Monday, February 27, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Who Was Behind U Ko Ni’s Assassination?

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 06:33 AM PST

A press briefing on the investigation into U Ko Ni's killing receives thumbs-down from many public and political observers.

The post Who Was Behind U Ko Ni's Assassination? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

State Counselor and UNFC Peace Negotiation Team to Meet This Week

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 05:20 AM PST

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic armed bloc's Delegation for Political Negotiation will meet in Naypyidaw, both sides confirmed.

The post State Counselor and UNFC Peace Negotiation Team to Meet This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Lawmaker Denies Involvement in U Ko Ni Case

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 05:12 AM PST

Lawmaker and former personal security officer of Burma's Military Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing denies accusations of withholding information on the assassination.

The post USDP Lawmaker Denies Involvement in U Ko Ni Case appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Local Gold Price Reaches Record High

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 04:29 AM PST

At 902,500 kyats per tical, the local gold price is the highest ever on record and upward trend is likely to continue.

The post Local Gold Price Reaches Record High appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

U Win Htein Accuses Home Ministry of ‘Fanning the Flames’ of U Ko Ni Assassination

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 03:53 AM PST

National League for Democracy secretariat member says home ministry's press briefing resembled those held by Gen Khin Nyunt in the 90s.

The post U Win Htein Accuses Home Ministry of 'Fanning the Flames' of U Ko Ni Assassination appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Legal Affairs Commission Extended Despite Army Objections

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 03:06 AM PST

Burma Army officials object to extending the commission, stating that it was not formed in line the 2008 military-drafted Constitution.

The post Legal Affairs Commission Extended Despite Army Objections appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National CSO Forum Urges Constitutional Reform

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 12:57 AM PST

Federalism and constitutional reform are needed for nation building, according to a forum of civil society organizations.

The post National CSO Forum Urges Constitutional Reform appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar’s Peace Process: Troubleshooting the Deadlock

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 05:54 PM PST

Analyst Liu Yun says skilled negotiators are needed in Myanmar's Peace Process.

The post Myanmar's Peace Process: Troubleshooting the Deadlock appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National News

National News


Ma Ba Tha calls Thai government to exercise restraint over Dhammakaya issue

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 08:09 AM PST

Concerning the issue of Wat Phra Dhammkaya in Thailand, Ma Ba Tha has called for the Thai government not to use excessive force in the matter, Ma Ba Tha central member Ashin Dr. Dhammpiya told The Myanmar Times.

Union Government agrees to tax revisions by Hluttaw

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 12:14 AM PST

Revisions to tax rates proposed by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee in the 2017 Union Tax bill have been agreed to by the Union Government, said Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win.

More townships extended to PEN Project

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 12:06 AM PST

The Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases (PEN) Project, which aims to provide training and medical tools to diagnose and protect against non-communicable diseases will be extended to 70 townships throughout the regions and states.

Yangon government to draft master plan for wards, villages

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:48 PM PST

The Yangon government is drafting a master plan for the development of wards and villages, its chief minister said on February 25.

Mandalay farmers want lawsuits over seized land withdrawn

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:41 PM PST

Farmers in Mandalay Region facing court cases over land seizures want the regional government to withdraw the lawsuits and return the land to them.

SMEs in crisis due to failure to get bank loans

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:38 PM PST

Small and middle-sized enterprises are facing a crisis due to difficulties in sourcing financing from banks, said the founder of City Mart Group of Companies, Daw Win Win Tint,

State Counsellor breaks silence at Ko Ni memorial service

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:30 PM PST

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi broke her silence on the murder of U Ko Ni yesterday when she attended a memorial service for the National League for Democracy lawyer and the taxi driver who was also killed in the incident last month.

MICS workers demand  for their rights

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:23 PM PST

Some 300 workers from the Myanmar Infrastructure, Craft and Service (MICS) labour organisation took to  the streets yesterday, urging the government to listen to their demands.

Myanmar cops bust drug trafficking syndicate

Posted: 26 Feb 2017 11:15 PM PST

Myanmar's anti-narcotics police busted a huge drug trafficking syndicate and seized K40 billion worth of drugs in an operation which began in November.

