Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Shwe Mann reiterates his support for federalism
• The face of defiance
• UN’s Nambiar concludes low-key visit to Burma
• Media unions call for journalism university
• ILO warns of ‘serious abuses’ in Thai fishing industry
• Burmese police uncover Naw Kham’s drugs stash

Shwe Mann reiterates his support for federalism Posted: 03 Sep 2013 05:04 AM PDT Speaking at a public meeting on Monday in the Shan state capital Taunggyi, parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann stressed his support for federalism in Burma and urged the public to work alongside the government and the parliament to reach that objective. Shwe Mann, the former head of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, voiced his support for federalism in June when addressing the ruling party, and was reported in 2012 telling parliamentarians that a federal union in Burma was "inevitable". "U Shwe Mann said that federalism must be granted, but that it should be a style of federalism that conforms to our country," said Sai Aik Pao, the chairman of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), who attended the Taunggyi meeting. "He [Shwe Mann] pointed out that a different style of federalism is practiced in the United States from that of Germany or Switzerland, and that factors such as the country's population and demographics must be considered." The SNDP chairman told DVB that the Union Assembly speaker noted to the Shan-based audience that achieving federalism is important for building peace in the country, and that it requires the public's support as well as the government's efforts. Shwe Mann reportedly praised the pace of reform in Burma, saying that the transition was smoother than in many countries. Related Stories Civil society groups call for creation of a 'federal state' during 8888 anniversary Ethnic alliance hammers out ‘federal’ goals before next round of talks The ties that bind in Burma Sai Aik Pao said that members of the audience raised concerns about land confiscations, transportation woes, ID cards, education, and regional irrigation projects. Former Lt-Gen Shwe Mann responded to all questions, except on matters of land confiscations which were handled by Land Grab Investigation Commission chairman Sai Htun Sein. Shwe Mann continued his Shan state tour on Tuesday, 3 September, when he was scheduled to hold a public meeting in Kengtung.

The face of defiance Posted: 03 Sep 2013 04:39 AM PDT Leading human rights activist, Naw Ohn Hla, and nine others were arrested on 13 August for demonstrating without permission. Last week she was sentenced to two years imprisonment with labour under the charge of sedition and disturbing public tranquility. Naw Ohn Hla is an ethnic Karen from Mawbee township in Rangoon, and has spent her life campaigning for human rights and democracy. The veteran protest leader is well known for leading weekly prayer demonstrations at Shwedagon pagoda. Since 2004 her Tuesday Prayer Group has met to pray for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. "Our group is going to support the political prisoners as much as we can and we have decided to send some supplies for their well being in prison," said Naw Ohn Hla. Related Stories Latpadaung protestor sentenced to two years for sedition Protesting the protest law Women's group slams 'violent' arrest of Latpadaung activists In 2009 she was arrested after visiting a pagoda and spent two years behind bars before being released in a presidential amnesty in 2011. Since her release Naw Ohn Hla has continued to take part in street protests calling for the release of all the remaining political prisoners. On 13 August  this year she joined demonstrators calling for the suspension of the Latpadaung mining project. The copper mine is responsible for the confiscation of about 7,800 acres of farmland in total and forcefully relocated farmers from 66 villages. After a tense standoff, police arrested Naw Ohn Hla and nine others. Last Wedensday the activist was charged with protesting without permission under the peaceful procession and peaceful assembly law, and a trial is pending. However, a more serious charge of sedition was brought against Naw Ohn Hla and last Thursday she was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Naw Ohn Hla's sentence suggests that although the government is willing to offer some new freedoms, it still retains absolute power and is a stark reminder that those new freedoms can be snatched away at any time.

