Friday, February 24, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Former Student Activist Calls Out State Media for Use of Demeaning Name

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 08:15 AM PST

U Hla Shwe, a 1960s student activist, claims a state-run newspaper failed to explain the use of the term 'kjat,' slang for 'chicken,' to describe him.

The post Former Student Activist Calls Out State Media for Use of Demeaning Name appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thilawa SEZ Commences Second Phase of Project

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 06:46 AM PST

Rangoon's Thilawa Special Economic Zone management committee says they expect to complete Zone B in mid-2018.

The post Thilawa SEZ Commences Second Phase of Project appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Govt Jails Maungdaw Border Guard Police for Negligence

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 06:35 AM PST

A police court sentences border guard police colonels to one to three years in prison.

The post Govt Jails Maungdaw Border Guard Police for Negligence appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Report Outlines Potential Framework for Resource Revenue Sharing

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 06:27 AM PST

Research by the Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Center describes how natural resource revenue could be shared between Burma's central and state govts.

The post New Report Outlines Potential Framework for Resource Revenue Sharing appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Urges Fixes to the Rangoon Bus Network

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 06:09 AM PST

'Now that the new system is underway, we will suggest ways to make it more efficient for commuters,' says USDP spokesperson Dr. Nanda Hla Myint.

The post USDP Urges Fixes to the Rangoon Bus Network appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Yangon Art Heritage Festival Kicks Off

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 05:45 AM PST

Two-week art festival brings public art installations to Burma's commercial hub with the theme 'Memories, Objects and Spaces.'

The post Yangon Art Heritage Festival Kicks Off appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Joint Coordinating Body Approves Peace Process Budget Proposals

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 04:53 AM PST

The JCB for peace process funding, chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, approves budget proposals of the peace process implementing bodies.

The post Joint Coordinating Body Approves Peace Process Budget Proposals appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Seize 450 Kilos of Cocaine From Shipping Containers

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 03:17 AM PST

The cocaine, which arrives in Burma in sugar containers, would be valued around 21 billion kyats (US$15.3 million) at market prices.

The post Police Seize 450 Kilos of Cocaine From Shipping Containers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Govt Announces Plan to Protect Burma’s Oceans

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 02:12 AM PST

The ocean space management plan aims to maintain livelihoods that rely on the sea and protect Burma's dolphins, sea turtles, and other species.

The post Govt Announces Plan to Protect Burma's Oceans appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

UWSP Criticizes the Government Peace Process at Ethnic Summit

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:24 PM PST

Delegates to the Panghsang summit call government peace efforts 'confusing and unproductive,' and say Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not really in charge.

The post UWSP Criticizes the Government Peace Process at Ethnic Summit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma’s National Education Plan Focuses on Lifelong Learning

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 10:45 PM PST

Burma officially launches a national education plan that sets strategic directions for educational reform over the next five years.

The post Burma's National Education Plan Focuses on Lifelong Learning appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

U Wirathu Leads Protest in Solidarity with Dhammakaya Temple

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:40 PM PST

'We condemn the government of Thailand for this ugly action against Buddhism,' says Ma Ba Tha leader

The post U Wirathu Leads Protest in Solidarity with Dhammakaya Temple appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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National News

National News

Water experts: Myanmar needs to prepare for climate change

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:59 PM PST

With the threat of climate change and population growth, Myanmar – a nation rich in water resources – has to put in place proper measures to ensure water security for the future, experts said.

Government to clamp down on sale of fake cooking oils

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:51 PM PST

The government will take legal action against those found to be selling fake cooking oils from March, said U Kyaw Win, Union Minister for Planning and Finance.

K9.1b new housing units for health staff

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:45 PM PST

To address the shortage of housing for Ministry of Health staff in the states and regions, over 5000 new houses at a cost of K9.1 billion will be built under the 2017-18 budget, its Minister Dr Myint Htwe said at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw yesterday.

Activist faces suit over FB comment

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:39 PM PST

An activist from Mandalay, Daw Amar Ni, is facing a defamation suit after she posted remarks on Facebook against the National League for Democracy's (NLD) Mandalay district vice-chair U Ko Ko Lay.

President accepts Mon Chief Minister’s resignation

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:37 PM PST

President U Htin Kyaw has accepted the resignation of U Min Min Oo as Mon Chief Minister.

Myanmar workers in Thailand go on strike for labour rights

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:29 PM PST

A total of 300 Myanmar migrants working at INDEX, a motorcycle helmet factory in Bangkok, went on strike to demand better working conditions and rights, said Thai-based migrants rights organisation Aid Alliance Committee (AAC) yesterday.

CSO peace forum begins today

Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:23 PM PST

The civil society organisations peace forum should last as long as the peace process in Myanmar, said a member of the forum's steering committee.
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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan National Conference blocked by Tatmadaw

Posted: 24 Feb 2017 07:29 AM PST

Burma's military has intervened in plans for Shan National Conference (SNC), insisting that state capital Taunggyi cannot be used as a venue for the forum and instead directing organizers to smaller townships.


According to Col. Sai La, an official with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), which is hosting the event, his group met with Tatmadaw [Burmese military] representatives at talks mediated by the government-led Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) on February 15. He said that the Tatmadaw offered only a restricted shortlist of options for holding the SNC, which is the last forum where ethnic Shans may gather to express opinions and make decisions ahead of the national peace talks known as the 21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC, which is slated to be held in mid-March.

"The Tatmadaw said we could hold the conference in Mongpan, Mongtaw or Nam Pan Kun townships," he told Shan Herald on Friday.

The three towns are each underdeveloped and inconvenient in terms of travel, accommodation and hospitality, he said.

"We requested permission to hold the SNC in Taunggyi," said Sai La. "They responded by saying that only the Tatmadaw could stage official meetings in the state capital. Other than the three towns put to us, they would not budge in discussing the matter further."

The RCSS spokesman said that, the following day, the Shan armed group sent a letter to Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo, a Tatmadaw representative at the UPDJC. However, he replied saying that he could not interfere in what the military had ordered.

Sai La said he then wrote to State Counselor and head of the UPDJC Aung San Suu Kyi on February 19. Her office responded the next day, advising the RCSS to take up the matter again with the relevant military officials. Suu Kyi's office further said that it could not intervene in the situation.

"Again, this time on February 23, we sent another letter to Aung San Suu Kyi in her capacity as both State Counselor and chairperson of the UPDJC," Sai La said. "We told her it would be impossible to host the SNC in those towns because they were not equipped to accommodate at least 400 or 500 persons.

"We again requested permission to hold the event in either Taunggyi or Panglong Township."

He said that if they could not successfully hold a Shan national conference how could the people's voice be presented at the second round of the 21CPC in a few weeks' time.

"This national conference is not only for us [RCSS/SSA]," Sai La added. "It is for all Shan people. We will have to listen to their voices to reach a consensus."

He reiterated: "Taunggyi is the state capital, and Panglong is a historical city. They should allow us to hold it in either of those places."


The RCSS/SSA was one of eight ethnic armies that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the President Thein Sein government in October 2015.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
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