Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

High-Level Govt Meeting Held for Rakhine Conflict

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 09:51 AM PDT

A high-level meeting including the members of National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) was held in Naypyidaw on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the situation in Rakhine State and issues relating to the rule of law in Myanmar.

Joining the talks were President U Htin Kyaw, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, both of the country's vice presidents, the Upper House Speaker, military chief, deputy military chief, and the ministers of home affairs, defense, and border affairs—all of whom are the members of NDSC. The only NDSC member absent was the Lower House Speaker U Win Myint, who is now on an overseas trip.

Since the NLD government came to power last year, no meetings of the 11-member executive NDSC body have been held.

The meeting was also joined by National Security Advisor U Thaung Tun, the ministers relief and resettlement and the State Counselor's Office, and the Deputy Minister for the President's Office.

The President said that during the meeting, the government raised the security alert as a preventive measure, and emphasized that people should be informed that the top authorities were coordinating on the issues at hand not to cause public panic.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Myint Swe, Military Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy discussed the urgent repair and construction of fences along the Bangladeshi border, a speedy budget allowance for the process, and the beefing up of security troops in areas where the existing border fence has been compromised.

The discussions also included how security and regional stability is now being carried out on the ground, as well as details of assistance to internally displaced persons. It was also decided that legal action would be taken against those involved in attacks on security forces and civilians, and that humanitarian assistance would be provided without racial or religious discrimination toward anyone affected.

According to the latest UN figures, 146,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslim refugees have arrived in Bangladesh, and 27,000 internally displaced Arakanese and Hindus are also in need of aid, following militant attacks on police outposts in Rakhine State on Aug. 25, and army clearance operations which have followed.

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Security Advisor: NLD Govt Capable of Managing Rakhine Crisis

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 09:22 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Myanmar's National Security Advisor U Thaung Tun said on Wednesday that the civilian government is capable of managing the situation in northern Rakhine State despite calls for a state of emergency and martial law to be implemented.

The area has been struck by conflict most recently since Aug. 25, when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched attacks on 30 police outposts. The Myanmar government denounced the group as a terrorist organization and the army proceeded to launch clearance operations in northern Rakhine State, forcing self-identifying Rohingya Muslims, Buddhist Arakanese and Hindus to flee.

As of Tuesday, the UN confirmed that nearly 125,000 Muslim refugees have arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar, while the government said that around 27,000 Arakanese, Arakanese sub-ethnicities, and Hindus have been internally displaced.

During a press conference on Rakhine State at the State Counselor's Office in Naypyitaw, U Thaung Tun said the National League for Democracy (NLD) government is keeping a constant eye on the issue.

"We have discussions about how to respond to the situations in Rakhine. We have enough resources to handle the situation," he told The Irrawaddy when asked if military administration would be put into place in the region.

The army said during a press conference on Aug. 29 that their request to the government for martial law in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung Townships in northern Rakhine State did not materialize.

On Wednesday, U Thaung Tun said the government had deployed more troops to the conflict zone, including members of the police and army. Prior to the Aug. 25 attacks, the President had already held meetings with the security advisor, Ministry of Defense, Home Affairs and Border Affairs on Rakhine State issues.

"The decision on whether to have martial law or not was made in the meeting. We are prioritizing the security and well-being of displaced people now," he told The Irrawaddy.

Regarding the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations for the region, the security advisor said that actions that are required to be carried out urgently will be implemented, dependent on the situation on the ground.

"As the commission recommends, we are now dispatching the media to Maungdaw as well as humanitarian aid to the people out there," U Thaung Tun said.

He also added that the conflict in Rakhine would be a pressing issue at the upcoming convening of the UN General Assembly this month, and that China and Russia would stand up for Myanmar at the Security Council, as U Thaung Tun himself had lobbied for their support.

"Our police outposts were attacked. We are not the ones who launched the offensive. Internationally, it is right to respond to this attack, but we do so carefully and systematically. We don't use excessive force," he said.

The President's Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay said during a press conference that 371 suspected militants had been killed by security forces and 38 arrested, adding that nationwide security alerts have been raised based on intelligence information.

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UN Secretary-General Calls for ‘Holistic Solution’ in Rakhine

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 09:16 AM PDT

YANGON – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for the prevention of further escalation and a holistic solution to conflict in Rakhine State, as the UN has confirmed that 125,000 self-identifying Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh in recent weeks.

