Myanmar Picks First Miss Universe Hopeful In Half Century

Moe Set Wine is Miss Universe Myanmar 2013

With a whiff of controversy and not a bikini in sight, a US-educated business graduate was selected as the first Miss Universe contestant to represent Myanmar in more than 50 years.

Moe Set Wine will take her place on stage at the global beauty pageant in Moscow next month, reflecting dramatic political and social changes in the former junta-ruled nation, which last fielded a Miss Universe contender in 1961.

"I feel like now I am part of the history and I feel like a soldier that is doing something for the country and my people," the 25-year-old said after her selection late on Thursday.

Hemlines are rising in the country formerly known as Burma as it opens up to the world after decades of iron-fisted junta rule ended in 2011.

But still not everyone approves of scanty dress.

When racy shots of one model wearing a two-piece swimsuit appeared online a few years ago, she received abuse and threats.

So the Miss Universe hopefuls were careful not to bare any midriff in the swimsuit section.

"My personal view is that the competition presents a good image of our country, but if you look at what they wear, it is not what a lot of people here like," Deputy Culture Minister Than Swe told AFP.

Myanmar's traditional dress, which is still mandatory in high schools, universities and most state workplaces, is the demure "longyi" -- a sheet of cotton or silk cloth wrapped around the waist and stretching to the feet.

But the younger generation, especially young urban women, are increasingly shunning the national garb and embracing unconventional alternatives as they brush aside concerns about morals and modesty.

"Myanmar people dared not wear clothes like this in the past. Now things are improving, and people dare to wear things, so as a designer I can create what I like. So I'm glad things are changing," said Htay Htay Tin, who designed all the contestants' outfits.

Sunday is for church: Mizoram protests vote count on Dec 8

By Rahul Karmakar

Aizawl, Oct 9 : Mizoram has formally said no to counting of votes on a Sunday. The reason: Sundays in the predominantly Christian state are reserved only for church activities or related functions.

Mizoram is among the five states going to the polls later this year and the Election Commission has fixed December 4 as the date of polling in the tiny northeastern state. Counting of votes in all states – including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh -- will be held on December 8.

On Monday, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer Ashwini Kumar seeking a change in the dates of polling as well as counting. The memorandum was signed by leaders of all political parties and Young Mizo Association, the most influential social NGO in the state.

Leaders of the church, the NGO and the political parties have suggested advancing the date of polling from December 4 to November 26 and the date of counting from December 8 to December 4.

While December 8 is a Sunday, a day “Mizos are sentimental about” and religiously stay away from non-church activities, December 4 marks the start of the Presbyterian Church’s five-day annual Synod conference.

In the 2008 assembly elections, the Election Commission had changed the date of polling for Mizoram from November 30 to December 2. This followed an appeal from the Seventh Day Adventists – a miniscule group – as November 30, being a Saturday, clashed with their Sabbath Day.

“We hope the EC would consider our request for the change of dates. We also expect to meet the Election Commissioner during his visit to Mizoram,” said Reverend Lalramliana Pachuau, moderator of Mizoram Presbyterian Church.

CEO Kumar, however, said the onus of changing dates was on the Election Commission. “We would be forwarding the memorandum to the Commission,” he added.

According to the 2001 census, Christians comprised 86.97% of Mizoram’s population. The Presbyterians form the largest Christian denomination followed by Baptists, Catholics and Salvation Army.

Mizoram became a full-fledged state in 1986 after the signing of the Mizo Accord between the militant Mizo National Front and the central government. Known as Lushai Hills earlier, it was part of Assam before attaining statehood.
- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/specials/coverage/MyIndia-MyVote/Chunk-HT-UI-MyIndiaMyVote-Mizoram/Sunday-is-for-church-Mizoram-protests-vote-count-on-Dec-8/SP-Article10-1132574.aspx#sthash.5AygPiV8.dpuf

Are Naval Ships the New 'Black Site' Prisons?

The CIA no longer has any overseas "black site" prisons where they used to carry out "enhanced" interrogations far away from the soil (and civil rights laws) of U.S. prisons. But if Americans are holding an al-Qaeda leader on a U.S. Navy ship in international waters, what's legally stopping them from performing similar work there?

That's essentially what the American Civil Liberty Union is asking today. We know longtime suspected al-Qaeda leader Abu Anas al-Libi was captured by American commandos over the weekend and is now being interrogated off the Mediterranean coast on board U.S.S. San Antonio, without being read his Miranda Rights or in the presence of a lawyer. He will eventually be tried before a federal court in New York for the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, but until then he'll be held under the laws of war. As the Pentagon and legal experts explained over the weekend, that's the same legal justification used to authorize military force against al-Qaeda at the beginning of the war on terror. But until al-Libi makes it to New York, he's free of a lawyer and the protection usually offered by the civilian court system, adrift in the middle of the sea.

