Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma

After weekend’s clashes, Rohingya pin blame on local police

Posted: 13 Aug 2013 04:57 AM PDT

A village outside of Arakan’s capital Sittwe quickly became the latest focal point of sectarian violence over the weekend as armed police shot into a crowd of Rohingya protestors.

Tensions began to escalate on the outskirts of the state capital on Friday following the morning prayers as protestors gathered and accused local police of murdering a Muslim fisherman whose body had washed ashore in Ohntawgyi village earlier in the day.

Rohingya villagers went on to raze a police outpost in village as police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds into the crowd.

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Rohingyas injured during the melee blamed the violence on local authorities and accused the officials of backing sectarian interests in the restive state.

“The clashes happened like this because there are many Arakanese people in the police. Burmese people wouldn’t do this”, said one of the Rohingya who had been injured in the confrontation," said one man injured during the melee

According to he the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper, only three people suffered minor injuries during the clash.

The unrest comes a year after two bouts of sectarian riots pitting Rohingya Muslim against Buddhist Arakanese led to the deaths of around 200 and displaced of more than 140,000 people.

Officials target Rangoon township under new directive

Posted: 13 Aug 2013 04:47 AM PDT

Authorities from Rangoon division have issued a new directive in Bahan township mandating that residents, organisations and business owners provide officials with 20 days notice if they are planning to host an event.

Business owners and politicians working in the township, which is also home to the National League for Democracy's headquarters and Royal Rose Hall that hosted the NLD's nationwide convention earlier this year, claim the area is being singled out by authorities.

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"There are two questions here: what law the order was issued under and whether the government organisation issuing the order has the legal power to do so," said NLD spokesperson Nyan Win.

"We don't know the answer yet, but this is surely not impartial."

According to former NLD member and owner of the Royal Rose Hall Soe Nyunt, out of the 45 townships in the region Bahan is the only one being targeted under the directive.

"The state government during a meeting on 8 August issued the directive: to inform authorities 20 days in advance when organising events at restaurants, hotels, religious places and education centres or face legal punishment," said Soe Nyunt.

"The directive was issued only in Bahan township."

According to Soe Nyunt, the township's administrator had previously informed him that any plans to host an event at his venue needed to be reported to the authorities 20 days in advance, but the owner argued that the regulation needed to be officially issued.

Ministry pledges to work with press council to address contentious media law

Posted: 13 Aug 2013 02:26 AM PDT

After holding talks with representatives from Burma's interim press council on Monday, Information Minister Aung Kyi said government officials were committed to addressing disputed articles in a controversial media draft bill that was largely panned by the country's transitional press advisory board late last month.

Officials from the ministry of information (MOI) led by Aung Kyi met with the press council's representatives at the Park Royal Hotel in Rangoon to discuss disagreements surrounding the media bill, after the two sides held a round of talks that were described as fruitless in July.

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"During the meeting, Union Minister U Aung Kyi discussed vision [sic] of establishing Myanmar media environment to become social responsibility media landscape in Myanmar. The Myanmar Press Council (Temporary) agreed to continue the discussion," read a press statement published in Tuesday's English edition of The New Light of Myanmar.

At a press conference following the talks, the minister told journalists that the MOI was dedicated to negotiating with the press council directly in order to forge a solution.

"We both have different opinions but this is substantial for a good outcome and the development of fine, valuable ideas. At the beginning of the democratic era, we should be appreciative of diversity and negotiate over disagreements," said Aung Kyi.

Veteran journalist and the press council's vice-chair Pho Thauk Kyar said the government should now focus on carving out a timeframe for the proposed negotiations.

"We urged them to implement the negotiations within one month regarding the 17 articles in the bill objected by the ministry," said Pho Thauk Kyar in reference to the 17 amendments the council suggested making to the draft that were ultimately struck down by the MOI.

"This is not an issue we can find a solution to by just holding one meeting so we need to have more informal talks."

Monday's meeting comes amid rising tension between the interim press council and government officials. In July, Burma's lower house of parliament approved a controversial draft of the printing and publishing enterprise law, despite vocal protests from members of the council.

According to the council's representatives, the draft contains provisions that would prevent media outlets from publishing statements that are "against and violate the provisions of the constitution and other legislation" and would also provide "registration officials" with the authority to enforce printing and publishing regulations and deem publications "illegal".

Tension boils over in Arakan state

Posted: 12 Aug 2013 11:28 PM PDT

Attempts to bring stability to Burma’s restive Arakan state could be disintegrating after police opened fire on Rohingya Muslims last week, as tensions in the region continue to rise following two bouts of ethnic violence last year left hundreds dead and more than 140,000 people displaced.

Last Friday, on the outskirts of the Arakan state capital of Sittwe fighting between police and local Rohingya erupted following an argument over the custody of a dead Rohingya.  As tempers rose, Rohingya villagers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) razed a police outpost in Ohntawgyi village and set up a nearby roadblock. Police responded by firing rubber bullets, tear gas and live rounds into the crowd, which injured at least seven people.
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