The UN Secretary-General sent an official letter to the UN Security Council about his concerns in the region, adding that the issues facing the Muslim community in Rakhine State "have festered for far too long and are becoming an undeniable factor in regional destabilization."

Self-identifying Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh since the army launched clearance operations in northern Rakhine State on Aug. 25, following attacks by the Arakan Rohinya Salvation Army (ARSA) on 30 police outposts. The Myanmar government denounced ARSA as terrorist organization.

The UN Secretary-General told media, "I have condemned the recent attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. But now we are receiving constant reports of violence by Myanmar's security forces, including indiscriminate attacks."

In the Tuesday announcement, Guterres also urged the Myanmar government to provide security and aid to those who need it.

"It will be crucial to give the Muslims of Rakhine state either nationality or, at least for now, a legal status that will allow them to have a normal life, including freedom of movement and access to labor markets, education and health services," the secretary-general said.

UNHCR spokesperson Duniya Aslam Khan said in a statement that Kutupalong and Nayapara camps hosting refugees in Bangladesh are at a "breaking point," with people staying in any available space, including community centers and schools.

"We are running out of available space," she said.

On Tuesday, Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly said, "we make sure that all the people in our country are entitled to protection of their rights as well as the right to and not just political but social and humanitarian defense," when speaking to the President of Turkey on the phone regarding concerns about the crisis in the region.

Meanwhile, within Myanmar, about 27,000 Arakanese, sub-ethnicities, and Hindus have also been displaced due to the violence in Rakhine State. According to the Government Information Committee, in total there have been 97 clashes in the area between security forces and the ARSA from August 25 until September 5.

On Tuesday, UN agencies requested US$18 million to fund three months worth of aid efforts to assist refugees in Bangladesh.

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Rakhine Statement by Malala Yousafszai Met With Ire

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 08:53 AM PDT

YANGON— A tweet by Pakistani female education activist and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafszai in support of Myanmar's self-identifying Rohingya Muslim population has attracted criticism from some in Myanmar.

The 20-year-old winner of the Nobel Peace Prize called on Myanmar's State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn the treatment of Rakhine's Muslim minority in a tweet labeled "My statement on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar."

"Over the last several years, I have repeatedly condemned this tragic and shameful treatment. I am still waiting for my fellow Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to do the same," Malala Yousafszai said in a statement

She called for the end of violence, for self-identified Rohingya to be given citizenship, and for other countries, such as Bangladesh, to give food, shelter and education to refugees.

After militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched a series of attacks on 30 police outposts on Aug. 25—killing 13 members of the security forces.

Subsequent violence has left 28 civilians dead, displaced 27,000 Arakanese, Arakanese sub-ethnicities, and Hindus internally, and sent 146,000 mainly Muslim refugees fleeing to Bangladesh, according to the most recent UN figures available at the time of reporting.

The statement—which had garnered nearly 25,000 retweets and 19,000 replies by Wednesday evening—was widely commented on by international media and netizens; among the latter were also critical responses.

Many claimed to previously support Malala Yousafszai for her courage in confronting the Taliban on female education issues, for which she was shot in the face, but accused her of ignoring the plight of ethnic Arakanese and Hindu affected by the violence and failing to denounce ARSA for their violent attacks on security forces and civilians.

Legal expert U Khin Maung Myint told The Irrawaddy the young activist had riled the population by failing to condemn militant attacks.

"[The situation] is not about racial and religious discrimination, it became about terrorists' attacks on civilians including Arakanese, Hindus, Muslims and other. It is important and she missed it," he told The Irrawaddy.

"I strongly condemn Malala's one-sided comments, [she does not] understand the real situation of Myanmar," Shwe Cin Ei, a Facebook user, posted.

A Twitter account by the name of Thant Zin Oo retweeted the statement, commenting: "I really appreciate what you have done especially fighting against some unpractical social norms for girls' education. Therefore, I think you have huge a responsibility for your actions and your words. Regarding the crisis in Myanmar, of course our hearts are also broken whenever we see pictures, videos and news about people dying regardless of who they are. However, I am wondering if you have even seen some pictures or videos of local people being killed very brutally by extremist terrorists."

