HRW calls for transparency and accountability in Nargis relief effort

International aid donors involved in relief and reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Nargis need to ensure that aid reaches the Burmese people, and is not manipulated by the junta says Human Rights Watch.
The watchdog has issued an open letter to donors calling on them to establish clear principles for the provision of aid. They warn, [...]

Burma’s elected representatives call for dialogue, not participation

The Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP), which is made up of representatives from the parties that won the majority of seats in the 1990 election, met recently to discuss it position on the 2010 elections and next month’s visit by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
According to the Democratic Voice of Burma’s website, the group, [...]

Shane’s Tweets for 2008-07-25

Doing sermon prep. #
rain stopped long enough for me to collect the laundry. Wonder, if I can make it to Aiya and back for dinner? I’ll take an umbrella anyway. #
got a very busy day tomorrow. #

UN Agencies: Nargis victims still in dire situation

Hundreds of thousands of people are still in need of critical humanitarian assistance, three months after Cyclone Nargis hit Burma say two UN agencies currently working on the ground.
Chris Kaye, Country Director for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) described the situation as dire. She said, “The vast majority of families simply [...]

20% of donations lost to Burma’s currency controls

Up to 20 percent of money donated to aid agencies working on relief projects in Burma may be lost due to the junta’s foreign currency restrictions. The London Times says international aid agencies as well as UN agencies such as the UN Development Programme and the World Food Programme are forced to follow the junta’s [...]

US spells out goals for Gambari’s visit, threatens increased UN pressure

The US wants to see Burma’s military junta ‘turn a new page’ and agree to a political roadmap for elections in 2010 as well as to the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to the UN.
He said they are looking for progress from [...]

Shane’s Tweets for 2008-07-24

got a Karen lesson later… Need to find time to practice. #
so bored with July already. C’mon August hurry up and get start! #
so bored with July already. C’mon August hurry up and get started! #

Burma’s ‘friends’ meet at UN ahead of Gambari’s trip

The so-called ‘Friends of Myanmar’ group met today at the UN to discuss the upcoming visit of Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari to Burma (see: Not getting too excited about Gambari’s visit).
The meeting convened by secretary-general Ban Ki-moon was attended by Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the [...]

What’s a little misunderstanding between friends?

The name of this blog was inspired by Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” A reminder to us all of the importance of minding our words. A lesson that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)’s foreign ministers would do well [...]

Shane’s Tweets for 2008-07-23

ToT’s ADSL line is acting up AGAIN, so I’m in the coffeeshop! #
wondering, can I justify the time and expense of going ALL the way to Bangkok just to see The Dark Knight on the big screen? #

Rice calls for ASEAN to pressure Burma

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) nations need to apply more pressure on Burma’s ruling military junta to improve human rights and adopt democratic reforms.
Rice met with foreign ministers from ASEAN in Singapore and told them ASEAN especially needs to push Burma to release political prisoners, [...]

Australia to donate extra $29 million in aid to Burma, calls for improved human rights

Australia will donate an additional US$29 million in aid for survivors of Cyclone Nargis.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced the move today at a meeting in Singapore with Burma’s foreign Minister Nyan Win on the sidelines of an annual meeting between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its trading partners in Asia and the West.
But, [...]

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