Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Suu Kyi urges NLD youth to take on more responsibility
• The power of protest: Nay Myo Zin
• Black Lung in the Golden Land

Suu Kyi urges NLD youth to take on more responsibility Posted: 30 Aug 2014 11:57 PM PDT Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has encouraged the new generation within the National League for Democracy (NLD), to take more responsibility within the party as it pushes towards a general election next year. Addressing NLD youth members in Rangoon on Saturday, Suu Kyi noted that party policy – established during the military era when organizing youth activities were limited – dictated that the age limit was 35 within the youth ranks. Despite this, she said, those middle-aged members among the group should strive to fulfill duties "befitting of their age". She pointed out that many young Burmese, including university graduates, currently face unemployment, and that there is a fear that such feelings of hopelessness could develop into "dangerous situations of instability". Around 150 people from across the country attended the meeting on 30 August, including members from the youth wing of the NLD who have been active since 1988. Related Stories Ethnic bloc to meet NLD, 88 Gen in Thailand Bullet Points: 26 August 2014 Bullet Points: 25 August 2014 NLD chairman for Rangoon region, Myint Htay, one of the organisers of the summit, spoke about how the NLD youth had helped win the 2012 bi-elections. "The first youth meeting was held in 2011 and those who campaigned for the NLD helped us win the 2012 bi-elections," he said. "Now, we are facing bi-elections again this year and a general election in 2015. This conference was staged to encourage those who had previously worked with the NLD youth to work together with the current members to implement the goals of the party at the upcoming elections." NLD veteran Tin Oo, said that changes will be implemented before the end of the year. "The previous generation must now hand over the reins to the current youth members," he said. In July, the NLD organised a nationwide youth conference in Rangoon where party chairperson Suu Kyi urged youth members to adhere to the party agenda.

The power of protest: Nay Myo Zin Posted: 30 Aug 2014 08:10 PM PDT DVB spoke with prominent activist and former Burmese army captain, Nay Myo Zin, this week about participating in peaceful protests and how it can lead to clashes with the government. His fellow activists — Htin Kyaw, leader of the Movement for Democracy Current Force, and Win Cho, a prominent community organiser and member of Myanmar Social Development — were recently charged under Section 18 of the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act. The two activists say they were peacefully exercising their freedom of expression.   Q: Recently, you met Htin Kyaw in police detention, where he was charged for insulting the state. What did he tell you about these protests and demonstrations? A: Ko Htin Kyaw told me that he doesn’t believe in the current democratic transition process and the union government because the government hasn’t delivered what they promised to the people. He asked me to urge the people to continue making demands on the government until their actions are in line with what they promised. We are now facing several charges. These are unjust. Every citizen has a right to express what he/she believes. The main thing is that the government has the duty to maintain trust from the people. But it is not a sign of good governance to charge those who say they don’t believe them. Q: Earlier this week, Win Cho and Wai Lu were sentenced under Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act. Win Cho has faced several similar charges. Can you comment on those charges? A: It was last year, 2013. I was also charged 12 times, under Section 18. It is sorrowful to see this pattern of police charges. Police take pictures of everything during a protest or a demonstration or a march. Then they press charges against those they are familiar with or whose phone number they have. It's not important to them who leads the protest or who express what or how many people are involved. They just care about whatever familiar person took part in the event. The actions of these law enforcement agencies are not aimed towards the interest of the nation, but to make a show in the news that they are dutifully arresting people. In the case of Win Cho, there were about 2,000 farmers that joined him, and he was sentenced to three months of imprisonment. He was the only one charged among 2,000 participants because the police know his name. Today's charge is also similar. He was there to prevent people from causing violence. But since he was the one police know, he was the one charged. Q: The 2008 Constitution states that every citizen has a right to express one’s will. Don't these charges violate that right? A: I think it is a failure of the government to not allow the people to practice the rights enshrined in the Constitution. The government itself should lead, show the way, practice the rights and prove that they respect the Constitution. Instead, they think those who use their constitutional rights are threatening their power, so they arrest them. I think it's bad practice for a government that claims to want to instate democratic changes. Q: Before the current government, people didn’t dare to demonstrate or even criticise the government in public. Now the situation is different. There have been many protests across the country. Do you think the people are getting what they demand? A: If you are asking whether there are benefits to the recent changes, we can say that there are, to some extent. But, in some cases, there are also abuses. But if you keep quiet, there is no way to hold accountable people who commit injustices. So protest is a tool we can use to help the people. If responsible persons are addressing the needs of the people in accordance with the law, if the administrative mechanisms follow what the president has said before — which is that the government should act in the people's interest – then we, the people, would have no need to protest. We choose to demonstrate because the ones who are responsible are ignoring the will of the people.   Related Stories Mandalay students protest education bill Bullet Points: 26 August 2014 Activists Win Cho and Wai Lu sentenced to 3 months

