Monday, October 6, 2014

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma


Two policemen wounded in Taunggyi bomb blast

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:09 AM PDT

Two police officers were injured when a series of bomb blasts rocked Shan State capital Taunggyi on Saturday evening.

Khin Moe Moe, chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Taunggyi, said three bombs went off consecutively in the town just after 10pm on 4 October.

"Between five to ten minutes past 10pm, a bomb exploded on Bogyoke Aung San Road at the gates of the 202nd Light Infantry Battalion base. Then a second bomb went off immediately afterwards at the traffic police office on the opposite side of the road. A traffic warden and a police recruit were hit by shrapnel and sustained injuries on their arms and legs," he said.

"Then a third bomb – a more powerful one – exploded outside the gates of the [Burma Army's] East Regional Military Command headquarters."

The two injuries were incurred as a result of the second blast. No casualties were reported from the first and third explosions.

The NLD official in Taungyi said that two more bombs, which did not explode, were found in the vicinity of the regional command base.

The Taunggyi police station confirmed to DVB that the explosions took place but declined to provide further details.

The blasts caused panic among local residents in Taunggyi, many of whom were preparing for the annual Balloon Festival or Festival of Lights (known in Burmese as Tazaungdaing). The festival is the largest event on the tourist calendar and is scheduled to be held on 6 November this year.

Locals reported a high security presence in Taunggyi on Sunday as police and army units conducted searches.

The incident occurred just days after a clash in Shan State's Kaese Township where the SSA-North claims that government forces launched an unprovoked attack on them.

Reporting by Shwe Aung

Bullet Points: 6 October 2014

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:01 AM PDT

On today's edition of Bullet Points:

  • Migrant rights groups monitor Koh Tao murder case
  • Burmese students join Hong Kong protests
  • Prome locals protest environmental damage
  • Shan political parties, armies denounce violence
  • HRW cautious as World Bank announces Burma growth figure

You can watch Bullet Points every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

Karen delegates hold closed-door talks with government

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 04:12 AM PDT

Representatives from the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Karen Unity and Peace Committee (KUPC)—an assorted group of Karen MPs, civil society members and Karen armed groups—held a closed-door meeting with Burmese government officials on Saturday in Taungoo to discuss ways of bringing about unity and peace for the Karen people.

The meeting was attended by: members of the KNU central committee including Mahn Nyein Maung; Karen ethnic affairs ministers from various administrative regions in Burma; members of the Karen People's Party, including the party's deputy chairman; and Karen ethnic MPs.

KNU central committee member Saw Hla Tun said that the parties had reached an agreement on several issues by the end of the meeting, including a call by the Karen representatives for greater cooperation in bringing about unity and peace for the Karen people. The Karen attendees also reportedly agreed with the government on the need to end armed conflict and practice patience. Finally, Karen MPs agreed to make endeavours to ensure that basic human rights of Karen people are protected and Karen youths enjoy a bright future.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army's (DKBA) 5th Battalion—the only DKBA unit that refused to be absorbed into the government's Border Guard Force, and which subsequently re-branded itself as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (also known as DKBA)—is expected to meet with government counterparts on Monday to negotiate the return of firearms the group seized from Burmese troops during a series of skirmishes last week.

Maj. San Aung from the breakaway Karen faction said last week's gunfire “did not a signal a breakdown of the peace process; rather, it was designed to let the country and the world know about the oppression taking place at ground level in Karen State."

Reporting by DVB

Shan groups pledge common vision at Bangkok meeting

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:14 AM PDT

Three Shan armed groups and two major Shan political parties—the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD)—wrapped up a meeting in Bangkok on Friday that was designed to craft a common vision to the peace process and Burma's 2015 elections.

The event, entitled "Towards a Common Understanding – Shan Leaders Consultation", was held on 2- 4 October. In addition to the two political parties the following Shan ethnic armed groups attended the conference: Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), and a lesser-known Shan militia group allied with the government which is based in the northern Shan state town of Hsipaw.

