Friday, June 20, 2014

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma

Religious Affairs Minister stripped of title and charged

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 05:40 AM PDT

Religious Affairs Minister Hsan Hsint, who was dismissed from his position on Thursday, was removed due to his "mishandling" last week of a raid on the Mahasantisukha Monastery last week and also faces charges related to the misuse of money, a presidential spokesman said.

The President's Office published an order terminating Hsan Hsint from his duty as the Religious Affairs Minister on 19 June, citing his dismissal under Article 235(c)(i) of Burma's Constitution, which stipulates that the president can order the resignation of any minister "who cannot discharge his duties efficiently".

Ye Htut, spokesman of the President's Office, confirmed to DVB that Hsan Hsint had been removed, and is under investigation by the Ministry of Home Affairs on a "money-related charge". However, Ye Htut claimed he did not know the exact charges handed down to the former minister.

He also said, when speaking to reporters at the Union Parliament in Naypyidaw on Friday, that Hsan Hsint was dismissed for his mismanagement of the dispute at the Mahasantisukha Monastery in Rangoon, and for creating a "misunderstanding" between the government and the Buddhist community.

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On 10 June, police and State Sangha Maha Nayaka raided the Tamwe Township monastery and detained five monks, including the prominent Buddhist leader Uttara, over a longstanding land dispute. The monks were subsequently defrocked and charged for insulting religion and inciting mutiny, a move widely denounced by Burmese public and religious leaders.

"Since the beginning of the dispute, the president had tasked Hsan Hsint with the peaceful implementation of the Sangha Maha Nayaka's decision, and also to mediate the tension between the two sides," Ye Htut said. "But U Hsan Hsint's undertakings, instead of bring about understanding between those in the dispute, had created more dissension and misunderstandings, and — in certain cases – acted beyond the president's instructions so we had to take action against him."

According to an official at Naypyidaw's Uttarathiri Police Station, Hsan Hsint was sent to Yamethin Prison after he was charged.

Mahasantisukha monks released on bail

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 05:39 AM PDT

Five disrobed monks from Rangoon's Mahasantisukha Monastery have been released on 20 million kyat (US$20,000) bail each from Tamwe Township Court on Friday afternoon after facing a hearing on charges of defaming religion.

Following their release, the five – including Uttara, a British passport holder – immediately returned to the Mahasantisukha Monastery to be re-ordained.

The monastery is at the centre of an ongoing land dispute between its self-proclaimed owner, Penang Sayadaw, and the government-backed State Sangha Maha Nayaka, the highest order of Buddhist monks in the country.

Speaking to DVB at 6pm local time on Friday, Uttara said the arrest of the four monks and himself was unwarranted and unlawful.

"They came late at night and with no court warrant – it was not in accordance with the law," he said, adding that the court had earlier heard prosecution statements, and that the next hearing would be on 27 June.

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Thai officials ponder repatriation of refugees

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 05:10 AM PDT

Friday is World Refugee Day, and on the Thai-Burmese border some 120,000 people are living in refugee camps, some for as long as three decades.

During that time, the Thai government has called numerous times for them to return to Burma, but conditions have never been right due to civil conflict.

However, during a three-day meeting held this week in Mae Sot, a Thai official

"We are preparing to send the refugees back to Burma," said the deputy director general of Thailand's Department of the Interior, noting that many of those in the camps had been sheltering on Thai soil since 1984.

The message came at a meeting in the Thai border town between the Thai army's Internal Security Operations Command, regional commanders of four border provinces, interior officials, and NGOs which provide assistance to the refugees, including UNHCR.

"The objective of this meeting was to discuss repatriation of the refugees who have fled conflict [in Burma]," said the Department of the Interior official. "As everyone knows, they have been here for almost three decades. These issues are of concern to both the UNHCR and the Thai government. We must accept this. And moreover, as all Asian countries are acknowledging the recent developments in Burma, I think now it is the time for the refugees to go home."

He said the Thai government would continue to provide assistance to the refugees, and would implement a three-year timeframe for repatriation.

However, some of those working directly with the 120,000 refugees strung along nine camps at the Thai-Burmese border expressed concern that conditions were still not in place for the return of refugees to conflict-torn eastern Burma.

Duncan McArthur, emergency response director for The Border Consortium (TBC), which supplies the majority of humanitarian relief to the 120,000 refugees, said, "TBC is aware that the Internal Security Operations Command convened a seminar about refugees in Thailand this week, and understands that no policy decisions or policy changes were made.

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"TBC believes the situation in Southeast Myanmar [Burma] is not yet conducive for an organised and large-scale return of refugees. Refugees and internally displaced persons are primarily looking for a withdrawal of Tatmadaw [Burmese army] troops from populated areas to build confidence towards a future return to former villages or resettlement nearby. Local communities in conflict-affected areas also need support for their own recovery before they will be ready and willing to receive returnees in the future. The premature return of refugees could fuel social tensions and undermine prospects for the reintegration of refugees."