Black Lung in the Golden Land Posted: 30 Aug 2014 07:58 PM PDT For decades, miners have converged on the goldfields of central Burma in the hope of striking it rich. Small-scale miners and fossickers drill and pan on the fringes of the open pit and tunnel mining operations of giant natural resource companies. One such area is in Chaung Gyi, near Pwin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Division. There, in the heart of a country known as the Golden Land, miners who have arrived with the hope of striking it rich are dying. In Chaung Gyi, physician Dr. Aung Kyaw Oo has been treating miners since 1989. He says that as many as 500 have died from what he diagnoses as Silicosis Pneumacosis. It is a disease known in the big pits of Europe and the United States as Black Lung. Burmese miners are calling it Drillers Disease. "Locally, it's called driller's disease," he began. "It results from inhaling heavy dust particles while drilling the rock." "Workers aren't taking the necessary health precautions, such as covering their faces as they drill," he added. "Instead, they are breathing in sulphates and other chemicals released from the rock."  The lack of worker protections is part and parcel of an industry that promises so much and often winds up delivering so little. Now, spiraling medical costs are forcing family members to commit to toiling in the mines, despite being aware of the hazards.  Across the village of Chaung Gyi, widows mourn the loss of their husbands. Adding to the misery is the fact that many families are forced to send healthy men and women down into the mine, despite knowing the hazards. Costly medical supplies and frequent trips to the doctor leave little other choice.  One woman in the village tells of losing her son after having to ask him to labour in the mine to keep the family going.  She cradles his orphaned son. "My 18-year-old died. I only had one child, and I had to take him out of school and send him to work. “I didn’t want him to die in the hospital. I wanted to take him home but he died right there in Mandalay hospital."  Dr. Aung Kyaw Oo explained that the disease is often misdiagnosed as Tuberculosis, due to similar x-ray patterns. He says doctors are often prescribing TB drugs to the suffering miners, which worsens their already poor health. The disease is silicosis pneumoconiosis. However, it tends to show a similar x-ray pattern to TB. Occasionally the patients are prescribed with TB drugs, which can be very damaging." "The silicosis patients often struggle to breath, and develop coughs with black sputum or blood." The use of mercury and cyanide in the extraction process is exacerbating the situation. Miners inhale noxious by-products as the mineral is loosened from the earth. The deadly chemical pools in the miner's lungs, as well as in groundwater, poisoning the environment and the workers alike. Miner Ma Moe's family has been hard hit by driller's disease. Three sisters have contracted silicosis, as has one brother. A fifth sibling Ma Moe, is caring for her sick husband. Related Stories Filthy water plumbed into Rangoon homes BUSINESS WEEKLY – 24 August 2014 Bullet Points: 22 August 2014 "We have already lost two of our family," says Ma Moe's mother. "Now, my youngest son-in-law is sick and being treated in Mandalay. But we cannot afford to send Ma Moe's husband. We have been treating him at home for 5-6 years already.” Financial woes are forcing Ma Moe to cut corners when caring for her husband.  "Sometimes I have no money to buy syringes. I know these are single-use disposables, but I have to clean them with boiling water and reuse them," she admits.  "We just can't afford to buy fresh ones every day."  At Chaung Gyi, families are resigned to losing loved ones to this debilitating illness. And the ambition that brought them to the gold fields has long since evaporated. "I have to work hard day and night to feed these children," says one widow, now working in the mine. "I suppose I’ve gotten used to it. It has become my life. In the past, I used to cry every day. Now I have no tears left."

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National News

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• First women graduate from officer training
• Taiwan honours troops killed in Myanmar
• Senior General orders investigation into death of Lahu militia member
• US firm’s investment to tackle MDY power woes
• Giant snails destroy paddy in Mon State
• Irrawaddy dolphin numbers drop
• Model killed after row

First women graduate from officer training Posted: 30 Aug 2014 01:03 AM PDT The first female military officers in more than five decades graduated from training today in a ceremony attended by Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Taiwan honours troops killed in Myanmar Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:35 PM PDT Taiwan last week honoured tens of thousands of Chinese Nationalist soldiers killed in World War II in Myanmar, many of whom came to the rescue of British troops.

Senior General orders investigation into death of Lahu militia member Posted: 29 Aug 2014 07:34 PM PDT Commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has launched an investigation into the killing of a member of a Lahu people's militia in eastern Shan State in June, sources in the area say.

US firm’s investment to tackle MDY power woes Posted: 29 Aug 2014 07:25 PM PDT Myanmar will see a boost in power from a solar project that backers say could produce up to 12 percent of the country's power generation when it becomes fully operational.

Giant snails destroy paddy in Mon State Posted: 29 Aug 2014 06:54 PM PDT Monster snails as large as an adult's fist have destroyed acres of paddy plantation in Mon State, farmers said last week.

Irrawaddy dolphin numbers drop Posted: 29 Aug 2014 06:50 PM PDT Electric-shock fishing and the use of small-mesh nets has killed off many Irrawaddy dolphins, the Mandalay fisheries department says.

Model killed after row Posted: 29 Aug 2014 06:47 PM PDT Police say they have charged a 22-year-old man with murder in relation to the death of an up-and-coming model, who died from stab wounds last week.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Burma reveals initial census data
• Land disputes must be solved right and fast: Dr Thaung Htun
• Burma’s industrial relations at a crossroads
• Arakan govt moves to protect heritage sites

