Democratic Voice of Burma

---

• Japan to help build up Bagan
• Hundreds flee as census-related clashes break out in Kachin
• Zaw Pe’s lawyer to launch appeal
• Election Commission curbs Suu Kyi’s campaign trail
• Free Zaw Pe
• Burmese migrants assume false identities to work in Thailand

Japan to help build up Bagan Posted: 11 Apr 2014 04:36 AM PDT Japan's extensive development portfolio in Burma has reached the tourist capital of Bagan, with a 10 April agreement to help develop tourism infrastructure over the next three years. The Japan International Cooperation Association (JICA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Burma's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism on Thursday, pledging technical assistance for development in the ancient city and archeological zone until 2017. Bagan, in central Burma's Mandalay Division, is one of the country's most magnetic tourist attractions. The area is home to more than 2,000 temples and pagodas built during the Pagan Dynasty between the 10th and 14th centuries. The site has not achieved UNESCO World Heritage site status, largely thought to be because of poor restoration work undertaken by the military junta in the 1990s. JICA, an independent agency that oversees official development assistance for the Japanese government, has a hand in almost every developmental pot in Burma. Japan is Burma's largest foreign aid donor, having pledged approximately US$1.5 billion in assistance since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in 2012. Related Stories Tavoy locals vow to step up land grab protests BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY The battle for Burma's crowded skies Japan has pledged assistance in various sectors, including an 8 billion yen (US$78.5 million) health package and myriad infrastructure projects. JICA has announced plans to draft a comprehensive 30-year master plan for Burma's former capital and financial centre, Rangoon, similar to a plan devised to urbanise the Lao capital of Vientiane. The agency has also been an advocate for the development of deregulated trade hubs in Burma, serving an advisory role for Burma's legislature as they drafted the country's first Special Economic Zone Law, passed by Burma's newly formed parliament in January 2011, just before a wave of reforms swept the country. Among the principal prospectors in Burma's new deregulated zones, Japanese companies have thus far placed bids on several manufacturing opportunities in the Thilawa SEZ, primarily for car manufacturing, with Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota all submitting tenders. In October 2013, JICA concluded a survey of southeastern Burma which recommended the development of additional infrastructure connecting the Dawei SEZ in southern Tenasserim Division with Thilawa. JICA's report met with criticism from civil society groups, who rejected claims that planning was inclusive of the region's many ethnic minority voices. Japan is Burma's tenth largest investor, having channeled more than US$300 million into the private sector by the end of 2013.

