Wednesday, November 1, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Irrawaddy Literary Festival Connects International and Local Authors

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 04:21 AM PDT

MANDALAY — "We Were Kings," the award-winning film about Myanmar's lost royal family, will be screened at the fourth Irrawaddy Literary Festival scheduled to be held at the Mandalay Hill Resort from Nov. 3 to 5.

The film, directed by Alex Bescoby, features surviving royal family members of the country's last monarchy and documents their lives and struggles. It will be shown on Nov. 4.

The Irrawaddy Literary Festival was launched in 2013 under the patronage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to create a friendly and fruitful literary connection between international and local authors.

Alongside renowned Burmese authors, journalists and writers such as BBC journalist John Simpson, Susan Wyndham, Victor Mallet and Denis Muller will be present at the festival, which will feature discussions regarding press freedom.

The festival will host discussions and presentations with both local and international authors, as well as an interfaith dialogue with leading Buddhist monks from Mandalay including Sayadaw U Naryaka, widely known as Galoneni Sayadaw, on Nov. 3.

This year, the Irrawaddy Literary Festival will hold events with 26 international writers and about 100 local authors will attend the festival.

The post Irrawaddy Literary Festival Connects International and Local Authors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Detained Journalists Informed Govt of Film Plans, Says Turkish Broadcaster

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:39 AM PDT

YANGON — Turkish state broadcaster TRT World said journalists detained for attempting to fly a drone near Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw had informed the government about their plans to film beforehand.

TRT world producer Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia, freelance camera operator Lau Hon Meng from Singapore, their interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soe and driver U Hla Tin were detained on Friday by police for preparing to take aerial footage of Parliament with a drone.

Police charged them under the 2012 Export and Import Law for illegally bringing the drone into the country. The two foreign journalists were being held at No. 1 Police Station in Naypyitaw and two Myanmar nationals were being held at Pyinmana Prison.

The four were remanded until November 10.

TRT World said in a statement the crew was filming a documentary.

Mok Choy Lin and Lau Hon Meng arrived in Yangon on October 21 with journalist visas issued by the Myanmar government, it said, adding, "The Myanmar Information Ministry was previously informed about all filming activities and the filming schedule."

Citing information from local journalists in touch with its team and security officials, TRT said its crew wanted to capture drone footage of the parliament building after conducting an interview with a member of parliament.

U Myint Kyaw, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information (MoI), told The Irrawaddy they had received an email asking for a recommendation letter in order to apply for journalist visas.

"In their letter, they only said they are from TRT World and they want to go to Yangon and Rakhine for reporting in October," he said, adding they did not state plans to visit Naypyitaw.

The ministry replied that according to the new regulation by the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population dated Dec. 1, 2016, no MoI recommendation is needed and they could apply directly for journalist visas.

U Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer representing the two Myanmar nationals, said he and his defendants' family members are being denied access to the detainees, with authorities saying they are still under investigation.

Police raided the local interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soe's home in Yangon on Oct. 27, and confiscated memory sticks.

The lawyer also said the date for the court hearing has not yet been given, adding he would request access to the detainees from the Naypyitaw police chief and also bail for the detainees.

Turkish, Singapore, and Malaysian embassies have reportedly said they are closely following the incident.

In response to media queries on the detention, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry had notified the embassy in Yangon.

"The Embassy will provide the necessary consular assistance to Mr. Lau and is closely monitoring developments to ensure that due process is accorded to Mr. Lau.  MFA and the Embassy are in close contact with Mr. Lau's family," he said.

The Export and Import Law carries up to two years imprisonment.

The post Detained Journalists Informed Govt of Film Plans, Says Turkish Broadcaster appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rakhine Govt Signs MoU for Kanyin Chaung Border Economic Zone

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:05 AM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — The Rakhine State government and the Nat Myit Alintan Group of Companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of the Kanyin Chaung border economic zone in the outskirts of Maungdaw Township on Monday.