Burma reveals initial census data Posted: 30 Aug 2014 04:45 AM PDT Burma's Ministry of Immigration and Population released provisional census data on Saturday, showing that the country has a population of 51.4 million people, almost ten million fewer than previous estimates. The data indicates that of that number, 26,598,244 are women and 24,821,176 are men. A total of 50,213,067 people were enumerated, but the figures include an estimated 1.2 million people who were not counted in parts of Arakan, Kachin and Karen states. According to a statement by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), about 1.09 million people were not counted in parts of Arakan State. "Most of those who wanted to self-identify their ethnicity as Rohingya were not enumerated," the statement read. Rohingya Muslims are denied citizenship in Burma, as the government and much of the general population considers them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Burma's national census — the country's first population count in 30 years, conducted from 29 March to 10 April — was highly contentious partly because it solicited detailed ethnic information. While questions about ethnicity hit a nerve with many people in Burma, which has struggled with ethnic insurgencies and repression of minorities for decades, it was particularly sensitive in Arakan State, where people who self-identify as Rohingya were instructed to call themselves either "Bengali" or "other". Related Stories Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China Bullet Points: 26 August 2014 Bullet Points: 22 August 2014 The survey was problematic in other parts of the country, as well; census workers were unable to go to several areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Army in northern Burma, where armed conflict has devastated communities since mid-2011. Fighting in Kachin State and parts of northern Shan State have displaced approximately 120,000 people over the last three years, an unknown number of whom have fled to China. Such displacement has further complicated attempts to accurately depict the population. In Karen State, southeastern Burma, the UNFPA said that the Karen National Union provided data that they collected independently for one area, but that it was checked against other similar territories and appeared consistent enough to base an estimate upon. The UNFPA, which has provided technical, logistical and financial support for Burma's census, said that data collection and analysis were conducted under the guidance of foreign experts and in accordance with international standards. "The census is a valuable national resource," said UNFPA representative Janet Jackson, speaking at a meeting in Rangoon on Saturday, 30 August. "For the first time in decades, the country will have data it needs to put roads, schools, health facilities and other essential infrastructure where people need them most." The UNFPA said that more detailed information will be available in in May 2015, and that it is not uncommon for the fully analysed data to vary slightly from preliminary results.

Land disputes must be solved right and fast: Dr Thaung Htun Posted: 30 Aug 2014 02:56 AM PDT More and more farmers are beginning to speak out about unjust land-grabs across the country, but few of them are getting the results they want: a full return of the farmlands that were seized by authorities during decades of military rule. In addition to those seeking recourse for old cases, many farmers and urban dwellers say they are now being unfairly removed from their property to make way for developers. A land reform package passed in early 2012 has arguably made matters worse for Burma's rural poor, who are mostly subsistence farmers. The laws do not grant ownership, but rather makes farmers tenants of the state. The legislation ignores many of Burma's communal and customary land use practices, leading to a flood of ownership disputes that township administrators are still unprepared to handle. DVB recently spoke with Dr. Thaung Htun, director of the Peace and Justice Network. A former member of the All Burma Students Democratic Front and UN representative for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, Dr. Thaung Htun returned to Southeast Asia in 2012 after years of exile. He has since been among Burma's leading advocates for farmers' rights and fair land use policies.     Q: Land disputes have been increasingly frequent since President Thein Sein's government came into power. Some disputes have even escalated to the point of violent confrontation. Why do you think this is happening now? A: The problem of unjust land loss has been happening all over the country since about 1989, and has continued up until about 2010, just before the new government took office. During that period, farmers were too afraid to speak up about their losses. Since Thein Sein's administration came into power, however, the farmers' voices can travel further. People can hear them more now. There is also more awareness among farmers through the establishment of civil society organisations and other groups. These organisations help farmers to understand their rights, the land laws and the definition of unlawful seizure. Many people are unaware about how their rights were changed by the introduction of Burma's new land policy in 2012. Q: Let's talk about the Farmland Law. This law was passed in 2012, but farmers don't seem to be enjoying its benefits yet. Could you explain why? A: There are pros and cons of the new legislation. One notable part of the bill is that it allows farmers to sell, rent or pawn their farmland. In reality, however, most farmers don't know how to use that to their advantage. Further complicating matters is that when the law came into effect, there were a lot of disputes about who owned what because all of the land had to be registered with township-level authorities. And, of course, there is some corruption among the land management bodies. There are still lots of problems. But the main weakness of this law is that it denies the right to own land. There is no land ownership in Burma at this time. In the past, people had that right. Under British colonial rule, people owned their land. Farmlands were made into public assets later. The reason they did that was, in theory, to avoid the problem of wealthy and powerful landlords. But the real outcomes are different. The authorities abused the word "state", and they took land unjustly. This has been costing farmers their land for decades. Q: Farmers are facing a lot of hardship right now, and land loss has led many to protest. One common example across Burma is the "plough protest", whereby farmers occupy and work land that was taken from them. Does this trend signal a possible farmers' uprising? A: If the problem of land loss cannot be solved quickly and effectively, there will be instability. These farmers don't want to be illegally ploughing the lands, they want to live peacefully. But the land is their cooking pot, it's how they get by, so they have no other choice. As far as we know, at least 6,559 land claims have been submitted to the parliamentary Land Investigation Commission since it was established in 2012. To date, only 307 cases have been resolved by regional governments. That's only about 4.8 percent. Many cases are delayed because local administrators and land statistics officers are not working fast enough. It's not because they don't know about the problem. The president's office has already ordered administrators to work closely with local MPs on this issue. We found, however, that the officers involved have not been cooperating with the MPs very well. Q: Is there anything you'd like to add about land issues? A: Yes. About 60 percent of the population in Burma are agricultural workers. When we talk about poverty reduction, it is impossible to ignore this enormous, skilled workforce. Sixty percent of the population have no job opportunities if they have no farmland. These land problems must be solved right, and they must be solved fast.   Related Stories US to build two solar energy plants in Burma China inspects Burma's rice in advance of trade agreement UN advisor Nambiar concludes trip to Burma