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Nationalist Activists Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 06:55 AM PDT

YANGON — Nationalist activists Ko Win Ko Ko Latt and Ko Naing Win Tun were sentenced to six months in prison by the Bahan Township Court on Wednesday for staging a protest in Yangon without permission.

Another nationalist activist, Ko Poe Tha, was sentenced to one month in prison, but he was released on Wednesday after the time was served during the pre-sentencing detention period.

The three staged a protest in July last year against the terminology used by Myanmar's representative at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. He used the phrase "Muslim community in Rakhine State" to refer to self-identifying Rohingya in the region.

Three monks, including nationalist monk U Parmaukka of the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion—better known by its Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha—and four nationalists including Ko Win Ko Ko Latt are facing a trial at the Kamayut Township Court for staging a protest against the terminology of "Rohingya community" in front of the American Embassy in July last year. They are charged with defaming the government.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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Parliamentary Committee to Examine 24 State-Owned Factories

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 06:49 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — The Lower House Investment and Industrial Development Committee will consider the termination or privatization of 24 loss-making state-owned factories—including the Myingyan Steel Factory which has received significant state investment.

Committee member U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo said: "A total of 24 factories are making a loss, most were suspended when parliament discussed the Union budget [in early 2017]. Now, we are gathering data and inspecting those factories on the ground."

"We will report findings [to Parliament] and decide if those factories should continue operation or not."

The committee formed two teams comprised of officials from the Planning and Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Industry and representatives of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) to assess the profit and loss of those factories, said U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo, who is also Yangon's Hlaing Township lawmaker representing the National League for Democracy (NLD).

"We have invited expression of interests from businesspeople to operate those factories. We'll discuss with interested parties and privatize some, turn some into joint ventures, and terminate some as necessary," he added.

Steel plants in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region and Pangpet in Taunggyi Township, Shan State; paper mills in Thabaung Township, Irrawaddy Region, and a heavy industry in Thagara, Bago Region are among the biggest to be inspected, said Myingyan Township lawmaker U Paw Khaing, who is also the secretary of the committee.

"Myingyan steel plant is a large-scale investment, so it is a waste to close it down. We will examine its pros and cos. If it is not viable, we have to shut down. We have to look for long-term benefits," he said.

Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry U Ko Ko Lwin told The Irrawaddy in a press conference in August 2016 the National League for Democracy-led government has privatized three loss-making factories—glass factories in Kyaukse, Mandalay Region and Pathein, Bago Region and a fire-resistant bricks factory in Pathein and closed down a chemical industry which was transferred from military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd to the industry ministry.

Privatization and closure of state-owned factories needs the approval of the government's economic committee led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he said.

The Ministry of Industry operates 103 factories which operate on their own, are leased to private businesspeople, or operate as a joint-venture or profit-sharing.

The ministry plans to keep Myanmar Pharmaceuticals as a state-owned factory.

According to the committee, expressions of interest (EOI) have been invited for No. 14 Heavy Industry (Thagara) three times, but no one has shown interest. Likewise, no company has submitted an EOI for No. 26 Heavy Industry (Thagara).

EOIs have been received for two heavy industries in Thagara and Sinte (in Mandalay Region) as well as for No. 1 Steel Plant (Myingyan) and No. 2 Steel Plant (Pangpet), No. 23 Heavy Industry (Nyaungkyayhtauk), near Thagara, and Plastic Factory (Kyaukse).

Eight textile factories in Sagaing Region, Pakokku in Magwe Region, Myingyan, Shwetaung, Myittha, Pyawbwe and Yamaethin in Mandalay Region manufactured school uniforms, surgeon's gowns, linen, bandages and cotton wool.

No. 6 Textile Factory in Monywa needs major repair, and EOI will be invited for No. 10 Textile Factory (Taung Tha) in Mandalay Region.

EOI will be also invited for two pulp factories in Irrawaddy Region's Thabung Township. The ministry is considering leasing rubber products factory in Yangon's Tingangyun Township to Stellar Power House Co. Ltd., as well as No. 32 Heavy Industry (Kyangin) in Irrawaddy Region to Asia Square Co. Ltd. and a glass factory in Pathein to Excellent Fortune Development Group.

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Toward National Security Based on Human Rights

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 04:07 AM PDT

"Human rights have caused violent attacks" and "human rights protect and abet violence" are arguments I have frequently seen on social media. As a human rights educator, I am sorry to see such arguments, and it has called me to analyze the public perception of the very essence of human rights.

