Friday, February 28, 2014

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma

US lauds Burma’s improving human rights record

Posted: 28 Feb 2014 04:01 AM PST

In its annual human rights report released on Thursday, the US State Department noted marked decreases in abuses such as torture, disappearances and forced portering committed by Burmese government forces.

It also identified political prisoners, humanitarian access, and combatting corruption as areas where improvements had been made under the Thein Sein government.

"During the year [2013] the government's human rights record continued to improve, although authorities had not fully or consistently implemented legal and policy revisions at all levels, particularly in ethnic minority areas," the report read. "Observers reported marked decreases in systemic human rights abuses committed by the government, such as torture, disappearances, and the forced use of civilians to carry military supplies in some ethnic border areas."

US Secretary of State said that Burma was “slowly moving away – not just from dictatorship – but towards a more productive partnering with the United States and the international community.”

With regard to political prisoners, the US statement noted that on 6 February 2013, President Thein Sein announced the formation of a committee to identify and release political activists from behind bars. It said that by 31 December, the committee "had identified and released an estimated 330 political prisoners, bringing the total number of political prisoners released since reforms began to more than 1,100."

Bo Kyi of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) acknowledged the move, saying that only 31 political prisoners now remained in Burma. However, he said that food and medicine was inadequate in Burma's jails and noted that corruption was still widespread.

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The US report went on to say: "In addition, in January the government allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to all of the country's prisons and labor camps. The government also took significant steps to combat corruption, including the passage of anti-corruption legislation, firing of six high-ranking government officials for mismanagement or corruption, and taking administrative action against corrupt civil servants."

However, the praise for Naypyidaw's moves in allowing the ICRC access to prisons and labour camps comes at a time when the Burmese government has threatened to sever the operations of international relief group Médecins Sans Frontières, allegedly for a biased policy in distributing aid in favour of Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State, an accusation the French organisations denies.

With regard to gender and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community, the US report said that political reforms in Burma have "led to a more visible LGBT movement, including the formation of LGBT rights organizations and the first semipublic celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

However, Aung Myo Min, the founder and executive director of Human Rights Education Institute Burma, remarked that although the LGBT community could be described as "more visible" in the country, there were still laws in place which did not allow for equality and which endangered the lives and livelihoods of LGBT people.

The US excluded Burmese government progress in the specific area of Arakan State where, it said, a "continuing humanitarian and human rights crisis" had developed.

"Although the government provided some short-term humanitarian support to affected populations, it did little to address the root causes of the violence or to fulfill its 2012 pledge to take steps to provide a path for citizenship for the Rohingya population," the report said.

"Authorities in Rakhine [Arakan] State made no meaningful efforts to help Rohingya and other Muslim minority people displaced by violence to return to their homes and continued to enforce disproportionate restrictions on their movement. As a result, tens of thousands of internally displaced persons remained confined in camps and commonly were prevented by security forces from exiting in order to gain access to livelihoods, markets, food, places of worship, and other services.

"This policy further entrenched the increasingly permanent segregation of the Rohingya and Rakhine communities," it said. "There were credible reports of extrajudicial killings, rape and sexual violence, arbitrary detentions and torture and mistreatment in detention, deaths in custody, and systematic denial of due process and fair trial rights, overwhelmingly perpetrated against the Rohingya."

It also noted reports of local and state government and security officials, acting in conjunction with Rakhine and Rohingya criminal elements, smuggling and trafficking thousands of Rohingya out of the country, often for profit.

Despite accusing Burmese government security forces of involvement in extrajudicial killings, rape, and torture, particularly in ethnic minority areas, the US noted that "fewer allegations were reported than in previous years".

BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 28 February 2014

Posted: 28 Feb 2014 03:36 AM PST

 

Ups and downs

The selling rate for Burmese currency strengthened slightly this week from 983 kyat to the US dollar to 981 kyat. The buying rate is stable at 981 kyat to the US currency. The price of gold is down to 684,700 kyat per tical, a decrease of some 1,300 kyat from the week before. Fuel remains constant: petrol 820 kyat, diesel 950 kyat, and octane 920 kyat per litre. High-quality Pawhsanmwe rice is still selling at Rangoon marketplaces for 1,200–1300 kyat per basket while low-grade Emata rice sells at 850– 900 kyat.

 

Japanese firm plans shopping mall for Rangoon

Japan's Aeon Co plans to open a shopping mall in Rangoon by 2016, according to a report in Kyodo News. The retailing giant says it will set up a representative office in March to lay the groundwork for its launch. Aeon owns no less than 157 shopping centres in Japan and around the world, including operations in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Aeon is also building its first shopping mall in Cambodia, which is scheduled to open in June.

