Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Ethnic peace forum concludes with call for nationwide ceasefire
- Women’s groups call for new constitution
- A rally for peace
- Burmese navy opened fire on fishing boat, claims Thailand
- Suu Kyi: “Reconciliation needed between all groups”
- Business weekly
- Suu Kyi warns weak Rule of Law may scare off investors
- Nuclear Burma – a chance to cut the red tape
- If not now, then when? The need for a nationwide ceasefire
- Villagers beat, apprehend 30 policemen in Pyinmana
| Ethnic peace forum concludes with call for nationwide ceasefire Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:56 AM PDT Shan, Karenni and Mon delegates have concluded a three-day meeting in Taunggyi by issuing a statement calling for a nationwide ceasefire and ethnic rights. The Trust-building for Peace Forum was held on 21– 23 September, and was attended by a total of 331 individuals including representatives of 21 political parties, 15 armed groups and three civic groups. Thirty-one observers attended, including members of the government's Peace-making Work Committee led by union minister Aung Min. In concluding the conference, the assorted ethnic delegates called for:
"We are calling for the abolition of undesirable laws such as the Unlawful Association Act, 505(b) [disturbing public tranquility] and the recently enacted Article 18 [staging a public gathering without official permission]," said Sai Lek of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. "We also oppose laws meant to oppress the media." He said that the priority was the immediate dissolution of the Peaceful Assembly Law and the Peaceful Procession Law which has led to peaceful protesters being arrested and jailed simply for holding a rally without permission from authorities, something Sai Lek described as "completely unreasonable". Related StoriesThe three-day forum in Taunggyi followed on from a meeting on Friday between the Burmese government's Peace-making Work Committee and three Shan state-based ethnic armed groups: the Shan State Army-South, the Shan State Army-North and the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation. According to mediator Min Zaw Oo of the Myanmar Peace Center, the roundtable talks were held to promote mutual trust ahead of a plan to implement a nationwide ceasefire among all the armed groups in Burma. He said that representatives from the armed groups expressed concerns that the government would not abide by its promise to engage in political dialogue once a nationwide ceasefire is agreed. He said that Minister Aung Min replied that in signing a ceasefire the government recognises the decision to facilitate political dialogue with all ethnic groups. |
| Women’s groups call for new constitution Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:28 AM PDT A landmark women's forum has concluded in Rangoon, with a call for the 2008 constitution to be completely rewritten. Over 400 persons attended the weekend-long conference, which was jointly hosted by the Women's League of Burma (WLB) and the Women's Organization Network. The WLB said that the purpose of the event was to help establish a peaceful nation through unity among women. Susanna Hla Hla Soe of the Women's Organization Network said the participants discussed ways of getting women to take up leading roles in Burma's peace-building process, as well as to promote women's rights in the country. "Besides discussing the topic 'Women and Peace', we also discussed subjects titled 'Women and the Law', 'Women and Gender' and 'Women and Decision Making'," she said. WLB general-secretary Tin Tin Nyo said the participants also had an extensive discussion on the controversial National Race Protection Law which they expanded to include a "Law for the Protection of Women". "The National Race Protection Law actually adds more restrictions to women's rights," said Tin Tin Nyo. "As women, we believe that we are capable of decision-making and are able to shape our own lives. We know what is right for us and what is wrong. "We are looking to carry out campaigns that support women's development against the backdrop of a conservative, backward-thinking mind-set." She added that representatives may also seek meetings with senior Buddhist monks. Tin Tin Nyo said that simply amending the constitution was not enough—the women's groups were calling for a complete rewrite of the 2008 document. She said the groups at the forum will also sign a petition urging President Thein Sein to release women activists Naw Ohn Hla, Myint Myint Aye, Bauk Ja and Mi Mi Khin who are serving jail terms.