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


THE PLOT THICKENS: Wa-led ethnic armed organization leaders unveiled a new peace process game plan

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 05:13 AM PST

The plot has thickened as the 21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC), acknowledged as the only game in town is being threatened into a situation to accommodate another game plan headed by the Wa from their mini-state capital, generally known as Panghsang but now changed to Pangkham.

The seven Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), United Wa State Party/Army (UWSP/UWSA), United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA), Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), Peace and Solidarity Committee/National Democratic Alliance Army (PSC/NDAA) and Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) held a meeting from February 22 to 24, with New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) absence, although the two sent in position papers to the gathering.

In all thirty-seven delegates attended the meeting, including two specially invited guests, from the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA).
 
The ethnic leadership meeting, a third one of its kind came up with a call for a new approach rather than just following the government initiated 21st Century Panglong Conference based on Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which the Wa initiated meeting opted to boycott or not to sign it unless a new compromised agreement could be agreed upon.

The nine point statement of February 24, 2017 basically argued that in spite of NCA deliberation, the armed conflict along the Burma-China border in Kachin and Shan States have escalated with no sign of stopping, while on the eve of the second 21st Century Panglong Conference the country is loaded with difficulties and unresolved problems. Thus, the necessity to call for a three day conference, leading to the following agreed statement, signed as the "Ethnic Armed Revolutionary Leaders Third Meeting".

1. The ethnic armed revolutionary leaders attending the meeting commonly agreed on the political definition of Wa State's (UWSP/UWSA) "Panglong Spirit" that is based on its discussion paper, "Wa State's general principle and detailed demands".

2. To immediately withdraw the identification as terrorist groups on the MNDAA, TNLA and KIA of December 7, 2016 by the Shan State Parliament that is against the will of the people.

3. To immediately stop all military offensives, in order the country to be peaceful and start the reconciliation process.

4. Implements the principle of all-inclusiveness to all armed revolutionary organizations and urges equality-based modal negotiation. In pursuing to achieve peace, resolving political problems, employing military means and threatening attacks are rejected.

5. Under the acceptance of "Wa State's general principle and detailed demands on political negotiation", formation of a political negotiation group, initiated by Wa State, to negotiate with the Burmese government is being agreed.

6. Depending on the development of the situation, the participants of the ethnic revolutionary organizations would discuss and adjust the Wa State's general principle and detailed demands and accept it as "general political principle and detailed demands of the ethnic armed revolutionary organizations on political negotiation".

7. The meeting participants of the ethnic armed resistance organizations are of the opinion, regarding the NCA as follows:

(a) The Burmese government aim to replace the historic Panglong Agreement with the NCA could not accepted.

(b) The meeting participants of the ethnic armed revolutionary organizations demand that the NCA be replaced with a more justified ceasefire agreement.

8. The meeting participants of the ethnic armed resistance organizations call on the United Nations and People's Republic of China to look upon as  arbitrator in Burma's peace process.

(a) To urge for a new ceasefire agreement between the Burmese government and the non-ceasefire ethnic armed organizations.

(b) To urge for speedy realization political negotiation, leading to the formation of a genuine federal union, based on the already signed different levels of ceasefire agreements between the Burmese government and the ethnic armed revolutionary organizations.

9. Regarding capital investment and developmental projects, the opinion of ethnic armed resistance organizations attending the meeting are:

(a) China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) policy is peaceful equal development of all neighboring countries. This policy is necessary for Burma's economic development and security and as well benefits the arbitrator.

(b) It is believed that China's OBOR policy could successfully be implemented within Burma and beneficial for ethnic areas.

(c) The ethnic armed resistance organizations agreed that security of the foreign investments will be guaranteed. (Unofficial general translation from Burmese text by this writer – February 27, 2017)

In addition to the major call of the meeting statement on Panglong Spirit – according to the Wa definition includes rights of self-determination, ethnic equality and democracy - to be adhered, the dossier distributed to the invited participants prior to the Wa initiated third meeting, dated January 15, 2017, accused the Aung San Suu Kyi headed National league for Democracy (NLD) regime as being ethnocentric like its predecessor Thein Sein government, toeing and implementing the NCA line rigidly, which only benefits the Bamar ethnic group at the expense of the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities.

