Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Kachins say Burmese army provoked renewed hostilities
• Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma
• Thilawa residents draw lots for ‘substitute’ lands
• How political should art be?
• Burma’s police claim year’s biggest drugs bust
• Karenni army signs seven-point agreement with Burmese govt
• British PM backs Suu Kyi’s presidential bid

Kachins say Burmese army provoked renewed hostilities Posted: 24 Oct 2013 05:50 AM PDT The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) has reported renewed clashes with the Burmese army despite a preliminary peace deal agreed with the government just two weeks ago. The KIO said hostilities resumed on 15 October, causing the death of one child with two persons injured. According to the KIO's Peace-making Work Committee spokesperson Dau Kha, clashes resumed in the Kachin Independence Army's 4th Brigade territory in Bhamo district less than a week after the peace talks concluded in Kachin state capital Myitkyina. "There were about 10 battalions under the Burmese army's 21st Military Operation Command deployed for a so-called 'training exercise' in Bhamo district," he said. "We found the troops behaving unusually. But, as we were reaching out to them, they started deploying more troops to the frontlines, which led to engagements. "I can assure you there was no deliberate intention to engage on our part," said Dau Kha. He said one child was killed and two other individuals were injured and hospitalised in the clashes while some 1,000 internally displaced persons in Aungja camp were forced to flee their shelters as artillery shelling neared. Around 600 IDPs who were unable to flee were reportedly rounded up in a local church by the Burmese army. Related Stories Karenni army signs seven-point agreement with Burmese govt China defends human rights record at UN panel Western military engagement with Burma 'deeply' concerning "We are trying to contact directly the general staff officer of Northern Region Military Command to try to put an immediate end to the fighting," Dau Kha said, adding that the head of the government's Union Peace-making Work Committee, Minister Aung Min, has also been informed of the situation. The Kachin National Organisation condemned the government forces for clashing with the KIO, claiming it was violation of the peace agreement with the group. "We see that the clashes were not accidental but more a deliberate move by the Burmese army," said the KNO's Lashi Kaihtan. "Moreover, they have trapped many IDPs using artillery shelling – this is completely inhumane and signifies that the Burmese government is not sincere about peace."

Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma Posted: 24 Oct 2013 04:08 AM PDT Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has rejected allegations that an "ethnic cleansing" of Muslims is taking place in Burma. Speaking in an interview with the BBC on Thursday, the democracy icon responded to questions about a spate of communal clashes which have rippled through the country and appear to be increasingly targeting the country's Muslim minority. "It's not ethnic cleansing," she said. "What the world needs to understand [is] that the fear is not just on the side of the Muslims, but on the side of the Buddhists as well.” Almost 140,000 Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship in Burma, have been stranded in displacement camps in Arakan state since two bouts of clashes with local Buddhists last year. A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released in April accused security forces and extremist groups of committing crimes against humanity in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the minority. The violence has since spread to other parts of Burma, claiming 250 lives, including those of 20 Muslim children who were hacked to death by a Buddhist mob in Meikhtila in March. The unrest has been linked to the rise of an extremist Buddhist movement, called 969, which advocates for religious segregation in Burma. Its lead proponent, monk Wirathu, has likened Muslims to "mad dogs" and often been described as a hate preacher. “I condemn any movement that is based on hatred and extremism,” said Suu Kyi, but insisted that it is the government's responsibility to hold Wirathu to account. "Instead of asking us, the members of the opposition what we feel about it … you should ask the present government of Burma what their policy is." Suu Kyi also dismissed allegations that Muslims have borne the brunt of the violence, adding that "many, many" Buddhists are confined to refugee camps in Burma and abroad. Related Stories British PM backs Suu Kyi's presidential bid UN warns of 'profound crisis' in Arakan state Arakan CBOs demand halt to all natural resource extraction projects "The reaction of Buddhists is also based on fear," she said. "I think [you] will accept that there's a perception that global Muslim power is very great, certainly that is a perception in many parts of the world and in our country too." The Nobel laureate, who spent nearly two decades under house arrest, has come under fire for her perceived failure to condemn abuses against the Rohingyas, who are considered to be among the world's most persecuted minorities. Suu Kyi is currently on a diplomatic tour of the UK, where she has met with Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. On Thursday, she travelled to Northern Ireland for a brief visit, where she met with politicians and local school children. The opposition leader, who was released from house arrest in 2010, currently holds a seat in parliament and has expressed hopes of running for the presidency in 2015. Many analysts say she is reluctant to speak up for Muslims in Burma, because she fears losing her core electorate in the Buddhist-dominated country. “Burma now needs real change," she told the BBC. "We need to make our people confident that we truly are going to be a democratic society.”