It can be seen clearly in history that human rights emerged to prevent discrimination and violence. The international concept of human rights is based on human dignity regardless of race or religion. Humans value peace.

As people tried to bring justice after the genocide and war atrocities committed in World War II, the concept that all humans are equal in dignity and rights emerged, along with the idea that discrimination in any form should not be permitted. People began to accept that every person and government are responsible for preventing human rights violations.

It is an incorrect argument [regarding Rakhine] that national security and human rights are two different things. National security should mean acting to protect the life and property of all those living in the country. The genuine act of national security is protecting the rights of all.

Protection of rule of law and security should benefit human rights. The unnecessary restriction or violation of the rights of people in the name of national security is unacceptable. International human rights treaties clearly state that freedom of movement may be restricted in times of national security emergencies but that human lives may not be harmed.

The preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads, "Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." It is clear that human rights are intertwined with peace.

Regarding the ongoing violence in Rakhine State—whatever reason behind it and whoever commits it—violence is violence. A civilized society will not accept violence for any reason. A community that respects human rights condemns any violence—not only in Myanmar but also around the world.

Human rights is the foundation of peace, and this cannot be promoted through violence. Violence seriously threatens the life and security of people, and is against the essence of human rights. The violence in Rakhine State puts the security of thousands of people, especially women and children, at risk.

Violence creates an endless circle of hatred and retaliation, and worsens unfairness and injustice. It is the responsibility of everyone with respect for human rights to strongly condemn any form of violence by anyone.

Violence does not serve, but sabotages human rights. Violence is not an answer, but mutual respect between human beings is.

Societies need to bring justice for the victims of human rights violations, no matter who the perpetrators are. It is the responsibility of every person to condemn the violation of these rights. True human rights contribute to permanent peace.

Human rights is about equality, mutual respect and recognition of diversity, which are the key elements of peace. It focuses on harmony between individual rights and collective rights. Only promotion of such human rights culture can bring about peace. And only with peace can human rights be protected even more so.

Promotion of human rights is not only about condemning violence but also creating pacifists instead of aggressors. Those who respect human rights should regard any violence as an assault on mankind—not only when it is targeted at them.

Human rights does not discriminate. It is a humane notion that rejects any and all violence.

Aung Myo Min is the executive director of Equality Myanmar, a Yangon-based human rights defender and promoter.

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New Rakhine Police Chief Appointed

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 04:01 AM PDT

YANGON — Amid violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar's Ministry of Home Affairs replaced chief of Rakhine State Police Force Police Col Sein Lwin with deputy chief of Shan State Police Force Police Col Aung Myat Moe.

Police Col. Sein Lwin served in the position for 19 months and has been transferred to Bago Region Police Force, he told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

"I think [the move] is transferring the appropriate person to the appropriate place to meet work requirements," Police Col Sein Lwin said.

During his tenure as the chief of Rakhine Sate Police Force, two deadly militant attacks on police outposts in Maungdaw District in northern Rakhine prompted large security operations.

In the aftermath of attacks on border guard police outposts in Maungdaw last October—in which nine police officers were killed—Police Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin replaced Police Brig-Gen Maung Maung Khin as the chief of border guard police force.

Months-long police and Myanmar Army security operations were dogged by allegations of human rights abuses including arson, rape and extrajudicial killings and saw an estimated 75,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

After militant attacks launched on Aug. 25, violence in Rakhine has claimed the lives of 13 members of the security forces, two government employees, 28 civilians—including 14 Arakanese, seven Hindus, and seven self-identifying Rohingya Muslims—and 371 suspected militants, according to a government Information Committee statement released Wednesday.

More than 6,800 houses in 59 villages were torched and eight bridges were destroyed by mines, said the statement.

Some 146,000 Muslims have fled across the border to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, according to a UN source cited by Reuters and nearly 27,000 people are internally displaced, according to the Myanmar government.

The reshuffle also saw transfers in Magwe and Mandalay regions.

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Mon State Parliament to Debate Controversial Cement Factory

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 02:07 AM PDT

MAWLAMYINE, Mon State — Mon State Parliament agreed on Tuesday to debate the legality of a cement factory's controversial coal-fired power plant in Mon State's Kyaikmayaw Township

The proposal was submitted by Mon State lawmaker U Aung Kyaw Thu who also questioned the residency of foreigners in the cement plant.

