Myanmar: Government Launched a New Round of Peace Talks with Ethnic Insurgent Leaders

"The talks began in recent weeks and included meetings with ethnic rebel leaders over the past weekend in an undisclosed location along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to ethnic leaders and others familiar with the meetings. The government's goal is to convince the insurgent groups, which have long lobbied for more political rights in Myanmar, to fully recognize the country's new government and possibly lay down their arms, these people said. In return, the government is offering more economic development and other potential incentives, they said."

'via Blog this'Myanmar Tackles Ethnic Conflicts - WSJ.com:

President Obama signed the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act

Obama Signs Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act - ABC News: "The act, which passed earlier this month in Congress, is designed to protect Peace Corps whistleblowers and improve the treatment of victims of violence and sexual assault. The law is named for 24-year-old Kate Puzey of Georgia, who was murdered in Benin in 2009 after telling superiors she believed a fellow Peace Corps employee was molesting female students. In an investigation that aired on "20/20," ABC News told the story of Kate's murder and examined what critics say has been a "blame-the-victim" culture within the Peace Corps when volunteers are assaulted or attempt to report problems. "It's such a wonderful thing. We're really, really happy this is happening," Kate's mother, Lois Puzey told ABC News of the signing today. "It really has restored my faith in humankind and the fact that government can work.""

'via Blog this'

It is Time to Heal - After So Much Pain: PEACE!

"A Native American tradition is sparking hope in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. The area is a community facing gangs, guns and violence, but with the help of a Catholic priest, peace is the message this week. "We want to walk for peace and justice," one person said. Dozens gather to join in the efforts. "So often we hear that Back of the Yards is violent. Tonight it's a place of peace," another said Friday night. The peace is considered a Native American way by those gathered. There were many drums but one beat. "The drum represents the beat of the earth, of Mother Earth, Tonantzin," said drum instructor Josie Dykas. "We're going to pray for Tonantzin because the healing has to come from the inside to come out." Marchers hope it is time to heal - after so much pain. Since August, five young people have been killed in the neighborhood. Fr. Bruce Wellems of Holy Cross/ Immaculate Heart of Mary officiated three of the funerals. "We are not going to lay down and die," he said. "We're going to be a people of hope. They're showing me how to do that.""

'via Blog this'Back of the Yards residents drum for peace | abc7chicago.com:

Update: Chicago: Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the "12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates" on April 23-25, 2012 to be held in Chicago

"All former Nobel Peace Laureates will be invited to attend. It will be co-chaired by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome. Emanuel will serve as an honorary co-chair.

This event "has been held in Paris, it's been held in Berlin, it's been held in Rome," Emanuel said. "And they picked, in my view the most American city in America, Chicago." Chicago was chosen "due to its rich heritage and international profile," organizers said Thursday. President Barack Obama is among the Nobel Peace Prize winners who hail from the Windy City.

The Nobel meeting will come a month before Chicago is in the international spotlight for the simultaneous G-8/NATO summits, which also are expected to attract throngs of protesters."

'via Blog this'Nobel Peace Prize laureates to hold summit here - chicagotribune.com:

Philippines: Unfazed by Asean Foreign Ministers to refer its proposed creation of Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship, and Cooperation

"While on the other hand, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday said the US will help boost the external defense capabilities of the Philippines but will not take a position in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute. Clinton, in a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario after her meeting with President Aquino in Malacañang, said the territorial dispute should be resolved peacefully. She added US does not take the position on any territorial claim because any nation with a claim has a right to assert it. But they do not have a right to pursue it through intimidation or coercion," she said. She further noted the claimant countries to the West Philippine Sea should follow the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international law. Clinton said the US welcomes China’s rise to power but it wants to make sure that there is a balanced growth in the region and that no country should dominate."

'via Blog this'Clinton to Pinoys: We’re in your corner | MALAYA Business Insight News Online:

Iraq: Kurdish Leaders Mediating between Turkey & Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Separatists to Bring their Conflict to End

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan regional president Massud Barzani "are leading mediation efforts between the Turkish government and the PKK, to end the battles in the border area between Iran, Turkey and Kurdistan," said a spokesman for Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. "The Turkish government expressed its desire to end the fighting during Massud Barzani's last visit to Turkey," said spokesman Azad Jundiany. Barzani criticised Turkish military operations against the PKK during an early-November visit to Turkey, saying a political solution was needed. "Honestly, I disapprove of all these operations ... I don't think that one can achieve the result with the military option", Barzani told Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper.
"The fighting should happen in parliament," he told the Anatolia news agency."

'via Blog this'Iraqi Kurd leaders head Turkey-PKK mediation - Yahoo! News: "

Burma: "Thein Sein committed to reforms. He's prime minister under the long-ruling military junta and is considered a moderate", Suu Kyi

"Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday that Myanmar's government has taken positive steps toward reform in the year since she was released from house arrest but more needs to be done, including freeing hundreds more political prisoners. The Nobel peace laureate, speaking to more than 100 journalists on the anniversary of her release, cited her meetings with minister Aung Kyi and President Thein Sein as progress. "Looking back at the past year, I think I can say that it has been eventful, energizing and to a certain extent encouraging," said Suu Kyi, who was detained most of the past two decades by Myanmar's former military government.

The international community's hopes were not high after the country carefully orchestrated the Nov. 7, 2010, election. As expected, the polls brought to power a proxy party for the military, which ran the country since a 1962 coup. But that perception has changed in recent months, as the new government eased censorship, legalized labor unions, suspended an unpopular, China-backed dam project and began talks with Suu Kyi's pro-democracy movement."

'via Blog this'Suu Kyi: Myanmar Has Made Progress, More Is Needed - ABC News: