Democratic Voice of Burma

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• 2,000 displaced by recent conflict, says Karen NGO
• Par Gyi laid to rest, but questions remain
• Karen long-necks stretch tradition

2,000 displaced by recent conflict, says Karen NGO Posted: 07 Nov 2014 10:09 PM PST Renewed fighting between Burmese government forces and ethnic rebel groups in Karen State has forced more than 2,000 villagers from their homes, many of whom now require immediate humanitarian assistance, according to a report released this week by Karen Rivers Watch (KRW). "Between October 7 and October 18, at least six different incidents of fighting occurred in Hpa-an District's Hlaing Bwe (Lu Pleh) Township and Hpapun District's Bu Tho and Dwe Lo Townships. These clashes, fought between combined Burma Army/BGF forces and the DKBA, involved heavy mortar fire … Villagers in the area once again suffered the consequences of violent conflict. Over 2,000 people were forced to flee their homes, and most remain in hiding, fearing for their safety," the report said. Titled "Afraid to Go Home: Recent Violent Conflict and Human Rights Abuses in Karen State", the Karen NGO describes the recent surge in fighting as "part of a calculated military strategy" by the Burmese army and its allies, the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). Related Stories Par Gyi laid to rest, but questions remain 'No respite from militarisation’ in southeast Burma: TBC NGOs say ethnic areas have no ‘virgin lands’ It said the move was directed at seizing territory, "possibly motivated by plans to construct the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River." The Hatgyi Dam is a mega-hydroelectric dam project contracted between the Burmese government and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The report said last month's hostilities in Karen State forced more than 2,000 people to cross the border into neighbouring Thailand. KRW urged the Thai authorities not to force the displaced villagers back into conflict zones.

Par Gyi laid to rest, but questions remain Posted: 07 Nov 2014 09:26 PM PST Burmese journalist Par Gyi was buried in Rangoon on Friday, finally laid to rest after a public exhumation from a shallow grave and a public outcry over his killing while in the custody of Burmese government soldiers last month. But many questions remain as to why he was killed with such brutality. The Burmese military has maintained that Par Gyi (a.k.a. Aung Naing) was suspected of being a rebel soldier and detained, and that he was shot when he tried to wrestle a gun from a guard, then tried to escape. However, it was immediately apparent when his body was exhumed that he had been tortured or severely beaten before he was killed. DVB spoke exclusively on Friday with Sitt Myaing, the chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), about the investigation into Par Gyi's untimely death.   MNHRC Chairman Sitt Myaing Q: Can you tell us how much freedom the MNHRC was given to investigate Ko Par Gyi's death? A: We were given free rein. We were allowed to question persons of interest at our preferred locations. The Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) sent soldiers who we wished to question, including battalion commanders. The Tatmadaw itself is also investigating the case with a tribunal they formed. We have also called upon members of that tribunal for questioning. We also questioned the police, including the police commander, as well as eye-witnesses and village leaders. We also demanded materials as evidence, including photographs, paperwork and faxes. Q: Did you get to question the army unit responsible for arresting Ko Par Gyi? Did you meet with those who personally took part in his detention? A: Yes. We questioned the key persons of interest and senior officers from the units involved. Q: Did you get the chance to interview the solider who shot Ko Par Gyi? A: Yes. He is a lance corporal. We have questioned him and are looking to conduct a further interview. For now, there is nothing conclusive to indicate how accurate his testimony is. We need to ascertain more details from witnesses. Q: When will the MNHRC be ready to present its report? A: We cannot say exactly when. We are waiting for the autopsy report from the forensic team. There needs to be more lab tests. It shouldn't take too long. Q: So the investigation is ongoing? A: I think the first phase is finished here in Moulmein. For now, we will analyse all the testimonies back in Rangoon. I expect we will have more questions after that. We have informed the army that we will return to conduct further enquiries if necessary. Q: From your analysis so far, do you think it is true that Ko Par Gyi was shot as he tried to escape? A: It's too early to say. And as this case is in the centre of much attention, we don't want to make any assumptions. We need to conduct a thorough investigation first. Related Stories 2,000 displaced by recent conflict, says Karen NGO Five gunshot wounds found on Par Gyi's body Par Gyi tortured before death