The Rakhine state government will invest 65 percent of the capital and the other 35 percent will come from Nat Myit Alintan—a consortium of four companies based in Maungdaw and three from Yangon, said U Kyaw Aye Thein, the regional minister for finance, revenue, planning and economics.

"The zone will give priority to trading [in contrast to manufacturing]," said the minister.

The 3.5 billion-kyat project lies on 100 acres of land in Kanyin Chaung on the outskirts of Maungdaw, he said.

The Kanyin Chaung project was initiated under the previous government in 2015, but there was little progress due to the transfer of power to the National League for Democracy-led government and construction only resumed this year.

A government administration building, trade showrooms, and two boat jetties have already been built. But the compound and traffic road have not yet been constructed.

On Oct. 30, the state government also signed MoUs with private companies for the development of Manaung Island in the Bay of Bengal and upgrading of the Ngapali Golf Course.

The Maungdaw border trade station has been re-opened as the situation in region has stabilized following attacks on Aug. 25.

The Ministry of Commerce reported a $5.948 million trade volume through the Maungdaw border trade station in the 2016-17 fiscal year. The value of trade with Bangladesh through the Maungdaw trade station for the 2017-18 fiscal year is targeted to be US$6 million; it reached $5 million as of Sept. 1 this year.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Rakhine Govt Signs MoU for Kanyin Chaung Border Economic Zone appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National-level Dialogue Delays Troubled Panglong Conference

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:51 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Uncertainty over whether national-level dialogues will be held in Rakhine and Shan states is likely to impact the third round of the Union Peace Conference planned for the end of this year, said signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) recently met in Naypyitaw for two days to discuss holding in Rakhine and Shan states national-level political dialogue, where regional stakeholders discuss suggestions at large-scale public consultations, the results of which are shared by representatives at the Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong.

NCA signatories the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) are based in these states. The meeting, however, did not produce any results.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, vice-chairman of NCA signatory Chin National Front (CNF) cited the example of a previous session of the Union Peace Conference in which NCA signatories could not make decisions because national-level political dialogues could not be held in Rakhine and Shan states prior to the conference.

"So, if national-level political dialogues are not held in Rakhine and Shan states again, it will still be difficult to reach an agreement over certain things," said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

At the second session of the conference, NCA signatories, the government and the military shared different views over the definition of self-determination and federalism as well as the principle of non-secession from the Union. The same topics will be on the agenda of the third session, said U Zaw Htay, director-general of the State Counselor's Office.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong said national-level political dialogue—the third step in a seven-step political roadmap of the NCA–is key to seeking the opinion of concerned ethnic people.

"Without prior consultation with the public, no group will be able to make a decision on crucial matters like self-determination at the Panglong Conference," he said.

U Zaw Htay said the government had given a green light for national-level political dialogue in Shan State, but it has not yet reached agreement with RCSS/SSA-S over the venue.

The RCSS/SSA-S wants to hold the political dialogue in Shan State's capital Taunggyi, but the military insists that it be held in Mongpan Township.

"But for Rakhine, we have to exercise extra caution. Because there is conflict there that has attracted international attention. We have to consider the political and security situations there," U Zaw Htay said.

"The government and the military seemingly want to request us not to hold political dialogue in Rakhine State, citing its current situation and security. But then, what are ethnicities supposed to discuss at the Union Peace Conference if political dialogue is not held?" asked Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

He suggested holding political dialogue in Rakhine capital Sittwe, which is relatively stable despite ongoing conflict in northern Rakhine State.

Among eight ethnic armed groups that signed the NCA are: the Karen National Union (KNU); CNF; ALP; All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF); RCSS/SSA; Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) (KNU/KNLA PC); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); and Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO).