"Power generation without permission is a blatant violation," he told Mon State Parliament.

"Though it is said that no one should be above the law, existing laws are hardly ever followed," he said, adding that local and foreign investors failing to abide by laws damaged the dignity of the new government.

The US$400 million cement factory run by Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL)—a joint venture between Thai firm Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Pacific Link Cement Industries—is powered by a 49-megawatt coal-fired power plant.

Last month, the committee for the assessment of financial, planning and economic matters in the Mon State Parliament asked the Ministry of Electricity and Energy about the coal-fired power facilities the cement factory.

The ministry replied that it had not approved power generation with coal.

However, MCL managing director Mr Surachai Pornjindachote said in a statement on Aug. 29 that the cement factory received permission from the Mon State Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection to run a 20-megawatt coal-fired turbine valid from January 2017 to Feb. 15, 2018.

Lawmaker U Aung Kyaw Thu argued the coal-fired power plant did not seek approval under the 2014 Electricity Law and the 2016 Mon State medium- and small-scale electricity supply by-law

According to the Electricity Law, heavy-scale electricity production—classified as 30 megawatts and above—needs the approval of the Union government. Production of less than 30 megawatts needs the approval of the concerned region or state governments.

MCL has violated both provisions, said chairperson of Mon State Parliament Bill Committee Daw Khaing Khaing Lei.

"They can only generate electricity with permission. This is not my remark, but the remark of the Union ministry," she said.

She said the Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection had only given permission to operate a boiler, but not to produce electricity.

In MCL's Aug. 29 statement, Surachai Pornjindachote said they were keen to use other sources of energy for cement production if it was able to provide sufficient and reliable energy.

The factory started commercial operations in April despite local residents staging several protests against the cement factory over health concerns.

Coal to power the 5,000-ton cement factory is imported from Indonesia and Australia, and so far over 200,000 tons of coal have been imported.

Lime used in cement production comes from Mount Pya Taung in Kuam Ngan village in Kyaikmayaw Township, where a semi-open mining system has been used to reduce environmental impact, said mining engineer Ko Myo Thiha of MCL.

The Irrawaddy was not able to obtain comment from MCL.

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Turkish President Calls State Counselor on Rakhine Situation

Posted: 06 Sep 2017 12:53 AM PDT

YANGON — In a phone call to the Turkish president, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the government was working to protect all the people in Rakhine State "in the best way possible" and would do its best to "stop terrorism spreading" across the region, according to the State Counselor's Office.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the State Counselor on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the recent outbreak of violence in northern Rakhine State, triggered by a militant attack on police stations that has so far caused the displacement of more than 130,000, the majority of whom are Muslims fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh.

Many in Turkey, a constitutionally secular state with a Muslim majority population, have expressed concerns over the exodus and the treatment of Muslims affected by the violence.

President Erdoğan said he is confident that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as a leader who has faced and overcome challenges and an advocate of human rights, will approach the situation with a vision of a long-term solution, according to the office.

President Erdoğan added that news and photos of the conflict have sparked worldwide concerns, said the office.

"We know very well, more than most, what it means to be deprived of human rights and democratic protection. So we make sure that all the people in our country are entitled to protection of their rights as well as the right to not just political but social and humanitarian defense," the State Counselor replied.

During the conversation, she said there should be no spreading of misinformation, citing the Turkish deputy prime minister's tweet of fake pictures concerning the situation in Rakhine.

She said it was, "simply the tip of a huge iceberg of misinformation calculated to create a lot of problems between different communities and with the aim of promoting the interest of the terrorists."

She said Turkey has faced the challenges of terrorism and has to cope with the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, a group demanding equal rights and Kurdish autonomy in Turkey.

The government would ensure "terrorism does not take root in Myanmar" and spread across the region, she added.

President Erdoğan has recently accused Myanmar of "genocide" against self-identifying Rohingya Muslims.

Reuters reported that Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will travel to Bangladesh on Wednesday evening to hold meetings about the fighting in Rakhine.

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Climate Change: A Permanent Reality for Myanmar

Posted: 05 Sep 2017 07:32 PM PDT

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, causing loss of lives and widespread destruction of property. The category 4 cyclone strongly reiterated two facts: climate change and its repercussions have to be recognized and tackled; and, secondly, a natural disaster has the ability to bring people and civil society organizations together for re-building the spirit of the country. It was a critical moment of reflection for the nation, to take stock of its vulnerability and preparedness against an enemy which had generated havoc and panic for all.

