Monday, March 20, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Philippine President Offers Humanitarian Aid to Arakan State

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 07:42 AM PDT

During a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Rodrigo Duterte formalized a donation of US$300,000 in humanitarian aid to the region.

The post Philippine President Offers Humanitarian Aid to Arakan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mon State Speaker: ‘Our Challenge is That Parliamentarians Only Have Pen and Paper’

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 07:36 AM PDT

Mon State parliament speaker Daw Tin Ei discusses the regional parliament's successes and challenges in its first year.

The post Mon State Speaker: 'Our Challenge is That Parliamentarians Only Have Pen and Paper' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon Mayor Announces Regional Plans to Ease Guesthouse Restrictions

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 07:07 AM PDT

Union laws barring international visitors from staying in guesthouses remain intact.

The post Rangoon Mayor Announces Regional Plans to Ease Guesthouse Restrictions appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Israel Rejects Petition for Military Export Ban on Burma

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 04:11 AM PDT

Activists submitted the petition to the Israeli Supreme Court because of alleged human rights violations in Burma.

The post Israel Rejects Petition for Military Export Ban on Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Nursing Students Reach Agreement With Health Ministry

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 03:29 AM PDT

Nursing students who protested delayed licensing reach an agreement with the health ministry after an informal meeting of the two parties.

The post Nursing Students Reach Agreement With Health Ministry appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thousands Protest the Naming of Gen Aung San Bridge

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:23 PM PDT

Thousands of ethnic Mon protest in state capital Moulmein against a local bridge that the Union government named after independence hero Gen Aung San.

The post Thousands Protest the Naming of Gen Aung San Bridge appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippines’ Duterte Welcomes Prospect of ICC Case

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:44 PM PDT

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he will not be intimidated and that his campaign will be unrelenting and 'brutal.'

The post Philippines' Duterte Welcomes Prospect of ICC Case appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Police Say They Have Found Plot to Kill Prime Minister

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:12 PM PDT

Authorities seize a weapons stockpile belonging to a member of the red shirt movement, a political group loyal to exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The post Thai Police Say They Have Found Plot to Kill Prime Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National News

National News


Over 20,000 Myanmar women stay illegally in Dehong: daily

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:53 PM PDT

More than 20,000 Myanmar women have married Chinese men and are living illegally in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a Chinese government-owned daily reported last week.

Options for a modern or traditional Thingyan

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:51 PM PDT

For the 2017 Thingyan (Water Festival), the Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) will strictly enforce rules and regulations pertaining to celebrations, as revelers will be able to choose between a modern form of celebration, or the more traditional festivities.

Public urged to report inferior goods

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:49 PM PDT

Action will be taken against unscrupulous traders who market non-standard or low quality goods if the public report them to Yangon Region's consumer dispute settlement body, said U Myint Cho, regional head of Department of Consumer Affairs.

Thousands protest over bridge name in Mon State

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:43 PM PDT

Nearly 20,000 people protested yesterday in the Mon State capital of Mawlamyine against a proposal in the Pyithu Hluttaw last week to name the bridge connecting the capital and Chaungzone township after national hero Bogyoke Aung San.

Protest against issuing of NRC in Sittwe

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:40 PM PDT

Locals from Sittwe, Maungtaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine State, once again, protested yesterday against a government decision to issue national registration cards (NRC) to people ineligible under the 1982 Citizenship Law.

U Ko Ni’s assassination case in court on Friday

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:33 PM PDT

The high-profile killing of National League for Democracy (NLD) legal advisor U Ko Ni will be heard on March 24 at the Yangon Northern District Court.

Nursing students happy with govt’s deal

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:29 PM PDT

The Nursing University Student's Union (NUSU) got most of what they had demanded from the government after negotiating with the Ministry of Health and Sports last week.

K30b request to boost Yangon power approved

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:28 PM PDT

A request of K30 billion from the special reserved fund, granted by Budget Law of the Union 2016, to be spent for supplying the electricity power shortage in Yangon Region during the summer season was approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on March 17 amidst complaints by some MPs about poor electricity conditions in their own regions.

