the former military government for his biting political commentary. He was first imprisoned in 1990 for criticising the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, which refused to hand over power to the NLD despite its landslide victory in the general elections. In 1996, Par Par Lay, along with fellow comedian Lu Zaw, were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour for ridiculing the former military regime during a performance at Suu Kyi’s home marking independence day. The comedian was again briefly jailed following the military’s crackdown on monk-led protests in late September 2007. In November 2012, Par Par Lay launched the 'No Fear Campaign', where he promoted Suu Kyi’s famous concept of freedom from fear of the military at opening ceremonies of NLD field offices. |
| Floods leave 33,000 in camps, three dead Posted: 02 Aug 2013 02:43 AM PDT Tens of thousands of people were sheltering in relief camps in eastern Burma after flash floods swept the region leaving three dead, state media said Friday, warning of more heavy rain to come. Nearly 33,500 people have been moved to 79 camps in Karen state after monsoon floods that also caused three deaths and left another person missing, according to state newspaper the New Light of Myanmar. Some 245 schools have also been closed while landslides have damaged roads after rains began to pound the state on 27 July, the reported added. In neighbouring Mon state a further 4,700 people were temporarily displaced by floods but some have now returned to their homes. The United Nations said it had delivered some medical aid including water purification tablets to both states. State media warned people who live next to rivers in the Irrawaddy delta further to the west to prepare for heavy rains. “All those who live in the delta region and at either side of the rivers are urged to take necessary preventive measures against the natural disasters as there may be incessant rains in the coming days,” it said. “People also need to be aware of the dangers of electric shocks, snakes, landslides and collapse of trees.” Large swaths of Burma are inundated each year during the monsoon period, which ends in October. |
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