Monday, July 31, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Jailed Myanmar Now Editor Released on Bail

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 07:22 AM PDT

MANDALAY – A court in Mandalay Division's Maha Aung Myay Township released the detained chief editor of Myanmar Now, Ko Swe Win, on bail on Monday.

The editor signed a statement in front of the judge committing to be present at all court hearings in the defamation case, filed under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law by Mandalay resident U Kyaw Myo Shwe in March, who accused Ko Swe Win of insulting ultranationalist monk U Wirathu.

"We've submitted the appeal for bail and the court accepted it. Two locals have paid 5 million kyats worth of bail money for Ko Swe Win. The next court hearing will be on August 7," said U Khin Maung Myint, Ko Swe Win's lawyer.

The granting of bail was initially opposed by the plaintiff's lawyer, saying lawsuits filed under Article 66(d) call for remand.

U Khin Maung Myint countered by highlighting Ko Swe Win's position as a journalist, and pointing out that he has no intention of fleeing from the law.

After the court session, Ko Swe Win told media he wondered why the police brought him to court four months after the filing of the case; he was arrested after arriving at the Yangon airport on Sunday and was transported to Mandalay, where he was detained.

"The surprise arrest by the police at the airport is a misunderstanding. I have not been restricted from traveling since the lawsuit was filed against me. And I have no intention of fleeing," Ko Swe Win said.

"I've traveled to the border areas many times to cover the news and I've cooperated with the police several times for my lawsuit. If I wanted to flee, I could have fled the country at any point since the beginning [of the case]," he added. "I will certainly face this lawsuit according to the law."

Buddhist nationalists also attended Ko Swe Win's court hearing on Monday. When the Myanmar Now chief editor exited the courthouse after being released on bail, around ten nationalist Buddhist monks gathered in front of the building, shouting at journalists as they spoke to him.

Ko Swe Win later told The Irrawaddy that the country's instability during the political transition has affected freedom of expression in the country.

"Detained journalists are being treated like criminals. Our fellow journalists detained in Shan State are facing a lawsuit which is out of date and unjust," he said, a reference to three reporters—including The Irrawaddy's Lawi Weng—facing charges under the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act for reporting on a drug-burning event in territory controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. "I, as a journalist, would like to tell the government that now is the time to change the laws which are outdated and unjust," he added.

Plaintiff U Kyaw Myo Shwe told The Irrawaddy that he would submit an appeal to the court in Maha Aung Myay, as he was disappointed with the granting of bail.

"I have no personal feelings concerning Ko Swe Win. I'm just disappointed with the judiciary, which is handling the law as they wish. In the past, people did not receive bail," he said, regarding defamation cases filed under Article 66(d). "This is unacceptable and the law needs to be straightened out," he said.

The post Jailed Myanmar Now Editor Released on Bail appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US Firms Lobby for Removal of Myanmar Trade Restrictions 

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 07:03 AM PDT

YANGON — American businesses based in Myanmar are urging their government to remove sections 311 and 312 of the USA Patriot Act which prohibit US banks from trading in Myanmar.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (AMCHAM) led 13 financial service companies to meet with government officials from Yangon and Naypyitaw as well as US Ambassador to Myanmar Scott Marciel and US embassy staff on July 24-26.

The delegation encouraged the US representatives to help remove the sections in order to create a better understanding among US financial institutions of the local market and opportunities in Myanmar, according to an AMCHAM statement. The group also encouraged US companies to operate in Myanmar.

AMCHAM executive director Judy Benn said the bans "seriously impact US companies' ability to do business with Myanmar, especially including exports to that country, investment in the country, and participation in the economy on equal footing to other foreign companies."

Myanmar Citizen Bank chief executive Dr. Thaung Han welcomed the effort to drop legislation that bars US banks from operating in Myanmar. The US government allowing its banks to invest in the country would positive impacts such as national development, and technical support for local banks, he said, adding that it could be a stabilizing force for Myanmar's banking industry.

"The US has a crucial role in the world's business community. To be honest, we welcome them. The entire globe is working with the dollar, we cannot avoid that," said Dr. Thaung Han.

He said private companies would follow US banks to Myanmar. "I wish it to happen as soon as possible," he added.

During the three-day trip, US government officials and businesspeople held meetings with the economic adviser for State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission; the deputy director of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration; the finance minister; and the Governor of the Central Bank and Financial Regulatory Department.

Delegates also met with the Myanmar Insurance Business Regulatory Board and suggested continuing reforms which would give foreign insurance companies access to the domestic insurance market.

"A healthy economy is one in which all companies, both local and foreign, operate in an environment that is free of prohibitive and discriminatory regulations, that encourages diversity and innovation, and allows companies to compete under fair conditions," read the AMCHAM statement.

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Stakeholders Speak Out at Peace Process Consultation

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 05:56 AM PDT

YANGON – Stakeholders in Myanmar's peace process shared their views and recommendations during an informal consultation in Yangon on Saturday attended by the government Peace Commission chairman Dr. Tin Myo Win, State Counselor's Office minister U Kyaw Tint Swe, and its spokesperson U Zaw Htay.

Among the participants were peace experts, civil society members, representatives from ethnic political parties, media practitioners, and descendants of those who signed the 1947 Panglong Agreement.

U Maung Maung Soe, an independent analyst on federalism and ethnic issues, said their views were shared with the government representatives, whose task was mainly to listen.

Stakeholders shared their perspectives on State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's views, as she is often quoted by her staff and those she trusts, said Dr. Banyar Aung Moe from the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP).

Banyar Aung Moe, a former Upper House lawmaker, said that during the meeting he stated that the government and the Myanmar Army need courage and goodwill to deal with the country's peace process and to announce a unilateral ceasefire.

He also emphasized the importance of the government hastening negotiations with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) on their nine-point proposal, so that the ethnic armed coalition might sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

Meanwhile, the former MP urged the government to bring the Northern Alliance, comprised of seven ethnic armed groups based in Myanmar's northeast, into the peace process. Every ethnic armed group, he said, should be included and see their desires reflected in the next session of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference.