"It appears to be an attempt to use assertion of law of war powers to avoid constraint and safeguards in the criminal justice system," Hina Shamsi, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's national security wing, told the Associated Press. "I am very troubled if this is the pattern that the administration is setting for itself."

Government officials were keeping mum with regards to the interrogation techniques being used on the San Antonio right now. "He is in our custody and he will be treated like anyone else," Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence committee, told CNN Monday morning. He wouldn't say whether "enhanced interrogation techniques" were being used, cryptically saying that "If he does not want to talk, he will go through our system," Ruppersberger said.

The model for al-Libi's detention was written in 2011, when the administration captured Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame, a Canadian-Somali citizen accused of aiding terrorists, and held him aboard a U.S. warship for about two months before he was delivered to New York to face terrorism charges. He eventually plead guilty and agreed to tell authorities everything he knew.

Some legal experts expect al-Libi's situation to play out in the exact same way. "Don't expect al-Libi to stay in military custody for more than a few weeks," predicted Robert Chesney, co-founder of the blog Lawfare, over the weekend. "This situation will unfold just like the capture of Ahmed Warsame a few years ago, meaning that after a period of no more than, say, 6-8 weeks, al-Libi almost certainly will be flown to the United States to face a criminal trial." But some legal observers think the administration should probably hurry unless they want another human rights headache on their hands. Just Security's Meg Satterthwaite explains:

So long as he is not held outside the regular U.S. legal system, al-Liby is presumably not at risk of refoulement (though a transfer to Guantánamo or Bagram would raise refoulement issues). Al-Liby’s detention on a ship, and his interrogation by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group without judicial oversight or legal assistance, will quickly run afoul of human rights law concerning due process, however, and if prolonged and under incommunicado circumstances, could amount to an enforced disappearance.  The United States should transfer al-Liby to the United States and bring him under judicial protection without delay.

The administration, for now, is keeping mum about what's happening aboard that ship. "As a general rule, the government will always seek to elicit all the actionable intelligence and information we can from terrorist suspects taken into our custody," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden told the AP.
[Inset: Reuters]

Aizawl Thunders Set To Storm Myanmar

Aizawl, Oct 8 : The Aizawl Thunders, India's first Bullet club, is scheduled to hold a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" ride to Myanmar. As hosts of the 5th edition of the North East Riders' Meet (NERM), the Thunders plan to lead a ride from Zotlang in Champhai district in Mizoram to Tahan in Myanmar in an event from October 21 to 26, 2013, in which over 300 bikers are expected to take part.

"There can't be a better proposition for any adventurer than to ride a majestic Bullet meandering through one of the most beautiful but little-known mountain paths of the world," said Lalrinchhana Tochhawng, the chief of the Aizawl Thunders.

Popularly known as Rcho among his peers, Tochhawng said the ride would start from Zotlang, cross the Mizoram-Myanmar border river of Tiau - better known as the Indo-Mynamar border trade outpost - and enter the hermit country.

"I'm sure it will give many of us a chance to see our next door neighbour and extend a hand of friendship," Rcho said.

The Aizawl Thunders is leaving no stone unturned to make the meet a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their fellow riders.

They have almost completed their project to build a 'real' life traditional Mizo village for the bikers' rendezvous in Zotlang, known for its scenic beauty, on the outskirts of Champhai.

The participants will be put up in the traditional bamboo huts where they would be treated to exotic Mizo cuisine and cultural programmes.

"We want to make it the most memorable of NERM meets and want to give our friends our best," said Rcho.

"We'll have cultural dances, besides the best of music, food and to cap it all a with novelty ride to a foreign land," he said.

The venue for the meet is set to be done up in a manner to make the participants feel like a traditional Mizo village.

There will be dances, a peep into the Mizo way of life, food and beverages, to stir one's taste buds, games with attractive prizes, music from top Mizo bands and a never-before-experienced ride to Myanmar.

'Come home to where it all started' is the warm welcome the Aizawl Thunders want to extend to all Bullet clubs and Enfield lovers across the country.

Aizawl Thunders are well known across the state for their grand rallies and numerous charity rides to support various organizations and issues such as "Clean Mizoram', "Forest Fire Prevention', 'AIDS Awareness" etc.

James Lalhmingliana who at 70 is the oldest member of the club has been a Bullet lover ever since he can remember - is a founder member of the Thunders.