According to the 2016 Climate Risk Index, Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change. The intensity and regularity with which cyclones make landfall have increased with every year, with the delta region affected by tropical storms and the dry zone impacted by debilitating droughts. Researchers at the Center for Climate System Research at Columbia University, in collaboration with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, have stated that the country could see a rise in temperature by 1.3 and 2.7 degrees by the middle of the century along with increase in precipitation by 2 percent to 12 percent in 2011-40, 6 percent to 27 percent by 2041-70. This is evident from the 2010 severe drought, a year which saw temperatures rise up to 47.2 degrees Celsius, a sure sign of global warming hitting the country hard. Dry seasons have become longer with shorter rainy seasons, thus inviting hardships for people in the form of water shortages and flooding respectively.

Both plant and animal life are bound to struggle due to the occurrence of anomalies in the natural environment. Shrinking of glaciers in the Himalayas can affect water supplies in rivers like the Irrawaddy and inundation of coastal areas with salt water can destroy agricultural production and trigger forced migration. According to data collected by the International Earth Science Information Network of Columbia University, over 5 percent of the country's land area lies below 5 meters in elevation, home to 11 percent of the population, estimated to climb to nearly 14 percent by the end of the century. This could have grave consequences for an agrarian country like Myanmar, where agriculture is the main source of livelihood. A post-Nargis disaster case study revealed that decades of poor environmental policy had resulted in reduction of mangroves by approximately 75 percent along the country's coastline. This further exposed Myanmar to the ravages of climate change. Also low-lying regions like Rakhine are predicted to be more affected in the future. This in turn could lead to more ethnic clashes as this region could see a surge in environmental refugees pushing their way into other regions or crossing borders to seek shelter in Bangladesh.

Climate change is forcing people to break man-made boundaries but future conflict is most likely to occur on issues of sovereignty, territory, resources and belonging. This could add volatility to the religious/inter-community clashes already existing in Myanmar. Climate change will also exacerbate heat and water related diseases like malaria, dengue, and diarrhea. The report titled "A Situational Analysis of Disaster Risk Reduction in Myanmar-DRR Working Group, June 2013" states that the Global Adaptation Institute ranked Myanmar 167 out of 176 countries surveyed, which not only shows its vulnerability but also its low capacity of adaptability to negotiate climate risks. The report further pointed out that over 2.6 million people could be affected by natural disasters in Myanmar. Fast paced economic growth, unsustainable agrarian practices, indiscriminate logging and mining can further put pressure on natural resources and ecology, endangering local communities. Poor governance, weak laws and lack of climate smart planning can add to the challenges.

In recent years, Myanmar has seen massive city development plans and a construction boom. But often these decisions are made without considering long-term environmental impacts. Disappearance of green spaces, the ignoring of subsidence risks and inadequate water management systems in a city like Yangon are well-known problems. The latter is very much evident every year during the torrential monsoon rains which hit the city. Aung Khant observes that the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) seems to lack proper equipment and is involved in constant repair work rather than initiating improvements. Although nature is blamed for flooding, it is known that reservoirs and waterways have been subjected to landfills during the military regime, thus leaving no room for excess water to escape. Also, the designs and the building materials used for stylish high rises are imported with no connection to the local landscape or the tropical weather.

Damon Zumbroegel, of the architectural firm Vihara Studio, believes in the strength of Myanmar's traditional green architecture which uses locally available materials and is more sustainable for cooling. These indigenous methods need to be promoted to tackle climate change impacts as they could be much more effective, cheaper and more viable than imported technology. Environmental NGOs like ALARM and Green Lotus are trying to create awareness around green technologies.

A similar kind of promotion of local building techniques to combat natural disasters like floods and earthquakes is also happening across the border in North East India- a region which regularly faces displacement on account of rivers changing courses and tectonic shifts. A three-day-training workshop on the promotion of bamboo housing was held in Assam in February 2017. This was jointly organized by the Assam forest and environment department, the South Asia Bamboo Foundation, and the Building Material Technology Promotion Council, along with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. Everyone participated to promote traditional bamboo housing, to be used in building schools, hospitals, rural community centers, and eco-tourism cottages. Ikra, the traditional bamboo frame structure, is being re-popularized over cement structures. Although the former is better at withstanding earthquakes and natural disasters (as evident in the Sikkim 2006 earthquake), people tend to use concrete as it is considered modern and a status symbol. Ikra not only preserves the housing structures better, but it is cheaper and more sustainable in the soft mountain soil.