 

Inflation rate doubles in first half of 2013-14

Inflation in Burma has doubled in the first six months of the 2013-14 fiscal year, in relation to the 2012-13 figure. According to a report by parliamentary body the Public Accounts Joint Committee, inflation has risen from 2.85 percent to 5.77 percent. Joint committee member Win Than urged the government to control inflation by stabilising currency rates as commodity prices rise.

 

Burma's 8th domestic airline takes to the skies

Mandalay-based Mann Yatanarpon is the 8th and newest player in Burma's domestic airline industry. As of Thursday, the airline began services to Rangoon, Nyaung Oo, Heho, Tachilek, Kengtung and Myitkyina via new propeller-driven ATR 72-600 aircraft, built in France. Kyaw Myo, CEO of Mann Yatanarpon, told Eleven Media that the service is designed for international travellers flying directly into Mandalay. The seven domestic airlines already operating are: Myanma Airways, Air Mandalay, Air KBZ, GMA, Yangon Airways, Air Bagan and Asian Wings.

 

Singaporean firm powers ahead in Mon State

Singaporean company Asiatech Energy has obtained a loan from the United Overseas Bank to build a 230-megawatt power plant in Mon State. The combined cycle gas-fired power plant is expected to produce enough electricity to supply close to five million people. Asiatech Energy expects the project to be finished by next year, and to cost an estimated US$170m. Gas-fired power plants are relatively uncommon in Burma. Hydroelectric dams produce 70 percent of the country's energy.

 

CB Bank to open in Chin State

The Co-operative Bank Ltd, better known across the country as CB Bank, is set to open a new branch in Hakha, Chin State, next month. It will be the first private bank to provide financial services in the state capital, currently only served by government-owned Myanma Economic Bank. The CB Bank, headquartered in Rangoon, has now over 70 branches with ATM services and also runs Foreign Exchange Counters across the country.

 

Burmese airline gets its wings

Burma's national carrier, Myanmar Airways International (MAI), launched its first charter flight from Pusan, South Korea, to Rangoon last week. MAI began charter flight services operating as a code share with Korean Air as well as Asiana Airlines last year. Aye Mra Tha, MAI's marking executive said, "We have airbuses with a 120 and 180-seat capacity, available for the charter flights depending on the number of passengers." The MAI currently operates daily flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Gaya, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

 

Chevrolet and Toyota to open showrooms in Rangoon

Japanese car manufacturer Toyota is set to open a showroom in Rangoon, making early inroads into the new car market in Burma. Toyota joins fellow Japanese car companies Mitsubishi and Suzuki and US companies Ford and General Motors, who already have exclusive showrooms in Burma's financial capital. According to Bloomberg, Toyota sees Burma as one of a series of emerging global markets for new cars. Currently, used vehicle sales currently account for 90 percent of the retail car market in Burma. President Zaw Moe Khine of Pacific Alpine Pte Ltd, Chevrolet's sole distributor in Burma, said that, in addition to sales, the firm will also provide maintenance service and spare parts.

 

Thai mobile company True to enter Burma

Thai telecommunications company True Corp plans to bring its mobile phone service to Burma, Reuters reported on Wednesday. True currently provides mobile coverage in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, and plans to create a joint venture with Burmese internet service provider Yatanarpon Teleport (YTP). YTP is a joint venture between 13 private firms as well as the Burmese government. True is listed on the Thai stock exchange and is owned by Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont.

 

Fishing industry rues year 'that got away'

Fish exports haven't seen the same upward trajectory as other sectors in Burma this year. While a forward estimate of the export value of fish from Burma was placed at US$700m for the 2013-14 financial year, the Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) said only $451m has been generated in the first 10 months of the year, $84m short of last year's figure as of the 10-month mark. MFF cites a lack of infrastructure and investment shortfall as contributing factors to the downturn in export value.

 

ASEAN Rice Federation in the works

Five ASEAN member states, including Burma, have agreed to establish a regional Rice Federation, according to Soe Tun, joint-secretary of Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). Plans for an ASEAN Rice Federation (ARF) began in November last year when agricultural ministers and industry leaders from Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia convened in Bangkok. The concerned officials finalised an agreement last weekend in Rangoon.

Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/asean-rice-federation-in-the-works-burma-myanmar/37758

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NLD eyes closer relations with China

Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:34 AM PST

Top officials from Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), met with representatives of China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Rangoon on Wednesday.

A delegation of officials led by Vice-minister Ai Ping of the CPC's International Department and Ambassador to Burma Yang Houlan met with NLD patron Tin Oo and Central Information Committee officials Nyan Win and Aye Kyu at the party's headquarters in Bahan, Rangoon.