Thilawa residents draw lots for ‘substitute’ lands Posted: 24 Oct 2013 03:05 AM PDT A ceremony was held on Wednesday in Rangoon's Thanlyin township as lots were drawn by local residents to give them substitute plots of land to compensate for those acquired to build the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The event was hosted by representatives of the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development at their office in Thanlyin. Sixty-eight residents drew lots for new plots of land on a replacement piece of real estate on 400 hectares of unused land nearby. The event was part of a scheme to compensate hundreds of villagers for the more than 2,000 hectares that was confiscated for the first phase of the industrial zone project. Than Than Thwe, the deputy-director of the department and joint-secretary of the Thilawa SEZ management committee, said the compensation that is being provided is in accordance with World Bank standards. Related Stories Tensions rise at Latpadaung Burma and Japan to boost development ties Fuji Electric opens Rangoon branch "The compensation scheme is based on three categories: house ownership, career and social welfare," she said. "If the overall income of a family is below the poverty line, then we also hand out bags of rice. "If the original land owner had a cow-breeding business on the land when it was confiscated, then we compensate with a cash payment equivalent to approximately three years' profit as well as compensation for any losses made selling their cows," she said. "Rice farmers are compensated with an amount equal to six years' profit. And for other crops, it is four years' profit," said Than Than Thwe, adding that employees forced to be absent from work during house relocations will be compensated with the same amount of pay they lost. Than Than Thwe said that the residents who drew lots on Wednesday received 25 x 50 ft plots in Myaing Tharyar ward, located alongside the Thanlyin-Kyaukta Road. Houses – 12 x 16 ft – will be built on each plot, she said, and will be constructed with zinc sheet roofs and bamboo walls. They will also be offered 150,000 kyat (US$150) for relocation expenses. She said the 400 hectares of land where the residents were evicted from was originally owned by the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development which acquired it in 1997 after providing compensation to the previous owners. She said the current residents who are seeking compensation had come in from elsewhere. Than Than Oo, a resident who received a substitute plot of land on Wednesday, said: "We are happy with the compensation since we didn't own the land. I have no other comment." An MoU for the first phase of the Thilawa SEZ project, a joint-venture between Burma (51 percent) and Japan (49 percent) was signed by the governments of the two countries in May 2013. The SEZ is expected to include a port and factories, as well as car manufacturing plants owned by major Japanese automobile firms.

How political should art be? Posted: 24 Oct 2013 01:41 AM PDT After more than five decades of censorship, the art scene is blooming in Burma and artists enjoy a newfound freedom. During military rule, art was used a way to express political messages and circumvent censorship laws. But today, now that censorship has been officially lifted, disagreement exists about the role art should play in society, and whether or not it should receive economic support from the government. This week's DVB Debate panellists are: poet and former political prisoner Saw Wai; poet Ma Ei; and Radio Free Asia programme producer Nyein Wai. Special guests include guitarist Ye Lwin and artist Myint Soe. The audience includes a variety of poets, writers, musicians, singers, painters, art critics, comedians and gallery owners. While Nyein Wai said that nothing is above art, Ma Ei countered that art and politics are inextricably intertwined. Saw Wai, who was imprisoned for a satirical poem he wrote about former dictator Than Shwe, said his artwork is driven by his political beliefs. "My guitar is my weapon, just like guns are their weapons," said musician Ye Lwin. He said he is inspired by the Beatles and is working for peace and love. What is art? (DVB Debate) Some of the artists from the audience opined that their art reflects the era in which it was created, while others expressed the opinion that artwork does not always have to reflect the political landscape. Art itself can stand alone without any political message or position, they said. "Politics is not complete without art, but I believe art can be successful without any relation to politics," said artist Khin Aung Aye. The panellists mostly disagreed on the funding of art. Nyein Wai said that the government should develop an art budget to support artists and encourage them to continue their work, but the other panellists thought this was unnecessary. Ma Ei said she would not want to work with any government project. Next week on DVB Debate: Can Burma really achieve peace in 2013? You can join in the debate and watch the full programme in Burmese at www.dvbdebate.com Or share your views with us by commenting on our website at http://www.dvb.no/category/dvb-debate Related Stories Young artists shine at Hong Kong contemporary art show Time to go home? Crony culture stands in our way, say Burmese youths

Burma’s police claim year’s biggest drugs bust Posted: 24 Oct 2013 12:45 AM PDT Burmese police said Thursday they had arrested a man with 133 kilos (293 pounds) of heroin worth $2 million at local prices – the country’s biggest seizure of the drug this year. The drugs were found on Sunday in Tachilek near the border with Thailand – a major destination for smuggled narcotics. “One man was arrested and three others are still at large,” a police official in the drugs control department told AFP. “It’s the biggest seizure of heroin this year,” he said on condition of anonymity. State media said the heroin was discovered in bags transported by motorcycle following a tip-off. Burmese, the world’s second-largest opium producer, in May pushed back by five years its goal of eliminating drug production, to 2019. That followed a rebound in poppy cultivation in the impoverished country, which is emerging from decades of military rule. Related Stories Burmese police uncover Naw Kham's drugs stash Tonnes of narcotics burned in Burma Burma delays ‘drug-free’ deadline as production surges Experts say production of amphetamine-type stimulants is also surging in Burmese. Earlier this month seven tonnes of caffeine – which is sometimes mixed with methamphetamine in pills – were seized near Tachilek, the police official said. The drugs trade is closely linked to Burmese’s long-running insurgencies in remote border areas, with ethnic minority rebels widely thought to use the profits to fund their operations.