Banyar Aung Moe explained that tripartite talks must be held between the government, ethnic armed organizations, and political parties in order to support the work of ceasefire monitoring committees.

"We just need to raise our recommendations. They will use them if they want. They won't use them if they don't like them. That's all," he said.

During Saturday's meeting, other topics of discussion included the effect of insecurity in the country on the media, the question of non-signatories eventually signing the NCA pact, and the work being done toward the amendment of the 2008 Constitution, following the full implementation of the NCA.

Other topics of discussion included diminishing aid and support for internally displaced people, the role of the United Wa State Army in the NCA and peace process, and continued trust-building with the eight NCA-signatories, and not neglecting these relationships.

Dr. Min Nwe Soe, from AMRDP said the latter is a particularly urgent need, as "the government builds trust with NCA signatories first, and then we can move forward to achieve peace."

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Hospital Sued After Allegedly Releasing Wrong Baby’s Body

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 04:38 AM PDT

YANGON — The family of a baby who died at Yankin Children's Hospital in Yangon are suing hospital staff after the body was reportedly given to another family.

Four-month-old boy Zau Sut Aung from Shan State's Muse Township was admitted to the hospital on July 16 to receive treatment for a low white and red blood cell count that had been diagnosed two months before.

The boy was transferred to Halpin Children's Hospital on July 21, according to his aunty Ja Bauk Mai, but then returned to Yankin on the morning of July 25 because, she said, the hospital had more equipment for the patient. He died at 10 p.m. that night.

When the family went to collect the corpse from the hospital mortuary on July 27, they were told it was given to someone else, said Ja Bauk Mai.

"We were told the body was taken to Kyisu cemetery and crematory [in South Dagon Township] but we did not know what and where Kyisu was as we are not from Yangon," she told The Irrawaddy on Monday.

The family had intended to give the baby a Christian burial, but persevered with the service without the body.

The family filed the case at Yankin police station on Saturday "as we want the responsible people to be investigated, and we don't want such a loss to happen again to any other patients and their families," said the aunty.

On Monday, the family gave their statement to police, who have opened up a case under section 297 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to one year and a fine for someone who "offers any indignity to any human corpse" among other offences.

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H1N1 Outbreak Kills Three More in Yangon

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 12:39 AM PDT

YANGON — Three more people died of H1N1 influenza on Sunday in Yangon, raising the total number of H1N1 deaths to 10, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

The health ministry's Department of Public Health reported on Sunday evening that one person admitted to Yangon General Hospital on July 15 and another two admitted separately to the hospital on July 28 died on Sunday. The hospital did not give further details of the victims.

From July 21-30, Myanmar has had 182 suspected cases and 51 confirmed cases of the virus known as swine flu. The health ministry said it has accelerated emergency response, monitoring, prevention, control and awareness campaigns to combat H1N1.

"It is important to admit the person to the hospital as soon as they are suspected of having the influenza. If they are admitted early, the possibility of survival is high," Dr. Myint Htwe, minister of health and sports, said at a meeting on the outbreak on Sunday in Yangon, according to state media.

The ministry urged the public to follow precautionary measures, including avoiding crowds, frequently washing their hands, using disposable tissues when sneezing and coughing, and thoroughly cleaning utensils and plates before use.

Meanwhile, chickens at a house in Yangon's Mayangone Township were confirmed to have contracted H5N1 bird flu following the results of a laboratory test.

The outbreak in Yangon comes just after about 1,000 chickens died of the flu in Tanintharyi Region's Dawei Township.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation have released instructions on how to prevent the spread of bird flu.

The post H1N1 Outbreak Kills Three More in Yangon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

H1N1 Halts Taung Pyone Nat Festival

Posted: 31 Jul 2017 12:20 AM PDT

MANDALAY — Myanmar's largest annual nat festival scheduled to begin on Monday in Taung Pyone near Mandalay has been cancelled over fears of spreading the H1N1 influenza outbreak currently rattling the country.

"The festival ground is always crowded and germs would spread easily, so we have decided to postpone the festival until the influenza is under control," Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung told reporters on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of people from across Myanmar flock to the annual festival in Taung Pyone village, 15 miles north of Mandalay. It is held in honor of two brothers—Min Gyi and Min Lay—who were believed to have become nat spirits after they were executed by King Anawrahta.

On Sunday, the health ministry announced 10 lives had now been claimed by the influenza from a total of 182 suspected cases since July 21. Parliament approved an urgent proposal to boost awareness of H1N1 influenza in an attempt to control the country's outbreak last week.

U Zaw Myint Maung said government health officials will screen people who have already arrived in the area to attend the festival, which was scheduled to run until Aug. 8, and treat and quarantine infected persons.

Owners of local shops, food stalls, and restaurants have complained over losing business due to the late cancellation.

Restaurant owner Daw Swe Swe said she was one of many shop and restaurant owners who would lose out after already paying rental fees for a spot at the festival.

Trustees of the festival said they had already forked out wages for security personnel and other laborers and were worried that spiritual mediums, who channel nat spirits at the event, would not pay due rental fees.

"We will miss out as medium performers will not receive visitors and worshipers," said a trustee of the festival. "But what can we do? This is a health issue."

Mediums, however, told The Irrawaddy that performers would remain at festival grounds to perform the rituals regardless.

"We do this every year no matter what happens," said senior spiritual medium Mommy Noe. "We will do the ritual without failure, even if there are no worshippers visiting Taung Pyone."

"For health and safety, I will not leave the festival grounds until the festival has finished, and I will take care of my health. I believe Min Gyi and Min Lay will bless us with good health," she added.

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Silencing Media Has No Place in A Democracy

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 07:05 PM PDT

During my 15 years as a journalist, I never thought I could be arrested for meeting insurgent groups. Now I have been out of the industry for just as long, I dread to think about going through the same ordeal as Lawi Weng from The Irrawaddy and U Aye Naing and Ko Pyae Phyo Naing from the Democratic Voice of Burma.