Hundreds flee as census-related clashes break out in Kachin Posted: 11 Apr 2014 04:35 AM PDT Fierce fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese government forces in Mansi Township has forced hundreds of Kachin IDPs and villagers to seek sanctuary in Namhkam and at the Burma-China border. No casualties have yet been announced. Lamai Gum Ja, a mediator in ongoing peace talks, said hostilities broke out on Thursday morning in Lagatyang and Nantlon in Bhamo District as Burma's military forces were sent in to accompany enumerators conducting a census in the area. "We have confirmation that clashes occurred on Thursday and also again this [Friday] morning after government troops moved into the area on the pretext of the census," he told DVB. He said that by Friday morning, the government troops had spread to the hamlets of Nawnglon and Lwehkawche, forcing villagers at nearby displacement camps to flee in fear to the Burma-China border. "If this situation persists, it may lead to the collapse of the entire peace process," he concluded. Hundreds of other internally displaced persons (IDPs) and villagers reportedly fled to Namkham in northern Shan State. Related Stories UN's Nambiar urges greater KIO commitment to peace as battles rage in Kachin Seven Red Shan allegedly abducted by KIA ICRC office opens in Myitkyina Sai Hseng Wan, chairman of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) in Namhkam, said hundreds of people had evacuated the villages of Manswam, Kaungnawng and Kunchai after heavy shelling in the area, and had taken refuge in Namhkam. He said the SNDP called an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon to coordinate relief supplies for the IDPs. Speaking to DVB on Friday, Presidential spokesman Ye Htut, the government's deputy information minister, said: "So far, we have not received details of any clashes. However the census operations have been going smoothly. The polls were completed in Shan State, but there are some areas left [for census-taking] in Kachin State." Neither the KIA not its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation, was available for comment. On Friday, Free Burma Rangers, which conducts mobile medical operations in the region, reported that more than 1,800 people had been displaced in Thursday and Friday's fighting. "On 10 April 2014, the Burma Army launched infantry attacks, supported with mortar fire, against Kachin Independence Army positions in the La Gat Yang and Man Win areas along the Kachin-Shan border southwest of Namhkam town. The attacks lasted from 10:00 until 20:00 hours," its report read. Kachinland News also reported the assault, saying that government forces launched multiple offensives on KIA positions near the Burma-China border. Again, the Burmese government's policy of ensuring that its national census was conducted, even in rebel-controlled areas, was seen as instrumental in the decision to secure a hold in the Mansi Township villages. "About 1,000 Burmese army troops arrived last week in Man Win Gyi area in Kachin-Shan border and threatened KIA local officers to allow [the] census in KIA-controlled territories or face a military action," said Kachinland News. However, Burma's state-run media resolved to view the situation through a somewhat rosier lens: "As part of the nationwide census-taking process, the census enumerators are carrying out their tasks with the help of the armed forces in some regions that face some difficulties in Kachin and northern Shan states," reported the New Light of Myanmar on Thursday. The Burmese authorities maintain that the national census, the first in over 30 years, has been a success; however, a lack of access to conflict zones and a debacle over the counting of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State has cast doubts over the accuracy of the population count.

Zaw Pe’s lawyer to launch appeal Posted: 11 Apr 2014 02:53 AM PDT   The lawyer representing jailed DVB reporter Zaw Pe announced on Thursday that he will launch an appeal against the sentence to a higher court. "In the capacity of his defence lawyer, I will appeal against the sentence to a higher court," said Thein Tun, Zaw Pe’s counsel. Speaking to DVB staff and other local reporters in Magwe on Thursday, Thein Tun explained the incident that some are calling proof of Burma’s “backslide” on media reform. On 7 April Zaw Pe and a father of a student, Win Min Hlaing, were sentenced to one year imprisonment for trespassing and disturbing a civil servant after they visited the Magwe Division Education Department to conduct an interview. "Zaw Pe went to a public area and took photos. This does not constitute physical harassment. The officials themselves stated that there was no verbal harassment either," he said. Win Kyi from Magwe Division's Journalists Association was also present at the discussion and said Zaw Pe's sentence reveals corruption in Burma's legal system. "The sentencing indicates that the judicial sector is being interfered by the executive sector," he said. DVB's Burma Bureau Chief, Toe Zaw Latt said DVB would keep campaigning for Zaw Pe's release. "We are concerned that the government authorities will continue to use these laws against journalists who ask questions they don't like. Therefore we will keep campaigning and building a case," he said. Related Stories Free Zaw Pe Zaw Pe transferred to Thayet prison DVB reporter jailing prompts doubts over Burma's press freedom DVB is also planning to organise a protest with members from other media organisations after the Thingyan Water Festival. On Thursday, staff from DVB gathered at Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon to pray for Zaw Pe's release, wearing t-shirts with the slogan, "Stop media oppression". Fellow reporter Aung Soe Htike said Zaw Pe's sentencing is unjust. "The jailing has brought up a lot of questions about Burma's media freedom. Zaw Pe went to a public area to conduct an interview and was prosecuted for disturbing a civil servant and trespassing, which we see as a big threat to media freedom," he said. On 8 April, the day after Zaw Pe's sentencing, DVB reporters in Mandalay gathered at the Aungdawmu Pagoda for a similar prayer ceremony.