Burma’s industrial relations at a crossroads Posted: 30 Aug 2014 02:29 AM PDT Industrial relations for the garment sector is at a crossroads, with representatives from unions and factories agreeing that both sides need more education and willingness to negotiate in order to fuel Burma's burgeoning industry. After years of US sanctions, the entrance of American clothing giant Gap in June this year marked a new beginning for the industry. Burma's exports topped US$1 billion last year; the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) predicts that exports will rise to $1.5 billion by the end of 2014. This rapid opening of the industry comes at a time when union leaders and workers are becoming more empowered to demand higher wages and better working conditions. With factory owners accustomed to the old ways of dealing with worker dissent – and workers uneducated about how to engage in negotiations – both sides are pushing for a healthier industrial relations environment, as clashes could handicap the sector. "The main issue is understanding the need for negotiation – on both sides," said Maung Maung, secretary-general of the Federation of Trade Unions in Myanmar, one of Burma's biggest union blocs. "The workplace issues — overtime, salary – these can all be solved. The principle is the need for negotiation, and industrial issues affect everyone so I think that mindset is the most important," he said. Negotiations between an employer and employee may not seem like a particularly novel idea, but for developing countries with a robust garment sector, this is not always the case. Burma's neighbour, Cambodia, exports roughly $5 billion in value of garments each year, yet is plagued by frequent strikes and weeks-long lockouts due to both unions and employers refusing to sit down at the negotiating table; Bangladesh – the biggest exporter in garments after China because of its cheap labour costs – has near-daily protests that block roads and leave factories damaged. Hostile relationships between the owners and workers are cemented, making it difficult for either side to come to a compromise. A constructive industrial relationship is so crucial – and often so elusive – that the Office of the US Trade Representative announced on Thursday that they will be working with the Burmese government on an initiative to promote labor rights and implement legal reforms to foster a positive industrial environment. This move comes as Burma – with roughly 185 exporting garment factories currently operating in the country – is poised to attract even more investors and international brands looking to expand to a low-wage country with, hopefully, less industrial turmoil. So far, the factories hire about 200,000 workers, and less than one percent of them are part of a union. Once considered illegal by the previous military regime, the nominally civilian government of Burmese President Thein Sein enacted a law in 2011 allowing for workers to form unions, as long as they have at least 30 members. There are now more than 1,200 unions, with the majority of them in the agricultural sector. "We do have a very big gap in knowledge on negotiations and industrial relations — both from the workers' side and the owners' side." Because of this nascent movement, Maung Maung said that most union leaders or members are unskilled in negotiations and collective bargaining. "The majority of the workers still don't understand the responsibilities of the unions, the responsibility of the members and the executives," he said. "We do have a very big gap in knowledge on negotiations and industrial relations — both from the workers' side and the owners' side." Maung Maung added that wildcat strikes and demonstrations often come from workers who are not part of unions, as they do not have the awareness to resolve issues in a productive manner. The issues for a dispute are varied – requests for higher wages, better working conditions and hours, and general management disagreements. Burma has some of the lowest wages in the region, with the basic minimum wage ranging from $25 to $37 a month, according to report last year by Burma-based Labour Rights Clinic. Christopher Land-Kazlauskas, the International Labour Organization's chief technical adviser for the Freedom of Association and Social Dialogue Project, said that another emerging problem appears to be that factory owners are dismissing labour representatives within their factories for their union activities – a move that is angering workers. "I think that retaliation against union leaders in both the severity and frequency we are seeing is a huge obstacle [to industrial peace]," Land-Kazlauskas said. "If [the government] can't make this illegal or put in place penalties that will keep employers from doing that, what is going to make an employer want to negotiate?" "You can't have a system of healthy constructive industrial relations where one party can sit down and say, 'either you accept my terms or you're all fired'," Land-Kazlauskas said. "That's not considered good faith collective bargaining." "If that spreads, then the government will have a much harder time keeping industrial peace. The economy is going to have a much harder time in developing. It's going to scare away a lot of foreign investors." Related Stories Gap's report on supplier factories detail problems 12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ Land prices skyrocket after unveiling of Rangoon development plan While Than Win, director general of the Department of Labor Relations, acknowledged that there are some cases of unfair dismissals of trade union officials in factories, he said that sometimes the unionists' actions create disputes. "I found that some trade union officials interrupted the mandate or authority of the managers or employers, so that leads to the said dispute and dismissals," he said by email from Naypyidaw. The Department of Labour Relations has recorded almost 70 protests in the garment sector during the first seven months of 2014. In 2012, there were 241 recorded protests, and 136 in 2013. Despite these numbers, Than Win pointed out that another 2,300 cases were resolved from 2012 to July 2014 through negotiations via township conciliation boards – which is the next step both parties take if negotiations do not lead to a settlement. Win Shein, director general of the Ministry of Labour's Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department, said that his staff visit factories and hold workshops regularly to educate both owners and workers on negotiation tactics and the need for understanding. "We truly believe that through awareness-raising workshops, management level will be familiar with current labour law and they will apply the knowledge at the workplace, which will lead to less labour disputes happening," Win Shein said. "Without an employer, workers cannot survive. At the same time, without any workers, an employer cannot start any business … I strongly believe they should have mutual trust in each other." MGMA's chairman Myint Soe believes that both workers and owners will be able to benefit from more investment from international brands and factories in the garment sector. Concerned with a PR image, brands tend to focus on making sure factories are compliant with the law and international human rights standards, he said. "They have training [for the workers] for labour rights issues and safety issues, and they address issues of working hours and salary. These things concern the brands, so workers are happy to see and get knowledge and training from them," Myint Soe said. "And employers will be happy as well because the orders are for a longer period and in bigger volume." But FTUM's secretary-general Maung Maung cautions against this rosy view of international brands, adding that history hasn't proven this to be accurate. "I would say that we have to take companies on their own and what they do here in this country," Maung Maung said. "Having big names is good for business, but on the human rights and workers rights issues, we would have to gaze at them individually — not as a brand, but based on their practices here."