National-level political dialogues have been held in areas of the other six NCA signatories, but some of the discussions from those dialogues have not yet been put forward to the Union Peace Conference.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post National-level Dialogue Delays Troubled Panglong Conference appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

UN Picks Norwegian for Myanmar Role as Tensions Simmer Over Rohingya Crisis

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 09:59 PM PDT

YANGON — The United Nations named a new interim UN resident coordinator for Myanmar on Tuesday, appointing Knut Ostby of Norway to take over the humanitarian role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of the Rohingya crisis.

The appointment of a temporary placeholder was expected after Myanmar blocked an upgrade of the UN country chief position.

Myanmar's de facto leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has told diplomats in private meetings that she is frustrated with the United Nations, particularly its human rights arm.

Ostby, who has served with the United Nations in a number of hotspots, including Afghanistan and East Timor, will replace Renata Lok-Dessallien, who has completed her term.

Some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh after ethnic violence erupted in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State in late August.

Rights monitors and Rohingya refugees say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have forced them to flee their homes.
UN investigators interviewing Rohingyas living in refugee camps near Cox's Bazar said on Friday they had gathered testimony pointing to a "consistent, methodical pattern" of killings, torture, rape and arson.

The fact-finding team, led by former Indonesian attorney general Marzuki Darusman, said the death toll from the Myanmar Army's crackdown following Rohingya insurgent attacks on Aug. 25 was unknown, but "may turn out to be extremely high."

The UN team, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in March, renewed its appeal for access to Rakhine State and for talks with the Myanmar government and military to "establish the facts."

In the early stages of the crisis, the United Nations described the military campaign as "ethnic cleansing," an accusation rejected by Myanmar, which says its military was engaged in counter-insurgency operations against Rohingya militants behind a series of attacks on security posts.

Suu Kyi has said the refugees can return, but thousands continue to arrive in Bangladesh.

Myanmar, an overwhelmingly Buddhist country with small Christian and Muslim minorities, is struggling to emerge from decades of military rule, and Suu Kyi's democratically elected government is engaged in a peace dialogue with members of various armed ethnic groups.

The post UN Picks Norwegian for Myanmar Role as Tensions Simmer Over Rohingya Crisis appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thailand’s Political Activity Ban Stays for Now: PM

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 09:51 PM PDT

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government on Tuesday said it will not yet lift a ban on political activity, despite a general election scheduled for next year and growing pressure from political parties to lift it.

The ban on political party gatherings has been in place since the military seized power in a 2014 coup but there have been growing calls from all political groups to end the ban.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha cited persistent political divisions and mud-slinging as reasons why the ban should stay.

"We will not lift the ban today but don’t be frustrated," Prayuth told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
"Today we are still speaking evil. You must stop this so that everyone is at ease," Prayuth said, urging all sides to put aside their differences.

Earlier this month, Prayuth said Thailand would hold a general election in November 2018 – the news was largely welcomed by investors in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

There has been little opposition to junta rule since 2014, partly because authorities have arrested and jailed dozens of critics.

The government had said that parties needed to wait until after the funeral of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was cremated last week, for a decision on when normal political life will resume.

Tensions have been festering in Thailand since 2006 when a coup removed then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since then, the country has witnessed bouts of unrest including deadly street protests.

Thailand is divided broadly between those who align themselves with Thaksin and his sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government was removed in the 2014 coup, and the elite in the capital Bangkok.

Thaksin is credited by some as being the first Thai prime minister to tap into the potential of the rural electorate. But he made many enemies among the elite who accuse him of corruption – which he denies.

Both Thaksin and Yingluck live abroad. Yingluck fled Thailand in August ahead of a verdict against her in a negligence trial for which she was later found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.

Thaksin fled to avoid a 2008 jail corruption sentence.

Politicians from major parties were upset about the decision not to lift the political activity ban on Tuesday.

"I want the junta to show some sincerity about the election by lifting the ban," Sunisa Lertpakawat, a member of Thaksin's Puea Thai Party, told Reuters.

"We haven't got much time."

The post Thailand's Political Activity Ban Stays for Now: PM appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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