US ask Thais to hold election
United States launched annual military exercises with Thailand on Tuesday but repeated a call for a swift return to democracy in the junta-ruled country. Thai and US two countries have held the joint Cobra Gold exercises since 1980. Washington has come under increased pressure to scrap the event since Thailand’s military seized power in 2014 — the latest coup to obstruct attempts to build democracy.
Some 3,600 US troops are in Thailand for the 11-day exercises alongside soldiers from regional nations including Thailand, Japan and Malaysia.
Strategic rival China will also take part in some humanitarian joint exercises, at a time when the US is closely watching Beijing’s plays in contested areas of the South China Sea.
US ambassador to Thailand Glyn T. Davies hailed the bond between Washington and Bangkok but recognised “temporary challenges” to the relationship.
“As deep and broad as our partnership is today, it will grow stronger still when, as the (Thai) Prime Minister has affirmed, Thailand returns to elected governance,” he said in opening remarks.
“With a strengthened, sustainable democratic system, Thailand’s regional leadership role, and our alliance, can reach its full potential.”
Premier Prayut Cha-O-Cha said last week elections would be held in the summer of 2017, irrespective of the political conditions at the time.
The US envoy’s comments come as Thailand is making overtures to China, a major trade partner and source of cheap loans whose policy is to stay out of the domestic affairs of its allies.
The US has tried to walk the line between its longstanding alliance with Thailand and condemning the coup, which has been followed by a protracted clampdown on dissent.
In the wake of the army power grab, Washington suspended $4.7 million in security-related aid to Thailand, roughly half of its annual assistance.
But relations have since warmed.
Thailand’s long-running political conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite, backed by parts of the military and judiciary, against rural and working-class voters loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Human Rights Watch issues statement on #Assange UN win denouncing Sweden & UKhttps://www.hrw.org/…/assange-following-rules-or-flouting-t… … @margotwallstrom @swedenMFA #svpol
On Assange, Following the Rules or Flouting Them?
On Assange, Following the Rules or Flouting Them?
On Assange, Following the Rules or Flouting Them?
See more at HRW.ORG
Myanmar military plane crash
Four Myanmar military personnel were killed and one survived Wednesday when an air force utility aircraft crashed after taking off from the airport in the capital Naypyitaw, officials said.
An Information Ministry statement identified the aircraft, which crashed in a rice field about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the airport, as a Beech 1900, a 19-passenger twin-engine turboprop no longer in production. Photos of the crashed plane showed that most of its fuselage had burned up, reports AP.
The dead included a major, two captains and a corporal, said Gen. Aung Ye Win of the office of the Myanmar army commander. The sole survivor was another corporal who has been hospitalized.
Atambayev underlines development of cooperation with EU
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February 10, 2016 President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev underlined the importance of cooperation development with the European Union during his meeting with Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev.
The press service of the head of state specified Minister Abdyldayev told about the upcoming participation of the Kyrgyz delegation in the 14th meeting of the Cooperation Council between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan. The sides will discuss a range of topics aimed at further development and deepening of bilateral cooperation.
The Minister also reported on the prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation with the European Union, in particular, in the supply of domestic goods to the European countries.
Almazbek Atambayev added implementation of joint projects with EU in various fields is important for bilateral ties too. AKIpress
- FARMERS FROM NARMADA VALLEY OCCUPIED COLLECTORATE
- DEMAND BJP DECLARED OPTIMUM PRICES FOR AGRI-PRODUCE BEFORE MAHA KUMBH
- PLEDGE TO TAKE THE STRUGGLE FORWARD ON 24TH FEBRUARY AT SANSAD MARG, DELHI
Badwani | 9th Feb. 2016: Hundreds of farmers today from tens of villages of Narmada Valley, Badwani and Dhar Districts, occupied the office of District Collector, Badwani and compelled him to stand upright in front of the agitating Adivasis and other farmers, farm labourers and fishers. Collector Shri Gangwar obliged the people in high spirit, hearing their “aakrosh” with full of anger and agony both. The issues raised included the farmers’ right to optimum prices for the farm produce, the loot through the corporatized crop insurance scheme, compensation for the crop affected by natural calamities and no forcible acquisition; diverting agricultural lands to the corporates. They also protested against the move by the Collector to transfer the incomplete and inadequately established resettlement sites to the Village Panchayats without the latter having the legal mandate, capacity and funds to complete the task of rehabilitating thousands of families (90% of the 50000+ oustees) who are residing in their original villages, awaiting entitlements, till date.