UN’s Nambiar concludes low-key visit to Burma Posted: 03 Sep 2013 02:43 AM PDT The United Nations' special envoy to Burma, Vijay Nambiar, wrapped up his tour to the country on Monday following visits to the towns of Sittwe and Sandoway in Arakan state. Aye Win, a UN spokesperson in Rangoon, confirmed Nambiar was leaving on 2 September but could not provide any further details about the envoy's visit. Nambiar travelled to the Sino-Burmese border to meet Kachin rebel leaders; to Meikhtila, the scene of recent anti-Muslim riots; and to the restive state of Arakan where communal violence between Buddhist Arakanese and the Muslim Rohingya community over the past 15 months has left dozens dead and 140,000 displaced from their homes. According to the National League for Democracy's Sandoway district chairman Win Naing, the UN envoy met on Monday with religious leaders and influential figures in Sandoway. Arakan state government spokesperson Win Myaing confirmed that the envoy also met with government officials in the town on 1 September. "He was in Sittwe to try to apply international pressure to help resolve the religious tensions in the region," he said. "He wanted to clarify exactly what efforts the regional government has taken with regard to both communities." Win Myaing added that Nambiar had remarked that he believed the situation on the ground was different from what the foreign media has been reporting. "He said the situation was not being portrayed as it actually was," said the Arakan assembly spokesman. Related Stories UN's Nambiar en route to Kachin rebel HQ Burma govt slams Quintana allegation as 'totally wrong' Quintana accuses Meikhtila police of failing to protect his convoy In Sittwe, Nambiar also met with State Immigration Minister Khin Yi, Arakan state authorities and army officers. He also visited Rohingyas in Sittwe and Maungdaw. Though no official statement has yet been made by the UN special envoy, it is known he met with Burma's vice-president Sai Mauk Kham in Naypyidaw on 31 August, and was granted observer status at meeting between the Peace-making Work Committee, the Karen National Union and the Shan State Army-South. It was also reported that he met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann. Nambiar was granted clearance to travel to the Kachin Independence Organisation stronghold of Laiza, a privilege that was not bestowed on the UN Human Rights Envoy Tomás Ojea Quintana only a week earlier. The Indian diplomat also travelled to central Burma's Meikhtila township where he met with religious leaders and visited IDP camps. It was in Meikhtila on August 19 that the UN envoy Quintana's convoy was attacked by a group of protestors. Nambiar is scheduled to hold a briefing about his trip to Burma when he attends the 68th UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Media unions call for journalism university Posted: 03 Sep 2013 12:22 AM PDT The Myanmar Journalists Network (MJN) has said it expects to meet with President Thein Sein soon when it will urge the government to open an international-standard journalism university. Previously, the president informally agreed to meet several press bodies including the MJN, the Myanmar Journalists Union, the Myanmar Journalists Association, and the Interim Press Council. Aung Thura, general secretary of the MJN, said his group – when afforded the chance to meet with Thein Sein – will urge him to open a university focused on journalism and officially recognised by the government. Currently, journalism courses are provided by NGOs and INGOs in Burma, but there is no official institution or curriculum covering the subject. Related Stories Media law unresolved in Parliament Ministry pledges to work with press council to address contentious media law Ministry of information, press council lock horns over draft bill "We will urge the president to open a journalism school in Burma as the Botathaung University pretty much only teaches propaganda which is not very much useful for journalists," said Aung Thura, referring to a government-backed institution that teaches journalism in Rangoon. "The media environment in Burma is not as developed as it should be as news agencies are resorting to hiring anyone that will work without much training." Pho Naing Linn, secretary of the Myanmar Journalists Association, said his group plans to raise the questions of media development and freedom of the press. "If we do get to meet him, we will ask him about the future of the media environment, about how much freedom will be provided. We currently only have a degree of freedom," he said.