Arakan govt moves to protect heritage sites Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:40 PM PDT The Arakan State parliament approved this week a conservation law to protect the region's famous historical sites. The new Arakan State Cultural Heritage Conservation Law, which was originally proposed to the regional assembly by the State Law Drafting Committee, includes penalties for anyone who builds, abuses, digs or exploits demarcated sites of cultural value. Anyone building in a protected area, including the unauthorised construction of hotels and tourist facilities, could be jailed for up to three years, while illegal commerce or digging at a heritage site will carry a maximum sentence of two years and a one million kyat (US$1,000) penalty. Shithaung Temple, Myo Haung, Arakan State. (PHOTO: Maung Maung Oo) "We approved the heritage law today after reaching an agreement between the State Law Drafting Committee and MPs," said Arakan National Party MP and committee chairman Aung Myat Kyaw on Tuesday. "Arakan State is rich in cultural heritage and we agreed that we should have strict laws to conserve these sites." The law was drafted by a 17-member committee including parliamentarians, legal experts, historians and academics. Aung Myat Kyaw told DVB that once the new law is active, copies of the regulations will be distributed to the public. However, he was unable to expand upon which sites would be prioritised for protection. The people of Arakan, also called Rakhine, have one of the longest documented histories in the region, with ample legends and folklore of a kingdom ruled by King Marayu in the year 3525 BC. It is said that Buddhism was introduced into Arakan during the lifetime of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha himself. According to local chronicles, Siddhartha visited the city of Dhanyawadi in Arakan on his travels. Little remains at Dhanyawadi today except for the outlines of a once-prominent fortress. However, a towering temple still stands – the home of the Maha Muni statue, which was later seized by the invading Burmese. In 1433, King Min Saw Mon established Mrauk-U as his capital, located about 50km northeast of present-day Sittwe. It was an epicentre of Buddhism and had dozens of temples and pagodas built from stone, many of which are still standing. The golden age of Mrauk-U lasted well into the 18th century when the Arakanese were defeated by the Burmese. Sittaung is another well-known stone pagoda site, constructed in 1533 by King Minbin. Its name means "Shrine of the 80,000 Images", a reference to the number of holy images found inside.   Related Stories Latpadaung locals shunned from sacred site The R-word, and its ramifications Bullet Points: 12 August 2014

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National News

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• Myanmar census shows population 9 million fewer than estimated
• Census ends long-standing question on population
• Stripped: May Myat Noe loses crown
• MP to take fight against YCDC to Nay Pyi Taw
• Culture officials insist raise bell must return to Shwedagon
• More heavy rain likely in September

Myanmar census shows population 9 million fewer than estimated Posted: 29 Aug 2014 05:46 PM PDT Myanmar's first census in three decades shows the country has a population of 51 million people, authorities said Saturday, around nine million fewer than an earlier estimate.

Census ends long-standing question on population Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:46 PM PDT Decades of speculation have been brought to an end. Myanmar's population, estimated in recent years at anywhere from 45-70 million, stands at 51,419,420, the Central Census Committee announced on August 29.

Stripped: May Myat Noe loses crown Posted: 29 Aug 2014 02:53 PM PDT Myanmar's May Myat Noe has been stripped of her Miss Asia Pacific World title, amid accusations she absconded from South Korea without returning her tiara – valued at US$100,000 – and after the organisation said it had paid $10,000 for her to have breast implants.

MP to take fight against YCDC to Nay Pyi Taw Posted: 29 Aug 2014 02:47 PM PDT A regional parliamentarian whose proposal to abolish and re-form Yangon City Development Committee according to the law was rejected says she will take her fight to the national legislature – and possibly the Constitutional Tribunal.

Culture officials insist raise bell must return to Shwedagon Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:50 PM PDT Archaeological officials have threatened legal action if those claiming to have found the Dhammazedi Bell fail to return it to its former home – Yangon's famed Shwedagon Pagoda.

More heavy rain likely in September Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:51 PM PDT Coastal areas can expect further heavy rainfall in September, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned last week, ahead of the official end of the monsoon season on October 10.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Bullet Points: 29 August 2014
• Trapped Burmese migrant workers strike in Chiang Mai
• BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 29 August 2014
• Gap’s report on supplier factories detail problems
• Unity five launch last appeal against harsh sentence
• US to build two solar energy plants in Burma
• 12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ
• Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China

Bullet Points: 29 August 2014 Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:53 AM PDT On today's edition of Bullet Points: 100 female soldiers graduate in Rangoon. Burmese migrant workers strike in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. American investment to fund two giant solar energy plants in central Burma. You can watch Bullet Points every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