The Aizawl thunders also proudly claims to have a female member, Rosalyn Lianhmingthangi, a school teacher who is actively involved in the club.

Mizoram Goes Ahead With AADHAR ignoring SC

By Linda Chhakchhuak

Aizawl, Oct 8 : Has the Congress-led Government of Mizoram committed contempt of court in the Supreme Court (SC) by going ahead with the biometric enrollment IUD or AADHAR claiming it as ‘mandatory’?

At the same time, many observers wonder if the project being inaugurated at this time with the Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla flagging it off by being the first person to be registered under AADHAR in the State breaks the Election Model Code of Conduct (EMCC).

Elections was announced on October 4. The State Information and Public Relations department issued a press statement along with photographs of him and his family at home where their biometric data was taken by the AADHAR team. When asked about this, the Jt Chief Electoral Officer Lalengmawia told this reporter that they would discuss this issue with the Election Commission of India before giving a reply.

Even as the SC recently ordered that the AADHAR 12 digit number is not ‘mandatory’ and cannot be linked to a citizen getting access to essential services, the State Government here has issued a press release in which it claims that getting this number is ‘mandatory’ for a person to gain access to all services, including gas, bank accounts, mobile phones, registration of marriages, etc.

The press release was splashed as headlines in most of the dailies here. The press release in the local language went so far as to warn that (translated) “those who do not register themselves within the specified time and do not have the AADHAR 12 digit UID number would not be marked in the National Population Register and hence would not be regarded as citizens of India.”

On September 23, the top court ruled that the Centre or States must not insist on Aadhar cards for providing essential services. “No citizen should suffer for the want of Aadhar cards”, the court had said on a petition questioning the constitutional validity of the Unique Identity Card scheme. The Supreme Court had said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it.

Speaking to this reporter over phone today, retired Justice KS Puttaswamy, who filed the Public Interest Litigation against AADHAR being made mandatory by executive order, told this reporter that the SC ruling is binding on the Central Government and all State Governments. Any government that does not take this ruling into consideration is committing contempt of court, he said.

He also said that the Central Government has moved the Supreme Court to modify its ruling to make it mandatory for certain beneficiary based welfare schemes. It is coming up for hearing tomorrow (October 8).

As it is AADHAR and the biometric scheme is already controversial here in the state where people have some beliefs based on Bibilical prophecies that warn against such establishment enumeration. They believe that this is a numbering by the devil who would control the population of the world by giving them IUDs and refusing those who do not have this number. This has spread fear and insecurity among believers which cannot be a good atmosphere especially during polling time.

Mizoram Enter U-14 Subroto Cup Final

New Delhi, Oct 8 : Govt Chawfianga Middle School, Mizoram edged out NCC (NER) by an injury-time goal to enter the final of the U-14 category of the 54th Subroto Cup on Monday.

It was a battle of equals for the most part but it was heartbreak for NCC right at the end as Ramfangliana (70+2) popped up seconds before the final whistle to punch in a cross.

The winners will face-off with Betkuchi High School, Assam in the clash for the title.

In the U-17 boys' event, Govt Model School, Chandigarh, thrashed Goa 10-0. Gurkirat and Anil scored a brace each for Chandigarh.

Indian School, Oman were handed a 2-0 defeat by St Stanlisus of Bihar. The Oman team, which comprised entirely of sons of Indian immigrants, had a hard time in their opening match.

The boys from Bihar were much fitter and despite enjoying a substantial height advantage, Oman were on the backfoot for the most part.

Among the girls, Ratanbala Devi scored four goals as RMSV Vidyalaya, Manipur, swamped Ahlcon Public School, Delhi 7-0. Sunita Devi, Hemolata Devi and Ranajans Chanu also found the net for Manipur.

Results:

Dona Paula High School, Goa 4 (Anika Coelho 11th, 25th, 55th; Simran Faterpekar 58th) 4 defeated Ahlcon Public School, Delhi 1 (Tanvi Singh 42nd) (Girls)

RMSV Vidyalaya, Nambad, Manipur 7 (Sunita Devi 52nd; Hemolata Devi 33rd; Ranjana Chanu 15th; Ratanbala Devi 30th, 31st, 36th, 45th) defeated Burguri High School, Assam 0

Bihar vs Indian School, Oman (U-17) NCC (NER) vs Government Chawmgfianga Middle School, Mizoram (U-14 SF)

MP 5 vs The Air Force School 0 (Girls) Government Model School, Chandigarh 10 beat Kortaleen School, Goa 0.

