Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Bullet Points: 25 August 2014
• Latpadaung locals shunned from sacred site
• Hpa-an farmers march for return of seized lands
• Locals flee extreme floods in Hpakant
• Shan farmers dissatisfied with dam relocation site
• Education would help stop child labour, say experts
• Filthy water plumbed into Rangoon homes

Bullet Points: 25 August 2014 Posted: 25 Aug 2014 04:49 AM PDT On today's edition of Bullet Points: The UN secretary general's Burma representative, Vijay Nambiar, tours Muslim and Buddhist displacement camps in the Sittwe area. Aung San Suu Kyi meets writers and artists at a Rangoon convention. Hallowed Buddhist temple moved from the site of the Latpadaung copper mine. Celebrations continued for Burma's champion under-19 football team. You can watch Bullet Points every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

Latpadaung locals shunned from sacred site Posted: 25 Aug 2014 04:41 AM PDT Tight security surrounded the re-consecration of a famed Buddhist stupa, which once stood on the site of the Latpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Division, central Burma. The fate of the temples has become a major sticking point with local villagers, who have maintained fierce opposition to the mine. In late March, the complex was de-consecrated, dissembled and removed from its original foundation, sparking widespread disaffection among the local congregation, who feared it may be destroyed. Yet the temple complex made famous by a former presiding abbot, the venerable Ledi Sayadaw Nanadhaja, was reopened on Saturday, just over a kilometre down the road. But it has not been enough to abate the locals, who were barred from attending the reopening ceremony. Protestors gathered outside the old complex made new, as Sagaing Division's chief Minister Thar Aye and fellow members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party observed the ceremonial placing of an umbrella on the top of the pagoda. "We need access to a pagoda, whichever it maybe," one protestor announced to the crowd. "We were blocked on the way and we had to pass through the mud," she explained. "And when we arrived, we weren't allowed in. We've been forced to conduct our prayers from a distance." The snub follows the unwillingness of the state religious authority to allow locals to participate in the de-consecration of the revered temple and ordination hall in March. Also present at Saturday's ceremony were representatives from the Latpadaung Copper Project Investigation Commission, which guaranteed the integrity of the sacred site in its investigation into human rights abuses at the mine. Related Stories Bullet Points: 25 August 2014 Hearing postponed for Kanbalu farmers Bullet Points: 14 August 2014 The commission was formed in late 2012, to inquire about the use of chemical weapons against monks protesting at the site. The committee was chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi, who lent her support to the continuation of the project. Villagers have remained unbending in their opposition to the giant mine, which is jointly owned by the Military-linked Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings and Wanbao, a subsidiary of Chinese state arms manufacturer Norinco. While some villagers have accepted compensation for land confiscated by the companies for the project, many have refused, demanding the return of their lands. Health issues have also abounded, with residents complaining of fumes from a local acid factory burning their children's eyes. In May, local consternation manifested in the kidnapping of two Chinese employees from the site. Now, shunned from the entire relocation process for the hallowed temple, tempers have flared once again.

Hpa-an farmers march for return of seized lands Posted: 25 Aug 2014 02:44 AM PDT More than a hundred farmers from nine villages in Hpa-an Township, Karen State, staged a rally on Monday demanding the return of lands they say were seized by the military many years ago. The farmers were joined by members of the 88 Generation Karen Students Group, in a two-hour march starting at 9am which began in downtown Hpa-an. Karen parliamentarian Nan Say Awa, who observed the demonstration, said the rally was peaceful and included farmers from the villages of Taungthugon, Hlarkamyin and Hlarkadaung. Reporter Mahn Htet Khine said that demonstrators dispersed at 11am when township authorities arrived and began questioning the participants. Related Stories Rice wine remains perfect tonic for Karenni farmers Hearing postponed for Kanbalu farmers Pegu govt promises to help farmers with damaged rice fields MP Nan Say Awa said he called the farmers before the rally and explained that it will take time to get their lands back. He said he also requested that the farmers not hold the protest. Since the Thein Sein government took office in 2011, thousands of farmers and villagers have staged similar rallies calling for the return of lands which were confiscated by the Burmese army, mostly in the 1990s. Last week, Burma's Ministry of Defence announced that, to date, more than 200,000 acres of seized land had been handed over to state and regional governments. In a report submitted to the government on Wednesday, the ministry said more than 50,000 acres were seized in Sagaing Division, 38,000 acres in Kachin State, and many more around the country. According to the report, only about 46,000 acres have so far been transferred back to their original owners.