The meeting was also attended by Aung Min, who has been leading peace negotiations with armed ethnic groups on behalf of the Union government as deputy head of the Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC).

Sai Lek, secretary of the SNLD, said the groups discussed the delays which have bogged down negotiations on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The Shan groups also agreed that armed conflict can only be resolved through political dialogue, and that certain guarantees should be granted by the government prior to singing a ceasefire.

Sai Lek said one of the main causes of delays in the peace process has been a lack of trust between Burmese government forces and armed ethnic groups.

"One of the main reasons for delays in the peace process has been a breakdown of trust. The government—especially the Burmese army—doesn't have much confidence in the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team [the delegates negotiating the NCA on behalf of armed ethnic groups]. At the same time, armed ethnic groups have started to seriously doubt the sincerity of the government because its position has become more intransigent ever since Burmese army officersjoined the talks," said the SNLD secretary.

Sai Lek also expressed doubts regarding the claim that continued fighting between the Burmese army and armed groups in Shan state was due to the absence of a code of conduct regulating the opposing armed forces, and he speculated that the government forces might be taking advantage of the peace process by deliberately launching attacks on armed groups.

"Some people cited the lack of an agreed-upon code of conduct as the reason for the continuation of clashes, but if that is the case then these clashes should only be sporadic. However, from what we are seeing they look more like a planned offensive, intentionally carried out by the Tatmadaw [Burmese army]," he said. "But it may or may not be true."

On the second day of the meeting, the groups released an open letter to President Thein Sein denouncing an offensive last week in which over 1,000 troops Burmese troops attacked SSA-N positions in Ta Pha Saung Village in Shan state's Kehsi Mansam Township as a violation of previously-signed tentative ceasefire agreements; and they called on the government to solve political problems via political means.

At the end of the meeting, the Shan groups released a joint statement containing the following a three-point agreement pledging: to join hands in negotiating with the government on matters relating to the future of the Union and Shan State; to cooperate for the purposes of enhancing peace-building efforts in Shan State and across the Union of Burma; and to continue negotiating and using political means to resolve political issues.

Beyond borders: Burmese migrants in Thailand

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 01:14 AM PDT

Worldwide media attention has turned towards Burmese migrant workers, following the arrest last week of two Burmese in Thailand, charged with the gruesome murder of two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao.

An estimated two and a half million Burmese have moved to Thailand – some legally, some illegally – to find work. In addition to the lack of job opportunities in their home country, many are escaping poverty, repression and war.

Most work in labour-intensive industries such as agriculture, construction, fishing or factory work. Invariably, they are lowly paid, usually receiving well below the minimum wage. Yet they continue to take their chances in Thailand, seeking a better living for their families.

But life in Thailand for Burmese migrants is fraught with dangers and difficulties. Many live in constant fear of police and the authorities, frequently paying bribes to corrupt officials to evade deportation.

The following collection of photographs of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand – taken by British photographer John Hulme over a seven-year period – is a pensive reflection of the typical lives of fishermen in Ranong, factory workers in Mae Sot, and construction workers in Chiang Mai.

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Burmese Government, Rights Groups Raise Concerns Over Koh Tao Murder Case

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 04:44 AM PDT

Two Burmese migrant workers suspected of killing two British tourists on Koh Tao last month stand with Thai police officers during a re-enactment of the alleged crime. (Photo: Reuters)

Two Burmese migrant workers suspected of killing two British tourists on Koh Tao last month stand with Thai police officers during a re-enactment of the alleged crime. (Photo: Reuters)

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Questions linger over the controversial police investigation into the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao that led to the arrest of two Burmese migrant workers last week.

The Burmese government is monitoring the case and President Thein Sein will raise the issue with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha—who is scheduled to visit Burma from Oct. 9—according to President's Office Director Zaw Htay.

