INTERVIEW -Thai PM: Suu Kyi release positive, future unclear

INTERVIEW -Thai PM: Suu Kyi release positive, future unclear

INTERVIEW -Thai PM: Suu Kyi release positive, future unclear

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:42 AM PST

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Thailand's prime minister said the release of Myanmar democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is a positive sign but it remains to be seen what it will lead to and the situation in his country's neighbour to the west bears watching carefully.

Al Qaeda denies plot to target Muslim pilgrims

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:42 AM PST

DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula denied on Sunday it would stage any action to coincide with the Muslim haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia after a Saudi minister said such an operation could not be ruled out.

Suu Kyi says could pursue lifting of sanctions

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:42 AM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Sunday she was willing to enter into dialogue with Western nations to lift sanctions on the country if the Burmese people wanted it.

Thai PM lauds Suu Kyi release, future unclear

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:23 AM PST

YOKOHAMA, Nov 14 — Thailand's prime minister said the release of Myanmar democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is a positive sign but it remains to be seen what it will lead to and the situation in his country's neighbour to the west bears watching carefully. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also said in an interview today that Thailand was willing ...


Al Qaeda denies targeting hajj pilgrims

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:13 AM PST

DUBAI, Nov 14 — Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula denied today it would stage any action to coincide with the Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia after a Saudi minister said such an operation could not be ruled out. Just over a week ago, AQAP claimed a plot to mail two parcel bombs to the United States that caused a global security ...


Aung San Suu Kyi says could pursue lifting of sanctions

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:55 PM PST

YANGON, Nov 14 — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Sunday she was willing to enter into dialogue with Western nations to lift sanctions on the country if the Burmese people wanted it. "If the people really want sanctions to be lifted, I will consider it," Suu Kyi told her first news conference following her release from seven ...


Suu Kyi urges freedom of speech in army-ruled Myanmar

Posted: 14 Nov 2010 12:08 AM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for freedom of speech in army-ruled Myanmar on Sunday and urged thousands of supporters to stand up for their rights and not lose heart, indicating she might pursue a political role.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi says has 'no antagonism' toward junta

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:34 PM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi told supporters on Sunday she was not angry with the military junta who kept her detained for 15 of the last 21 years, and that she was treated well during house arrest.

Image triumphs, economic failures for Obama in Asia

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:34 PM PST

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama may have gone to Asia with hopes of putting his party's mid-term election defeats behind him, but they dogged him all the way.

Suu Kyi urges democracy in army-ruled Myanmar

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:00 PM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi urged thousands of supporters on Sunday to seek democracy in military-ruled Myanmar and stand up for their rights.

Japan, China mute disputes to improve ties

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 10:26 PM PST

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japan and China began repairing ties on Sunday, stressing bridge-building gestures and muting tensions over a territorial row, but a senior Chinese diplomat warned that their efforts faced stubborn hurdles.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi begins long-awaited freedom

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 10:26 PM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi began her first day of freedom in seven years on Sunday with plans for a major speech to thousands of supporters after the country's military leaders freed her from house arrest.

Obama: will push for START in "lame duck" congress

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 09:53 PM PST

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Sunday he would push hard to get the U.S. congress to approve a new START weapons treaty with Russia and stressed the former Cold War foes were now cooperating closely on key issues.

Huge crowds greet Suu Kyi at party headquarters

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 09:36 PM PST

YANGON, Sunday 14 November 2010 (AFP) - Myanmar's newly released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was greeted by thousands of exuberant supporters at her party headquarters on Sunday as she arrived to deliver a rare political address.

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Demand, crowded Mecca lodgings drive up haj prices

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:48 AM PST

By Paul Handley

JEDDAH: A tight supply in accommodation in Mecca and overcrowding are driving up the price of the annual haj pilgrimage to Islam's holiest city.

For everyone, from the poorest Muslims dependent on government-subsidised budget packages to the wealthy who stay in five-star hotels, costs have been rising an average of three to five percent a year.