Speaking to DVB on Friday, Blooming Night Zan, a representative of the Karen Refugee Committee, said, "For the time being, the refugees cannot return because of ongoing ceasefire talks between the Burmese government and ethnic armed groups. Fighting is ongoing in some areas, so it is no time to talk about refugees returning home."

UNHCR could not be reached for comment.

The Thai military conducted a coup d'état in Bangkok on 22 May, and has since cracked down on illegal migrants in Thailand, leading to the arrest of dozens of Burmese and the exodus of some 170,000 Cambodian workers from the country.

Rain dampens relief efforts as fighting continues in northern Burma

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 04:26 AM PDT

Relief efforts in Kachin and northern Shan states are falling short, according to a prominent NGO working in the war zone.

Refugees are in dire need of adequate shelter in particular, said the Action Times Foundation, as continuing battles are waged between the government and rebel groups.

Over 100,000 civilians have been displaced by two years of conflict, and many are now sheltering in makeshift camps across government or rebel-controlled territory, as well as in Yunnan State, China.

The Action Times Foundation, a humanitarian organisation based in Rangoon, said that the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is deteriorating rapidly as fighting has intensified as of April this year.

Eindra Nay Nwe, the foundation's secretary, said that those living in fresh camps, which have sprung up since April, have been unable to stay dry as the rainy season has arrived, while their children are in need of textbooks and other school supplies.

"As the monsoon has arrived, the IDPs are in need of roofing materials, umbrellas and raincoats for the children as well as learning materials for study," she said.

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Last month, Action Times Foundation linked up with much-loved band Shwe Thanzin and Pan Ye Lan, a charity made up of musicians, to stage fundraising performances on sidewalks and in teashops in urban areas of Burma. That effort raised 33 million kyat (US$33,000). Last week, the charity collaboration distributed that assistance to seven camps across Muse in Kachin State, and Namhkam in northern Shan State.

Shwe Thazin member Win Maw took part in the relief mission to the camps. He said the organisation is acting quickly to try to close the gap in delivering humanitarian assistance to the displaced people.

"We went to IDP camps in Muse and asked their coordinators what they required now that it is monsoon season," he told DVB. "Their children have to go to school and need umbrellas and raincoats. So we immediately ordered 1,000 items of wet weather gear from Ruili, using the funds we collected."

"We are planning to build bamboo flooring. It's unliveable with the ground constantly wet," she said.

As the refugees wait out the wet season, further fighting has been reported by ethic media organisations in Kachin and northern Shan States.

This week, Kachinland News reported that the Kachin Independence Army have been engaged in heavy fighting in the Mansi area.

According to the Shan Herald, the Burmese army shelled the Shan State Army North in their positions at Mongsu for two days last week, forcing the rebel army to cede the camp.

Anti-contraband team to search international gateways

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 02:53 AM PDT

The Mobile Team, a Burmese government task force responsible for cracking down on illegally imported goods, will expand its operations to include international airports and harbours at the end of June.

Made up of police, custom officials and media workers, the taskforce has attempted to eliminate contraband goods at border checkpoints, warehouses and seaports along the coastline. The team announced that they will begin inspecting international gateways into the country at the end of the month.

Tin Aye Win, director-general of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, said that the Mobile Team will first focus its efforts on container terminals, including Asia World Port Terminal, Myanmar Industrial Port Terminal and Bo Aung Gyaw Container Yard.

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"As for the airports, Rangoon International is the only facility equipped with an air defence system while Mandalay International Airport has only just begun offering freight services, so we will prioritise inspections at the Rangoon Airport," he added. "In order to avoid disturbing travellers, we will not be checking bags and personal belongings but will stick to official customs procedures."

According to data from the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, the Mobile Team has seized almost 2.4 billion kyat (US$2.4 million) in value of contraband in 297 separate cases at border trade areas during the first two months of the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Uttara, Mahasantisukha monks have their day in court

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:17 PM PDT

The British embassy in Rangoon said it is providing legal assistance to the Buddhist monk Uttara, a British citizen, who was arrested and charged with religious offences following a night-time raid at a Rangoon monastery under a land ownership dispute.

Uttara, a Burma-born UK passport holder, along with four other monks – Paññāsara, Neindira, Tazeina and Sondrasiri – was detained in Insein prison following a 10 June raid by police and the government-backed State Sangha Maha Nayaka at the Mahasantisukha Monastery in Rangoon's Tamwe Township.

The five were disrobed from the Buddhist monkhood, detained in Rangoon's most infamous prison for more than a week, and charged under Article 295(a) of the Penal Code for defaming and insulting religion, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. They were also charged under the 1990 "Law Relating to the Sangha [Buddhist monkhood]" for insubordination and inciting mutiny against the monastic order. If found guilty, the five could face up to three years' imprisonment on that charge alone.

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Penang Sayadaw, a revered abbot who is custodian and self-proclaimed owner of the monastery in question, said the Mahasantisukha Monastery's legal affairs committee had assigned a team of lawyers to defend the five monks.