"That issue [the detention of the two Burmese migrants] will be in the discussion," Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy, adding that Burmese government representatives were now trying to meet with the two migrants who are currently being detained on Koh Samui.

"It is important that the suspects dare to tell us the truth without fear when we meet them," Zaw Htay said.

According to Thai police, the two Burmese migrants, identified as Win and Saw, confessed to the murders of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on the island in Thailand's Surat Thani province on Sept. 15. Thai police also said that DNA samples taken from the two suspects matched DNA found on one of the deceased.

Burma's Ambassador to Thailand Win Maung told the Irrawaddy on Friday that he had asked a group of Thai and Burmese lawyers to find out from the two murder suspects whether or not the allegations were true.

"We don’t know what really happened," Win Maung said. "Now, it is just a police finding. [The] case can be changed in court."

"We will make sure [before taking any action]. Otherwise, it will be our mistake if our side is wrong. We worry for all our people [migrant workers] and we are trying to help them as much as we can," he added.

Andy Hall, a British migrant rights activist based in Thailand, has also helped organize an independent legal team to undertake a fact finding mission, beginning yesterday, to ensure the two accused migrants receive a fair trial.

"It is very important that independent legal assistance is given to the [two detained] workers to ensure they get a proper trial," Hall said. "We will be trying as much as we can." The two suspects were reportedly kept without legal representation during their interrogation.

Hall also voiced concern over the treatment of other Burmese migrants during the investigation. According to the Burmese community on Koh Tao, some migrant workers were abused while being questioned by police, Hall said.

"We have a lot of suspicions about the whole process in which they questioned the migrant community," said Hall. There are approximately 3 million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, most of whom work in low-paid jobs where they are vulnerable to abuse, arrest and extortion by Thai employers or authorities.

Than Hlaing, one of six Burmese migrants who were questioned by Thai police last Thursday in connection with the Koh Tao murders, alleged that the group was beaten under interrogation. "They [the police] beat all of us while interrogating us. Three of us were seriously injured. But some got minor injuries," Than Hlaing said. "They detained us for one night. They collected our records and took pictures of us. [Then] they finally told us that we were not guilty and released us."

After hearing the news that two Burmese migrants were suspected of committing the murders, migrants living and working on Koh Tao expressed fears for their safety.

Sithu, a Burmese migrant worker on Koh Tao who was questioned by Thai police, said, "Burmese people here live in fear [after] police said that Burmese migrants committed the killing. If it is true, the situation will be more tough for the Burmese workers."

Kyaw Thaung, director of the Bangkok-based Myanmar Association in Thailand (MAT), a labor rights group that helps Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, expressed doubts over the police investigation.

"The killing on Koh Tao is directly linked to the image of Thailand. So I think they [Thai police] will try to make it that Thai are not committing the crime because it will damage the image of the country," he said.

Additional reporting by Kyaw Kha and Lin Thant.

The post Burmese Government, Rights Groups Raise Concerns Over Koh Tao Murder Case appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

New Documentary Highlights Plight of Burmese Migrant Children

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 05:22 PM PDT

Burmese migrant children of Good Morning School in Mae Sot, Thailand. (Photo: allyouneedislovedoc.com)

Burmese migrant children of Good Morning School in Mae Sot, Thailand. (Photo: allyouneedislovedoc.com)

"All You Need is Love," a documentary from second-time Scottish director Stuart Cameron, offers a look into the lives of Burmese migrant children at the Good Morning School in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver, the film's focus on the plight of Burmese migrants is especially timely, as many NGOs increasingly shift their activities inside Burma, leaving refugees and migrants with fewer resources as donor funds dry up.

It's a sweet and beautifully shot film that gently introduces the viewer to life on the border, one bright-eyed, adorable student at a time. These are children who take care of and support each other; who learn to get themselves to school before most Western children can put their own shoes on. They laugh and play, but also speak casually of human trafficking and regard unfamiliar vehicles warily while walking to the corner store for sweets. They rise early to study before school and help their parents in the fields when they return home. They dream of a future in which they are doctors, fashion designers, engineers, football players. No one takes education for granted, as they've seen their friends forced to drop out of school to work in factories, fields, and brothels.