Karen long-necks stretch tradition Posted: 07 Nov 2014 04:27 PM PST Women of the Karen ethnic hilltribe in northern Thailand are renowned for their unusually long necks, stretched by multiple layers of neck-rings starting from the age of five. They are a tourist drawcard, but the tradition may be dying out. Young Karen women can now choose whether they want to have the heavy and uncomfortable wire coils around their necks. In this video, Karen women talk about the tradition and the tourists who visit them. (Video by Jetjaras Na Ranong) This video was originally published in the Bangkok Post on 27 October 2014.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Burma Business Roundup (November 8) Posted: 07 Nov 2014 04:00 PM PST Business Risk Doubts Raised about Hanthawaddy Airport Deal Concern about the long-term economic viability of Burma's planned Hanthawaddy Airport and other large airports in the country has been voiced by a business risk analysis company. The award of the Hanthawaddy contract to a Singapore-Japanese consortium was the best outcome because it's backed by a Japanese government development assistance loan, said Business Monitor International (BMI). "That said, this project award has not reduced our long-held concerns about the financial viability of Myanmar’s large-scale airport projects," said BMI. "Our concerns about the financial viability of Myanmar's airport projects not only stem from macroeconomic considerations but also from the deficiencies in Myanmar's regulatory environment." BMI noted that the consortium had secured the Hanthawaddy project without asking for any government guarantee. "This means that the consortium might not receive a satisfactory or any compensation from the government if it experiences government risk, e.g. contract termination before project completion, or project delays." The Hanthawaddy contract was awarded to joint venture made up of Yongnam Holdings and Changi Airport Planners & Engineers (CAPE), both of Singapore, plus JGC Corporation of Japan. Yongnam and JGC are engineers and infrastructure construction specialists. The contract award "highlights the importance of having deep access to project financing when taking on infrastructure projects in Myanmar," said BMI of Britain. Petrochemical Industry Start-Up 'Needs Foreign Finance, Technology' Burma should develop a petrochemical industry but will need foreign investment and technical know-how to get started, a chemical industries conference in Rangoon heard. The proposal was made at the Regional Chemical Management Forum that included company representatives from Sweden, Japan, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Myanmar Business Today. At present, Burma has no significant chemical or petrochemical industries, but it potentially has the feedstock if new oil and gas exploration blocks yield new reserves. "Ye Mon, managing director of the Paper and Home Utility Industries of the Ministry of Industry, stressed the need for investment, technology exchange, standardization of procedures and chemical management for the development of a petrochemical industry," Myanmar Business Today said. The forum was organized by the Swedish Chemicals Agency, a Stockholm government body which promotes "responsibility for ensuring that companies and the society at large conduct chemicals control in an acceptable manner." Proposals by a Thai developer to build a large petrochemicals complex at Dawei on Burma's southeast coast were scuppered when the Naypyidaw government vetoed plans for a large coal-power station to fuel it. Some opponents saw the plan as a way of taking Thailand's contentious chemicals industry abroad because of public opposition against expansion of the Map Ta Phut industrial estate south of Bangkok. Naypyidaw and Thai government agencies in Bangkok continue to discuss the possibility of creating a special economic zone at Dawei. Coal to Fuel Much of Burma's Electricity Growth: Report Most of 12 coal-fuelled power stations planned by the Ministry of Electric Power to help boost Burma's electricity supply will be in the greater Rangoon area and Tenasserim Division, a report said. Four coal-powered plants are earmarked for the greater Rangoon area and four for Tenasserim bordering Thailand, Bangkok's The Nation newspaper quoted the Ministry of Electric Power as saying. The coal plants would have a combined electricity generating capacity of almost 13,000 megawatts, which is nearly three times Burma's existing national capacity. The Nation identified three major Thai firms as being interested in building and operating large coal-fuelled plants in Tenasserim Division– Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, oil giant PTT and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). It's not clear where all the coal for so many power stations would come from since Burma's has only a small coal-mining industry. The coal-powered plants would make up nearly half of an overall electricity expansion program over the next 20 years, The Nation quoted Myint Oo, a director at the Ministry of Electric Power, as saying. Other energy resources likely to fuel electricity growth will be mostly in hydropower dams and natural gas. Bigger Fines Planned for Companies Avoiding Tax Liabilities Tax evaders who are caught in Burma will be liable for bigger fines from this year, the Finance Ministry said. The warning was made at a business forum by Minister of Finance Win Shein. Burma has one of the lowest tax rates in Southeast Asia but evasion is a "tradition," the head of one large Burmese firm was reported by The Myanmar Times to have said. It might be wise to offer businesses "incentives" to pay taxes, the chairman of construction firm Taw Win, Ko Ko Htwe said. "It is wise to incentivise firms to pay taxes instead of simply levying penalties, as there is a deeply ingrained habit of avoiding taxes in the business community. "Habits are unlikely to change in a day. It's a large tradition to avoid taxes, even for officials, and changing minds will take time," Ko Ko Htwe was quoted by the newspaper as saying. Rising Costs, Wages May 'Push Thai Factories Into Burma' Burma is one of three countries where Thai businesses are considering relocating manufacturing operations because of rising costs at home, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said. Firms are relocating abroad because of cheaper labor and lower operating costs, the FTI chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree told a business seminar in Bangkok. They will favor Burma, Cambodia and Laos, he said, blaming wages, power bills and communications costs, all of which are increasing. Thailand is also suffering from a labor shortage in the manufacturing sector which is likely to worsen if improving conditions in neighboring countries encourage migrant workers to return home, the Bangkok Post quoted the FTI saying. "The [labor] problem will get very bad over the next three to five years because foreign workers will return to work in their home countries to enjoy the improving economies," FTI vice chairman Vallop Vitanakorn said. The Thai military government has proposed creating special economic zones in border areas which would allow migrant day labor to cross and work in factories. The first of these is earmarked for Mae Sot opposite Burma's Myawaddy. The post Burma Business Roundup (November 8) appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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