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| Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:30 AM PDT The International Day of Peace was celebrated across Burma on Saturday. In Rangoon hundreds of people marched from City Hall to the People's Park chanting peace slogans and calling for the end of civil war in Burma. Events went on throughout the day with games, readings, traditional dance and music centering on peace and national reconciliation. Unlike last year the peace rally was approved by the authorities and over 50 civil society groups were represented at the march. |
| Burmese navy opened fire on fishing boat, claims Thailand Posted: 22 Sep 2013 10:37 PM PDT The Royal Thai Navy has protested an incident on Saturday near a disputed island in the Andaman Sea where Burmese naval forces allegedly opened fire on a Thai fishing boat that had strayed into Burmese territorial waters. According to the Bangkok Post, the Third Naval Area Command, which oversees Thai territories on the Andaman Sea, sent the protest after an urgent meeting of the Thai-Myanmar General Border Committee to discuss the incident. Thai media said the crew of 14 – which may have included some Burmese nationals – jumped overboard into the sea after the fishing vessel came under fire. The crewmen were reportedly recovered from the sea by a Thai navy ship stationed nearby, however the vessel has now been impounded and its captain held in custody in the Burmese port of Kawthaung. Thai authorities and the boat owner have asked Burmese officers to return the boat but to no avail, said the Bangkok Post. Ranong Fishery Association chairman Surin Losong, who is also the owner of the trawler, said he was confident that his boat was not fishing in Burmese territory, according to a report by Thailand's MCOT. The incident comes just three days after Burma's commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing led a delegation of some 20 military officers to talks in Bangkok with his Thai counterpart Gen Thanasak Patimaprakorn who headed a team of 40 officers from the Thai defence forces.On 17 September, Min Aung Hlaing was quoted in the Thai press as saying that relations between Thailand and Burma are at their most cordial in the two countries' history at a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House in Bangkok.
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| Suu Kyi: “Reconciliation needed between all groups” Posted: 22 Sep 2013 10:16 PM PDT Burma's opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi said on Sunday, reconciliation was needed between the military and political groups and not just between ethnic groups for the country to move forward. Speaking to students and faculty at an event at the Singapore Management University she emphasised that dialogue with ethnic groups was not the only sort of discussion needed in Burma now. “National reconciliation is at the centre of our aspirations. And by national reconciliation, we did not simply mean reconciliation between the ethnic nationalities of Burma, as a lot of people seem to have imagined," said Suu Kyi. "But reconciliation between the military regime, and those who wanted democracy." Suu Kyi went on to say that a political dialogue was the best way to move forward. "I think in the end, the best way for leaders with differing views to work together for the country, is to sit together and talk,” she said. Related StoriesEarlier on Sunday, an estimated 5,800 Burmese nationals turned up in traditional attire and t-shirts emblazoned with her portrait at an event organized by the Myanmar Club Singapore. After receiving an emotional welcome and a standing ovation, Suu Kyi, speaking in Burmese, urged her compatriots in Singapore to consider returning home or to “find some way” to give back to the country. "She said everyone is waiting for her to become president before returning to Burma, but that she cannot become president if we don’t come back and help,” said 21-year-old student Myat Kaung Min. Zaw Lei Win, a 28-year-old nurse from Burma, said, "Of course it is an emotional moment for many of us. Today, after seeing The Lady in Singapore for the first time, I feel proud to be [from] Myanmar,” Zaw Tun Henry, the president of Myanmar Club Singapore, said 68-year-old Suu Kyi was most concerned about the future plans of Burmese students attending Singaporean universities. In a private meeting with them before her Sunday speech, he said she urged them to return home “to give back to the mother country” after their studies. “She said, ‘Don’t wait until there are good conditions in Myanmar, you come back and [make the] change’,” he said. There are no official statistics on the size of the Burmese diaspora in Singapore, but Zaw Tun Henry estimated the community to be about 150,000-strong.
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| Posted: 21 Sep 2013 09:45 PM PDT
Ups and downs The Burmese currency fell slightly against the US dollar this week: the buying rate was 971 kyat to the dollar compared to 969 the week before. The dollar was also up two kyat from last week, selling at 978.