The film is also a story of mothers—the strong women who dedicate their lives to supporting these children. We meet Paw Ray, a humble Karen schoolteacher who took it upon herself to educate migrant children and now oversees a network of more than 50 schools; Magsaysay Award winner Dr. Cynthia Maung of the Mae Tao clinic, who helps illuminate Burmese migrants' lack of access to state services such as health care; and Erin Terzieff, a Los Angeles-based schoolteacher who has found her life's passion in nurturing and protecting the children of Good Morning School. There's also Oma, the school cook, who feeds more than 120 students (the figure has grown to 300 since the time of filming) each day while struggling to provide food for her own 10 children.

The film endeavors to take the viewer on a "journey toward a greater understanding of the human spirit," but it tends to get caught up in the charitable spirit of the Western entities that bestow the school with a new building, pigs and supplies. It warms the heart to see the children receiving these gifts with excitement, appreciation and responsibility, but the show of Western heroism shifts the focus from the children themselves and how they make the best of their situation in the absence of these amenities. The thesis invoked in the documentary's title is at times lost in scenes that instead seem to suggest that "All you need is love … and also, this proper school building donated by Americans."

In many ways, however, this is true. A great deal of Burma's untapped potential lies in the talent and ambition of marginalized children like those of Good Morning School. They need international aid to secure basic human rights and the future they deserve. Hopefully, this film will help.

"All You Need is Love" premieres Oct. 31 in select theaters in the United States.

The post New Documentary Highlights Plight of Burmese Migrant Children appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Building Bamboo Bikes in Burma

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 05:00 PM PDT

Jeff and Kristen Parker with the bamboo frame bicycle they built with the help of Brown Bike in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo: Mark Inkey / The Irrawaddy)

Jeff and Kristen Parker with the bamboo frame bicycle they built with the help of Brown Bike in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo: Mark Inkey / The Irrawaddy)

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — A young American couple have heeded Aung San Suu Kyi's calls for ethical investment in Burma with their plans to set up a community-led company building ecologically sound bamboo bicycle frames in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State.

Jeff and Kristen Parker, volunteers who originally went to Myitkyina to teach English, want to train locals to build bamboo bicycle frames and help give them the necessary leadership skills to be able to run the company and train others in the future. They plan to return to the United States after eight months, leaving the locals to their own devices while they help market the frames around the world.

The Parkers said that 60 to 80 percent of 18-30-year-olds in Myitkyina are unemployed and many have turned to readily available illicit drugs.

"We learned about the problems with unemployment and drug addiction and thought we could provide something. We can partner up with them, creating a local movement that is connected with the outside world so that they can be self-sustaining," Jeff Parker told The Irrawaddy.

Jeff, who is a keen cyclist and is interested in the technical aspect of bicycles, came up with the idea of building bamboo bicycle frames after having read about them on the Internet. The couple then researched the feasibility of the idea and devised a plan to sell made-to-measure bamboo frames abroad for US$1,000 each, a competitive price for a bespoke frame. They calculated that they would need to sell 35 frames a year to make the operation self-sustaining.

Each $1,000 frame sold pays to employ one person for 38 days; build one more frame for export; and build three complete bamboo framed bicycles for sale to locals at an affordable price. These will be assembled with cheap locally available parts, mainly acquired from rickshaws.

Kristen said that building subsidized bicycles would generate local job opportunities, improve workers' frame building skills, and provide cheap bicycles far better in quality than those available at present.

Many people in Myitkyina have had their vehicles confiscated during recent crackdowns on illegal vehicles, so the bicycles could also provide an appealing alternative mode of transport.

"Eventually we would love to have some sort of cycling team," said Jeff. "There are cycling competitions in Southeast Asia and it would be a cool way to get the Kachin building international connections and getting to know people outside their own community."