Trapped Burmese migrant workers strike in Chiang Mai Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:53 AM PDT Burmese migrant workers are on strike in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. They say they are being held in bonded labour, and that their employer is holding their passports, forcing them to work for as little as 270 Thai baht (US$5) per day. That is half of Thailand's legal minimum wage. The striking workers say they are often not paid for months on end, despite them being due their wage on a fortnightly basis. Forty Burmese workers say they are trapped on the site. With no documents and no money, they have little other choice. They say twenty others did manage to reclaim their passports, and have since returned to Burma. “I want to get my passport back," says one infuriated worker. "The owner has been delaying our pay, telling us it will come today or tomorrow. We want to get paid regularly and we want to keep our passports.” Women have it hardest, as the lowest-paid workers on the site. Their meager pay offers little else than run-down temporary houses in the centre of Thailand's second largest city. "Today, nobody goes to work because we were not paid," says a striking female worker.  "We, the women, get 170 baht. The owner has kept our passports for about three months. He said he would give them back, but he still hasn't.” Often it takes a local workers' rights watchdog to pressure owners to pay migrant labourers. Chiang Mai-based migrant rights activist Johny Adhikari said the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok should be capable of stamping out abuse such as this. "There are officers in the [Burmese] embassy appointed by the government for assisting migrant workers," he said. Related Stories BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 29 August 2014 Thailand expects trade surplus with Burma by 2016, says bank exec Bullet Points: 27 August 2014 "They should come and investigate, and they should help the workers to get their rights and salaries. The migrants should not be paid only 170- 200 baht when the Thai minimum wage for a worker is 300 baht." "I want the [Burmese] embassy to know what is happening here." The Thai economy hinges on some two million Burmese living and working in the country. However, after the Thai military took power in a bloodless coup in May, a crackdown on Burmese migrants in Chiang Mai saw many deported home. The junta has since pledged to care for Burmese migrant workers.  They have extended the time frame for unregistered migrant workers to obtain documents, and have set up offices to process claims in one step.

BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 29 August 2014 Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:59 AM PDT Ups and downs Burma's currency was stable again this week; the buying rate for Burmese kyat on Friday was 973 to the US dollar. The price of gold rose slightly to 671,300 kyat per tical, up from 669,000 kyat last week. Fuel and rice prices remained steady.   Coal plant to be built near Rangoon A 300 megawatt coal power plant is soon to be built in Thaung Khng village, 40 km south of Rangoon, local media reported on Sunday. Eleven Media cited project officials who said that villagers have been informed of the project, which will be managed by Kaung Myat Thaw Myay Company, a subsidiary of Asia World. The project will comprise two 150 MW stations and could be expanded to include three other facilities. It is intended to provide electricity primarily to Rangoon.   India to sign Free Trade Agreement with Burma India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry expects to sign a long-awaited Free Trade Agreement with the Southeast Asian trade bloc later this month, The New Indian Express reported on Monday. Minister of State Nirmala Sitharaman will travel to the Burmese capital Naypyidaw on 26-27 August for an ASEAN-Indian ministerial meeting, where the treaty will be signed. The agreement indicates India's interest in a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership plan that extends further across Asia and the Pacific, the report said.   Govt pulls plug on several junta-era dams Several hydropower projects initiated by Burma's former ruling junta have been indefinitely stopped, according to Deputy Minister of Electric Power Maw Thar Htwe. Speaking to reporters in Shan State on 23 August, the deputy minister said that two dams in Arakan State, one in Kachin State and another in Tenasserim Division have been halted because they are no longer relevant. He added that the ministry is seeking new partners to develop some other unspecified hydro projects.   Burma's rice exports up 40 percent Burma's rice exports have risen by 41 percent during the current fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Industry news site Oryza reported that officials said that US$196 million in rice was exported from 1 April to 15 August, a total of 530,000 tons. The rise was attributed to increased demand from Russia, which countered lower exports to China since a ban was put in place at the start of the fiscal year. The freeze on exports to China has steeply devalued Burmese rice, but officials said that Burma and China are working on a new agreement to allow legal trade in the near future. Read more here.   Burma's companies slacking off on taxes Nearly half of Burma's registered companies filed income tax documents this year, according to a senior tax official. The Internal Revenue Department announced a 30 June deadline to declare all assets, with penalties for late submissions. Despite the announcements published in state media, many companies filed two months past the deadline while others simply didn't file at all. Last year, income tax in Rangoon alone generated about 710 billion kyat (US$710 million).   Thailand expecting trade surplus with Burma by 2016 Thailand is expecting to have a bilateral trade surplus with Burma by 2016 because of economic growth and an increase in cross-border trade, according to a senior executive of Bangkok Bank. While the first half of the fiscal year indicated a trade deficit of 40 billion baht (US$1.33 billion), the figure is expected to drop by half by the end of the year, he said. In previous years, Thailand maintained a steady trade deficit with its neighbours, largely due to vast natural gas imports. But the executive predicted increased demand for Thai products in Burma are likely to even out trade figures. Read more here.   South Korea to increase fruit imports from Burma South Korea is set to increase Burmese agricultural imports, according to Burma's Ministry of Commerce. Korean government officials and representatives of the ASEAN-Korea Centre met with the ministry on Tuesday to iron out plans to begin the import of four fruits: dragonfruit, mango, mangosteen and pomelo. Prior to the deal, Burma has maintained other successful trade relations with South Korea. Various pulses, tobacco leaves, dried fruit and raw materials used for traditional medicine are regularly exported to South Korea. Read more here.   Foreign banks apply for full-operation status Twenty-five of the 43 foreign banks that currently have representative offices in Burma have applied for full-operational status within the national banking system. About five to ten of those companies will be selected in September, according to an official from the Banks and Financial Development subcommittee. Selected banks will be able to open branches and carry out all customer services, whereas the current representative banks primarily act as liaison for investors. Read more here.   Trade between ASEAN and Canada hits $16.5bn Bilateral trade between Canada and ASEAN reached US$16.5 billion in fiscal year 2013, state media reported on Thursday. Citing Canada's Minister of International Trade, in Burma for the 3rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Summit in Naypyidaw, The New Light of Myanmar said that bilateral trade is growing by more than seven percent each year. Stock of Canadian direct investments in ASEAN increased by 34 percent to $5.7 billion, the report said.   12 Foreign companies bid for Kyaukphyu SEZ contracts Twelve companies from seven countries have submitted proposals for the development of a Special Economic Zone in Kyaukphyu, western Burma, according to the SEZ selection committee. Proposals include plans to develop factories, housing projects and the completion of a deep sea port. A call for tenders was announced earlier this year and the bidding window closed on 25 August, the secretary of the committee, Aung Kyaw Than, said. Read more here. Related Stories Trapped Burmese migrant workers strike in Chiang Mai 12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China