Danish support to grow local enterprises

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:27 PM PDT

The Myanmar Enterprises Monitoring System (MEMS), which is jointly set up by the Myanmar Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the government of Denmark, is now up and running.

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


UNFC vows to hold on

Posted: 20 Mar 2017 01:25 AM PDT

Members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) that are parties to last month's "Panghsang Pact" have decided to hang on together, despite the uncertainty of continued membership by its two strongest members, according to the alliance's secretary general Khu Oo Reh.

Khu Oo Reh, the general secretary of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and the Vice Chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

 Speaking to the Peace Process Working Committee (PPWC), the implementation body of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signatory organizations yesterday, he said, "Whether or not the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization) and the SSPP (Shan State Progress Party) continue to be part of us, remaining members have decided not to dissolve the UNFC. We will work together with other EAOs (Ethnic Armed Organizations) to seek a way out. We will consider other options only if our present resolution doesn't work out."

Other possible options, according to discussions at the meeting held at Chiangmai Orchid Hotel, are:
·        The return of KIO and SSPP back to the fold
·        The merger with the Panghsang Pact
·        Dissolution

The 22-24 February Panghsang summit, hosted by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) considered the strongest of all existing EAOs, had rejected the NCA and resolved to seek a new path for peace. Both the KIO/KIA and the SSPP/SSA had participated in the event. Only the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP), also invited, chose to stay behind.

Other remaining UNFC members are Arakan National Council (ANC), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) and Wa National Organization (WNO). The three, considered as non-combatant groups, were disallowed by the previous government to sign the NCA, but invited to take part in the political dialogues. All three had rejected the offer, demanding that they be accepted as signatories instead.

The meeting, which lasted from 09:00-12:30, resolved to hold a joint strategic planning meeting early next month.

The long-delayed UNFC Congress, due to be held 23 March, has been postponed until June, to await for final decisions from the KIO and SSPP.

"If the KIO chooses to stay with the Panghsang Pact, it may be welcomed by the pro-Chinese elements," said a Thai observer. "But if it continues to remain in the UNFC, it may be welcomed by pro-West elements."

The SSPP meanwhile is dependent on the UWSA for arms and ammo to defend itself against continued harassments and attacks by the Burma Army. "Its heart may be with the UNFC," said the same Thai observer. "But its immediate needs are with the Wa."


 By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

NAMING PROBLEM: A bridge too far in Mon State?

Posted: 19 Mar 2017 09:30 PM PDT

With the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) taking up position on the naming of the bridge as "Bogyoke Aung San", in Mon State known as "Thanlwin" bridge, the controversial issue has taken an active spin, which was followed by a massive protest on March 19 Sunday,  to keep to the old name that is preferred by the local people.

It all started out as the bridge's proposed name became known when the Ministry of Construction sent a letter to Aung Naing Oo, deputy speaker of the Mon State parliament, announcing a celebratory opening ceremony for it on February 13, the 102nd birthday of Gen Aung San. Locals were outraged by the decision and the opening was canceled, according to the Irrawaddy report of March 15.

On March 2, some three thousand Mon population, including the Mon State deputy parliament   speaker protested against the naming of the bridge, which was endorsed without the consent of the people.

On March 14, however, Speaker Win Myint put it to a vote after 15 Hluttaw representatives spoke on the bridge name, the motion to name it Bogyoke Aung San Bridge was approved with a majority vote from NLD representatives. Accordingly, the proposal resulted in 217 lawmakers voting in favor, 43 against and 116 abstaining.

On March 18, the UNA, which consists of a dozen ethnic political parties, issued a 5 point statement underlining  that the parliamentarians of the ruling NLD party should not use their majority vote to override the desire of the local Mon State population.