The situation in Northeast India, where I spent most of my journalism years, is not too different from the situation in Myanmar. Journalists like Lawi Weng, U Aye Naing and Ko Pyae Phyo Naing who cover conflict from the field are exposed to hazards completely different from those working from the newsroom. Conflict journalists often find themselves sandwiched between state and non-state forces and there is almost zero guarantee of staying out of harm's way.

In this, the state has a huge responsibility. It has to protect members of "the fourth estate" which forms a very important pillar of any democratic society. This protection is perhaps the only difference between journalists on the Indian side of the border—who cover an equally intense and complicated conflict between ethnic groups and the military—and those that do so in Myanmar. I don't remember any incident of significance concerning the arrest of a journalist for covering or contacting an insurgent group in India. Undoubtedly, we were constantly tracked by intelligence agencies, the police, and the military special branch, and at times we were interrogated. But that was about it.

Northeast India, which shares a 1,643-kilometer border with Myanmar, has been "on the boil" for several decades with over a hundred different insurgent groups operating in the area at one point in time. Many of the armed outfits used Myanmar, Bangladesh, and even Bhutan as safe havens for their groups. Hundreds of journalists have been covering conflict in the region and many have traveled to unthinkable places to interview leaders of banned organizations such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

I clearly remember the day when I and another colleague were driven along the Bangladesh border by a driver from a militant group from Meghalaya—one of the insurgency-affected states of Northeast India. I was afraid that it may not be entirely ethical on our part, but I knew that given the situation and our poor knowledge of the terrain that this was the best thing to do. We had interviewed both the state security agencies and the non-state armed groups. Our reporting was done and we could have trekked back, but that we would be taking great risks, one of which was being arrested or detained by border guards and having to negotiate a complicated process to get ourselves released.

The prospect of temporary detention or interrogation we faced comes nowhere close to what the three journalists in Myanmar have had to go through. Their arrest apart, the way they have been treated and put in chains conjures scary images of the iron-fisted regime that ruled Myanmar for decades.

Even if the journalists somehow made a mistake, the response from the state has been appalling to say the least. Firstly, you don't arrest journalists by applying a somewhat draconian colonial-era law (the Unlawful Associations Act) and secondly, you don't treat them like criminals for simply doing their job, as I, and any number of others, have done in our professional careers as reporters.

Looking over the different provisions of the law, one wonders which aspect applies to the trio. It could be the part which states "whoever is a member of an unlawful association, or takes part in meetings of any such association, or contributes or receives or solicits any contribution for the purpose of any such association or in any way assists the operations of any such association, shall be punished…." Alternatively, it could be provisions that state "whoever manages or assists in the management of an unlawful association, or promotes or assists in promoting a meeting of any such association, or of any members thereof as such members, shall be punished…."

The million-dollar question is how do these two statements apply to Lawi Weng and the other two journalists? They don't come close to having committed any of what the law prescribes as violations. They were merely at the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) camp to cover a drugs-burning event. I have covered a few similar events also hosted by banned "terrorist organizations" (under Section 35 of India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967). Did I commit a crime? No. Did I avoid trouble because the Indian state is more careful in how it deals with its media personnel? Or is it a case of an older, established democracy versus a state merely trying to pose as one.

The fact of the matter is that on November 8, 2015 Myanmar held open and seemingly credible elections for the first time in decades under the watchful eyes of national and international election observers and the international community at large. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was elected to create a civilian government in a landslide victory. The government now has a reasonable amount of power both inside and outside of Parliament to counter undemocratic acts by the military or other forces.

The challenge, perhaps, is that in a fledgling democracy there will always be those that continue to hold on to the past and remain objectionable to anything that threatens the status quo. It is definitely time to ask State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi what is the use of a democracy where supporters who have backed her through her struggles are punished on flimsy grounds? Is this the kind of democracy she wants the country to accept as it moves towards the 2020 elections? The answer, for now at least, is perhaps anyone's guess.

Bidhayak Das is a former journalist who has spent over a decade working on promoting democracy in Myanmar. He is currently working as an independent consultant on elections, media and communications.

The post Silencing Media Has No Place in A Democracy appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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National News

National News

Thai employers force illegal workers to pay brokers for IDs

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 03:33 PM PDT

Illegal migrants in Thailand are compelled by their employers to shoulder the broker's fee of up to 10,000 baht (K407,311) in applying for a Certificate of Identity (CI) as well as work and visa permits, Myanmar migrants rights groups in Thailand said.

80,000 acres of paddy cultivation flooded

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 03:27 PM PDT

The government has announced that more than 80,000 acres under monsoon paddy were flooded out of which 20,000 acres damaged due to heavy torrential rains since the start of July.

Government seeks to replace imprisonment of drug pushers with community service

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 03:20 PM PDT

The Ministry of Home Affairs has submitted to the parliament proposed amendments to the country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law that seek to spare drug users from imprisonment.

Pope ponders Myanmar visit as part of Asian tour

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 03:14 PM PDT

Plans to visit Myanmar are likely to feature on Pope Francis's agenda during his proposed trip to Asia in November this year, besides touring India and Bangladesh, say media reports.

Student unions seek dialogue over hiring new teachers

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 03:04 PM PDT

Student unions are calling for negotiations with concerned government agencies to discuss their demands to immediately address the plight of new graduates in the education sector who have not yet been hired despite the thousands of vacancies in the basic education schools.

WHO: H1N1 outbreak not alarming

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 02:51 PM PDT

The World Health Organization said the H1N1 outbreak in Myanmar has not reached an alarming state as the government has taken proactive steps to contain the spread of the disease.

Mandalay cancels Taung Pyone over H1N1 fears

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 02:46 PM PDT

The Mandalay government on Sunday announced the cancellation of the annual Taungbyone Nat (Spirit Medium) festival as the country struggles to contain the outbreak of the H1N1 outbreak which already claimed seven lives.

