Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Bullet Points: 27 August 2014
• New parties not contesting by-elections could be dissolved, says EC
• Worker benefits increase but awareness stays low
• Ethnic bloc to meet NLD, 88 Gen in Thailand
• Shan villagers call for withdrawal of Burmese troops
• Japanese reveal taste for Burmese tea
• S Korea to import more fruit from Burma

Bullet Points: 27 August 2014 Posted: 27 Aug 2014 04:16 AM PDT On today’s top stories: Burmese migrant workers implicated in Malaysian factory riot. Rangoon Division parliament discusses workers compensation. South Korea to boost trade with Burma. Japanese company to import Burmese edible tea. You can watch Bullet Points every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

New parties not contesting by-elections could be dissolved, says EC Posted: 27 Aug 2014 03:33 AM PDT Political parties could be dissolved if they do not compete for at least three seats in the upcoming national by-elections, said Election Commission (EC) Director Thaung Hlaing, citing a 2012 amendment to the Political Registration Law. "In sections one and two under Article 16 of the Political Registration Law, any party which registers after the last general election must contest at least three seats. Failure to do so shall see its registration revoked," he told DVB on Wednesday. There are currently 66 registered political parties in Burma, 24 of which were verified since the 2012 amendment, the EC director said. Parties existing before 2012 – such as the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, the National Unity Party and Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy – are therefore exempt from the regulation. Related Stories Parties covet vacant seats in Kachin State Faithful to the party: Saw Than Myint First past the post: the responsible choice for Burma Another exception to the rule applies to parties which are only registered at a state or division level and not nationwide, such as many of the ethnic parties. “If a political party is registered nationwide, it must field candidates in at least three constituencies at the by-elections," Thaung Hlaing said. "This does not apply to parties that have only applied to participate in one state or division unless there are more than three seats up for grabs in that particular region in the upcoming by-election." Kyaw Min, the chairman of the Democracy and Human Rights Party, said that although he knows they have to follow the registration law, the conditions are difficult for his party to fulfil. "We want the by-elections to be free and fair whether we participate or not," he said. "General elections come around every four or five years. That is when all parties should take part. Otherwise the political party has no meaning." Thirty-five seats will be up for grabs in by-elections due to be held before the end of the year.

Worker benefits increase but awareness stays low Posted: 27 Aug 2014 01:57 AM PDT Burma's workers are losing out on social benefits because they are not aware of their privileges, according to a labour official. In a Wednesday briefing with the Rangoon regional parliament, Zaw Aye Maung of the Social Security Board under the Ministry of Labour, explained what the ministry is doing to increase both benefits and general rights awareness. The official said that 21 clinics were established in the region, and that workers covered under the Social Welfare Law can be reimbursed for medical expenses if they visit the facilities. "Workers were given smart-cards at their respective factories and premises," he said. “They have the right to go to the clinic and seek treatment." Zaw Aye Maung also said that life insurance is now available for workers. Under the policy, the family of an employee who dies after less than 60 months of work will receive 30 times the basic salary. If the employee has worked between 60 and 120 months, compensation will be 50 times basic salary. Those who worked 120 to 240 months will receive 60 times, and 80 times the salary for any longer tenure. The Social Welfare Department has dispersed 68 million kyat (US$68,000) since the start of the year, he said. The official explained during the session, which was open for questions by lawmakers, that while benefits are increasing, awareness remains low and many workers are not redeeming their full privileges. Related Stories Bullet Points: 21 August 2014 Families of missing fishermen to receive compensation Ratifying ILO convention should be child's play