Locals flee extreme floods in Hpakant Posted: 25 Aug 2014 01:52 AM PDT Most neighbourhoods in Hpakant, a jade-mining town in Burma's northern Kachin State, have been evacuated following days of heavy rain. All quarters except for those at high altitudes were flooded by overflow from the Uru River over the past week. The most hard-hit areas are Ayemyatharyar, Mashikahtaung, Myoma and Ngetpyawdaw, according to locals affiliated with a community organisation called Parami. On Monday, locals said that water levels had lessened to some degree but that transportation is still difficult as most roads are still underwater. Hpakant, an area rich with coveted jade stones, has seen a recent influx of illegal, small-scale mining operations since the breakdown of a 17-year ceasefire between the Burmese government and the Kachin Independence Army. The conflict brought commercial operations to a stop, leading many of the remote state's poor population to rush in and capitalise on the gems.   Burma's Ministry of Mining announced earlier this year that commercial mining operations will resume in September, however.   Last week, Malaysia's UMW Group announced it had secured contracts worth US$63 million to supply more than 60 units of Komatsu equipment - presumably excavators, caterpillars and bulldozers – to jade mining firms in the township. Related Stories Pegu locals return home as flood levels subside UN finalises 'landmark agreement' to fight drugs in Burma Parties covet vacant seats in Kachin State

Shan farmers dissatisfied with dam relocation site Posted: 24 Aug 2014 11:34 PM PDT Villagers in Paunglaung, located between Naypyidaw and Shan State, have said that a relocation project designed to make way for the Upper Paunglaung Dam is insufficient. Nearly 10,000 villagers from 23 villages, most of them farmers, have been relocated to newly constructed towns such as Thebyaegong and Hteinpin. The dam is intended to power a 140 megawatt power plant. The villagers said that in cases where they were allotted land, they were not granted ownership. Maung Muang, one such relocated farmer, said that the lack of ownership makes them feel unstable and thus reluctant to settle in and work the land. "The state and township authorities said that we cannot own the land because the area belongs to the forestry department. If we can’t own the land, there is no guarantee that we can keep working on it," he said. Other farmers suggested that since the new arrangement is untenable, they should be allowed to work their old paddy fields because they have not yet been inundated. Phoe Htwe was relocated to Hteinpin village in 2013. He said that he would be satisfied with any concession that would allow him to farm and generate income.   "The difficulty is that we have no way to earn a living. Land, paddy field, I will be satisfied with whatever I get. We are farmers and we rely on agriculture. Now we can't work on our farms even though it isn't underwater yet,” he said. Related Stories Another wrong turn in Mong La Politicians, activists criticise Thein Sein's address on corruption UN finalises 'landmark agreement' to fight drugs in Burma Shan State Minister of Electric Power Sai Htun Yin maintained that adequate relocation plans have been made. He said that villagers were granted land and a house if they owned property before the move. If a villager is dissatisfied, they can register a complaint with authorities if they provide sufficient evidence, he said. “Twenty-three villages were relocated, a total of 2,514 households. We have given them houses and land. We gave land to those who owned land. We gave houses to those who owned houses," he said. "If they haven’t received it, the government will give it to them immediately, but they need to show us evidence." Maw Thar Htwe, the deputy minister of electric power, assured DVB that some of the issues in the new relocation sites will be resolved once the new villages are officially designated as towns. The designation will ensure more benefits such as access to healthcare and local law enforcement. "Once it [the new village] becomes a town, residents will get all the benefits of a town. They will have a hospital, a police station and schools. They will have access to all the mechanisms of a town,” he said. The Upper Paunglaung Dam project was initiated by the Ministry of Electric Power in 2005. Located about 26 miles from Pyinmanar, Naypyidaw, it is expected to be complete in 2015, according to the government ministry.