The Child Miners of Meghalaya

Thousands of children risk their lives to work in "rat hole" mines in northeastern Indian state, earning $60 a week. By Karishma Vyas

Rosanna Lyngdoh of NGO Impulse with 11-year-old coal miner, Lakpa Tamang [Karishma Vyas/ Al Jazeera]

Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya: Pemba Tamang slides on his bright red gumboots, fits a torch to his head and says a little prayer. "God, please bring me back out alive." He walks out of his tarpaulin shack wielding a pickaxe and swaggers across monsoon green hills to a 15-meter-deep pit dug crudely into the earth. He will spend the next seven hours here, crouched deep inside a "rat hole" less than a meter high digging for coal. "You have no control over your life here,” he says. "Because you never know when you’re going to die." Death is not something most 17-year-olds think about, but it has lingered over Pemba ever since he was eight, when he first came to Jaintia Hills in India’s northeast to work in the coal pits. His father had just died from tuberculosis. Still nursing a five-week-old baby, Pemba’s mother moved the family from their dirt-poor village in neighbouring Assam state to the lucrative mines of Meghalaya so she could earn money selling food to truck drivers and labourers. But it was never going to be enough to feed her three growing boys, and soon Pemba and his older brother started working in the "rat holes", earning about $60 each a week to support their family. Impulse, a local NGO fighting child labour in Meghalaya state, estimates there are around 70,000 children like Pemba who work in the mines, either digging for coal or loading thousands of trucks bound for the energy-hungry industrial sector across India and into neighbouring Bangladesh. Illegally trafficked Hasina Kharbhih, the founder of Impulse, says she’s discovered children as young as five working in Jaintia Hills. The mines are so small and narrow that only someone the size of a child can squeeze inside to extract the coal. Web Exclusive: Indian child miner tells his story Most of the under-age workers have been illegally trafficked into the region from Nepal and Bangladesh by agents working for mine owners. Desperate families are promised handsome salaries in exchange for their children’s work, but they often have no idea that they will end up living in dangerous, slave-like conditions in Meghalaya. "Many of the families out there are still looking for their children," says Kharbhih. "They haven’t heard from them for the last two or three years." Some of these families at least will never see their children again. A few years ago local newspapers reported the discovery of skeletons inside mine shafts. They are believed to be those of children who worked there, but there has been no inquiry or arrest. Many of the families out there are still looking for their children Hasina Kharbhih, founder of Impulse "Children have been dying in these rat holes and the dead bodies are not actually being taken back because it’s not possible. There’s no way they can get them out. And they are not being reported because in the context of our state, they’re illegal migrants," says Kharbhih. Pemba is terrified of suffering the same fate. "I’ve seen four accidents," he says squatting on a pile of coal. "There was this one guy who would always sit there in the mine chewing betel nut. One day this enormous rock fell on him and crushed his head. We sent his body back to the village. He had a wife and two kids." Pemba laughs out loud when asked about compensation for the man’s family. "The owners give money to the managers and the most the managers give in compensation is Rs5000 ($80) or Rs6000 ($96). This man lost his life. What can you do with this much money?" he says. "I’ve seen guys break their legs and crack their heads open. I don’t want these accidents to happen to me because then I’ll be crippled." Pitch dark and dangerous But there’s little Pemba can do to protect himself. Armed with his red boots and a pickaxe, he disappears into a black cave that has been carved into the side of a mountain. He struggles to pull a large wooden crate as he walks crouching further into the mine. Inside, it is frightening. The workers say they can almost feel the weight of the mountain above bearing down on their bodies. It’s damp, pitch dark and dangerous. With only a small head torch to guide him, Pemba picks coal off the walls and fills his crate, all the while struggling to breath in the sulphur rich air. The ceiling touches his head even as he squats. The only thing holding it up is a strategically placed wooden log. Children as young as five work in Jaintia Hills [Karishma Vyas/ Al Jazeera] It is common for these "rat holes" to suddenly flood, or for parts of the mine to cave in altogether. Workers, including children, have been buried alive, or trapped without any hope of rescue. Activists say these conditions are inhuman and inexcusable. Coal mining generates millions of dollars a year in Meghalaya and contributes up to 10 percent of the state’s gross domestic product. Yet, there is no investment in the industry or in the workers, who labor without safety equipment, health cover or insurance. Child rights advocates are demanding mine owners use modern, mechanical methods to dig for coal, so children would no longer be needed. Despite requests for interviews with several state government representatives, including the ministers for social welfare and labour, no official was available to answer questions about the children working in Jaintia Hills. Polluting state resources However, Dolly Khonglah, a local coal exporter and the secretary of Meghalaya’s International Exporters Chamber of Commerce, struck a belligerent note. She seemed furious that her industry was being criticised for polluting the state’s natural resources and for putting lives at risk. "We have the stock of minerals that is God-gifted in our own private land," she said, surrounded by pro-mining protesters waving placards. "With this we are exporting to Bangladesh, we are fetching foreign exchange for the government of India, we are paying royalty. We are fetching revenue for the state government. We are providing employment to all the boys and girls." Parents often have no idea that their children will end up living in dangerous, slave-like conditions [Karishma Vyas/ Al Jazeera] But when asked about children working in coal mines, she denied any knowledge. "Under limestone in Nongtalang elaka (village) there’s no child labour at all. You can quote me in any international news I don’t mind that," she insisted. "We are not concerned with coal mining because we are dealing only with limestone." Al Jazeera visited three out of the 5000 individual coal mines that operate across Jaintia Hills and met several child miners aged below 18 years. The youngest was 11-year-old Lakpa Tamang from Nepal whose own father had died in a mine accident. Pemba Tamang, who is not related to Lakpa, knows that children work in the coal pits because he’s one of them. He had dreamt of a very different future, but his aspirations have been tempered by fate. Now, his only dream is to own a small piece of land that he can farm. Out in the open air, far above the mines. "In my heart I still feel like going to school but what can I do?" he shrugs. "I wanted to be a really good doctor, but fate didn’t let me do all this."