The Parkers are predominately self-funding the project through money given to them as wedding gifts last May, but they are also using the fundraising website Kickstarter to raise project capital.

The first 29 frames ordered through the website will be sold at discounted prices ranging from $300 to $900, depending on how early the order is. Those who obtain the first 20 cheap frames will be asked to provide feedback once a month for one year to help the company tweak the design.

The money from the first 20 sales will help fund the full training of five frame builders, including designing the bespoke frames with AutoCAD software and using Jeff's custom built jig to assemble them.

It will take one month to fully train each worker.

The Parkers already have premises in Myitkyina and have been talking to people there about their plans. Many locals have asked when they will start selecting trainees, but the Parkers said they would not employ anyone until they have enough orders to cover all their initial training costs.

They also do not want to disrupt the local economy by paying too much, so they will pay a locally competitive wage and set aside an extra 42 percent that each worker can use for personal development and training. They will also try to employ people representative of the ethnic mix in Myitkyina.
"We just bring this knowledge and new training [and] we then make that so internalized in the community that it will become theirs," said Jeff. "It's not about Jeff and Kristen being in charge of this. We're only here as a vehicle for sharing the knowledge."

The locals will bring their unique skills and knowledge to the project. Without local knowledge about bamboo, Jeff said, "I don't think it would be worth it. This project would not get anywhere without local knowledge."

The Parkers' plans are admirable, but they will only work if bamboo makes for good quality bicycle frames. On this point, Kristen has little doubt. "Bamboo is extremely resilient," she said. "It is stronger than carbon fiber and absorbs road vibrations way more than other materials."

To be suitable for frames, bamboo must be between two and three years old (locals can tell the age of bamboo just by looking at it) and picked, when it is green, in the dry season. It is then left to dry in the sun for three weeks before being dried with a blowtorch. This turns the bamboo brown and caramelizes the sugar resin around the fibers, turning it into a solid similar to epoxy, which effectively petrifies the bamboo.

The frame tubes are then held together with natural joints of hemp twine covered in epoxy and the whole frame is then sealed with lacquer and sanded by hand until a shiny finish is achieved.

According to Jeff, metal frames suffer from fatigue and weakness over time, which does not occur with bamboo. He said that research has shown that bamboo frames will last over 20 years if they are built with natural joints—longer than any other kind of frame material.

After the Parkers built their first bamboo frame, they refined their technique with further study in Chiang Mai, Thailand, under the instruction of Oat, a Thai bamboo frame maker who has been making his Brown Bike brand of bamboo frames for several years.

Now that the Parkers have all the necessary knowledge and tools to start producing bamboo frames in Myitkyina, they just need the first orders to filter in.

To order one of the first discounted bamboo frames, make a donation or obtain further information about the project, visit Jeff and Kristen's Kickstarter page at Burma Bike Partnership.

The post Building Bamboo Bikes in Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

National News

National News


Monsoon makes its exit for another year

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 12:38 AM PDT

It's over for another year. The 2014 rainy season is pulling out of town, an official from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology confirmed on October 2.

Charges are an ‘attack on students’ rights’, says activist

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:28 PM PDT

Angry students are threatening action in support of a young woman who faces a potential life sentence for allegedly abducting two Chinese surveyors working for the Letpadaung copper mine project.

‘Unity’ sentences reduced, lawyer plans further appeal

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:26 PM PDT

Magwe Region Court on October 2 reduced the sentences of the chief executive officer and four reporters of Unity journal from 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour to seven years.

Government plans resettlement from Jan ’15

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:26 PM PDT

The government will solicit help from the United Nations from January 2015 to resettle individuals from Rakhine State who do not qualify for citizenship under its controversial verification plan, according to a draft Rakhine State Action Plan.

Both sides insist peace is still possible

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:17 PM PDT

Negotiators on both sides of the peace process have insisted that trust and commitment remain strong, despite recent talks in Yangon failing to result in a finalised draft nationwide ceasefire and recent clashes between ethnic and Tatmadaw soldiers.