Japanese firms unite to modernize Burmese aviation Five Japanese multinational companies concluded an agreement with Burma's aviation authorities on 20 September to modernize the country's outdated airport infrastructure, according to Tokyo daily Asahi Shimbun. The five firms were named as: Sumitomo Corp; NEC Corp; NEC Networks & System Integration Corp; Toshiba Corp; and Morita Corp. The Japanese companies are to assist Burma procure modern radio, flight systems, security and communications control equipment for major airports, such as Rangoon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Sandoway and Tavoy, the report said.
Suu Kyi calls for 'responsible investment' Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Burma needs "responsible investment" of foreign capital as it seeks to accelerate economic development, according to an AFP report. She also said that the country needs to improve its rule of law and democratic reforms "soon" – not by 2015 when general elections are held. Establishing a firmer rule of law will include changes to the constitution, she reportedly said, without giving details.
NZ Embassy opens in Burma New Zealand has opened its first embassy in Burma, saying that Wellington now recognises the political and economic reforms in the country. NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said last week the bureau in Rangoon will host a number of ministerial and official level meetings next year. New Zealand has recently increased its development assistance to Burma, with major commitments to dairy cooperation and capacity building. And the African nation of Angola has signed an accord with Burma to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, its official news agency Angop reported on Friday.
Railway head office to be converted into 5-star hotel The railway head office in Rangoon is to be converted into a five-star hotel, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing Burmese officials. The new hotel will aim to accommodate foreign tourists with 154 suites and 450 staff, the report said. There are currently five other five-star hotels in the former capital.
Private jets for hire State-owned Myanmar Airways International is offering business jets for sale or hire to private businessmen, according to a report in the Myawaddy Daily Newspaper on 20 September. Quoting the airline's Mandalay senior officer Zaw Win, the report said that an unspecified number of Gulfstream G450 aircraft will be available, and that the service will allow business tycoons to charter aircraft for urgent business matters.
Kyaukphyu: Bright lights, big city Residents of Kyaukphyu and 21 surrounding villages began enjoying the benefits of 24-hour electricity as from 15 September when small-scale gas turbines began turning at the Shwe Gas pipeline terminal. According to a retired electricity official in the city, some 20 million cubic feet of compressed natural gas per day is now providing power to the town and its satellite villages. He said the price of electricity is 35 kyat per unit for home use and 75 kyat per unit for industrial purposes – the standard price across Burma. Read more: https://www.dvb.no/news/kyaukphyu-lights-up-burma-myanmar-shwe-gas-pipeline/32586
Pegu real estate soaring Land prices in the city of Pegu are soaring amid the construction of various development projects in the area, including the Hantharwaddy International Airport, industrial zones and suburban housing estates. According to local residents and real estate agents, the price of land in the choicest areas of Pegu, previously valued between 200,000 and 300,000 kyat (US$200-$300) per 80x100ft plot, has skyrocketed to over 100 million kyat (more than US$100,000) – a breathtaking 500 times the price of just two or three years ago. Read more: https://www.dvb.no/news/32611-burma-myanmar/32611
KBZ is highest taxpayer in Burma, says Finance Ministry The Kanbawza Bank (KBZ) has been declared the highest payer of income tax in Burma for the 2012-13 fiscal year, according to a list of the top 500 taxpayers in the country released by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue. Chaired by Aung Ko Win, KBZ has more than 2,000 employees and its main source of revenue is from its transfer and loan services. Min Htut, director-general of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, said KBZ earned over 10 billion kyat (US$10 million) last fiscal year with tax levied at 25 percent on net profits.