Furthermore, the statement warned that this act of using majority vote could harm the life security of the ethnic peoples in the future.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), whose party is also an UNA member elaborated to the Radio Free Asia recently, regarding the statement: "In any issues they [the National League for Democracy (NLD)] could decide according to their desire, as they have the majority in lower, upper and union parliaments. They should avoid taking measures that could hurt the minorities and pay attention to the minorities' desire. And if issues would be decided neglecting the minorities' concern, a lot of worries could arise. (For example), we won't be able to do anything if they want to change the name of Taunggyi (the Shan State capital)".

On March 19 Sunday, over twenty thousand people, involving Mon, Pa-O, Karen and locals, staged a demonstration in Mawlamyine, also known as Moulmein,  strand road against the naming of the bridge as "Bogyoke Aung San", chanting slogans that they rejected the parliament endorsed name.

The combined demonstrator groups also issued a statement to acknowledge the local people's desire; perpetuation of national unity; national reconciliation; emergence of a genuine democratic country and federal union that is anchored in the rights of self-determination.

Difficult choice of name?

According to Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin: "Whoever you ask – local resident, monk, historian or politician – you will get a different answer. There was a suggestion to name it Thamein Bayan Bridge. Another person preferred the name Thanlwin Bridge," reported the Myanmar Times of March 17.

"If you ask a local from Mawlamyine, they would reply "Mawlamyine Bridge" and if you ask a local from Chaungzone, it would be "Chaungzone." If you name it Mawlamyine-Chaungzone-Thanlwin Bridge, that may satisfy residents on both banks," said the Ethnic Affairs Minister.

But March 14 report of the Irrawaddy said that residents favored naming the bridge linking Moulmein and Chaungzon townships "Yamanya", meaning Mon State in Mon language, or "Salween Bridge" or "Thanlwin Bridge".

Whatever the case, one thing is sure and that is the rejection of the parliament approved name that is given after the independence struggle hero "Bogyoke Aung San Bridge".

Minority right in jeopardy?

As it is, even though there is already an endorsement by the parliament to go ahead, nothing has yet been decided.

But alarm bell has been rung, especially in the ears of the ethnic population, that the NLD is ready to bully with its majority votes to achieve its desire, whether such a generalization is logically valid or not is, of course, debatable.

It is true that the country is still not a full fledged federal union, but the NLD should make use of its majority vote cautiously where the minorities are involved, so that minority rights could be protected, has been the main concern of the ethnic states.

The argument goes that if such a small matter of even naming the bridge could be bullied, how would it look like when hardball political bargaining would come into play.

It should be noted that this episode is viewed by the non-Bamar ethnic as the NLD catering to Bamar ethnocentrism, no different from the successive military regimes, and is pushing the ethnic states' population to accept assimilation and acculturation, at the expense of diluting their own identity and culture.

In the same vein, in February, the locals in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and Mon State's Mudon Township have raised objections to planned statues of Burma's independence hero Gen Aung San in the two locations.

Construction has already begun on plinths for the statues in the town centers of Myitkyina and Mudon but civil society groups complained that they cannot accept the statues while there is ongoing conflict in Kachin State and the federalism and equality pledged by Gen Aung San in the Panglong Agreement of 1947 remains unfulfilled, according to the report of the Irrawaddy on February 8.

Although polite arguments were being given, in reality the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities consider all these moves to be a camouflage assimilation or Burmanization scheme, which they must resist. But this is not to say that they don't respect Aung San. They still consider him – then in 1947 and also now - to be a great statesman and Bamar national leader, whom they could trust and work together for ethnic harmony. But unfortunately he was assassinated before the achievement of independence from the British, in 1947. Subsequently, all the promises made by him as a Bamar national leader were watered down during the constitutional drafting, which has left the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities at disadvantage, leading to the constitutional crisis that isn't able to be resolved, up to these days.

For now, it seems the NLD is confronting in Mon State "A bridge too far" -  meaning: A step or act that is regarded as being too drastic to take - sort of scenario, which it has lightly thought out that it could be overcome easily.

Given such controversy and emotionally charged atmosphere, the NLD and its boss State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi should be cautioned and reminded that a withdrawal from such confrontation would be a wiser way to go than pushing it stubbornly through, if the gradually depleting trust of the ethnic nationalities is to be restored.