No media coverage for journalism conference

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:00 PM PDT

Journalists were not invited to cover a media conference bringing together members of the government, parliament, judiciary and media that was held over the weekend in Nay Pyi Taw, because organisers said they were concerned media coverage would stop participants from speaking openly.

Delaying elections unconstitutional, politicians warn

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:00 PM PDT

Political leader have hit back at hints from President U Thein Sein that next year's election may not go ahead unless a nationwide ceasefire agreement is signed, saying that any delays would represent a violation of the constitution.

Lonely protester attracts many police

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 09:36 PM PDT

Police last week stopped a Mandalay man from staging an hour-long protest against corruption in the judiciary outside the regional court in Chan Aye Thar San township, shifting it instead to another location and halving the time allowed to 30 minutes.

New vessels handed over to MPA

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 09:34 PM PDT

The Ministry of Transport has transferred five new vessels to Myanma Port Authority to expand and update its service fleet, announced Union transport minister U Nyan Tun Aung.

Ancient finger-marked bricks found in Yangon

Posted: 05 Oct 2014 09:24 PM PDT

A collection of about 450 ancient finger-marked bricks has been discovered at Paw Taw Mu Sein Monastery in Yangon Region's Kawhmu township – a find that one official said could pre-date the Pyu period.

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


Peace: Harder to win than war

Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:09 AM PDT

I'm not supposed to write anything about the Shan leaders meeting, 2-4 October, that had just concluded. But since the cat is out of the bag and I believe I won't be compromising anybody and, moreover, the people have a right to know what had taken place so they can come to what they believe as the right decision, the following journal is presented with "some gloss-overs"  that are essentially factual.





Day One
Wednesday, 9 October 2014
I am one of those who believe that the Shan's Toe(Toe Naya in Burmese), the mythical 4 legged creature featured in most of their traditional dances, is actually the Yak that live in the far and cold north of Asia. That they died during the Shan exodus to the south. And that Shans have since then started the Toe dance in their honor.

My belief is once more assured by the Thai Airway's Sawasdee in-flight magazine spotlighting Yaks in Li Jiang, northern Yunnan, where one of the Shans' cousins, Yi, live.

"Perhaps they don't dance like Toe?" the doubtful Shan officer who sits beside me says.
"They do," I reply. "I have seen Mongols featuring them in their circus shows."

The hotel in Bangkok is right on the east bank of the Chao Phraya. Its guests are overwhelmingly Chinese. Naturally conversations in Shan, Burmese, English and others are hopelessly drowned out by Chinese.

We find Shan leaders from Burma, escorted by Naypyitaw's foremost peacemaker U Aung Min, already checked-in by the time we arrive there.

After lunch we hold a preliminary review of the 6thand latest meeting between the rebels' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the government's Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) with the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) representatives.

The following is the gist:
·       The deadlock at the latest parley took place because the military's smoldering suspicions were aroused by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) that had concluded its first congress on 2 September. It believes that the 12 party armed alliance will try to footdrag the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) until 2016 after the new government, preferably under Aung San Su Kyi, has been in place

·       The result of it was the toughening of the military's position like reiterating the Commander-in-Chief's 6 point prerequisite which requires the ethnic armed organizations to accept the 2008 constitution it had drafted and ratified

·       The MPC appears to be of the opinion that negotiations for the Framework for Political Dialogue should begin whether or not the NCA is completed in order to sustain the momentum

Meanwhile Shan leaders also meet to discuss their growing concern over the impending attack by the Burma Army against the Shan State Army (SSA) at the Ta Phasawng Bridge over the Haen river in Kehsi township. "The Burma Army doesn't need it," says a leader. "It is already in occupation of the main crossing. This is only a pretext to remove the SSA."

The Burma Army had issued an ultimatum: Move out before 12:00 today or face the consequence, according to the SSA.