Bhutan and Indonesia, like Myanmar, have also witnessed unpredictable phenomena linked to climate change. In Bhutan, the severity and frequency of windstorms have increased as well as loss of crops due to unusual outbreaks of pests and diseases. The country also runs the risk of seeing more forest fires in the future (Thinley 2015). Indonesia has seen the disappearance of the phenomenon of 'bulan janda" (widow month), a period of 44 days of strong winds blowing from the south when fishermen would avoid venturing into the sea. Nobody understands the reason for this disappearance. Is global warming responsible, considering that higher temperatures can alter the scale of circulation (Banerjee 2015)?

Myanmar has initiated various interventions to combat climate change. The Myanmar Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2030 is relevant for the future. The Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA) has worked with various stakeholders- ministries, civil society groups, private sector and communities. The 2013-2015 UNDP Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction Project promoted participation of local communities in adaptability, preparedness and mitigation. It also worked on including gender in the climate change narrative by supporting the inclusion of the gender dimension in all areas: environment impact analysis, environmental standards/procedures and multi-hazard risk information.

Myanmar needs to generate and disseminate more climate risk information at the local level so that community leaders can better coordinate with villagers. It also needs to record the responses of species and ecosystems to climatic changes. Application of local knowledge to weather impacts needs to be systematically compiled and documented. Public services like health, sanitation, flood warning systems and evacuation plans need to be further developed. Building the capacity and resilience of agriculture, tipping point identification and monitoring, mangrove protection, designing climate proof plans for infrastructural development, and recognizing at-risk neighbourhoods in urban areas are some of the immediate steps that Myanmar could take. The Chinese NGO, Global Environment Institute in 2015, in combination with an alliance of Myanmar NGOs and Blue Moon Foundation, provided solar panels and clean cooking stoves to Myanmar's villages, an effort through the South-South Cooperation Fund for Climate Change set up in 2014 to reduce emissions. This seems like a welcome step towards promoting renewable energy and charting out new territories of green partnership.

The biggest challenge, however, in any country lies in getting people to converse about climate change. There is insufficient visibility for the topic (in the media, in academic discourse, in fiction writing, in art galleries) although its impact is felt daily. Amitav Ghosh, the much acclaimed writer whose recent book The Great Derangement is on climate change, laments the absence of fiction writings/imagination on it. He states that it seems the issue is reduced to 'extraterrestrials or interplanetary travel'. Myanmar's civil society needs to bring this issue more into the public domain for debate and solution-finding exercises. The government has already invited World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to conduct a natural capital assessment and WWF has chosen creative ways of sharing the results by launching a website and an instagram campaign, hosting a photography exhibition showcasing the country's relationship with nature and encouraging people to engage deeply through panel discussions. Visual medium and art is used to convey information and get feedback which will ultimately help the country in making land use and conservation policies.

School curricula, college clubs, community associations, and local conservation-cum-heritage boards should seize every opportunity to broaden the canvas of participation; climate change has brought the global and the local closer: a global phenomenon which requires sustained local resourcefulness. Local governance, engagement of farmers and local leaders in decision making, better management of food and water systems, gender-sensitive climate change strategies will all go a long way in achieving growth – green, sustainable, equitable.

Works Cited

Banerjee, Reshmi (2015), "Climate Change in the Eastern Himalayas: Lessons to be Learnt" in Hazarika, Sanjoy and Banerjee, Reshmi (eds), Climate Change in the Eastern Himalaya- Impact on Livelihoods, Growth and Poverty, Delhi, Academic Publications, p.181.

Thinley, Pema (2015), "Climate Change Impacts and Policies in Bhutan" in Hazarika, Sanjoy and Banerjee, Reshmi (eds), Climate Change in the Eastern Himalaya- Impact on Livelihoods, Growth and Poverty, Delhi, Academic Publications, pp. 156-157.

This article originally appeared in Tea Circle, a forum hosted at Oxford University for emerging research and perspectives on Burma/Myanmar.

The post Climate Change: A Permanent Reality for Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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