Around The World [11.12.14]

Asia Pacific, US and Russia

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  • At APEC, Obama, Putin Find Themselves in Awkward Moments (Wall Street Journal) 

  "Putting 19 World Leaders Together, Not All of Whom Get Along, Leads to Uncomfortable Encounters"

  
  
  

Myanmar

• Hopes high in Burma for help from Obama. The Rohingya, an ethnic minority, face a desperate humanitarian crisis (WSJ)

"Obama's 2012 visit to Burma, also called Myanmar, was buoyed by the country's surprise announcement that it would open up and begin a transition to democracy. Those changes have developed slowly, however, and ethnic conflicts persist.

Obama is expected to address the plight of the Rohingya during his meeting Thursday with President Thein Sein. The White House said Obama stressed Burma's need to support the civil and political rights of the Rohingya population during an Oct. 31 call with Thein Sein.

Around 140,000 displaced Rohingya live behind barbed wire and under armed watch in camps and villages, unable to move freely and in many cases unable to farm, fish or find employment.
Up to 1 million Rohingya have been denied full citizenship, and at least 100,000 have fled by boat for neighboring countries. Human Rights Watch condemned the 2012 coordinated attacks on the Rohingya as ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

"The problems facing the Rohingya are among the most desperate human crises in Asia today," said Murray Hiebert, "With thousands of Rohingya fleeing on boats for Thailand and Malaysia, this problem stretches far beyond the borders of Myanmar."
Death and illness have become grimly commonplace around the Baw Du Pha camp. 

"Our dream is that Obama will improve our condition," he said. "Obama is the leader of the world community. We hope that the government will listen to his advice for transforming the country's policies for the Rohingya."