Gap’s report on supplier factories detail problems Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:46 AM PDT The US Embassy of Burma released a report on Thursday voluntarily submitted by US retailer Gap Inc. detailing the compliance issues found in their two factories initially and the improvements made. Gap announced its entry into Burma in June, making it the first US clothing company to source products from its garment sector since the US government eased economic sanctions. Yangon Pan Pacific International and Myanmar Glogon are the two South Korean factories chosen in Rangoon to produce finished outerwear for Gap. According to the report, titled "Responsible Sourcing in Myanmar", which Gap submitted to the US State Department on August 25, the two factories had to instate improvements as they had several compliance issues. These problems include excessive working hours and inconsistent payment of overtime, an unclear policy on the hiring of underage workers, inappropriate behaviours from supervisors towards workers, and certain safety issues regarding health and fire prevention. Through third party audits and numerous follow-ups, Gap said in the report that the factories improved significantly before they began producing clothing orders, with one of the factories successfully resolving all the main issues by June. "These improvements are encouraging, especially considering how new many of the practices and more rigorous standards are for these factories and the garment industry in Myanmar," the report said. These issues are familiar within Burma's garment sector. The report even detailed how Gap took the extra step of ensuring that each factory's lands were not part of any dispute, as land confiscation during the military regime is now a big cause for protests by farmers and former owners demanding the land back. Related Stories US to build two solar energy plants in Burma Land prices skyrocket after unveiling of Rangoon development plan Thailand expects trade surplus with Burma by 2016, says bank exec Debbie Mesloh, Gap Inc's senior director of government and public affairs, said in an email that her company recognises the role they play as the first American retailer to begin sourcing from Burma, which is officially known as Myanmar. "Gap Inc. is committed to Myanmar and we want to be part of building a sustainable, healthy garment industry in the country," she said. "We have a long-standing partnership with our vendors in Myanmar and intend to continue working in the country as long as our vendors meet our Code of Vendor Conduct and the country continues its path to democratic reform as outlined by the United States government." Gap has previously declined to disclose their investment value into the two factories. However, Myint Soe, chairman of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, said last week that garment exports to the US will increase dramatically this year, from $1.96 million in 2013 to at least $50 million. The company is also now part of a new initiative between the two countries, announced on Thursday by a US trade representative, Michael Froman. This programme's aim is to promote and implement fundamental labour rights and good working conditions on the ground, while also developing a strategy for labour law reforms. Sai Khing Myo Tun, the spokesman for the Myanmar Trade Union Federation, said that he welcomed Gap's efforts to improve the factories. "We welcome them if they are concerned about labour rights," Sai Khing Myo Tun said. "We do need the investment and we need investors who take responsibility when they come into the country."

Unity five launch last appeal against harsh sentence Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:47 AM PDT A final appeal against the verdict for five Unity Weekly journal employees — who were sentenced to ten years in prison with hard labour in July — was submitted to Magwe regional court on Thursday. Following the January publication of a report about an alleged secret chemical weapons facility in central Burma, the four reporters and the journal's CEO were arrested and charged for trespassing and violation of the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Lost time and expenses associated with months of legal proceedings have since caused the journal to cease operations. The five were convicted and sentenced on 10 July, immediately prompting public outcry both within and beyond Burma. The group's legal counsel, Robert San Aung, submitted the latest appeal to the regional judge, Myint Thein, on Thursday on the grounds that they are innocent. He requested that the four reporters be released from prison and that the sentence of Tint San, the journal's executive, be reduced by half. Related Stories Military is committed to peace process, says Thein Sein Charges dropped for 50 media activists Politicians, activists criticise Thein Sein's address on corruption "I appealed to the court that my clients did not commit a crime," said Robert San Aung. "Dictators believe that journalists should write whatever the government wants. This view has no place in a progressive society. I told them that." "Furthermore," he added, "the area had no signage indicating that it was prohibited. The farmland in this area was seized without any compensation. My clients did not commit a crime. The verdict was wrong and they should be freed." Robert San Aung said he hopes that his clients —  reporters Lu Maw Naing, Sithu Soe, Aung Thura, Yazar Oo, and CEO Tint Hsan – will be granted amnesty, as President Thein Sein recently vowed to the Interim Press Council that he would try to increase protections for journalists. The court is expected to issue a decision about the appeal within one month, Robert San Aung said.

