Thursday, November 3, 2016

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Police Officer Detained for Alleged Rape in Shan State

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 07:29 AM PDT

A police officer in Shan State's Hsenwi Township who allegedly raped a 16-year-old Kachin girl on Tuesday night is detained as a case is filed.

The post Police Officer Detained for Alleged Rape in Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

NLD Member Detained Under Telecommunications Law

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PDT

U Myo Yan Naung Thein's colleague suspects the arrest may be due to a Facebook post critical of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The post NLD Member Detained Under Telecommunications Law appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Supreme Court Dismisses Case Against Migrant Rights Defender Andy Hall

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PDT

The court dismisses a criminal defamation case brought by the Natural Fruit Co., although Andy Hall's three-year suspended sentence remains in place.

The post Thai Supreme Court Dismisses Case Against Migrant Rights Defender Andy Hall appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gems Emporium Expected to Attract US and EU Traders

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 05:33 AM PDT

After the lifting of US sanctions, more western jade traders have been invited to the upcoming Naypyidaw Gems Emporium.

The post Gems Emporium Expected to Attract US and EU Traders appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Business Delegation Heads to Japan

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 05:22 AM PDT

Representatives from a number of sectors will meet with their Japanese counterparts and attend the Myanmar Business Forum in Tokyo.

The post Burma Business Delegation Heads to Japan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

State Counselor’s Glass Table Designs an Overnight Hit

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 04:55 AM PDT

The Ministry of Industry will produce and sell three types of glass tables designed by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the public.

The post State Counselor's Glass Table Designs an Overnight Hit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Upcoming Karen Congress Elections Uncertain

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 04:17 AM PDT

Top Karen leaders discuss postponing the 16th KNU Congress slated to take place in November over concerns new leadership could disrupt peace process.

The post Upcoming Karen Congress Elections Uncertain appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

International Delegation Set to Wrap Up Arakan State Visit

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 03:42 AM PDT

State official said first-day visit showed 'reality not consistent' with rights abuses; US official repeated call for thorough investigation.

The post International Delegation Set to Wrap Up Arakan State Visit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

HRW: Peace Process Exposes Farmers to New Glut of Land Seizures

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 01:19 AM PDT

Burma's peace process opens up access to ethnic areas and leaves farmers vulnerable to powerful interests 'gaining land through questionable means.'

The post HRW: Peace Process Exposes Farmers to New Glut of Land Seizures appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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National News

National News

Draft museum law sent to Attorney General

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:59 AM PDT

A Draft law that would govern the establishment and practices of private museums is under discussion by officials in the Ministry of Religion and Culture and the Office of the Attorney General, the latest stage in a long-drawn out process that began under the previous government.

MDY bus compounds ban moto-taxi drivers

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:57 AM PDT

IN a move to curb passenger harassment, motorcycle taxis and private cars have been banned from entering highway bus stations near Mandalay, the head of the municipal taxi department has told The Myanmar Times.

Theft rife at Pyinmana Hospital in Nay Pyi Taw

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:54 AM PDT

Patients and staff need to safeguard their belongings at the 200-bed Pyinmana Hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, according to its administrator, following a spate of recent thefts.

After years of enslavement, abused child maids look to the future

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:53 AM PDT

The teenager stares at her crippled hands, broken after torture techniques endured over five years of life as a slave.

Departure terminal of sunken ferry closed

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:42 AM PDT

The Sagaing Region government has temporarily closed the ferry terminal that the ill-fated Aung Soe Moe Kyaw 2 ferry departed from in mid-October.

Accreditation available for April by-election observers

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:40 AM PDT

International and local polling place watchdogs can now apply to be accredited by the Union Election Commission as observers for the 2017 by-election, scheduled to be held on April 1, the UEC announced on October 31.

Air pollution a ‘leading danger’ to child health

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:39 AM PDT

Toxic levels of air pollution in developing countries like Myanmar have begun to cause miscarriages, increase infant deaths and stunt children's cognitive and physical development, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Vendors banned from Chaung Tha beachfront

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:36 AM PDT

Aiming to counter litterbugs and preserve a more picturesque beachfront, the Ayeyarwady Region government has banned vendors from selling their wares on Chaung Tha beach.

Govt team to negotiate Panda garment dispute settlement

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:34 AM PDT

Employees and the owners of Panda Textile Factory in Mandalay Region say they will accept the decision of a negotiating team formed yesterday to settle a drawn-out dispute between the workers and factory management.

Japan announces a nearly $8 billion package for Myanmar

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 12:27 AM PDT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday announced nearly US$8 billion in aid, loans and investment to promote development and reconciliation in Myanmar after talks with its de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Commentary on "The UWSA needs to change"

Posted: 02 Nov 2016 08:58 PM PDT

Si Thu Aung Myint's conclusion that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) needs to adjust it policies according to the changing realities is a correct assessment, but too early to say that its days might be numbered.

Two delegates from the United Wa State Army at the 21st Century Panglong Conference on August 31. (Romeo Gacad / AFP)
The UWSA aspiring for a separate statehood within the union, is a tall order, especially when Burma, a multi-ethnic state is not made up of a neatly demarcated ethnic settlement but a mixed habitation pattern. The area that the UWSA likes to claim is nearly all of the eastern Shan State, which are inhabited by majority Shan/Tai and other sub-ethnic groups.

Other than that, if the UWSA aspiration is entertained, there will be ethnic friction and even open conflict between the Shan and the Wa, which have co-habited harmoniously before the set up of the UWSA, after the disintegration of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB).

During the British era, the Wa had their own Saohpa or Sawbwa with its own administrative unit, harmoniously interacting with the some 33 units Federated Shan States. Actually this could still be the modal of decentralization in a bigger Federal Union context, even for all other states and units within the present day Burma.

Finally, the UWSA or the Wa ethno-nationalism upsurge is understandable, as it is a global trend and also a phenomenon, but has to be adjusted in a different way and not edging out other ethnic groups, with force or military might. As mentioned, the Federated Shan States modal might be a better way out for all ethnicity within Shan State and beyond, like for example, the Pa-O, Palaung and lately the Tai Leng or Shan-ni aspirations for separate ethnic state.

But the biggest challenge the UWSA facing now is the "image problem" or its "narco-army image". In reality and to be fair, every ethnic army, including the Burma Army, has at one time or the other involved in drugs trafficking, either directly or indirectly. And it is true even today.

A comment, this writer would like to recall written in SHAN's "Drugs Report" somewhere, is that something like: "Everyone is involved in drugs, the more guns one owns, the more drugs trafficking is the result."

The US accusation is just a temporary inconvenience, the UWSA could take consolation and look at the example of US lifting of sanctions on the Burma Army top brass and its cronies, on how political realities and interest has changed everything in no time; that is "from enemies to friends".

And as such, like Si Thu Aung Myint suggested, the UWSA would be well advised to practice "realpolitik", where its statehood aspiration is concerned and strive for the doable reality and not that might be hard to achieve.

Link to the story: http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/the-uwsa-needs-to-change
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