NRPC officials listen to concerns, suggestions on peace process

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 02:42 PM PDT

To seek outside opinions on the current peace initiative, government officials responsible for peace process held a meeting on Saturday with relatives of individuals involved in the signing of the historic Panglong agreement, political analysts and experts.

5000 kg illegally imported meat destroyed

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 02:38 PM PDT

The Mandalay government incinerated over 5000 kilogramme of illegally imported frozen chicken and duck meat from China that were to be sold in the markets in the city and nearby areas, a senior police official said.
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Sunday, July 30, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Breaking: Myanmar Now Editor Arrested

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 08:50 AM PDT

YANGON — U Swe Win, chief editor of Myanmar Now news agency, was arrested at Yangon International Airport at about 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Airport police told The Irrawaddy that a person who is facing an ongoing lawsuit is usually detained if they try to leave the country.

U Swe Win is being charged under controversial Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law by a follower of the nationalist group Ma Ba Tha.

Mandalay resident U Kyaw Myo Shwe opened the case in March at a police station in Mandalay's Maha Aungmyay Township, accusing U Swe Win of insulting ultranationalist monk U Wirathu.

U Kyaw Myo Shwe told Mandalay police that the editor was leaving the country on Sunday, according to a police report on the arrest, however it is unclear how U Kyaw Myo Shwe obtained the information.

The report stated that the plaintiff wrote to the Ministry of Transport and Communication on July 12, explaining that he wanted to continue with the trial process.

The ministry responded on July 21, saying it would continue with the case. U Kyaw Myo Shwe then told police he believed U Swe Win was trying to flee the country and demanded his arrest.

Mandalay police informed their counterparts in Mingaladon, according to the report, which said the editor arrived at the airport at 7.15 p.m., where he was arrested by Mingaladon Township police captain Mya Tun Kyaw at Terminal 2 at 7.20 p.m. and brought to police custody.

Some unconfirmed reports said the authorities would transfer him to Mandalay Prison tonight.

U Swe Win was scheduled to visit Bangkok for a short work trip, according to Myanmar Now staff, who confirmed his arrest and that he was being held at Mingaladon police station.

The staff added that their editor had a verbal agreement with Mandalay police that he would report to them on August 3.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

New chairman appointed to U.N. mission probing Myanmar abuses

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 10:41 PM PDT

YANGON (Reuters) - The United Nations' Human Rights Council has replaced the chairwoman of a team investigating allegations of killings and rape by Myanmar's security forces, it said on Thursday, amid concerns over her perceived bias.

Indian Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising was initially named to chair the fact-finding mission, which has a focus on the western state of Rakhine that is home to the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority.


Council president Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli had decided to replace Jaising with Marzuki Darusman, a former attorney-general of Indonesia who has previously conducted rights investigations on North Korea, the council said in a statement from its headquarters in Geneva.

Jaising was appointed to lead the panel in May, after a resolution passed by the Human Rights Council in March calling for a team to be sent to look into the abuse claims.

The panel's two other members, Harvard-trained Sri Lankan lawyer Radhika Coomaraswamy and Australian consultant Christopher Dominic Sidoti, remain in place.

Myanmar has said it will refuse visas to the commissioners, arguing the mission would aggravate tension in Rakhine.

"As in all such cases, the mission will make it a priority to reach out to and engage constructively with the government and other relevant interlocutors," the council said.

"The Human Rights Council reiterates its hope that the government of Myanmar will grant the mission unfettered access to affected areas."

The statement did not give any reason for the change of personnel, but a U.N. official told Reuters Jaising agreed to step down after the council president raised concerns about public comments she made that could be seen as indicating bias.

The official requested anonymity, in the absence of authorization to speak to reporters.

The panel was formed after the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights said Myanmar security forces probably committed crimes against humanity, and possibly, ethnic cleansing of Rohingya civilians.

Rohingya militants killed nine border guards in October, sparking a response in which the army was accused of raping Rohingya women, shooting villagers on sight and burning down homes, sending an estimated 75,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.

Many in Myanmar see the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, although about 1.1 million of them live in Rakhine and say their roots in the region go back generations.

'Perceived Bias'

The U.N official and a human rights advocate familiar with discussions around the mission told Reuters that Jaising's comments had stirred concern among U.N. officials in Geneva that she would not be considered impartial.

After her appointment, Jaising was quoted by broadcaster Al Jazeera as saying the Rohingyas' situation in Myanmar "is especially deplorable because they face the risk of genocide".

"If there's any perceived bias...it undermines the credibility of the mission before it has started," said the U.N. official.

Jaising declined to comment when contacted by telephone on Thursday.

The panel will meet in Geneva in August, the statement said, and is expected to give a verbal update on its progress to the Human Rights Council in September before a final report in March.

Darusman is a veteran U.N. human rights investigator, having served as special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea and taken part in a landmark Commission of Inquiry on the North.

He also chaired a U.N. panel of experts on war crimes committed in the final months of Sri Lanka's long civil war.

Link Story : goo.gl/MbL3NS

Language diversity in Myanmar – a blessing in disguise?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 10:35 PM PDT

My father told me a story that happened to two of his friends on a tram in Warsaw in the 1980s. Both men were from the Podlasie region in northeast Poland and were having a conversation in their local dialect, which is a mixture of Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian. At some point one of the passengers nearby whispered loudly to his neighbour: "Can you hear them? They must be Russian!"



The nearby passenger's comment is somewhat understandable, because Poland is predominantly a monolingual country and a potential dialect might rise a few eyebrows. Those who speak a dialect always speak the official language of the country, which is Polish. Dialects are not taught at schools, though they sometime serve as the first language for children in the countryside (at least in some parts of the Podlasie region). In Myanmar, however, it is a well-known fact that citizens speak various languages on an everyday basis and not all local-language speakers are proficient in the official language of Myanmar. As has been suggested in the Myanmar Country Report: Language, Education and Social Cohesion (LESC) Initiative, local-language speakers' proficiency reflects "highly variable rates of knowledge of its standard forms and literacy". It is worth emphasizing that more often than not, in the Myanmar context, we talk about a variety of languages rather than just a variety of dialects. It is not a subtle difference. Local languages in Myanmar are usually not inter-intelligible, for example, Kachin language speakers will not understand the representatives of the Shan linguistic community.