Speaking to DVB on Thursday, the abbot hit out at the State Sangha Maha Nayaka.

"There's something I would like to say to the Sanha Maha Nayaka. You might probably have heard their proclamation: 'There's no one above the order of Dharma', meaning no one can sue them as they have decision-making power," he said. "But the Lord Buddha, before his passing, told Ananda that his teachings, and the Vinaya he adopted, should be regarded as teachings and guidelines for the monastic order. Therefore the Sangha Maha Nayaka, by stating that they have decision-making power, is basically contradicting the teachings of Buddha."

Aung Thein, a well-known Supreme Court lawyer, said the prosecution of the monks was not in line with the law.

"There were no legal grounds on which to prosecute the monks under Article 295(a) as they did not engage in any kind of activity and were simply staying at the monastery as guests of the Penang Sayadaw who is in charge of the venue," he said.

Govt may repeal Shan army’s ‘unlawful’ status

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:32 PM PDT

The Burmese government reportedly told a Shan State Army South (SSA-S) delegation on Thursday that they will repeal the ethnic armed group's status as an unlawful association if they agree to a nationwide ceasefire.

According to Sai La, an SSA-S spokesman, the Shan militia has negotiated with government peace negotiators about a plan to facilitate political dialogue, a process that will come after a ceasefire agreement has been reached.

"The government delegation said they expect to sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement in August this year, and to facilitate political dialogue before the elections in 2015, preferably at the beginning of the year," he told DVB.

He added that both groups discussed an incident in early May, when a local official of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy – a dominant Shan political party — in eastern Shan State's Kengtung was detained by the Burmese army and charged under the Unlawful Association Act for an alleged connection with the SSA-S.

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Both sides also discussed a raid on the SSA-S office in late May by the Burmese army, a move that the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) – the armed group's political wing – considered an extreme breach of trust. Government negotiators assured them during the meeting that the action took place due to a misunderstanding.

Besides the meeting with the RCSS, the government delegation also held meetings with the ethnic political groups Kachin Independence Organisation and Karen National Union.

The RCSS is not a member of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), a group of 17 ethnic armed groups in Burma tasked with negotiating with the government's Union Peace Working Committee to come to a nationwide ceasefire agreement. Burma has experienced decades of civil war between the government and its ethnic armed groups, and in recent years, both sides have sought to resolve lingering issues. However, the negotiation process has been marred with clashes in the various states between the armed groups and Burmese government forces.

Human Rights film festival concludes, but not without controversy

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 08:03 PM PDT

The second annual Human Rights Human Dignity Film Festival, held this week in Rangoon, ended on Thursday following a controversial move by organisers to cancel the screening of one film due to online intimidation earlier in the week.

The Open Sky, which was to be screened in the festival's student competition category, was pulled from the festival after threats against the filmmakers, organisers and cinema were posted on Facebook. The organisers did not announce a winner for the student competition.

The film documents the friendship between two women in the central town of Meiktila following sectarian clashes last year.  More than 40 people were killed over three violent days last March, which left over 12,000 people displaced, the vast majority of them Muslim.

Igor Blazevic, the festival's international advisor, said that cancelling the screening was a decision made by himself and the rest of the organising committee.

"To the audience and to the people of this country, I apologise for making that hard decision," he said. "The Open Sky was not able to be screened because of too many threats that [we] were not able to manage. It is an extraordinary, nice, positive, human, great film, that this country needs to see."

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Burma has experienced a surge of online hate speech over the past year, fuelled by popular notions that Burma's Buddhist majority is threatened by the spectre of Islamic "expansionism."  Social media platforms – more accessible since Internet censorship ended in 2012 – have become beacons of hate speech, with Internet users reinforcing and propagating a resurgent animosity towards Islam and Muslims, worrying sentiments advanced by political and religious leaders.

"It's unfortunate, what happened, but I think it reflects rising intolerance and people feeling emboldened to spew hatred and threats around the country. This is just another indication of ultra-nationalism and anti-Muslim hate speech, and it will backfire," said David Mathieson, the senior researcher on Burma at Human Rights Watch. "It has raised interest in the film, so the film will probably become even more famous now, and that's the positive result of all this."

Derek Mitchell, the US ambassador to Burma, offered stern criticism of the threats levelled towards the festival. "There will always be those less courageous people who feel threatened by speech they do not like, or a story that does not conform to their own prejudices," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by British ambassador Andrew Patrick in an address, who said that in a democracy, "you don't try to shout down" opposing views.

Ko Ko Gyi, a leading activist with the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, was the only speaker who did not allude to the threats levelled at the festival in his address. Over the past two years, he has made numerous statements that reinforce popular prejudices against Muslims, particularly the much-maligned Rohingya.

The top prize in the national category went to Sai Khong Kham's This Land is Our Land, which addresses the problem of land grabs and environmental degradation across Burma.

 
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