"The CPC expressed hope that China – thanks to political reform in Burma – can now directly and openly engage with the NLD, unlike in the past. They are looking to increase relations with us," said NLD delegate Aye Kyu.

"We agree with them and are delighted to re-establish communication with China, having had no engagement with them under the [Burmese] military regime."

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Aye Kyu told DVB that the NLD had enjoyed favourable relations with China up until the early 90s. China's then ambassador to Burma was the first diplomatic official to meet with and congratulate the NLD after winning the elections of 1990. However the Chinese regime's allegiance shifted after that point, going on to become the number one trading partner with the military regime.

Recently, China's reputation in Burma has suffered amidst criticism of the actions of Chinese firms operating in conjunction with the Burmese government, notably the Myitsone dam and Latpadaung copper mining projects.

The NLD officials said the meeting with the Chinese delegation on 26 February did not include discussion about the projects. Instead, the meeting focused solely on increased engagement between the two parties, the countries and their populations.

Since Thein Sein's civilian government ushered in political and economic reform, the Chinese government has invited leaders from across the Burmese political spectrum to visit China. The NLD has been invited to China on four such occasions.

Currently, China is looking to host NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Both the CPC and the NLD are working on a convenient date for her visit.

MSF face expulsion from Burma

Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:51 PM PST

Burmese government officials have told DVB that international relief group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will not be allowed to extend its contract for operations in the country as a punitive measure for misinforming the international community over incidents in Arakan State's Duchira Dan last month.

Presidential spokesman and deputy information minister Ye Htut told DVB on Thursday that MSF's memorandum of understanding (MoU) expired in January 2013 but they had been permitted to continue operations while negotiating an extension.

He said the government has decided not to extend the MoU as the group's activities were seen as "detrimental to regional stability", referring to recent incidents in Duchira Dan [also written Du Char Yar Tan], where, he asserted, the MSF had made "unsupported" claims about treating victims with gunshot and knife wounds.

"In the most recent Duchira Dan incident, the MSF not only wrote to the Rakhine State government to claim they had treated 15 victims with gunshot and slash wounds but they also announced this to the international community," said Ye Htut. "In response, the regional and central governments asked MSF to arrange a meeting between officials and the persons they allegedly treated."

Earlier this month, DVB reported that the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission had concluded an inquiry into an alleged massacre of more than 40 Rohingya Muslims in Maungdaw's Duchira Dan-West village, saying it has found no solid evidence of any massacre or incident taking place.

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However, in a statement to DVB on 7 February, MSF said that it had treated 22 persons from the Rohingya-populated village, although it could not confirm any fatalities.

"We can confirm that our staff treated 22 patients in the area near Du Char Yar Tan [Duchira Dan] village from a variety of violence-related injuries in the days after 14 January," said MSF Myanmar Head of Mission Peter-Paul de Groote.

However, Ye Htut claimed on Thursday that MSF were unable to provide any evidence to their claim, apart from saying that their information was based on reports by their local staff.

"Not only did they fail to take responsibility for their statement, the MSF did not retract it after inquiries revealed there were no injuries," he said.

"We made the decision not to extend MSF's MoU as we see that their activities, instead of offering assistance in the region, are fuelling tensions and are detrimental to the rule of law."

Several protests have been staged by Buddhist Arakanese residents in the western Burmese state, demanding that the European relief group and other INGOs be evicted from the region because of their alleged "bias" in favour of the Rohingya minority.

MSF have consistently denied that their aid and assistance is biased, and say they provide all necessary treatment to those in need regardless of race or religion.

Arakan State government information officer Oo Hla Thein said that MSF was informed on Wednesday of the decisions by the Health and Home Affairs ministries not to extend their MoU.

"We have informed MSF of the decisions taken by the union-level ministries – the Ministry of Health is to not extend their MoU; and the Ministry of Home Affairs will not extend their registration under the Law Relating to the Forming of an Organisation (Association Law)," he said.

However, MSF's De Groote told DVB on Thursday that his group had not been notified of any such decision, and said that the organisation was in discussions with the Ministry of Health “to finalise our MoU".

Ye Htut said rejecting MSF was a "hard decision" to make, but that the Burmese government has no plan to change their policy on cooperating with international organisations for humanitarian aid in the future.

MSF have been operating in Burma since 1992 under an MoU with the Ministry of Health. The internationally acclaimed group have been providing healthcare in Arakan, Kachin and Shan states, as well as programmes across the country offering antiretroviral treatment to around 30,000 HIV patients.
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