Ensure dignified repatriation of Rohingyas: PM to global community

The Daily Star

UNB, Dhaka
June 23, 2021

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. File photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today renewed her call to the global community to ensure the dignified repatriation of Rohingyas as they are posing a big security threat to Bangladesh as well as the region.

"We've sheltered them on humanitarian grounds but such a huge population can't be lodged for an indefinite period… I request the world community to assist us in dignified and peaceful repatriation of the Rohingyas," she said.

Myanmar army clashes with anti-junta militia in major city

B B C   

23 June 2021

A military handout photograph shows soldiers and police arresting people during a raid in Mandalay

The army in Myanmar's second city, Mandalay, has clashed with a local militia opposed to February's military coup.

The clashes are the first time the People's Defense Forces (PDF) have come up against the army in a major city.

The defence force is a collective name for militia groups that have sprung up in Myanmar since the coup.

Resistance Fighters Battle Myanmar’s Military in Mandalay

New York Times

Hannah Beech
June 22, 2021

A shootout in Myanmar’s second-biggest city was the first time the military and a group of armed civilians known as the People’s Defense Force clashed in a major urban area.

The military government of Myanmar released this photograph on Tuesday, saying it showed soldiers and police officers making arrests at a house raid in Mandalay.Credit...Commander in Chief Office

The gunfire in the city of Mandalay began shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday, as Buddhist monks paced the streets for alms and residents lined up for breakfasts of milk tea or noodle soup.

Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, has been a center of anti-military resistance since the junta staged a coup on Feb. 1. Dozens have been shot dead by security forces there. But the boom of heavy artillery so early in the morning was unusual.

United Nations calls for halt of weapons to Myanmar

ABS-CBN NEWS
Michelle Nichols, Reuters
Jun 23 2021

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Myanmar's Commander in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing walk past the honor guard prior to their talks in Moscow, Russia on June 22, 2021. Vadim Savitskiy/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters

NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution with the support of 119 countries several months after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in a Feb. 1 coup. Belarus requested the text be put to a vote and was the only country to oppose it, while 36 abstained, including China and Russia.

Russia and Myanmar junta leader commit to boosting ties at Moscow meeting

REUTERS
June 21, 2021

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev attends a World War Two Victory Day anniversary parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

MOSCOW, June 21 (Reuters) - Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, and Myanmar's junta leader committed to further strengthening security and other ties between the two countries at a Moscow meeting on Monday.

Myanmar's junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, flew to the Russian capital on Sunday to attend a security conference this week. read more Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier on Monday said President Vladimir Putin would not be meeting Min Aung Hlaing, Interfax reported.

Rights activists have accused Moscow of legitimising Myanmar’s military junta, which came to power in a Feb. 1 coup. by continuing bilateral visits and arms deals.

Russia says it has a long-standing relationship with Myanmar and said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar.

Debate Over Myanmar Upends Start to UN Rights Body Session

U.S. News

Associated Press
JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press
June 21, 2021,

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 file photo Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.N.’s top human rights body opened its latest session on Monday, June 21, 2021 and was immediately embroiled in a debate over the representation of Myanmar, where a military takeover toppled the civilian government in February. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP, file) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.’s top human rights body opened its latest session on Monday and was immediately embroiled in a debate over the representation of Myanmar, where a military takeover toppled the civilian government in February.

Western countries said two planned debates about the human rights situation in Myanmar during the Human Rights Council's 3-1/2 week session should go forward, even without the country represented. But China, the Philippines and Venezuela insisted it should be on hand.

Commentary: Potential civil war in Myanmar - stakes are very high for Bangladesh

Dhaka Tribune

Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan

June 22nd, 2021

File photo: Demonstrators block a road during an anti-coup protest in Yangon on March 4, 2021 Reuters

Bangladesh will have to make sure that its border is strongly protected to stop insurgents and any Myanmar nationals from entering

On April 13, about two and half months after the military coup ousting the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned that Myanmar was heading towards a full-blown civil war like in Syria.

Britain Tightens Sanctions Net on Myanmar Military

U.S News

By Reuters
June 21, 2021

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain added three Myanmar entities to its sanctions list on Monday: state-owned pearl and timber firms, and the 'State Administration Council' which runs the functions of the state, a notice posted on the British government website said.

Britain said there were reasonable grounds to believe the two state-owned enterprises provided funds to the military junta, and said the State Administration Council was responsible for, or had supported, the undermining of democracy in Myanmar.

Army clashes with anti-junta militia in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city

CNN

Story by Reuters
June 22, 2021

In Myanmar's jungles, protesters are training to fight the junta 02:30

Myanmar security forces backed by armored vehicles on Tuesday clashed with a newly formed militia group in Mandalay, the country's second-biggest city, according to social media posts from the group and media reports.

Since the army seized power on February 1 and removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the security forces have quashed protests opposing military rule. In response, groups of opponents of the coup known as people's defense forces have sprung up across Myanmar.

Bangladesh abstains from voting against Myanmar

Prothom Alo 

Prothom Alo English Desk

Published: 20 Jun 2021, 

The United Nations logo is seen on a window in an empty hallway at United Nations headquarters during the 75th annual UN General Assembly high-level debate in New York, US, on 21 September 2020Reuters

The UN General Assembly on Friday took a rare step of calling on member states to “prevent the flow of arms” into Myanmar, which is a part of a non-binding resolution condemning the military coup in the violence-wracked country.