Burmese-Thai businesses try speed dating An event called the Myanmar-Thai Business Matching will be held at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry office on 4 October to promote bilateral trade, Thailand's Commercial Office announced on Friday, adding that some 49 Thai companies – representing import and export, health, technology, cosmetics, food and cold storage interests – are expected to attend. |
| Suu Kyi warns weak Rule of Law may scare off investors Posted: 21 Sep 2013 08:34 PM PDT Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi warned Saturday that communal violence and weak “rule of law” could scare off investors despite the country’s rapid pace of political and economic reform. The democracy icon told a business conference in Singapore that a stalemate in resolving protracted insurgencies, inter-ethnic conflicts and lack of robust laws posed the biggest challenges to development in the former pariah state. “Although we have achieved ceasefires, we have not really achieve d a peace settlement… In addition to that, we have communal tensions and communal outbreaks of violence,” Suu Kyi said in a keynote address at the high-level conference. “Unless we get these sorted out, we are not going to get the kind of stable, peaceful society where people would be happy to invest in.” Resource-rich Burma has been shaken by recent religious violence that has exposed deepening national faultlines despite the reforms launched by President Thein Sein in the formerly military-ruled nation. About 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of violence since June 2012, mainly minority Rohingya Muslims who have been the target of riots and a nationalistic campaign led by radical monks. “We have to start with rule of law, that is what I have always said, and people are not satisfied with the answer because it is not exciting enough,” the 68-year-old said, responding to a question after her speech about ending the country’s ethnic violence. While she is venerated for her struggle for democracy, some human rights activists have now accused the Nobel Prize laureate of failing to clearly condemn anti-Muslim actions in the Buddhist-majority nation. “If people are frightened that they will be killed, if people are frightened that their goods will be taken away from them or if their houses will be burned down above their heads, you will not be able to persuade them to sit down to sort out their differences,” she said. Suu Kyi said the international community could help by “giving us your understanding (and) by trying to go deeper into the reasons why communal conflicts have been taking place”. “Please study the situation in depth, please don’t take a superficial look at it, and try to condemn one community or another.” Suu Kyi, who has said she will run for president in 2015, also said investors should continue to make inroads in Burma, even if they have concerns about cronyism and the lack of an independent judiciary. “I wouldn’t advise you to draw out, I would like you to continue with your investments but to make them as responsible as possible,” she said. Suu Kyi told investors to exercise “cautious optimism” about the sweeping political and economic reforms under President Thein Sein. “It is not by painting an over-optimistic picture of our country that you can help us, it is only by being realistic about what we need to do that you will be able to help us,” she said. |
| Nuclear Burma – a chance to cut the red tape Posted: 21 Sep 2013 07:14 PM PDT On 17 September Burma took the long awaited step of signing a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA. Burma promised to do this in late 2012 and has now followed through on the occasion of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. The new agreement is called an Additional Protocol and it provides for more access for IAEA to any declared activities in Burma and removes obsolete provisions of an older agreement. The General Conference is a traditional time for states to make important announcements and Burma has continued that trend. This is a very welcome development, one that is consistent with many positive signs that Burma is really trying to change its image. Many problems remain in Burma: an ethnic war in the north and oppression of the Rohingya, but this is greatly offset by the release of political prisoners, fairer elections and opening of the country to the rest of the world. As difficult as times remain, one would have to be a real miser not to acknowledge there is change, positive change and hopeful change. Allegations of past hidden nuclear activities in Burma are a small but troubling remainder of the former military government. If there were undisclosed nuclear activities the current government can quickly dispel any doubts. Unfortunately the signing of the Additional Protocol is but the first of three steps in the process of opening up Burma's nuclear secrets, and diplomatic bureaucracy could add many more years before Burma even begins to comply. Burma must now ratify the president's signature in the legislature. The 10-month delay between the announcement of intent to sign and the actual signature gives some idea how slow this process can be. Then Burma must put in place an internal administrative structure. This structure needs to poll all stakeholders in Burma who have any nuclear materials or activities and then produce declarative reports for IAEA to investigate and verify. This process can take many years. We should not have to wait so long. Burma can unilaterally cut the red tape itself. On the authority of the