Education would help stop child labour, say experts Posted: 24 Aug 2014 11:09 PM PDT A compulsory middle school education for all children in Burma would help to eradicate child labour in the country, several educational experts have said. Such a school system, free but mandatory for all children up to grade eight – usually 13 to 14 years of age – would reduce the likelihood of children being recruited to work in tea shops, agriculture, construction projects or other forms of labour currently common in Burma, they said. Though primary school education is both free and compulsory in Burma, middle school (junior high) is free of cost, but not mandatory. Children should receive a free public education for no less than nine years, said Thu Thu Mar from the National Network for Education. "The new Education Law requires all children to attend primary school," she said. "But the law requires that this is extended step-by-step until we have a system whereby kids cannot drop out of school until they finish middle school. This will help stop the recruitment of child soldiers and child labourers." Parliamentarian Nyo Nyo Thin said free and compulsory education should be a long-term goal and that the government must tackle the increasing number of school drop-outs due to poverty. "It is the duty of the state to offer education as a basic human right," she said. "Children are currently obliged to go to primary school; we want that requirement to extend to a middle school education." Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor, which is due to roll-out Internet and telephone networks across Burma starting in September, announced on Thursday that it has discovered cases of underage labour in its supply chain. In a corporate webcast, Telenor said it had uncovered three situations where a total of six underage workers were employed by the group's partners or sub-contractors, and that it had taken steps to remove the young people from the sites. Related Stories Drugs and development in the Wa region Bullet Points: 22 August 2014 Telenor discovers child labourers on its sites "We have a strict policy on underage labour," Telenor spokesperson Hanne Knudsen told DVB on Friday. "All our partners in Myanmar [Burma] sign the Supplier Conduct Principles, which states that nobody under 15 years will be employed directly or indirectly for Telenor business. This is in line with recognised international ILO [International Labour Organization] conventions. Additionally, Telenor Group has defined the age requirement for tower construction sites as a minimum of 18 years as we consider some aspects of work on construction sites as potentially hazardous." Selim Benaissa, the chief technical advisor for ILO’s Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, confirmed to DVB on Monday that Burma has ratified ILO conventions that bar children from being involved in hazardous work. "Myanmar ratified ILO Convention 182 in December 2013 and therefore has to develop a hazardous list of work to be prohibited [for those] under 18 (including exceptions for the 16-17 age group)," he said. "It is crucial to keep in mind that the prevention and elimination of child labour is a long process that involves multiple actors of society working in synergies. For foreign companies, who are key actors in this landscape, responsible action should be taken in consideration of the impact it can have on the families and children, in the sense of the additional hardship it can put on the families, as well as potentially resulting in pushing children who are currently employed to more invisible worst forms of child labour. Government, workers, employers and other civil society organizations and individuals – each have an important role to play."

Filthy water plumbed into Rangoon homes Posted: 24 Aug 2014 08:28 PM PDT Rangoon's water supply stems from four reservoirs dotted around the city. A giant pipeline snakes through Kyauktada township in downtown Rangoon, plumbing water across 60 kilometres from the giant Gyohpyu reservoir in the city’s north. The water from Gyohpyu sustains many of the six million people living in the former capital. Now, residents whose houses feed off of the pipeline say filthy water is being plumbed into their homes. The yellowed water contains heavy sediment, which poses a clear health risk. The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), who are responsible for connecting Rangoon's water supply, say they are conducting tests. Intermittent water closures have been felt in the city this week, as the council conducts much needed repair work. Nyo Htun, a Rangoon security guard, is in charge of monitoring his building’s plumbing. He says the water standard is unacceptable. "Over the past three to four weeks there has been heavy sediment in the water coming up from the pipeline. You can see the scum on top if you leave it overnight," he said. "It smells like garbage." The YCDC said it supplies around 200 million gallons of water per day to 60 percent of the city's population. Those out of reach have to make do with private wells, public tanks, ponds and water collected from rooftops. Local residents, accustomed to boiling water for drinking, say they now have to buy bottled water at an unsustainable cost. But as health problems loom, many have little choice. Related Stories Charges dropped for 50 media activists Bullet Points: 22 August 2014 Michaungkan activist sentenced to 8 months "We don't even know what is in the water," said one resident of Rangoon's Seikkantha Township. "The council says it has sent samples to be tested. We don't know how it could possibly smell so bad, it has a yellowish colour and it makes your hands sticky if you try to wash them in it." The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), last year pledged 18 million dollars to the upgrade of Rangoon's water supply. Joint projects between the YCDC and JICA include upgrades on pipelines and are due to be completed by 2015. But that may not come soon enough for people in central Rangoon, who are already reporting stomach and skin problems.

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