ILO warns of ‘serious abuses’ in Thai fishing industry Posted: 02 Sep 2013 10:23 PM PDT The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Monday warned of “serious abuses” in the Thai fishing industry—a major global supplier—such as forced labour and violence. About 17 percent of the mainly undocumented Burmese and Cambodian fishermen surveyed by the ILO were forced to work under threat of financial penalty, violence or denunciation to the authorities, the UN agency said. Thailand—the world’s third largest fish exporter by value, with sales worth around $7 billion a year—is under international pressure to respond to reports of fishermen forced to work as virtual slaves under brutal conditions. “This study does find serious abuses within the sector. The vast majority of workers were in irregular status and thus more vulnerable to exploitation,” said ILO senior programme officer Max Tunon. While 10 percent of respondents reported being severely beaten on board boats, more than a quarter said they worked or were on call between 17 and 24 hours a day. The average wage was 6,483 baht (US$200) a month among the sample of 596 people, while only one of the migrant fishermen had a work permit. The survey found seven children under 15 years old, and 26 teenagers aged 15-17. Related Stories Social media fuels police crackdown on Shan migrants in Thailand Over 500 migrants returning from Malaysia seek jobs from govt Migrant school to teach Burmese curriculum in Thailand Conditions for fishermen on long-haul vessels were worse than for those who regularly returned to shore, the survey found, with a quarter reporting having been deceived or coerced into working at sea. Tunon said the study focused on those in short-haul boats, with those trapped at sea “in the worst conditions” not necessarily included. “It would be expected that if we interviewed just people at sea for a long period of time the picture would look worse,” he said. The report said the fishing industry as a whole—which includes lucrative fish and shrimp farming and packaging sectors—accounts for around 1.2 percent of Thailand’s economy. But declining fish stocks have pushed boats farther out to sea in search of catch, increasing their fuel costs. “With pressures on seafood suppliers to reduce costs by every means available, a race to the bottom on labour costs has been created for the Thai seafood industry,” the report said. “When coupled with the increased vulnerability of undocumented migrant workers to forced labour, an enabling environment for such abuses to become systematic now exists.” The ILO said an estimated 50,000 shortfall in the number of fishermen required by the industry was “both a cause and an effect of the abusive labour practices” in the sector. It said complications in the registration process hampered access to work permits, while there was “inadequate access to justice” for migrant fishermen, but noted that Thailand had introduced a number of new initiatives to try to coordinate its response to abuses in the sector. Both the European Union and United States, which are major markets for Thai seafood products, have vowed to jointly combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Thailand has languished towards the bottom of the annual US trafficking in person’s report and must improve its efforts on combating forced labour or face relegation next year—which could trigger cuts in non-humanitarian and non-trade American aid. International firms are also becoming more wary of association with suppliers who may use forced labour and trafficking, the ILO said. It cited a petition of almost 100,000 signatures demanding that Walmart adopt higher standards after the US retail giant was linked to a Thai seafood firm at the centre of accusations of “abusive labour practices”.

Burmese police uncover Naw Kham’s drugs stash Posted: 02 Sep 2013 08:00 PM PDT Burmese authorities claim to have discovered over US$1.3 million worth of methamphetamine tablets buried by the late drug kingpin Naw Kham near the Thai-Burma border. State media reported on Sunday that heavy rain in Tachilek, eastern Burma, had unearthed a blue container with 650,000 stimulant tablets inside. A police review later concluded that it had been buried a year and a half ago by the trafficking gang led by the drug warlord Naw Kham, who was executed by Chinese authorities in March after a high-profile and controversial trial. Naw Kham, known as the "Godfather of the Golden Triangle", led a notorious drug trafficking ring which smuggled vast quantities of methamphetamine and heroin from Burma's eastern Shan state to Thailand, Laos and China since the mid-1990s. The gang was broken up in early 2012 as part of a joint police operation conducted by China, Laos, Burma and Thailand. It followed the murders of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River, which was pinned on Naw Kham and his crew, although some reports have also implicated Thai security forces. Related Stories Tonnes of narcotics burned in Burma Burma delays ‘drug-free’ deadline as production surges Naw Kham shown on live TV in China before execution The Golden Triangle, where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet, has long been a transit route for illicit smuggling, including opium and heroin, and increasingly methamphetamine or "ya-ba" tablets. According to UN estimates, over 1.4 billion ya-ba tablets – worth over US$8.5 billion – are produced every year in the region for consumption across Asia. Despite repeated promises by the Burmese government to crack down on drug trafficking, Burma remains the largest exporter of opium – the main ingredient in heroin – in the world after Afghanistan. It is also the largest methamphetamine producer in the region.

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