president, Burma should immediately inform the IAEA that they are ready to allow certain inspections immediately to clear up allegations from defectors and analysts that have been supported by documentary evidence. Burma should immediately grant access to the small mine and conversion plant at Thabeikkyin and a number of military facilities in the area which are well known to the IAEA and other analysts. Secondly, Burma should grant immediate access to two machine tools factories that have been implicated in nuclear chemical industry work (see picture). As part of this access, they need to provide access to chemical equipment that has been extensively photographed and described here in the pages of the Democratic Voice of Burma and elsewhere. This access needs to be granted no matter where the equipment is located today and should include access to manufacturing drawings, data and current use. The equipment is very well-documented and it clearly exists. Unrestricted access will either silence critics of Burma or give the regime a chance to explain itself. Finally, there are several other sites related to nuclear development that are not so well known and access should be given to those sites as part of the package. All of these activities could be carried out in a few weeks from now if all parties cooperate. Then the more routine part of establishing a normal nuclear materials verification regime could begin. Why should this be done now? There is a common misunderstanding that the Additional Protocol with the IAEA, ratified and brought into force allows "snap inspections", "anywhere and anytime" in the state.This is simply not true.The Protocol only allows short notice inspections of declared sites in Burma, and Naypyidaw has already said they have no activities or sites to declare.It is possible that we could wait years for Burma to reach the point of making a formal declaration of activities, and then state simply: "We have nothing to declare."Then the waiting will be for naught because the IAEA can only ask for access to declared activities and there are none. True, there are arrangements for highly intrusive "special inspections". Such inspections would require military force if the state does not voluntarily agree and a further stalemate could go on for years as it has in some other countries. The best way to avoid this dilemma is for Burma to volunteer to clear the issues immediately and cooperatively. Burma has taken the first step and should be heartily congratulated and encouraged to take the next steps as quickly as possible and not delay from eight to 10 years like several other ASEAN member states. The IAEA and others can help this process. But the delay from signing intent to actual signing is a worrisome indicator that the president does not control the consultative process or at least gives it a low priority. The international community should give Burma clear signs that a voluntary opening of key suspect sites is in its best interest and give Burma and the IAEA every assistance to close the books on this chapter once and for all. For more background: https://www.dvb.no/news/expert-says-burma-%E2%80%98planning-nuclear-bomb%E2%80%99/9527 Dr Robert Kelley is a former Los Alamos weapons scientist, and was an IAEA director from 1992 to 1993, and again from 2001 to 2005. He has conducted weapons inspections in Libya, Iraq, and South Africa, and compliance inspections in Egypt, Turkey, South Korea, Taiwan, Syria, Tanzania, Pakistan, India and Congo, among others. The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not reflect DVB editorial policy.
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| If not now, then when? The need for a nationwide ceasefire Posted: 20 Sep 2013 02:21 AM PDT From 11-12 September 2013, an ethnic delegation led by Saw Htoo Htoo Lay, Saw Ta Doh Moo from the Karen National Union, Sai La, Sai Ngeun from the Restoration Council of Shan State, Lian Sakhong from the Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies, and Harn Yawnghwe from the Euro-Burma Office met with the government's peace making technical team led by Hla Maung Shwe. The meeting was the first major step towards solidifying the peace process and creating a substantial nationwide ceasefire agreement based on the framework created by the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination. There has been constant discussion, often motivated by concerns in relation to trust and individual control issues, between all ethnic parties in relation to the negotiation process. However the September meeting, and its outcome, was able to allay many of those concerns and put forward a mutually agreeable framework that could see a nationwide ceasefire by the end of November thus laying the groundwork for an all inclusive political dialogue before the 2015 election. The nationwide ceasefire, and its implementation as early as possible, is an essential first stage in securing the environment for a future political dialogue. Previous agreements have been characterised by frequent territorial incursions and sporadic clashes. It is hoped, therefore, that a nationwide ceasefire agreement will provide a much more comprehensive mechanism for dealing with such occurrences and will establish joint ceasefire committees responsible for monitoring and settling disputes. While previous agreements have often contained similar points, they have been ill-defined and territorial boundaries and codes of conduct have been neglected by both sides. The nationwide ceasefire, which includes the provision for the acceptance of a mutually