Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Syria’s weapons monitors win Nobel Peace Prize
• Burma’s draft broadcasting law fuels censorship concerns
• Chinese controversy surrounds Miss Universe Myanmar
• Thein Sein assumes the ASEAN helm
• China’s Li cherishes ‘fraternal friendship’ with Burma
• NLD lawyer fined for ballot tampering allegations

Syria’s weapons monitors win Nobel Peace Prize Posted: 11 Oct 2013 05:19 AM PDT The Netherlands-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was on Friday awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. Formed in April 1997, the OPCW has over 189 member countries and 500 staff. Although it is not a UN agency, the OPCW has worked closely with the UN and western governments in a recent program to identify and destroy the Syrian government's stock of chemical weapons after an agreement brokered by Russian premier Vladimir Putin convinced Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to hand over his chemical weapons stockpile to international inspectors. The OPCW beat high-profile nominees including 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai, a promoter of women's rights and education who was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan; US intelligence leakers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning; and Denis Mukwege, a doctor from DR Congo. Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, Phil Robertson, reacted to news of the award by calling on Burma to follow al-Assad in ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention. "Chemical weapons pose a grievous rights threat to mankind, so why is Myanmar [Burma] one of the hold-out nations in the world that has still not ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)?" he said. "The award of the Nobel Prize to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons once again highlights how far Myanmar is from fulfilling international norms, despite the government's rhetoric of reform. President Thein Sein should immediately send the CWC to the parliament for ratification, and lawmakers should act quickly to bring Myanmar into line with international action against these abhorrent weapons." Related Stories Burma denies using chemical weapons in Kachin Thein Sein and the Nobel Peace Prize Thein Sein tipped for Nobel peace prize

Burma’s draft broadcasting law fuels censorship concerns Posted: 11 Oct 2013 05:17 AM PDT A draft of Burma's highly-anticipated broadcasting law, which will pave the way for private enterprises including DVB to broadcast legally in the country for the first time, contains several troubling provisions that could restrict press freedom, media analysts have warned. The latest version of the legislation, which is set to be discussed in parliament later this year, includes a number of restrictions that could be exploited by the government in order to stifle dissent, according to the watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF). Private broadcasters are to be regulated by two bodies, known as the Authority and the Council, who will have the power to financially penalise and revoke licences from groups deemed to have violated the law.  Speaking to DVB on Thursday, Benjamin Ismaïl, head of the Asia-Pacific desk at RSF raised particular concern about the role of the 13-member Authority, which he described as a "government controlled body" that will mainly be composed of state ministers, including the Director of the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare. A Swedish broadcaster, who also reviewed the draft on behalf of DVB, questioned the Authority's "strange composition" adding that the law's "dubious wording" seemed to imply that it could have "quite a lot of power" even though it is not meant to be able to influence the decisions of the Council. Ismaïl added that the Council, which is meant to be independent but whose members will be selected by President Thein Sein based on recommendations made by the military-dominated parliament, is also open to political manipulation. "The members can clearly be selected for their allegiance to the [government] and there's a risk [that it will influence] the political orientation of the Council," he said.  Aye Chan Naing, executive director at DVB, noted that under the proposed structure any ruling party would effectively control the broadcast media. "These two bodies are the key decision-making bodies for all broadcast media and it should be free from government and single political party direct control," he said. Ismaïl also identified the imposition of crippling financial penalties, potentially reaching millions of kyats, as an issue that could asphyxiate the media unless rates were capped according to an organisation's size and income. A law further bans "foreign citizens" from assuming senior management positions or owning more than 30 percent of shares in a broadcasting company. Article 53 prohibits cross-ownership of private newspapers and broadcast media, but fails to elaborate on the legal status of new media technologies. Ismaïl points out that it raises questions for Burma's first internet radio service, 7Online, which is currently operating without any formal licence from the government. "Online media will only expand as internet penetration increases," he said. He added that banning cross-ownership, which would require multimedia organisations to obtain separate licences for TV and radio, is only one possible way to avoid the concentration of certain voices in the broadcast media. "If the government truly encourages pluralism there are many other methods." Related Stories Comedians enjoy new-found freedom DVB Debate: Is Burma ready for total press freedom? Local films look to return to the silver screen Another worrying provision is found in Article 77, which stipulates that a broadcasting code should be developed in accordance with "religious and ethical values". In January, Burma's first sex education magazine was banned by the government for reportedly offending the country's moral values, despite provoking criticism from free speech campaigners. The new law is set to end decades of tight-fisted state control over the broadcast industry in Burma, and is the latest in a string of new legislations affecting the country's nascent media landscape. But many of the laws currently being pushed through parliament, including themedia law and the printing and publishing law, have been derided by observers as an attemptto resurrect censorship in the former military dictatorship. Activists say the government has systematically excluded civil society and media voices from the drafting process, and often overruled any objections when the bills have reached parliament. Both the media law and the printing and publishing law are set to be approved by the union parliament during this current session. Burma presently ranks 151 out of 179 on RSF's annual press freedom index.

