Democratic Voice of Burma

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• ‘Majority’ oppose cement factory in Hpa-an
• Unity journalists’ lawyer objects to court procedure
• Ethnic leaders discuss ceasefire in Chiang Mai
• KIO proposes restarting peace talks
• Thai investment in Burma slowing
• Rangoon govt asked to put brakes on line-car ban

‘Majority’ oppose cement factory in Hpa-an Posted: 29 Apr 2014 04:43 AM PDT Plans for a cement factory in Burma's southeastern Karen State met with stark opposition from local communities on Monday. The project, planned for Mekaren [Mi Kayin] village in Hpa-an, was proposed by the regional government and the Karen National Union (KNU). Representatives of the KNU and state officials met with members of the community on 28 April to make an initial pitch for the project, which they said would be built by Chinese-owned Myanmar Jidong Cement Company Ltd (MJCCL). The KNU reached an initial agreement with MJCCL in March. Karen State Writers Association member Mahn Htet Khine, present at Monday's meeting, said most local people showed opposition to the plan, citing environmental damage and fear of land loss as two primary concerns. "The KNU said the company will ensure minimal impact to the environment by using modern technology and pledging to improve roads," said Mahn Htet Khine, "but the majority of the villagers refused to sign an agreement [indicating approval]." Related Stories Ethnic leaders discuss ceasefire in Chiang Mai Kachin refugees told to go home despite conflict Local staff at Latpadaung rally for pay hike Most of those who oppose the plan live near the proposed site, working as farmers and making a living by collecting wood and roots on nearby forested hills. Saw Khin Maung Myint, transportation minister for the Karen State government, said the disapproval expressed on Monday was not final and that an official survey should be conducted to better gauge public opinion. "Some of those who objected to the plan had valid reasons, but there were others with a hidden agenda – we urged village leaders and local monks to conduct a survey to precisely work out how many people object to this," he said. "Building the factory would be beneficial for Karen State and the country at large, as it will save money on imported cement," he added. "We have to gauge pros and cons – the mountains will disappear if the project goes ahead, but it will boost urban development in the area. "Just picking roots and mushrooms on the hill won’t damage the environment, but also it won’t bring any progress for people's lives.” The meeting was attended by representatives from MJCCL, Phyo Naing Soe Company, KNU officials and Karen State government ministers Saw Khin Maung Myint, Saw Kyi Linn and Saw Law La. In 2013, the Myanmar Cement and Mineral Production Company proposed a similar bid to build a factory in Mekaren village, but backed out following ardent objection from the local community.

Unity journalists’ lawyer objects to court procedure Posted: 29 Apr 2014 01:58 AM PDT An eighth court hearing for the CEO and four reporters of Unity Weekly news journal took place at a court in the town of Pakokku on Monday morning. The five were arrested after Unity published a report on 25 January alleging that a factory in Magwe Division was in fact secretly manufacturing chemical weapons. CEO Tint San and four reporters – Sithu Soe, Paing Thet Kyaw, Yazar Oo and Lu Maw Naing – were subsequently charged with violating the State Secrets Act. Aung Thein, defence lawyer for the Unity Weekly staff, said the judge listened to statements by the prosecutor and prosecution witnesses on 28 April, but that he intended to object to the procedure as it was not conducted in conformity with statute law. "The court on Monday heard accounts by the prosecutor and prosecution witnesses for charges brought against the defendants under a 'special law' within the penal code which may later be changed to a general law," he told DVB. "But for the moment, this procedure is not in conformity with statute law and so we are set to present an oral argument on this." Government representatives, in response to the Unity report, have rejected the accusations, saying that the factory in question is a standard ordnance factory and that no chemical weapons have been developed there. Theingi Tun, wife of defendant Yazar Oo, said the detained journalists were suffering from depression and heat exhaustion, and that they had little access to clean water. "The reporters, having been previously based in Rangoon, are not used to Pakokku's hot weather and so cannot eat properly – they are also facing difficulties of access to clean water – especially my husband who has a liver condition. They are also suffering from depression," she said. Related Stories Mizzima reporter arrested for protesting media suppression Journalists rally to free jailed colleague Press freedom campaigns to be launched across Burma The Unity trial is one of a spate of cases involving Burmese journalists in recent weeks. On Saturday, a Mizzima reporter who organised a rally in support of media freedom in central Burma was charged under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Processions Act. Another journalist, Ma Khine of Eleven Media, spent more than two months in jail on charges of trespassing, using abusive language, and defamation. The charges were brought against her following a scheduled interview with a lawyer for a report about corruption. A DVB video journalist based in Magwe, Zaw Pe, was sentenced on 7 April and is currently incarcerated in Magwe Division's Thayet prison. In August 2012, he and another civilian were arrested for investigating a Japanese scholarship programme operating in the town's schools. According to a Magwe-based member of the Myanmar Journalist Network, U Tun, journalists and media activists in the central Burmese town are planning to stage a rally on 7 May to demand the release of all jailed reporters in the country, as well as calling for greater press freedom. "We are presently holding a meeting to organise the protest and will seek official permission from the police later today," U Tun told DVB on Tuesday morning. "But whether we get official permission or not, we are still going to hold the demonstration."