According to government officials and tour agents, prices for some categories of hajjis have gone up by more than 15 percent this year.

But with the world's 1.6 billion Muslims obliged by religious duty to attempt the trip, and host Saudi Arabia only able to accept about 2.5 million a year, the rising cost is not having any impact on demand.

"Rents in Mecca and Medina have shot up, food is very expensive too, but there is still a surge in the number of hajj applications from India," said Shah Nawaz of Atlas Tours and Travels in Mumbai.

One of their faith's five pillars, Muslims are required to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if possible.

Although the formal haj rituals only span five days -- Nov 14-18 this year -- most go for a minimum of two weeks and some for up to two months, travelling to Medina as well as Mecca.

The trips cost several thousand dollars a person, depending on the quality of accommodation and food. Countries with the largest Muslim populations have government bodies which provide cheap, subsidised tours.

India this year is sending about 175,000 pilgrims, nearly 80 percent of whom will benefit from subsidised air fares.

A 45-day pilgrimage arranged by the official Hajj Committee of India costs 2,700 dollars, while private operators charge 6,700 dollars.

"Costs to perform the hajj from India increase by three to five percent every year," said MA Khan, a committee official. It is still "much cheaper when one compares the costs incurred by pilgrims from other countries."

Government scheme

In Indonesia, which is sending 220,000 pilgrims in 2010, the government tour price was unchanged despite the rise in the total cost of about three percent.

Each Indonesian pilgrim on the government tour pays 3,200 dollars for travel, food and lodging.

The government contributes about 670 dollars a person, compared to 555 dollars a year ago, according to Abdul Ghofur Djawahir, the Indonesian religious affairs ministry director of haj fees and services.

However, Pakistan's 40-day government package has jumped about 16 percent in price this year from 2009 to about 2,800 dollars.

Half of the country's 160,000 pilgrims take advantage of the government scheme, according to the Pakistani religious and haj ministry. The rest join private tours, spending up to 4,100 dollars (3,000 euros) a person.

In Bangladesh, the government-subsidised haj package runs to 3,238 dollars (2,365 euros), up 2.7 percent from last year.

But fewer than 7,000 of the country's 94,000 pilgrims are taking advantage of it, Bangladeshi religious affairs ministry spokesman Anwar Hossain told AFP.

"Every year it increases slightly, it was not an unusual increase this year," Hossain said. "Flights cost more, accommodation in Saudi Arabia is getting more expensive, insurance and food also cost more now."

Basic meals

For the 200,000 or more Saudi citizens and residents who join the haj, prices have shot up 20 percent, according to Saad al-Qurashi of the Mecca Chamber of Commerce.

The lowest price is about 500 dollars (365 euros), for a place to sleep in an out-of-the-way group tent for the five-day period and for basic meals of chicken and rice.

A 2,000-dollar (1,460-euro) package gets a Saudi an apartment in Mina, the valley between Mecca and Arafat, a key haj ritual site, with full buffets for meals.

The main issue of haj tour prices is location. Most government-subsidised packages will put the pilgrims in the vast Mina tent city.

The closer you are to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the more expensive it is, with luxury hotels right next to the mosque selling rooms at 1,000 dollars (730 euros) a night and more.

French online tour operator Go-Makkah.com offers three-week hajj tours that run from 3,500 to 5,000 euros (4,800-6,855 dollars).

At the low end is an average hotel 3.5 kilometres (two miles) from the Grand Mosque, while the most expensive buys accommodation just 100 metres (0.06 miles) away.

Indonesia's Djawahir says Jakarta pays a little more to ensure its pilgrims are closer to holy sites. "We're not complaining as it means our pilgrims can spend less time getting there, they can even walk there."

-AFP

Also read:

Haj season: 22 Malaysians have died so far, 85 in hospital

 

 

Suu Kyi 'happy' with unconditional release

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 11:26 AM PST

YANGON: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was "very glad and happy" to be free after years of house arrest, her lawyer said Sunday, confirming that her release was unconditional.

"There was no condition on her release. She is completely free," Nyan Win told AFP. "She is very glad and happy."