Mizoram Polls: Biometric enrolment Begins, Church Leaders Oppose Dates

Aizawl, Oct 7 : Biometric Enrolment for National Population Register with respect to Mizoram state has begun from Saturday under the supervision of Registrar General of India (Census), Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, Aizawl District Magistrate and Central government Census Office, Aizawl.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and his family members were the first who were enrolled through Biometric Enrolment system, an official report here said.

Coming from RGI, Deepak Kumar Gupta, Dy Director and representatives of Aizawl DC and Census officials Aizawl were present on the first day of the biometric enrolment today. In the Biometric Enrolment system, the enumerator collects the biometric details of every citizen of India by way of capturing the Iris of both eyes and the fingerprints of both hands.

Every Indian above 5 years of age shall be enrolled through the Biometric enrolment for NPR. However, this is not for attainment of citizenship. Those enrolled through the biometric enrollment will be provided uniquely designed Identity Card called Unique ID (UID), having 12 digits called Aadhar Number. This Unique ID Card can be used by the individual for verification and proof of identity in banking, mobile phone connection, ration card, passport and for other government affairs throughout the country.

National Population Enrolment has been carried out in other states too. It takes time as it requires not only personal information but even physical details too.

After enrolment was done with Chief Minister and family at his official residence, it was continued from Zarkawt locality here in Aizawl. The enrolment will be continued in all the villages of the state by organizing enrolment camp two times each, during which officials will carry out the enrolment task.

Those who fail to register themselves during such enrolment camps will have to approach a particular place which will be arranged later by the government. Any individual who fail get enrolled during stipulated time will be left out from the National Population Register such that they shall not be regarded as residents of India.

Two Enrolment Agencies namely, LYRA Consultancy Service, Kolkata (LCS) and Integrated Systems & Services (ISS), Guwahati are being engaged to carry out the biometric enrollment task in Mizoram.  LCS will carry out the task in 5 Mizoram districts, while the rest 3 districts will be taken up by ISS.

Church leaders oppose voting, counting dates

Church leaders here have objected to the dates fixed for polling and counting of votes for the Mizoram Assembly elections, saying it will cause inconvenience to community members and hurt their sentiments.

A four-member team of the church leaders led by Rev Lalzuithanga, Executive Secretary of the Mizoram Synod of the Presbyterian Church of India, met state Chief Electoral Officer Ashwini Kumar and told him that on December 4, the voting day, a council meeting of the highest authority of the church is to be held.

Rev Lalthangmawia, statistician of the Mizoram Synod, said, "We informed the CEO that if the polling is held on December 4 as announced by the Election Commission, not less than 3,000 people, including priests, church leaders and delegates from all over the state, would not be able to cast their votes."

The church leaders further said that December 8, the day of counting of votes, is Sunday, which is a holy day for Christians. If the counting is held on the day, it will be inconvenient for the community and will also hurt the sentiments of the people in the Christian-dominated state.

State election department officials reportedly told the church leaders that the matter is in the hands of the Election Commission and the only thing they can do is convey their sentiments.

The church leaders said that they would send a representation to the Election Commission on the issue by next week and would also meet the Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath and other Election Commissioners when they visited the state to oversee poll preparedness.