binding code of conduct, will provide a much more all-encompassing agreement including detailed references to humanitarian assistance, troop redeployment and clearly defined areas of operation. That said, however, a number of detractors in armed ethnic groups still remain and air concerns in relation to the precise timing of a nationwide ceasefire. The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), which has had experience dealing with previous military governments, remains sceptical and has demanded that political dialogue should be conducted prior to a ceasefire. The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which is largely influenced by the KIO, maintains that it alone should negotiate with the government thus removing individual armed groups ability to negotiate on behalf of the people they represent. While the KIO has changed a number of its demands in an effort to negotiate with the government, its involvement with the UNFC, and those of other members, has tied it to following the UNFC position. Most recently the UNFC has collaborated with the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) which is comprised of ethnic political parties that had contested the 1990 election. The UNA has agreed to work with the UNFC in rewriting the constitution and is also working with the National League for Democracy in writing constitutional amendments. There is little doubt that constitutional amendments need to be made and neither the government nor the majority of armed ethnic groups disagree on the subject. All relevant actors are prepared to see changes made to the constitution, what remains is the problem of recognising the importance of a nationwide ceasefire prior to constitutional reform, political dialogue and finally the emergence of a federal union. Two of the largest armed actors, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) have distanced themselves from the UNFC's position noting that it is up to individual groups to decide their political destiny. As a result, as the September meeting shows, they are prepared, quite correctly, to move forward with a nationwide ceasefire regardless of the dictates of other armed ethnic groups. While previously, especially at the time of the predominance of the KNU at Manerplaw, ethnic alliances were considered infallible, the environment over the past two years has changed. A number of ethnic leaders, perhaps understandably, maintain an almost cold war era attitude in relation to the current Burmese government. And it is this attitude that could threaten the peace process and thus endangers any opportunity for the people of their respective states to progress. This, added to the various voices of special interest groups, primarily based outside of the country, adds to the negative image of the process and thus weakens any attempt by armed ethnic groups to move forward. In reality, most stakeholders, armed ethnic groups, the government, and opposition political parties have admitted that they are prepared to accept the same thing: a nationwide ceasefire, political dialogue, constitutional amendments and finally a federal union. While these voices differ in how to achieve such goals, it is the first time that all sides have agreed on the same issues. It is quite clear that there is still a long way to go before achieving the said goals, but the time for procrastination is over. A nationwide ceasefire – which, one must note, does not entail the disarmament of armed ethnic groups – is a necessity now, not later. As has often been the case throughout this long conflict, the need for dialogue amongst ethnic groups has often outweighed the need for action. Now is the time to lay down a strong foundation for political dialogue that envisions a future federal union and it is imperative that minor political differences be yielded to achieve this goal. Paul Keenan is Senior Researcher at the Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies and author of "By Force of Arms – Burma's Armed Ethnic Groups". The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect DVB’s editorial opinion. |
| Villagers beat, apprehend 30 policemen in Pyinmana Posted: 20 Sep 2013 01:27 AM PDT About 10 policemen have been hospitalised in Naypyidaw after a clash with residents in the Pyinmana suburb of Wegyi early on Thursday morning. The incident happened when police raided the house of a local National League for Democracy (NLD) member to arrest him for allegedly supporting local farmers who had defiantly begun ploughing land previously confiscated from them. Zaw Latt, the NLD member in question, said about 30 policemen forcibly entered his house around 1:30am on Thursday and proceeded to beat him up until they themselves became prey to a large crowd of villagers who descended upon them when the man's wife started crying that bandits were raiding their house. "The police rushed into our house – about four or five of them stamped on my neck and put handcuffs on me. They also attacked my wife and tried to tear off her clothes, and even punched my five-year-old daughter in the face," said Zaw Latt. The villagers subsequently subdued the police and detained 27 of them until daybreak when dozens more police officers came to rescue their comrades. "Around 200 armed policemen came at dawn, shouting warnings that they were prepared to use their guns, and dragged their fellow officers out of the village," said Zaw Latt. An official at nearby Kyidaunggan police station confirmed the incident but declined to give further details. |
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