Ethnic leaders discuss ceasefire in Chiang Mai Posted: 28 Apr 2014 11:59 PM PDT Leaders of several of Burma's ethnic armed groups are convening this week in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in the lead-up to bilateral ceasefire talks. The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), a 13-member coalition of ethnic leaders created to liaise with government peace negotiators, began the two-day conference in the Northern Thai city on Monday. Nai Hongsa, NCCT vice-chair and member of the New Mon State Party, was joined by colleagues Saw Kwe Htoo Win of the Karen National Union and Maj-Gen Gun Maw, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Kachin Independence Army. Members met to review and amend a seven-chapter draft ceasefire agreement outlined in March in collaboration with the government's Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC). Related Stories ‘Majority’ oppose cement factory in Hpa-an KIO proposes restarting peace talks Thai investment in Burma slowing "We are reviewing the framework … such as policies, terms and other technical issues, and discussing the upcoming meeting [with the government]," said Kwe Htoo Win, deputy leader of the NCCT. The group is supposed to meet with the UPWC in Rangoon next month to proceed with negotiations. The NCCT has identified nine ceasefire points that they wish to amend, which include military ethics, liaison offices, framework for future political dialogue and protection for civilians in conflict zones. The drafting in March of a single-text ceasefire agreement signalled considerable progress towards ending the country's decades of civil war, but optimism faded as fighting in Kachin and northern Shan states broke out again in early April. Kwe Htoo Win emphasised that the Kachin Independence Organisation and the government must immediately take measures to resolve the conflict, and that the issue will be addressed in chapter seven of the ceasefire draft. The United Nationalities Federal Council, a coalition of 11 ethnic armed groups, on 23 April issued a public warning to the Burmese army that offensives against ethnic armed groups during peace negotiations could undo progress made to date.

KIO proposes restarting peace talks Posted: 28 Apr 2014 11:28 PM PDT The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) has proposed to the Burmese government that peace talks be resumed, and has offered to host the next round of negotiations in Myitkyina on 10 May. The offer comes as fighting between the two sides has increased dramatically in recent weeks. In a letter to Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) deputy-chairman Aung Min on Tuesday, the KIO's Sumlut Gam referred to the previous bilateral meeting on 8- 10 October 2013, and said that "exchanging opinions and negotiating on the situation that took place after the [October] meeting will make the peace process more convenient." The KIO negotiation team leader also wrote that he wanted to invite the UN secretary-general's special advisor on Burma, Vijay Nambiar, and China's Wang Yingan, as well as other ethnic leaders to act as observers at the meeting. The KIO's Maj-Gen. Gun Maw passed a copy of the letter to DVB on the sidelines of a meeting of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) ethnic alliance in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Tuesday. Related Stories Ethnic leaders discuss ceasefire in Chiang Mai Kachin refugees told to go home despite conflict Factory explosion in Namhkam fuels suspicions "Clashes have been intensifying in Kachin and northern Shan states," said Gun Maw. "This may create more tensions in nationwide ceasefire talks and lead us to reconsider our involvement in the negotiations. Therefore, we would like to facilitate meetings aimed at maintaining the pace of the ceasefire talks, and we are extending an invitation to the government."