This language variety in Myanmar has been reflected in the country's legislation as well. Article 21 of the Constitution of the Union of Burma from 1974 stipulated that all national races have the right to develop their language, provided that the exercise of this right will not be in conflict with the public interest. The official language at that time was called Burmese. The constitution also mentioned that Burmese language shall be used in the administration of justice. While the use of ethnic languages was possible, in such cases, the support of interpreters would be required. It seems that at that time, there was no strong focus on providing education in the ethnic languages. As Article 152 suggests, "Burmese is the common language. Languages of the other national races may also be taught." So, they can, but they don't have to.

With further research, it becomes obvious that the use of ethnic languages in any public sphere was discouraged. As long as it is accepted that the central organs of the state need to communicate in one language, Article 198 of the same constitution might sound surprising – the use of ethnic languages was also discouraged between the organs of the state at the lowest level. Only "if necessary", could the ethnic languages be used. When thinking about the practical aspect of this law, it seems only natural that lower level officials in the far regions of the Shan State or Kachin Region would speak their mother tongues in such contexts. Even though the constitution from 1974 (and any constitution, in fact) is a far cry from a poetical text, we can read between the lines nonetheless— local languages were merely tolerated in the public sphere and their use was accepted only "if necessary". The Constitution from 2008 seems to put more responsibility on the state to support the cultivation of ethnic languages. Article 22 mentions that the Union shall assist "to develop language (…) of the National races (…)".

The results of the 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census show the ethnic and religious variety of Myanmar, yet language is not directly addressed in the questionnaire. It is merely touched upon in question no. 19: "Can (Name) read and write in any language?", where literacy is understood as the ability to read and write in any language. Only in this respect does the questionnaire suggest that there might be more than one language spoken in Myanmar. Nevertheless, from a technical perspective, language variety did play an important role in the preparation of the census. The choice of persons who conducted the national census, recruited (mainly teachers recruited by the Ministry of Education and Township Census Committees) was dictated by their knowledge of local languages and communities. In order to ensure the data quality and gain certainty that the meaning of the census was understood, publicity materials were also translated into a variety of local languages. Despite good intentions, conducting the census in various linguistic communities was not free of challenges. While language identification and diversity even within a community/ethnic group led to problems of final categorization/classification of the ethnicity, not all teachers were proficient in local languages, which resulted in the fact that some replies might have gotten "lost in translation".

Having briefly presented the language policy in Myanmar, I would like to take a step further and throw some light on how its results are represented in the everyday life. It is undeniable that language variety in Myanmar has a direct impact on the educational sector, and in the long-term perspective, on the quality of life of Myanmar citizens. Those who speak Myanmar are usually more likely to succeed in their education. As the quotation below suggests, language is a factor that impacts the overall educational outcomes:

There are multiple and complex, and often context-specific, reasons for children dropping out of school at primary and secondary levels, of which poverty, language difficulties, disability and "lack of interest" are the most common.

This powerful sentence comes from the National Education Strategic Plan 2016-2021 (NESP) which (published in 2017) is a ground-breaking document that introduces a series of serious changes to the Myanmar education system and is supposed to restructure the educational sector within 5 years, with its full implementation in 2030. Also, the Thematic Report on Education (Census Report Volume 4-H) from the 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census suggests that a 'language barrier' is a significant factor that causes children from minority groups to drop out of school, especially during the transition from primary to lower secondary school, as well as from lower to upper secondary school. A positive sign is that the NESP encourages the teaching of ethnic languages and their use as the language of instruction. Moreover, it mentions the need to develop the "local curriculum" and textbooks in the local languages at the level of the basic education, which is a big step forward in shaping the inclusive national language policy. Authors of these local languages textbooks are also supposed to receive training on curriculum development.

Fortunately, in addition to the government initiated reports and roadmaps, grassroots initiatives that encourage a better language policy appear in Myanmar as well. For example Myanmar/Burma Indigenous Network for Education was established in 2014 in order to promote the rights to use the native languages as the means of instruction and it unites 22 organizations from Myanmar. There are also voices suggesting the decentralization of the educational system that could give local authorities influence on the curriculum and the language of instruction at schools, as suggested in the Myanmar Country Report. Language, Education and Social Cohesion (LESC) Initiative. Given the efforts of the current government to acknowledge ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, yet with a strong focus on the central role of the Union government in Nay Pyi Taw, this initiative sounds highly unlikely.

Language can be an instrument of exclusion, as the examples from the educational sector have shown. Nevertheless, there is also a possibility that an inclusive approach towards national languages, stimulated by the Myanmar government and locally supported, might contribute to establishing peace in the ethnic -based conflicts in Myanmar. By offering more space to local languages at school, minority children will gain confidence that their language, culture and values matter and are respected. The strength of Myanmar lies in its richness and diversity. It is true that the language situation is complex, but bilingual education in the traditionally non-Myanmar speaking areas is a good introduction to learning foreign languages. On the other hand, learning about minority languages and their users teaches respect and tolerance that can also be transferred on the international level in the future, when kids grow up. Managing a complicated language policy only adds to the challenges that the new Myanmar government is currently facing. Nevertheless, it is a positive sign that language diversity has been addressed as one of the priority topics in the ground-breaking educational reform initiated within the NESP. In the times of democratic reforms and opening up of the country, Myanmar citizens dream of equal opportunities abroad. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the current government took the right path in creating equal opportunities in the Myanmar schooling system. After all, equality also begins at home.

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Saturday, July 29, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Robotics Team Makes Top 10 at Competition

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 06:44 AM PDT

YANGON — A team of Myanmar engineering students who landed a top 10 ranking at the world's first international robotics competition hope their achievement will inspire young people to practise science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in order to improve the country.