Election Commission curbs Suu Kyi’s campaign trail Posted: 11 Apr 2014 01:46 AM PDT The director of Burma's official electoral body, the Union Election Commission (UEC), told DVB on Thursday that plans are in motion to change the regulations for election campaigning so that candidates may only campaign in their respective constituencies. He said the new regulation would also prohibit fellow party members or party leaders from campaigning in a constituency on another candidate's behalf. The move will undoubtedly be seen by Burma watchers as an attempt to rein in opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has led the campaign for her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), across the country during previous elections. Burma's next general election is scheduled for late 2015. "Regarding election campaigning, we are looking to introduce a new directive to revise the regulation that previously allowed individuals appointed by election candidates to campaign in constituencies on their behalf," said UEC director Thaung Hlaing. "This will make the procedure more compact and ensure free and fair elections." He said that several amendments on electoral bylaws and regulations, including a curb on the allocated period for campaigning, will be officially announced in the near future after meetings with political parties. Related Stories Win Tin ‘speaking clearly’ and ‘working’ as condition improves in hospital: NLD Suu Kyi to visit Germany, France Suu Kyi listens to land grab victims Thu Wai, chairman of the Democratic Party-Myanmar, criticised the UEC's revision of regulations, insisting it is completely normal for party leaders to campaign in support of their candidates. "It is the responsibility of party leaders to assist their candidates' campaigns in constituencies across the country – this is how it has been done in the past, based on our experience with elections," he said. NLD central executive committee member Win Myint told DVB that he believes this new regulation will damage the election's credibility. "If this new regulation is approved [by the UEC], the 2015 elections will not be free and fair – this makes it obvious the authorities are already looking to play dirty," said Win Myint. During the 2012 by-elections, NLD leader Suu Kyi travelled across the country to campaign for her party's candidates running for seats in 44 constituencies. The NLD won 43 of the by-election polls; Suu Kyi herself was elected in the southwestern Rangoon constituency of Kawhmu. The UEC announced less than two weeks ago that it also planned to curb the campaign period for by-elections scheduled to take place later this year. Tin Aye, the UEC chairman, told DVB that the Commission will cut the time period for campaigning at the upcoming by-elections from its current duration of three months; however, he said it had not been decided yet what the new campaign period would be. "Political parties often voice the opinion that the time allowed for election campaigns is rather short. However this is not the case compared to other countries – for example in Malaysia, they only allow two weeks' campaigning whereas we currently allow three months," he said. "We are planning to curb the amount of time allowed for campaigning as we believe the longer the period, the more violence there will be." For more background: https://www.dvb.no/news/general-election-will-be-nov-dec-2015-says-ec-chairman-burma-myanmar/38722

