Maniolas

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — Myanmar won a new diplomatic prize Thursday for its dramatic political reforms, taking the helm of Southeast Asia’s regional bloc despite warnings from some critics that the move was premature. The one-time international pariah was formally awarded the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for 2014 at the end of the group’s summit in the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei. President Thein Sein said the theme of Myanmar’s chairmanship would be “moving forward in unity in a peaceful and prosperous community.” The former general has earned international plaudits and the removal of most Western sanctions for reforms that include freeing hundreds of political prisoners. Draconian media censorship has been scrapped and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy have been welcomed into parliament following landmark by-elections last year. But the military and its political allies remain firmly in control of the country while religious violence and the continued arrests of activists have tempered optimism about the political changes. Addressing Asean leaders in Brunei, UN leader Ban Ki-moon hailed Myanmar’s “unprecedented reform process.” “However, I remain concerned about ongoing communal violence,” he added. Around 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of Buddhist-Muslim violence around the country since June 2012. Critics said the decision to hand the reins to Myanmar highlighted the bloc’s wider disregard for human rights. “Sadly, respect for human rights has never been an important qualification for being ASEAN Read More …

US President Barrack Obama . AFP BALI, Indonesia – A Malacanang spokesman on Saturday downplayed the absence of US President Barack Obama from two key summits— the 21st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering here, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  meet in Brunei right after— to be attended by regional leaders, including President Benigno Aquino III. For the Philippines, the goal is to further enhance economic ties with and attract more investments from 20 other APEC countries, an objective that Mr. Aquino is expected to promote also at the ASEAN summit where he will participate in a total of nine meetings. The Philippine President will show up at both summits amid the country’s maritime dispute with China. “I don’t think the Philippine objectives, which are a peaceful and rules-based resolution to the disputes, are going to be affected greatly by the absence of President Obama at one or two meetings,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters here. “Certainly, his presence here was welcome but this is a long game and if President Obama is not present in one or two meetings, then that’s not going to have an impact on our position.” Obama has decided to skip the two summits, including side trips to Malaysia and the Philippines, in the wake of a partial government shutdown triggered by a failure of the US Congress to pass a new federal budget as a result of a political standoff Democrats and Republicans.  Observers said his absence won’t work well for his government’s Read More …