US to build two solar energy plants in Burma Posted: 28 Aug 2014 11:39 PM PDT The United States has reached an agreement with the Burmese government to develop two solar energy plants, the office of the US Trade Representative announced on Thursday. Two 150 megawatt solar energy plants will be constructed, one in Meikhtila and one in Myingyan. The project will require an investment of about US$480 million, making it one of the largest US-funded investments in Burma to date. Convalt Energy, part of the ACO Investment Group, has been selected as the managing company. The company estimates that the project will create about 400 temporary construction jobs and 100 permanent positions, the statement said. An estimated 10-12 percent of the nation's power generation is expected to come from the two projects upon its completion in 2016.   Related Stories Gap's report on supplier factories detail problems 12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ Land prices skyrocket after unveiling of Rangoon development plan

12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ Posted: 28 Aug 2014 10:53 PM PDT Twelve companies from seven countries have submitted proposals for the development of a Special Economic Zone in Kyaukphyu, western Burma, according to the SEZ selection committee. Proposals include plans to develop factories, housing projects and the completion of a deep sea port. A call for tenders was announced earlier this year and the bidding window closed on 25 August, the secretary of the committee, Aung Kyaw Than, said. "Twelve conglomerates from seven countries have shown interest in three economic zone projects: the seaport project, a housing project and a factory project. They have submitted all data and logistics for the developments,” he said. Bids were received from countries across Europe and Asia, but most of the bidders are from Southeast Asian nations. Aung Kyaw Than said that the committee will decide based on which plan can create more opportunities for local businesses. Kyaukphyu is located on the coast of Arakan State, and is expected to become a major gateway for trade. It is also the starting point of two pipelines built to deliver natural gas and crude oil to southeastern China, one of which came online last year after several years of setbacks. The project, which was envisioned by the former military junta and likely the impetus for development of the SEZ, faced major opposition from local people everywhere from Kyaukphyu to Yunnan. While many locals have accepted the SEZ project on the promise of development, concerns remain about land loss and unemployment. Most of the local people rely on fishing and farming to earn a living, and many have already issued complaints to local authorities that land has been seized or destroyed. Fishermen, also, have repeatedly claimed that dredging and pollution have taken a heavy toll on their livelihoods. The amount of fish is in rapid decline, and the seaport project has led to restrictions on when and where villagers can fish. Related Stories BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 29 August 2014 US to build two solar energy plants in Burma Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China Ba Shwe, chairman of Kyaukphyu SEZ Watch, said that he and his colleagues will continue to monitor the situation closely. The prospect of increased electrical access, better social services and work options are enticing to villagers, but many still doubt that those benefits will ever materialise, as many corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects have failed them in the past. Moreover, some villagers who have lost their land were in turn granted jobs on the port site, which are temporary and poorly paid. “We can accept the good things, but we are still very worried about possible land seizures and joblessness," said Ba Shwe. "We will keep watching investors”. The committee said that they hope to begin implementing development of the zone by April 2015. Singaporean CPG Corporation was selected as the leading consultancy firm for the development in March of this year.

Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China Posted: 28 Aug 2014 09:47 PM PDT People smuggling is endemic on Burma's porous northern border with China. In northern centres such as Lashio, Shan State, girls as young as 14 are being stolen from their families and trafficked over the Chinese border, where they are sold into slavery or forced into marriage. Women are being bought by Chinese men for around US$3,500. An extra payment is often made if the woman becomes pregnant. In one high-profile case stemming from Naryama, a rural village on the outskirts of Lashio, one family has made progress in their fight to bring back their girl. “My sister-in-law has two children. She was taken from our village recently," said one family member. “We didn’t realise at first. After 3-4 days, we approached a woman and a Chinese man that we suspected might have kidnapped her." She enlisted the help of the village chief. "The Naryama village headman asked them, and he was informed that she was in China," she said. "So the headman sent me to China. I tried to ask where she was and tried to get there. I met her. She was with a Chinese husband. She said she was forced to marry him." "I couldn't rescue her myself. I had to return home." The market for Burmese women in China is growing. Women among the 120,000 people displaced by the ongoing civil war in Burma's north are exceptionally vulnerable, as are women from families gripped by poverty, who are often tricked by the promise of a well-paid job in China. Lashio's representative in Naypyidaw, Sai San Min, said that while the region faces an urgent trafficking problem, it is not being addressed as other problems —  like the drug trade —  take precedence. “The trafficking problem gets bigger and bigger," said Sai San Min of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. "But the trafficking issue is not treated as seriously as the drug trade. This needs to change.” The Palaung Women's Organisation (PWO) says the threat to girls pervades every village in a state gripped by war and a rampant opium trade. They said, however, that local law enforcement does seem to be improving. "This year we have exposed nine cases of forced marriage and one case of forced labour coming out of Lashio," says San San Htay, a local police officer and member of the Lashio branch of the state anti-trafficking task force. Related Stories BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 29 August 2014 12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ China inspects Burma's rice in advance of trade agreement "Among those cases," she continued, "we arrested eight male suspects and 20 female suspects. A total of 28 people have been charged.  "The majority of trafficking victims are women and children," she confirmed. "Trafficking to China represents around 80 percent of cases. Internal trafficking accounts for four percent. About 16 percent are trafficked to Thailand." Year after year, Burmese authorities at the state and national level report human trafficking cases in the hundreds. However, according to women's rights groups such as the PWO and the Women's League of Burma, the number of women stolen away to China each year could be much higher.

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