Ethnic bloc to meet NLD, 88 Gen in Thailand Posted: 27 Aug 2014 01:36 AM PDT The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an umbrella organisation of ethnic armed groups, is to hold an official meeting with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other Burmese pro-democracy groups for the first time. The meeting has been scheduled for 29- 30 August in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Joining the NLD for talks with the UNFC will be leading members of the United Nationalities Alliance and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, as well as elected representatives from the 1990 general elections. The conference will focus on democratic and ethnic equality issues, said Nyi Pu, an NLD Central Executive Committee member who is due to attend Friday's parlay. UNFC Joint-secretary Col. Khun Okker said the UNFC would explain the decisions and future plans that came from its internal conference in Chiang Mai earlier in the week. "We are keen to study the discussion points from the UNFC conference," said Mya Aye of the 88GPOS. "We believe the UNFC is working in the best interests of the country." Considered a big brother to the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), the UNFC is an alliance of ethnic parties which are united in their support for the formation of a federal union in Burma. Its main members are the Kachin Independence Organisation, New Mon State Party, Shan State Army- North, Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party and Chin National Front. Related Stories Military is committed to peace process, says Thein Sein Bullet Points: 25 August 2014 Hpa-an farmers march for return of seized lands On 18 August, UNFC leaders Nai Hongsa, Gen. Gun Maw, Col. Khun Okker and Tun Zaw had an informal meeting with NLD Chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in Rangoon where they reportedly exchanged opinions about the ongoing peace process and the situation in parliament. Several of the UNFC leaders are also members of the NCCT, which has sat for five rounds of talks with the Burmese government in recent months, as both sides thrash out terms aimed at pushing through a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Shan villagers call for withdrawal of Burmese troops Posted: 27 Aug 2014 12:51 AM PDT Hundreds of local residents have petitioned Burmese President Thein Sein to immediately withdraw troops from several villages in Shan State, claiming that an increased military presence over the past two months has led to staggering displacement and property damages. In a letter addressed to the president and copied to the commander-in-chief, peacemakers and regional politicians, villagers from Ke See Township requested that "the Burmese army troops who have occupied our house compounds withdraw from Pasaung, and for the government to provide compensation for the destruction of our property, crops and livestock." Dated 15 August and circulated by the Shan Human Rights Foundation on 26 August, the letter claims that more than 3,000 Burmese troops have been deployed to the area since June 2014, in what they termed "an offensive to seize territories" of ethnic Shan armies that are currently under a ceasefire agreement with the central government. The villagers said that 422.5 acres of farmland have been destroyed, and that conflicts have resulted in indefinite displacement of nearly 300 villagers from Wan Pasaung alone, who are still sheltering in neighbouring Wan Warp. Related Stories Bullet Points: 26 August 2014 Military is committed to peace process, says Thein Sein Shan farmers dissatisfied with dam relocation site The occupation began on 26 June, the villagers said, and fighting continued for several days. The letter states that during that time, fences were destroyed, animals were killed and villagers were tormented. In one account, "a deaf villager was beaten and kicked when he was unable to hear an order from the troops." Intensity of the sudden conflict was enough to prompt an alliance of Shan organisations to write to US Secretary of State John Kerry on 7 August, requesting that he bring the matter to the attention of the president. Kerry arrived in Burma on 9 August, and left with no indication that the issue of ceasefire-violating military actions had been discussed with the president. The US has stated the intention to enhance non-combat military-to-military cooperation with Burma geared towards promoting human rights and building emergency response capacity. Pasaung, located in the central part of the eastern state, is controlled by the Shan State Army – North, an ethnic armed group that entered into a new ceasefire agreement with the government in January 2012. On-the-ground sources, however, claim that conflict has not abated despite progress towards a nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Japanese reveal taste for Burmese tea Posted: 27 Aug 2014 12:46 AM PDT A Japanese company has contacted the Burmese embassy in Tokyo with a request to buy fresh green tea leaves in bulk. "The Japan Greentea Company distributes dried tea leaves around the world," the embassy's economic councilor Min Zaw Oo told DVB. "Now they are thinking about fresh leaves – the same as the ones we eat in lahpet [pickled Burmese tea leaf salad]. Packaging green tea in Burma (PHOTO: DVB) "They want to import tea leaves from Burma, then retail them in Japan and perhaps other countries," he said. "They have requested that the embassy connect them with reputable firms who cultivate and sell fresh green tea leaves. And we are working on it." Min Zaw Oo said details of the offer to import fresh tea leaves to Japan has been passed to the Ministry of Commerce. Yujiro Mishima, the head of the Overseas Trading Department at Japan Greentea Co Ltd, confirmed the company's interest to DVB, noting that Burma is a major producer of fresh tea leaves. Mishima said that the concept of eating green tea leaves was completely new to the Japanese, and that he had "no idea" how it would be received. "We can export green tea overseas. But we eat no green tea in Japan, you know," he said on Tuesday. "It is quite another business. But I think – we think – eating green tea is suitable for the Japanese market.” Japan Greentea Co Ltd was established more than 40 years ago, and has regularly imported green tea and other medicinal plants from around Asia, Europe and the Americas. "Those Burmese companies who want to export tea leaves to Japan should be mindful of the quality,' said economic councilor Min Zaw Oo. "The quality and packaging should be good. It should contain no dyes and be purely organic." Tea is native to Burma, both Camellia sinensis and Camellia assamica, which are grown mainly on the hills in northern Shan State around Namhsan in the Palaung sub-state of Tawngpeng, but also around Mogok in Mandalay Division, and Kengtung in southern Shan State. Zayan leaves, which make up about 80 percent of the harvest, are best picked in April and May before the onset of the monsoon season, but they can be picked until October. Related Stories Bullet Points: 27 August 2014 Bullet Points: 12 August 2014 Japan pledges 10.5 million yen for Burma's communications network According to 2007 data, more than 700 square km of land is under tea cultivation with an annual yield of 60,000-70,000 tonnes. Of this, 69.5 percent is green tea, 19.5 percent black tea, and 20 percent pickled tea. Annual consumption in Burma runs at 52 percent green tea, 31 percent black tea and 17 percent pickled tea. Green tea is ubiquitous in Japan, where it varies vastly in quality and price. Many teas are considered precious, and are carefully selected for refined tastes. Renowned for its health benefits, studies have found green tea consumption can decrease the risk of many cancers, cardio-vascular disease and dementia,

S Korea to import more fruit from Burma Posted: 26 Aug 2014 10:00 PM PDT 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. Quality control regulations, food safety standards and organic cultivation methods were also discussed. South Korea currently imports these products from the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. Of the four, mango is their largest import. Yong Tae Kim, an official from South Korea's animal and plant quality control agency, said that mango is the most popular imported fruit among Koreans, and is subject to an eight-step quality control process before entering the Korean market. 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.

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