Ahead of her release, observers had feared Myanmar's junta would try to put restrictions on the movements of their number one enemy -- who has spent most of the past two decades confined to her Yangon mansion.

But a senior government official told AFP on Saturday there were no strings attached to Suu Kyi's freedom.

Suu Kyi is also set to rally her many supporters later today with a rare political address on her first full day of freedom after release from years of house arrest.

The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero carries a weight of expectation among her followers for a better future for the nation after almost half a century of military dictatorship.

Rally today

A crowd of thousands roared its approval on Saturday after the Nobel Peace Prize winner -- who has been locked up for most of the past two decades -- appeared after the end of her latest seven-year stretch of detention.

"We must work together in unison," she told the sea of jubilant people waiting outside the crumbling lakeside mansion where she had been held, suggesting she plans to keep up her long struggle against the military regime.

"I'm glad that you are welcoming me and supporting me. I want to say that there will be a time to come out. Do not stay quiet when that time comes," she added.

Suu Kyi will also be meeting with foreign diplomats and hold a news conference.

Suu Kyi's struggle for her country has come at a high personal cost: her husband, British academic Michael Aris, died in 1999, and in the final stages of his battle with cancer the junta refused him a visa to see his wife.

She has not seen her two sons for about a decade and has never met her grandchildren.

Support from Obama

Meanwhile in WASHINGTON, the United States called for a broad prisoner release as it celebrated Suu Kyi's release, while cautioning that more had to be done to improve human rights in Myanmar.

President Barack Obama, in Yokohama, Japan, described fellow Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi as "a hero of mine."

While the Myanmar junta "has gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace, and change in Burma," he said in a statement.

"She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world," said Obama, using the country' former name.

2,100 political prisoners

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in turn called on Myanmar's leaders "to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi's release is unconditional so that she may travel, associate with her fellow citizens, express her views, and participate in political activities without restriction."

Yangon authorities "should also immediately and unconditionally release all of Burma's 2,100 political prisoners."

Clinton urged the regime leaders "to break from their repressive policies and begin an inclusive dialogue" with Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders "towards national reconciliation and a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future."

Former president George W Bush and his wife Laura issued a brief statement "celebrating" Suu Kyi's freedom.

"We strongly support the aspirations of the Burmese people and their demands for basic human rights: freedom of speech, worship, and assembly," said the Bushes.

"Daw Suu Kyi's peaceful protest is an example for the strength of nonviolent opposition. We fervently hope that the day of a free Burma for all its citizens is soon a reality."

Former US president Bill Clinton said he was "thrilled" by the news of the release, and that he hoped it pointed to a "new direction" for life in Myanmar "and for the country's relations with others beyond their borders."

Clinton, US president from 1993 to 2001, presented Suu Kyi with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian award, in 2000.

- AFP

Japan, China agree ways to improve ties

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 07:28 PM PST

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Nov 14 — Japan and China's foreign ministers agreed on Sunday to improve ties through private and cultural exchanges, a Japanese official said, after tensions spiked over a territorial row in the East China Sea Relations between Asia's two biggest economies soured after Japan in September detained a Chinese skipper whose fishing ...


Three killed, 5 injured in Bangladesh bomb attack

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 07:20 PM PST

DHAKA, Nov 13 — At least three people were killed and five, including a lawmaker of the ruling party, injured in a suicide bomb attack in Bangladesh on Saturday, police said. The bomb was detonated at the residence of Afaz Uddin, an Awami League member of parliament, near Khustia, 300 km (190 miles) west of the capital Dhaka. Police would not say ...


EU bail-out for Ireland?

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 06:55 PM PST

The BBC has learned that Ireland, which is facing mounting concern about its economy, is in preliminary talks with European Union officials about possible financial support.


FACTBOX - Key facts about Myanmar

Posted: 13 Nov 2010 07:37 PM PST

Here are some key facts about Myanmar, a resource-rich former British colony that has spent most of its post-independence history under authoritarian military dictatorships.

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