The team finished six out of 163 teams across six continents at the FIRST Global Robotics Olympics, held in Washington DC in the United States from 16-18 July with the aim of fostering passion in young people for scientific and technological innovation.

The group of seven students aged 17-18 met with the media in Yangon on Friday to share their experiences of building the robotic kit and taking part in the competition, which was themed on addressing the issue of clean water.

The team comprised students from Yangon Technological University; the University of Information Technology; the University of Computer Science; Bursa Orhangazi Üniversitesi, Turkey; and the International Language and Business Centre. Hardware and robotics expert Ko Kyi Zaw Win mentored the group.

Team leader Phone Thiha Kyaw said, "We didn't expect to be in the top 10 at all," adding that all members learned plenty from their counterparts across the globe during the competition.

Team spokesperson Kyaw Za Zaw encouraged young people to use opportunities not only for their own development, but also for the development of their communities.

"I hope other young people across the country participate in such robotics competitions or any other STEM fields using all the available resources they could find in their environment," Kyaw Za Zaw told The Irrawaddy.

Ma May Pyae Sone Kyaw, 17, an engineering student at the University of Information Technology, was one of the two young women on the team.

Seeing all-female teams from other countries inspired her to believe in her own strength, she said.

"The whole idea that girls are not very relevant in building robots disappeared when I saw other all-female robotics teams at the competition," she said.

The Myanmar team won five out of six matches at the competition. Team Europe won the whole contest, followed by Poland, Armenia, Israel, and Germany.

Supported by USAID, Yangon innovation lab Phandeeyar in February called for applications to partake in the competition and formed the team of high school and university students, which it coached, said Myint Myat Aung Zaw, Phandeeyar associate and assistant mentor for the group.

Inspired by their achievement, he said the team hopes to pave the way for an annual regional robotics competition in the coming years.

Scot Marciel, US Ambassador to Myanmar, said at the event on Friday he was "surprised and not very surprised" to hear about the team's triumph, and praised Myanmar's youth as talented and hard working.

"This competition provides an environment where young, innovative thinkers can develop and fortify their ideas," he said, adding that his government was proud to have supported the team and the next generation of thought leaders.

The post Myanmar Robotics Team Makes Top 10 at Competition appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

This Week in Parliament (July 24 – July 28)

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 09:30 PM PDT

Monday (July 24)

In the Lower House, Dr. U Tin Aung of Kyaukse Township asked if the Ministry of Education would enable students enrolled in distance programs at universities to submit their assignments online. Deputy Minister for Education U Win Maw Tun replied that a pilot survey would be implemented in 2018, but that for the time being, the ministry would be unable to establish a website through which assignments could be accepted and assessed.

In the Upper House, Daw Ei Ei Pyone of Irrawaddy Division Consituency (8) asked if the government had plans to prevent citizens from seeking employment illegally in foreign countries as domestic workers. Union minister for labor, immigration and population U Thein Swe said the government would take measures to legally send migrant workers to "appropriate foreign countries at an appropriate time," and ensure that they received the protection and entitlements afforded by the laws of the countries in question.

Tuesday (July 25)

Daw Khin Saw Wai of Rathedaung Township asked in the Lower House if the government would translate laws which were written in English language and enacted in the colonial period, and are still enforced, into Burmese. Deputy Attorney-General of the Union Attorney-General's Office U Win Myint said that according to the law, his office is only responsible for translating laws written in Burmese into English.

Thirteen Lower House lawmakers discussed—and the legislature approved—an urgent motion put forward by Daw Thandar of Einme Township objecting to the end-of-mission statement issued by UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee on July 21.

Upper House lawmakers debated draft amendments to the controversial Telecommunications Law, and the military resisted the proposed reforms. Speaker of the Upper House Mahn Win Khaing Than assigned the bill committee to review the draft changes.

Wednesday (July 26)

The Union Parliament approved the list of nominees they had presented on Friday for three vice-governor positions and five director positions within the Central Bank of Myanmar, which will soon be vacant when existing terms expire.
The Union legislature also approved the draft law amending the Special Commodities Law.

Twenty lawmakers discussed the annual report from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission for 2016, and Daw Zin Mar Aung of Yankin Township pointed out that the government's responses continue to be weak in addressing domestic violence, child rape, and the abuse of housemaids.

Thursday (July 27)

U Aung Sein of Dawei Township asked in the Lower House if the Parliament planned to enact a mediation law to help reduce possible lawsuits over civil cases both between people and between people and government departments. Judge U Mya Thein of the Union's Supreme Court said they were still conducting a feasibility study of court-led mediation for civil cases, and currently had no plan to enact a mediation law.

The Upper House approved the new Myanmar Companies Law. The draft law combines elements of the Myanmar Companies Act of 1914 and the Special Companies Act of 1950, reworked in hopes of attracting foreign investment, according to the Ministry of Planning and Finance.

Friday (July 28)

U Thein Htun of the Union Solidarity and Development Party submitted an urgent proposal urging the Union government to conduct a widespread awareness campaign about the H1N1 virus. The Lower House approved the proposal.

In the Upper House, lawmakers discussed the Myanmar Gems Bill 2017.

The post This Week in Parliament (July 24 – July 28) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (July 29)

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 09:19 PM PDT

Grab Announces Expansion, New Initiatives

The Grab Myanmar taxi-ride platform is introducing a new phase of expansion with investments in technology, driver care and local partnerships, the company announced this week.

Following a four-month beta trial, there are now more than 5,000 drivers on the Grab platform and driver-partners have reported a 30 percent improvement in monthly income on average, according to a company statement. Drivers also have access to banking and financial services through the company's partnerships with CB Bank and Wave Money, it added.

"The next phase for Grab in Myanmar is focused on bringing a five-star experience to driver-partners and passengers, while supporting the government in upgrading its transport infrastructure. This includes making the Grab app more user-friendly, upskilling and improving the well-being of driver-partners on our platform, and creating more job opportunities for locals," said Hooi Ling Tan, co-founder of Grab, which is headquartered in Singapore.