Responses to the Panghsang statement

One top United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) leader, who is also the vice-chairman of the NMSP told 7 Day Daily on February 26: "We just can't hold on indefinitely only to NCA. There are quite a lot that have not sign the NCA. It is important that all could participate. If we are to build peacefulness, all ethnic armed revolutionary organizations need to be involved. For this we need broad-mindedness and find ways."

He further said that he didn't like to give opinion on Panghsang statement for the time being. NMSP did not attend the meeting but sent in its position paper.

On February 25, according to Mizzima, UNFC general secretary Khu Oo Reh said: "Concerning UNFC, there will be no changes and would continue as originally planned."

The UNFC is scheduled to meet the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on March 1 to discuss policy matters, which is likely to be ironing out its nine point proposal to be able to sign the NCA.

Regarding the Panghsang statement Shan nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) general secretary, Sai Nyunt Lwin according to Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) February 25 report said: "I think they are looking for a new approach. The government side, especially the Tatmadaw, would not be able to accept it. But the good thing is that this search for a new approach would still go back on negotiation track. As it is (the statement) is not abandoning the negotiation, I am not sure whether we could welcome it or not. I think we should look into this approach. One thing that irked me is that probably Chinese influence seems be a little bit too much in it."

The same DVB report wrote that presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said: "I believe that it is (the statement) not following the 21stCentury Panglong line. It is directly contradicting it. We are moving accordingly to the commonly agreed tripartite dialogue – government, parliament, military; EAOs; and political parties, which will go if needed up to the constitutional amendment."

When asked if the planned March 1 meeting between the State Counselor and the UNFC could be affected because of the Panghsang meeting, as UNFC key players are involved in it, he replied that it won't be affected and that the meeting would take place as scheduled to discuss policy matters.

Perspective

Following the Panghsang meeting and statement a lot of questions are stirred up such as,  whether the UNFC would follow the UWSA lead and opt for a new approach in going about the peace negotiation process; if China with its self-projected neutral mediator stance going to go so far as to persuade the Tatmadaw and government make concession for another ceasefire deal on behalf of Panghsang that doesn't need to go through NCA signing; and whether the UNFC's nine point proposal be considered by the government and Tatmadaw positively.

For now, the UNFC members would need to digest the Panghsang meeting outcomes and thrash out any misunderstanding among themselves that might arise on how to position itself in the choice of whether to go on pursuing the NCA line or opt for a new approach as prescribed by the latest ethnic leadership meeting, in Panghsang.

Regarding China, it might be in a bit of awkward position, as it only wants to be an active neutral mediator, where its main concern is its national interest tied closely to its economic scheme and keeping Burma as a political entity out of the Western orbit, actions which would seem openly taking sides with the armed ethnic groups could jeopardize it interest on Burma as a whole. Still, it would be interesting to see how China would react to this Panghsang's initiative as becoming an important arbitrator, in collaboration with the United Nations in Burma's peace process undertakings.

Now that the new game plan or alternative way out of the NCA deadlock is being proposed, the government and Tatmadaw are faced with a choice to either agree to the UNFC nine point proposal, so that its members would join the NCA fold or rejecting it and push the UNFC further into the arms of Panghsang initiated approach, which calls for a new set of ceasefire agreement without having to sign the NCA, leading to the participation in the peace process.

As it is, all is now open to speculation and until the March 1 scheduled meeting between the State Counselor and the UNFC that is to take place and the amount of compromised outcomes that would follow and made publicly known, all will be left to be indulged in a guessing game, whether we like it or not.



Commentary on "Daw Suu breaks silence on U Ko Ni assassination"

Posted: 27 Feb 2017 12:23 AM PST

At long last, the lady has come out in the open to honor the fallen hero U Ko Ni and as well shows her stance of justification in the struggle for democracy. Although a bit late, it is better than never doing it.


Hopefully, she would extend the return of her new found boldness, righteousness and regain momentum, to stand fast against the other injustice like military occupation and oppression in ethnic states; human rights violations; freedom of press hampered by draconian laws; racism; and all forms of religious fanatic ultra-nationalism.

People are hoping that she would become her old-self again that adhere to liberal democratic principles in words and deeds, without fear and not just a politician that calculate too much and keep unnecessary silence, when the show of her moral authority and justified stance crucially needed.

Link to the story : Daw Suu breaks silence on U Ko Ni assassination