Chinese controversy surrounds Miss Universe Myanmar Posted: 11 Oct 2013 03:25 AM PDT Controversy swirled around the new Miss Universe Myanmar, Moe Set Wine, once again following media reports in China that reveal she was the runner-up in the Miss Chinese International contest in 2009 under the name Yang Xinrong. Moe Set Wine leapt to fame on the evening of 3 October when she was crowned winner of the Miss Universe Myanmar 2013, the first time the event had been held in Burma for 52 years. But within a week of winning the prize, she became the target of criticism on Burmese social media for appearing at a public event alongside Nay Shwe Thway Aung, the grandson of former Burmese dictator Than Shwe. In response to the criticism, she held a press conference denying any connection with Nay Shwe Thway Aung. Related Stories Miss Universe winner ‘feels like a soldier’ Following this week's revelation that she has competed as a Chinese beauty contestant, DVB contacted her for comment, but she was unavailable. An official from Hello Madam, the agency that organised the Miss Universe Myanmar 2013 competition, said she was busy training for the Miss Universe pageant which will be held in Moscow next month. Chan Linn Thu, the media officer at the agency, said the pageant Moe Set Wine contested in 2009 was not a Chinese event but a Burmese event hosted in Rangoon. "It was not held in China but at the Sedona Hotel in Rangoon for the anniversary of the International Traders Association in 2009," said Chan Linn Thu, adding that the controversy was created by a small group of individuals attempting to damage the credibility of his agency.

Thein Sein assumes the ASEAN helm Posted: 11 Oct 2013 02:25 AM PDT In a symbolic handover ceremony on Thursday, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah handed the gavel representing the chairmanship of next year’s ASEAN meetings to Burma's President Thein Sein. “At [this] time, our citizens and the entire world are watching closely on us,” Thein Sein said in an address to Southeast Asian and other world leaders. “It is extremely crucial for us to show unity and full feeling of our common objectives." Many see the ASEAN chair as an opportunity for Burma to move forward with democratic transition and improve its relations with the international community. Related Stories China's Li cherishes 'fraternal friendship' with Burma The ASEAN chair – an important opportunity Critics question Burma’s readiness to assume ASEAN chair Over the next year the country will host world leaders at more than 1,000 summits, conferences and meetings. "Peace and fundamental ideas [will] formulate the theme of the 2014 chairmanship as [will] moving forward in unity towards a peaceful and prosperous community," said Thein Sein. But the country lacks basic infrastructure and suffers constant power cuts; hosting world leaders, their delegations and international media could be a logistical nightmare. Despite recent peace talks in Kachin state earlier this week, ethnic conflicts and religious violence are ongoing. It appears that Burma still has a long way to go to prove itself deserving of the ASEAN gavel  – but those in power will be eager to hammer home the fact that they represent a reformed government.

China’s Li cherishes ‘fraternal friendship’ with Burma Posted: 11 Oct 2013 01:52 AM PDT Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that China cherishes the “Paukphaw” (fraternal) friendship between the peoples of China and Burma and is committed to developing bilateral relations, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Speaking to Burmese President Thein Sein on the sidelines on the 16th leaders' meeting between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Li reportedly said that China is ready to "seize the major trend" when dealing with bilateral relations, improve pragmatic cooperation in various fields with Burma and constantly instill new vitality into bilateral good-neighbourly and friendly cooperation. According to Xinhua, the Chinese leader said that China "supports Myanmar’s [Burma's] efforts in pushing forward the domestic peace process, and is willing to work with Myanmar to maintain stability along the border." Thein Sein is quoted by the Chinese news agency as saying that Burma "appreciates China’s support" and is ready to work closely with China to further develop a "bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership". In a week when Burma assumed the gavel of the ASEAN chairmanship, Thein Sein said his government was "willing to play a greater role in promoting ASEAN-China ties", the report said. Related Stories Thein Sein assumes the ASEAN helm The ASEAN chair – an important opportunity Critics question Burma’s readiness to assume ASEAN chair

NLD lawyer fined for ballot tampering allegations Posted: 10 Oct 2013 07:58 PM PDT Burma‘s opposition spokesman said Thursday he had been fined for a statement he made claiming that ballot sheets were tampered with in landmark by-elections that saw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party enter parliament last year. Nyan Win, who is also the lawyer for democracy champion Suu Kyi, said a court in the capital Naypyidaw had given him a choice of paying 1,000 kyats (about a dollar) or spending a month in prison after the verdict. He added that he had chosen the fine. “I am not guilty so I am going to appeal,” the 70-year-old told AFP. Related Stories Ninety percent of Karen locals want constitution changed: survey Suu Kyi says NLD's 25-year struggle was worth it NUP calls for constitution to be amended, not re-written Last year Nyan Win complained that a thin layer of wax had been put over check boxes for candidates of his National League for Democracy (NLD) party, meaning that marks made on the wax could later be rubbed off to cancel the vote. The claim was roundly denied by the country’s Election Commission, which submitted a complaint about the allegation to the Naypyidaw court. Nyan Win was convicted under Section 182 of the penal code, which makes it an offence to give false information to a public servant. Suu Kyi’s party went on to win 43 of the 44 constituencies where it fielded candidates, giving Suu Kyi her first ever seat in parliament. The authorities have said a subsequent investigation by the Election Commission found no evidence of ballot tampering. A 2010 general election, won by the military’s political proxies, was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and the exclusion of Suu Kyi. She was released from seven straight years of house arrest shortly afterwards. Since then, the new quasi-civilian government has pursued a series of dramatic political reforms that have been praised by the international community and have seen most western sanctions scrapped.

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