The Myanmar arm of the company said that new initiatives include the introduction of a Zawgyi- and Unicode font- enabled app with more safety and tech features, a 'Driver Care' program and partnerships with local firms to improve traffic management and driver welfare.

Yangon chief minister U Phyo Min Thein presided over a launch this week of Grab's new phase, where he encouraged the company to build the language, business and other skills of drivers in order to provide the best service to passengers.

Mini Grids Aim to Boost Electricity Access

The use of 'mini grids' to improve electricity connectivity in Myanmar is growing, according to a report in the Nikkei news website.

Trial operations are due to begin this year for one mini grid operation in about 10 locations in Sagaing Region, it reported.

The project is being operated by the Yoma Micro Power venture, a joint operation between Yoma Strategic Holdings and a Norwegian government fund, and will build small power stations that generate electricity with solar panels and diesel generators.

Excess power output will be stored in batteries and payments will be collected from customers, with mobile service companies as core customers. Each site will have at least one mobile service station.

The Parami Energy Group also sees opportunities in electricity for villages, according to the report.

Parami signed an MOU last year with French state-owned utility EDF and the Magway Region government to supply mini grid electricity to 8,000 households. It is working to introduce similar projects in other regions and hopes to expand the business to one million customers in four years, according to CEO Pyi Wa Tun.

Just 32 percent of households in Myanmar use electricity from the grid as a main source of lighting, according to the 2014 census.

Improvements to the national electricity grid will likely take decades, according to analysts.

CITIC in Deal to Raise Rice Sector Standards

Two Myanmar organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding with China's China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) Construction to implement an agronomics service center project, according to reports.

The deal between the Myanmar Rice Association and the Myanmar Agronomics Public Corporation and CITIC was signed in Naypyitaw last weekend, Xinhua and the Myanmar News Agency reported.

The project is due to work to boost rice production per acre production rate, enhance rice quality, mitigate production costs and increase internal and external investment in production, milling and trading.

Myanmar exports a variety of Emata rice, Ngasein rice, sticky rice, parboiled rice and broken rice to international markets including China, Sri Lanka, the European Union and South Africa. But productivity is low compared to the production of neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.

China is by far the largest market with about 1.5 million tons of rice exported to the country through border gates during the fiscal year 2016-2017, according to the report.

CITIC already has a significant footprint in Myanmar as the lead partner in a consortium that has proposed taking a 70-85 percent stake in the US$7.3 billion Kyauk Pyu deep sea port, part of China's One Belt, One Road Initiative. CITIC also won the right to nearly run a nearby industrial park and an oil refinery.

In June The Irrawaddy reported that farmers were demanding compensation for land selected by CITIC to be part of the industrial park. Earlier this year a report by the International Commission for Jurists (ICJ) urged the government to ensure human rights in the Kyauk Pyu SEZ development.

Bus Firm Seeks Foreign Investors

A local US$10 million bus assembly and production facility is keen to enlist 50 percent foreign investment, according to DealStreet Asia.

Yangon-based Myanmar Motor Corporation Public Company (MMC) is keen to expand with an eye to export to mainly Asian markets, its president Htay Aung told the website. The company is in talks with two foreign enterprises, he added.

MMC is an exclusive dealer of the German commercial vehicle MAN. Currently, it orders parts and assembly of the vehicles in China which are then imported into Myanmar as finished buses.

The firm expects to roll out its own MAN buses from Yangon soon, after it gained a license to manufacture the buses locally in January this year. The vehicles will be assembled at a facility in Mingaladon Township which will be able to produce around 100 buses a year.

Started in 2012, MMC is a consortium of 31 local companies including Sakura Trade Center, Sakura Engineering and Construction Development, Sakura Technical Services and Sakura Auto which imports new and reconditioned cars.

Marriott in Deal for Downtown Yangon Hotel

The Hotel Sule Square and the Naing Group have signed a deal with Marriott International to open a hotel in downtown Yangon, it was reported this week.

The 200-room Courtyard by Marriott will be located in Yangon's Sule Square as part of a mixed-use development including retail outlets and cafes.

Karl Hudson of Marriott International said, "Myanmar holds immense potential as a new tourism destination in Southeast Asia given its rich history and natural beauty. Demand is expected to grow as the government and economy are stabilizing," according to a report in a trade website.

Forum on Small Business Development

A forum on the development of small and medium sized enterprises will be held by the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) at its Mingalardon Hall facility in Yangon on the morning of Saturday July 29 (today). The event is due to bring economists, government officials and private sector interests together and all are invited.

The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (July 29) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘Prospects For Peace Are Not Good’

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 07:58 PM PDT

Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, we discuss the latest developments in Shan and Kachin states and their impacts on politics and the country's peace process. The Irrawaddy news crew members Ko Kyaw Kha and Ma Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint join me to discuss this. I'm Irrawaddy Burmese editor Ye Ni.

Speaking of the latest developments in the peace process in Shan State, Lt-Gen Yawd Serk of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) has said that the prospects for peace now look dim. Shan politicians raised objections when they were asked to promise not to secede at the recent talks on federalism. U Harn Yawnghwe, a Shan politician living abroad and the son of [Myanmar's first president] Sao Shwe Thaik, was blacklisted [from entry to Myanmar]. And clashes have recurred between government troops and the SSA-S, though it has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

The news reports we've heard about Shan State are more and more discouraging. Ko Kyaw Kha, do you agree with what Lt-Gen Yawd Serk has said? And you've talked to the Shan politicians who attended a recent discussion in Thailand's Chiang Mai. What did you hear from them?

DATELINE IRRAWADDY: This week, The Irrawaddy discusses developments in Shan and Kachin states and their impacts on the peace process.