Thai investment in Burma slowing Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:18 PM PDT Thai investment in Burma, officially known as Myanmar, is likely to lag behind other countries, from second highest for accumulated value in Burma's direct investment to eighth this year if it keeps investing at the current pace. Despite the steadily increasing clip of Thailand’s foreign direct investment (FDI), the growth is considered relatively low compared with that of neighbouring countries, particularly in the past two years, says Thai Ambassador to Burma Pisanu Suvanajata. He said Thailand remained quite slow with its outbound investment, especially by small and medium-sized ventures, as most FDI came from large firms. Thailand has an edge over rival countries in Burma in terms of geography, as well as its energy investment in the past decade, and is the second-largest investor largely due to natural gas investment by PTT Group. Related Stories Ethnic leaders discuss ceasefire in Chiang Mai Hundreds commemorate Hellfire Pass Amid peace talks, health cooperation in Karen State sends positive signals But now Burma has opened up and offering opportunities for investors. “To be successful in Burma, investors need to penetrate the market as soon as possible, find local partners, overcome obstacles and formulate a long-term plan,” Mr Pisanu said. Burma's growth domestic product index last year was 7.5 percent, expected to rise to 7.75 percent, while GDP per capita was US$1,700. Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) plans to encourage medium-sized investors to move quickly investing in Burma. Siriporn Nurugsa, the BoI's executive director for FDI, said the agency’s plan is to implement measures to facilitate Thai medium-sized businesses entering Burma. High-potential sectors are real estate, consumer goods and food products. Ms Siriporn said Thailand’s accumulated FDI in Burma last year was 73 companies worth $10.1 billion or 2 percent of total investment in that market, ranked the second-largest accumulated FDI behind China, which had 60 firms with a total value of $14.2 billion or 30.8 percent. Hong Kong is the third-largest approved investor with US$6.5 billion or 14.1 percent. Most of Thailand’s investments overseas are in mining, financial and insurance activities. Ms Siriporn said under the Burma’s current Foreign Investment Act, foreign companies are allowed to hold 100 percent in three special economic zones including Dawei. Charles Schneider, senior operations officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC), said it is optimistic about Burma market potential. Currently it has invested in tourism and finance with more businesses in the pipeline. ”IFC strongly believes the business environment is improving there as the government is committed to continue its development,” said Mr Schneider. Burma was ranked 182 out of 187 countries as the ease of doing business index surveyed by World Bank. However, the country has shown great potential for growth with its rich natural resources, abundant labour forces and strategic location.   This article was originally published in the Bangkok Post on 29 April 2014.

Rangoon govt asked to put brakes on line-car ban Posted: 28 Apr 2014 08:55 PM PDT Operators of Rangoon's 2,600 "line-cars" have called for an imminent ban on the vehicles to be extended to end of the year. Owners of the ubiquitous pickup trucks, which have been used as buses-cum-taxis around the former Burmese capital for decades, held a press conference on 26 April at which they claimed that the decision by the Rangoon Division government to replace all line-cars with modern minibuses by 30 April is impractical due to the costs involved. Than Zaw Min, a committee member on the city's Shwepyithar Line, said most line-car operators cannot afford to trade in their pickups for minibuses even if they are allowed to pay back on a monthly instalment basis. "To buy a minibus for 22 million kyat (US$22,000), we have to lay out a down-payment of 11 million kyat," he said. Related Stories Burma's poultry potential Rangoon gets security-conscious for Thingyan Rock bands tune up for Thingyan "Also, owners have to readapt the minibuses to make them suitable for commuters and that can cost another two or three million kyat," he added. "It's not that we don't want to replace the vehicles. We just can't afford it." The line-car operators said they have sent a letter to President Thein Sein, as well as the parliamentary house speaker and the Rangoon Division Chief Minister, requesting more time for the transformation. For more background: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/in-depth/10088-no-relief-in-sight-for-weary-commuters.html]

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