Free Zaw Pe Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:39 PM PDT Zaw Pe has been a DVB undercover VJ since 2007  Name: Zaw Pe [also spelt Zaw Phay]  Sentence: One year  Prison: Thayet  Age: 40  Occupation: DVB VJ  Arrest date: 24 August 2012  Sentence date: 7 April 2014   On 7 April 2014, Zaw Pe and Win Myint Hlaing were sentenced each to one year in jail, and later transported to Thayet prison in Magwe division. In August 2012, video journalist Zaw Pe and Win Myint Hlaing,a father of a student, were charged with trespassing and disturbing a civil servant after they visited the Magwe Division Education Department to conduct an interview about a Japanese-funded scholarship programme. Zaw Pe was released on bail in September 2012, after having paid a 10 million kyat bond (amounting to US$11,494 in 2012). Zaw Pe has worked for DVB as an undercover VJ since 2007. He is a former political prisoner, having partially served a three year prison sentence in 2010 for shooting video without a license. Reactions to DVB VJ Zaw Pe's jailing: US Campaign for Burma: “Zaw Pe’s unjust sentencing is a severe blow to press freedom in Burma. The Burmese government is actively backsliding on its high-profile media reforms by tightening restrictions on domestic and foreign media through law, censorship, and devious surveillance practices. The Burmese government should unconditionally release Zaw Pe, end the practice of politically arresting and charging journalists, and build a legal atmosphere in which being a journalist is not a criminal act.” Burma Campaign UK: "The jailing of Zaw Pe is the latest step in what appears to be a ‎concerted effort to intimidate and restrict the media. There is serious backsliding on media freedom and there needs to be a very robust response from the international community." US Embassy Rangoon: "The sentence given to Zaw Pe sends the wrong message to the international community and local journalists on the Union Government's commitment to sustaining freedom of expression and to political reform." UK Embassy Rangoon: "We are concerned by the jailing this week of DVB reporter Zaw Pe in Magway. Media freedoms are an essential element of democracy, and it is important that they are protected." Committee to Protect Journalists: "Today’s conviction of journalist Zaw Pe is the latest indication that Burma’s once-promising democratic reform program is rapidly being reversed. With at least five journalists now in jail, President Thein Sein’s vows to uphold press freedom ring increasingly hollow. We call for the immediate release of all reporters being held in Burma.” Human Rights Watch: "Zaw Pe's sentencing is another reprehensible example of the government's recidivism on press freedoms, pulling out military era provisions to intimidate the media. Unfortunately the national level parliament is failing to repeal these petty provisions utilised by capricious local officials and is instead drafting laws that will intimidate the press and curtail their ability to investigate corruption and malfeasance." Democratic Voice of Burma: "DVB is confident that reporter Zaw Pe (a.k.a. Thura Thet Tin) was fulfilling his responsibility as a news reporter to inquire about a scholarship programme at the Magwe Township Education Department, which was in the public interest and therefore completely denounce his sentencing." "Despite all the government officials' pledges of press reform, we believe the jailing of Zaw Pe is an obstacle to media freedom in the country, and we call for the unconditional release of the reporter and his co-defendant." You can join the calls to free Zaw Pe by using the hashtags #FreeZawPhay and #FreeBurmaVJ

Burmese migrants assume false identities to work in Thailand Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:45 PM PDT Some Burmese migrant workers have been assuming new identities in a bid to return to work in Thailand after completing the four years of employment they are entitled to, a source from a labour NGO says. More than 150,000 workers are required to return to their home countries after having worked in Thailand for four years. They must also legally wait at least three before they can return and resume employment, according to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Burma, officially known as Myanmar, and Thailand. Authorities amended the MoU to reduce the waiting period to one day, but the amendment has not taken effect because the caretaker government is not authorised to endorse it. Related Stories Thai police bust Burmese migrant smuggling ring Thai shrimp processor to lay off 1,200 Burmese workers Mae Sot migrants demand labour rights As the current restriction stands, workers whose four-year employment deadlines have expired have already returned to their countries. Many have changed their names and obtained new passports in order to dodge the three-year wait and return to Thailand immediately. But the cabinet has recently passed a resolution allowing migrant workers at the end of their four-year employment to remain in the country for another 180 days, or until a new government is elected. To stay on for an extra 180 days, workers must secure a special permit. They must be taken by their employers to obtain the permit at designated labour service centres in Chiang Rai, Tak, Ranong, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon, Thailand's Employment Department chief Prawit Kiangpol said. Workers who leave the country and change their names will technically be working as “newcomers” upon their return to Thailand. This means they will be without social security privileges in the first several months of their employment, according to the source. The law stipulates workers must contribute to the social security fund for at least three consecutive months to qualify for free medical coverage. For medical coverage in case of childbirth, the minimum contribution period extends to seven months. Mr Prawit said the 180-day reprieve was granted to avert damage to the economy from a feared labour shortage resulting from the MoU amendment not yet being endorsed. This article was originally published in the Bangkok Post on 11 April 2014.

You are subscribed to email updates from DVB Multimedia Group | DVB Multimedia Group To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610