Posted by The Irrawaddy – English Edition on Friday, July 28, 2017

Kyaw Kha: The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU)—composed of Shan political parties, particularly the SNLD (Shan Nationalities League for Democracy) and SNDP (Shan Nationalities Democratic Party), and Shan armed groups SSA-N and SSA-S, and Shan local civil society organizations—planned to hold a meeting in Chiang Mai. The committee's main objective is to engage in Shan national politics and promote the rights of ethnic Shan people. However, the military attaché of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand banned their meeting. So, the meeting was disrupted. They think their meeting was banned because one of the participants, the SSPP [Shan State Progress Party, the political wing of the SSA-N], is not an NCA signatory, as well as because of the news that U Harn Yawnghwe would attend the meeting, and because [the government] did not want to see political solidarity among Shan stakeholders. Currently, there have been renewed clashes between the RCSS [Restoration Council of Shan State—the political wing of the SSA-S] and the Tatmadaw. The RCSS held talks on this issue with joint ceasefire monitoring committees at state and Union levels, but there is still no clear answer. Both the RCSS and the Tatmadaw said clashes took place because there are still no clear lines of demarcation between the territories of the two sides.

YN: Let's talk about Kachin State. As you know, there have been clashes in Kachin State since 2011. Though they are not that frequent today, there are still sporadic clashes. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) was previously leading the ethnic alliance United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), but has partnered with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) now. This has upset ethnic allies and raises question among them and the Kachin people about the KIO's leadership role. We have covered a report about KIO leadership as analysts have said that the political views of KIO leaders differ from one another. I've heard that the KIO leaders explained their stances and political developments in Kachin State at a meeting in Laiza. What will be the future political steps of KIA [Kachin Independence Army, the armed wing of KIO]?

Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint: Kachin people have criticized the KIO's switch from the UNFC to the FPNCC (Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee) led by the UWSA. They criticize out of their concerns about the uncertainties over political developments in Kachin. They asked if the KIO would not try for peace. But from July 15-17, the KIO invited people's representatives from inside and outside the country, community leaders, and locals to Laiza and explained their political shift. They explained that the UNFC had reached a dead end, and that Kachin was hit hard as the KIA has lost many outposts and hills in the large-scale assaults by the military since August 2016, and displaced persons had had to flee from place to place.

They explained that they had no other choices but to cooperate with UWSA to demand federalism and ethnic rights from the government. According to KIO leaders, some people understood the KIO's decision after the explanation, though they criticized KIO before, and they said that they would wait and see to what extent the KIO leaders can do this.

Another criticism is that there are divisions in the party. KIA spokespersons and sources close to them have said that there are groups who have moderate views and want to hold talks on the NCA with the government, as well as groups who want to demand autonomy and ethnic rights together with the UWSA. Chinese analysts have said that Gen Gun Maw, who continuously engaged in the peace process with U Thein Sein's government, has moderate views, and Gen N'Ban La is a hardliner who would demand autonomy for Kachin State. Sources close to the KIA said that there are always members who have different views in a family, but that the divisions do not amount to a power struggle; and that the ones who have greater support from Kachin locals will take the leading role in engaging in the peace process with the government. Gen N'Ban La has cooperated with UWSA as it is also pressing the same demand—autonomy.  Again, there have been continuous clashes between the military and the Arakan Army, Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Kokang group in northern Shan State. So, from a geopolitical perspective, the KIA feels unsafe remaining a member of the UNFC. For these reasons, the KIA has decided to cooperate with UWSA.

YN: It can be said that the main stakeholders in peace process now are the military, the NLD (National League for Democracy) government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the UWSA and ethnic armed groups based in northern Myanmar, the CSSU or Shan political forces, UNFC—the ethnic alliance of NCA non-signatories—and the eight NCA signatory groups, including the KNU (Karen National Union). And Lt-Gen Yawd Serk said peace prospects look dim. Ko Kyaw Kha, how do you think these players will end the show on the peace process stage?

KK: As we have consistently covered the peace process, what we see is that the prospects for peace for the time being are not good. The peace process is down. In the case of the joint ceasefire monitoring committees, discussions have stalled as territories haven't been designated yet [between the military and ethnic armed groups].

We can look at the peace talks with NCA non-signatories as two parts—groups led by UNFC in the southern part of Myanmar and groups led by the UWSA in northern part. The northern groups want to hold talks with the government as a bloc under the name of FPNCC. But the government has said that it would only meet with them separately. So, there is no negotiation at all. Despite the fact that China is mediating, the two sides still have not been able to meet, and discussions could not take place.

In the case of the UNFC, it has insisted that it would hold talks based on the nine points it has presented to the government; and the government is set to meet the UNFC next week.  But there are no talks between the government and the other stakeholders. In the case of the NCA signatories, some of them have not been able to hold a national-level political dialogue, and there is no progress in discussions about the renewed clashes between the government and NCA signatory groups [like the SSA-S]. NCA signatories are now just reviewing their dissatisfactions at 21st Century Panglong. There is almost no progress in the peace process, except that the UNFC will meet the government next week. It is suffice to say that the prospects look dim. That's why SSA's Lt-Gen Yawd Serk said that 2017 won't be the year of peace at all, as was claimed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Htin Kyaw.

YN: So, it seems that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has shifted her focus to the issue of IDPs (internally displaced persons), as the peace process has reached an impasse. She has met with the KBC (Kachin Baptist Convention) recently. Ma Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint, what have you heard about the meeting?

NLHP: They held talks for an hour and a half on July 24. They had some discussions about peace, but according to those who attended the meeting, before the second session of the 21st Century Panglong conference, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged Kachin leaders in Myitkyina to sign the NCA. But as it didn't happen, this time she asked KBC leaders if they would help children in areas controlled by the KIA to be able to go to school, and that the government would cooperate with the KBC.

The talks also focused on cooperation in returning IDPs to their homes. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi asked what the barriers were in peace process, and KBC leaders replied that the assaults of Tatmadaw were barriers to peace, and they urged her government to handle this seriously. And she replied that as the government was still trying to amend the 2008 Constitution, they only had formal relations with the Tatmadaw according to the Constitution, and the government therefore was not in a position to exercise direct control over Tatmadaw. She said the government wouldn't neglect the Kachin and the IDP issue, and the two sides agreed to cooperate on those issues as well as on the peace process.

YN: Thank you for your contributions!

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