The farmers in Nimad region of Madhya Pradesh, the prime agriculture and horticulture are facing multiple frontal attacks on their livelihoods due to natural and man-made calamity both. The untimely rains in 2014 and drought in 2015 as well as virus on the chilly and banana plantations have resulted in loss worth lakhs of rupees in each Tehsil. However, the compensation given by the Government without timely, complete, and perfect valuation of losses has been in peanuts and has left out thousands of farmers in the lurch. The farmers now demand full compensation. The farmers demand that the highly publicized promise by the state Chief Minister to give Rs.8000 per hectare should be fulfilled since farmers deserve just and equal treatment compared with the corporates. The demand raised is for Rs. 2200 per quintal for the wheat which is the golden crop in Nimad, almost ready for harvesting;Rs 2000 per quintal for maize, jowar (millet), bajra and other hilly millets as also Rs 1000 per quintal for banana, papaya and other fruits. Devram Kanera exposed the scandalous scheme of crop insurance wherein there is involuntary imposition and deduction of premium but no rational compensation granted on the basis of the scheme. Dhevendra Tomar and Bhagirath Dhangar put forth the serious agro crises begun to be faced in the Nimad region and the fact that suicides have started happening in the Nimad region also.
Sanovar Bi, the woman farmer expressed the woes faced by the women farmers who cannot feed their family although they feed the nation. She spoke about the atrocities committed by the seed companies cheated and looted in natural calamities. She screamed against the insensitivity of the State towards women in farming. She too demanded special concessions to be given to the dam affected farmers in irrigation, power connections and loans. Shyama the fisherwoman questioned the Madhya Pradesh administration not registering the proposed fishing cooperatives and not giving them the right to “aquatic farming”. GokhruBhilala from forest village Bhadal in Barwani exposed the corruption in each department due to which the Adivasi farmers are being cheated and looted and Gram Sabha resolutions are neither recognized nor followed.
Representatives of Jagrut Dalit Adivasi Sangathan, Hari Singh and Nasri Bai also raised issues related to the corporate favouritism on one hand and injustice to the MNREGA labourers having converte dadivasi farmers into labourers and inspite of the law, neither provided them full employment nor full payment, is condemnable, they both said. Meera Bahan of NBA explained the demand for treating agricultural work as NREGA works so as to stop migration which is in lakhs per year, even from the Narmada valley where the rich natural resources are not properly harnessed. To generate employment subsidizing agriculture work through NREGA would help both farmers and labourers, she asserted.
Medha Patkar compered 3 hour long dialogue with the Collector, who patiently stood before the crowd of hundreds of men and women along with the representatives of people and took the administration to task on the issue of prices for agricultural produce and compensation. She questioned the slogan-mongering by Mr. Shivraj Singh Government and demanded that when the Collector is ready to take up all issues at State level he should also convey to the CM that his Government should take decisions and declare the prices of wheat and other produce as also the details of crop insurance before 18th February, the Mahakumbh planned by BJP to conceal its anti-farmer policies and image. If they do not respond the large mass gathering at Sansad Marg on February 24th by 400+ organizations. All activists and farmers and other displaced with many Sarpanchas and members, Jila Panchayats at various levels. unanimously warned the Collector against any illegal and irrational move to handover the resettlement sites. The Collector admitted that no such attempt would be made again till the NVDA’s work and responsibilities for constructing civic amenities at rehabilitation sites is fulfilled. People demanded that the press release issued by the district administration should be withdrawn and all papers with signatures of Sarpanchas and Secretaries taken on Collectorate on January 30th should be repealed. The Collector also accepted the strongly put demand to hold public hearings on rehabilitation in five villages including Pichhodi, Bheelkheda, Kasravad, Dhanora and ChhotaBarda and assess compliance at the earliest. He also had to be told that there has to be special Gramsabha in village in every district. He also had to be told that under PESA Act that in this scheduled area that each Gramsabha is to be consulted wise issue of land acquisition and rehabilitation. Without the same rehabilitation cannot be taken as completed. Collector agreed but could not produce any timetable of the same.
People in Narmada valley are up on mobilization for the 24th rally organized at Sansadmarg by 400+ more organizations under the banner of BhoomiAdhikarAndolan.
Pema Bhilala KailashAvasya Devendra Tomar Bhagirath Dhangar
Stockholm extends Schengen border control until March 9
The Swedish government has extended the temporary border controls on its borders with neighboring Schengen states until March 9, the Swedish Interior Ministry said Tuesday. The government has decided to extend the border control measure until March 9 at the last meeting, which took place at the end of last week, the ministry’s spokesman Victor Harju told RIA Novosti. Stockholm introduced temporary border controls within the Schengen free-travel zone in November 12, to curb the migrant influx.
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