The resolution -- which did not go so far as to call for a global arms embargo -- also demands that the military “immediately stop all violence against peaceful demonstrators,” reports Reuters.

It was approved by 119 countries, with 36 abstaining including China, Myanmar’s main ally. Only one country, Belarus, voted against it. Bangladesh also abstained from voting.

Saudi Arabia affirms support for Rohingya; abstains resolution

Saudi Gazette

Saudi Gazette report
June 20, 2021

The Kingdom’s statement was delivered by Minister Plenipotentiary Wajdi Hassan Muharram, chairman of the Fourth Committee of the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to the United Nations, during the General Assembly meeting on a draft resolution on the situation in Myanmar.

NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia on Saturday affirmed its firm position in support of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and voted to abstain from a resolution moved at the UN General Assembly on the situation in Myanmar.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution that called on all member states to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar.

The Kingdom’s statement was delivered by Minister Plenipotentiary Wajdi Hassan Muharram, chairman of the Fourth Committee of the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to the United Nations, during the General Assembly meeting on a draft resolution on the situation in Myanmar.

UNGA Motion on Myanmar: Dhaka keeps off vote as it skirts reality

The Daily Star

Diplomatic Correspondent

June 21, 2021

Bangladesh has abstained from voting a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that failed to adequately reflect on the Rohingya crisis and their repatriation from Bangladesh.

It also expressed deep disappointment at the resolution on the "Situation in Myanmar" that was adopted by the UNGA on Friday with 119 votes in favour, one against and 36 abstentions, said Bangladesh's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York in a statement yesterday.

Rohingya in Bangladesh frustrated with lack of formal education

YeniSafak

June 21, 2021

File Photo

Amid mounting frustration, Rohingya rights groups and experts have called on the Bangladesh government to provide refugees with formal education, which is essential for their reintegration and repatriation to Myanmar.

Rohingyas learning photography to document life in Bangladesh’s camps

Eastern Eye
By: SwatiRana
18 June, 2021

iStock image

A GROUP of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is learning photography at a local media school to help them document conditions in the camps and even go on to become professional journalists.

Omar’s Film School was founded in February last year to train young Rohingya refugees and help them find careers in photojournalism.

“I want to be a professional photographer, so I am studying to learn,” said 22-year-old refugee Jamal Arakani. “With my photographs, I want to show the whole world how we live here.”

UN General Assembly calls for halt of weapons to Myanmar

France24

Text by:NEWS WIRES
Issued on: 18/06/2021

The United Nations logo is seen on a window in an empty hallway at United Nations headquarters during the 75th annual UN General Assembly high-level debate in New York on September 21, 2020. © Mike Segar, Reuters/File Photo

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

United Nations calls for halt of weapons to Myanmar

REUTERS

Michelle Nichols
June 19, 2021

NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Yadana workers urge Total to stop military receiving gas revenue

Myanmar Now
Published on May 26, 2021

The French company has reported that in 2020 it paid US$37.3 million in taxes in Myanmar plus another US$138.5 million which was the government’s share of gas export sales – money that is now in the hands of the military.

Totals' gas production in Myanmar. (Photo/Gladieu Stephan)

Covert interviews with ten Yadana gas field workers suggest they want French oil giant, Total to prevent the military regime from receiving the government’s share of gas revenue.

And the ten Yadana workers interviewed all would prefer Total to block the payment of huge sums to the brutal junta even if it means depriving their families of electricity.

Their stance on natural gas revenue going to the military directly challenges recent statements made by Total’s chief executive Patrick Pouyanné.

Bangladesh FM seeks UN road map for Rohingya repatriation

NEWAGE

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka
Jun 18,2021 

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, who is now visiting the US, sought a clear roadmap from the United Nations regarding early repatriation of forcibly displaced persecuted Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their land of origin in Myanmar.        

‘We need a clear roadmap from the UN for repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar,’ he said at a bilateral meeting with special envoy of the UN secretary general on Myanmar Christine S Burgener at the Bangladesh permanent mission in New York on Wednesday, said a release received in Dhaka on Thursday.

 

UN proposal seeks arms embargo and democracy in Myanmar

abc NEWS
By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press
18 June 2021

Diplomats say the U_N_ General Assembly is expected to approve a resolution calling on Myanmar’s military junta to restore the country’s democratic transition and calling on all countries “to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar.”

On Location: June 18, 2021
Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. General Assembly is expected to approve a resolution calling on Myanmar’s junta to restore the country’s democratic transition and for all countries “to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar,” diplomats said.

The draft resolution also condemns deadly violence by security forces and calls on the junta to unconditionally release the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint “and all those who have been arbitrarily detained, charged or arrested."

United Nations set to call for halt of arms to Myanmar: diplomats

WHBL

Michelle Nichols

Syndicated Content
Jun 17, 2021 

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly is set on Friday to call for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urge the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi, diplomats said.

Western states have been pushing the 193-member body to consider a draft resolution, but it was postponed at the last minute in a bid to win more support, including from nine Southeast Asian nations.