Karenni army signs seven-point agreement with Burmese govt Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:02 PM PDT The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has signed a seven-point agreement with the government aimed at reaching a nationwide ceasefire in Burma. The deal includes provisions to facilitate all-inclusive political dialogue in Burma; form peace monitoring groups to maintain the ceasefire; make resettlement plans for ethnic Karenni IDPs; cooperate on demining activities in Karenni state; provide electricity to households in the region. The agreement was signed in Karenni state capital Loikaw on Wednesday at the conclusion of two days of negotiations between the ethnic armed group and the government's Union Peace-making Work Committee. Shwe Myo Thant, general secretary-2 of the KNPP, said, "We reached an agreement on plans to draw up a pilot project for the resettlement of IDPs, cooperation on demining, coordinating a government plan to improve and ensure Karenni people's livelihoods, and to provide a sufficient supply of electricity in the region." Related Stories Kachins say Burmese army provoked renewed hostilities Western military engagement with Burma 'deeply' concerning Karen rebels reject Rangoon bomb plot 'allegation' He said the meeting on Wednesday also included discussions on both armies reducing their number of troops in Karenni state, and the closing of military outposts that are "deemed burdens to the public". Following the third round of union-level talks between the two sides, Hla Maung Shwe of the Myanmar Peace Centre said bilateral relations had vastly improved. "I think it's reasonable to say that the Burmese military can meet 70 percent of the KNPP's demands," he said. "In my opinion, relations are much improved and the meeting proceeded in a friendly manner." The talks were attended by a five-person KNPP delegation led by its vice-chairman, Khu Oo Reh, while the government team was headed by President's Office Minister Aung Min. Meanwhile, The Karenni Civil Society Network held a workshop on land and natural resource management on 18-20 October at the Thai-Karenni border where 48 participants from 16 local civil society groups agreed on a framework to pursue a policy related to the extraction of natural resources in Karenni state. Provisions include a call to Burmese authorities to consult with local communities and provide transparency with regard to any project aimed at extracting natural resources, and a requirement that any company implementing a project in the region be responsible for any impacts and that it contributes to sustainable social development in the affected area.

British PM backs Suu Kyi’s presidential bid Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:40 PM PDT British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday he would help build international pressure on Burma to meet the demands of visiting opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for further reforms. Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi says that changes to the constitution crafted by the former military regime are needed, notably those that would block her from becoming president after 2015 under a clause barring anyone whose spouses or children are foreign nationals. Her two sons are British nationals through their father, the late scholar Michael Aris. Speaking at Downing Street as he welcomed Suu Kyi to his official residence, Cameron said Britain would press Burma to make the changes. Related Stories Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma Suu Kyi receives Sakharov Prize – 23 years later Suu Kyi reiterates call for constitutional amendments “It would be completely wrong for elections to be held under a constitution that really excludes one person, who happens to be the leader of democracy in Burma, to be excluded from the highest office in the land,” Cameron said. “Those would be no elections at all, in my view. Those would not be democratic elections, the constitution has to be changed in that way and in other ways.” Cameron added: “We will do everything we can to build the international pressure to send the clearest possible message to the Burmese government that these changes must be made.” On her second visit to Britain after her release from years of house arrest, Suu Kyi said that while there had been some progress, more reforms were needed in Burma. “The crucial issue at the moment is to make amendments to the constitution,” she said. “If the process of democratisation is to move forward, if it is to be sustainable, we have to amend the constitution to make it a democratic one, one that will ensure that the future of our society is going to be rooted in genuine democratic institutions.” Suu Kyi arrived in Britain on Wednesday after receiving the EU’s prestigious Sakharov human rights prize in Strasbourg on Tuesday. She will travel on to Northern Ireland on Thursday to see what lessons from the peace process there can be applied to Burma. Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest under military rule in Burma, before she was freed after controversial elections in 2010. The democracy icon is now an opposition lawmaker as part of sweeping reforms under a new quasi-civilian regime that took office in 2011. President Thein Sein, who took power in March 2011, has earned international plaudits and the removal of most western sanctions for reforms that include freeing hundreds of political prisoners detained under the former junta. But the military and its political allies remain in control of parliament while religious violence and the continued arrests of activists have tempered optimism about the political reforms.

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