Monday, July 9, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Police Dismantle Settlement Built on Razed Rohingya Village

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 08:02 AM PDT

YANGON – An upper house lawmaker confirmed that police this evening completely dismantled an ethnic Arakan village built on the site of a burned-out Rohingya community in Rakhine State’s southern Maungdaw Township.

U Kyaw Kyaw Win of the Arakan National Party (ANP) said that about 10 police vehicles showed up at the new settlement of 48 dwellings next to Thin Baw Gwe village in the afternoon and officers began tearing down the structures in the early evening.

Some of the villagers evacuated themselves to the nearby village of Inn Din and some moved to neighboring Kyauk Pan Du.

The lawmaker also confirmed that three leading figures behind the establishment of the Arakanese village were detained and brought into police custody after a local court issued a summons for their arrest for "threatening public tranquility" under Article 505 (b), which carries a maximum sentence of two years.

An image of the official summons bearing a blue stamp that had been signed and dated last Friday had gone viral on Facebook in recent days. The legal notice briefly states that the accused, Tun Myint Naing and his wife, Ohmar Kyaw, and an associate, Aung Naing, were required to appear at the court at 10:00 a.m on Monday.

The notice did not mention the plaintiff nor the cause of the summons. According to some Maungdaw residents, Tun Myint Naing is a Ma Ba Tha follower and a former soldier who actively helped arrange visits of notorious firebrand monk Wira Thu to Maungdaw last year.

U Kyaw Kyaw Win confirmed to The Irrawaddy over the phone that the charges in the summons were related to the disputed settler village and were filed by local authorities.

Following the arrest and detention of two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kaw Soe Oo, for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Acts, this Irrawaddy reporter went to Maungdaw last December to learn more about the story they had been working on: the mass murder of 10 Rohingya by security forces and Arakanese vigilantes near Inn Din, which is about a five-minute drive from Thin Baw Gwe.

The mass killings happened amid a military counter-terrorism operation targeting the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Maungdaw District in late 2017, which resulted in nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh, instantly creating the world's largest refugee camp. The UN Security Council described the mass exodus and devastation in Maungdaw as "ethnic cleansing" immediately after a delegation of representatives visited the area earlier this year.

In response to the international outcry, the Myanmar Army announced that it had sacked two senior military generals in June 2018 as punishment for mishandling the operation, though international rights groups and independent watchdogs continue to demand Army commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

In November 2017, the new settler village was founded with nearly 100 houses and a temporary monastery near the entrance of Thin Baw Gwe village. The new settlement sits beside the charred remains of what was once a Rohingya community. A Buddhist religious flag and structure and Banyan tree can clearly be seen from the nearby Ahngu Maw-Maungdaw Highway, about 300 feet away.

Only a few weeks after it was built, authorities instructed the newly settled villagers to move to Inn Din, an Arakan-ethnic village, and nearly 50 families shifted there. Most of them had originally come from different locations in Rakhine State.

Recently, some of the settlers who remained at the newly built village told local media that authorities had ordered them to leave within one week or face arrest.

Regarding the controversial settlement, the authorities held a consultation meeting with lawmakers and residents at the local government offices in Maungdaw on July 3. Parliamentarian U Kyaw Kyaw Win recalled that during the discussions the authorities had specified that the land belonged to the "Bengali community", a term which locals commonly use to refer to the Rohingya, as they are believed to have been brought to the area by the British to work as farmhands during a time of labor shortage.

“We were told by authorities during the meeting that UN agencies had complained to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi about the new settler village. And that she then ordered the state government to abolish newly built villages as they had violated procedures,” U Kyaw Kyaw Win said.

The authorities had already ordered some leading members of resettlement activists to halt their activities several times. Rakhine-based print publication Development Media Group (DMG) reported that families in some newly built houses near Inn Din were also ordered to abandon their dwellings.

In a video report published on DMG's website, Ohmar Kyaw and Aung Naing reiterate the ideologies of the Ancillary Committee for Reconstruction of Rakhine National Territory in the Western Frontier (ACRRNT), or CRR as the group is known locally, and argue that lands owned by Arakanese were grabbed by the British-founded guerrilla army known as V Force in early 1943.

Some locals say that although seeking a "demographic balance" is the CRR’s strategic goal, especially to settle southern Maungdaw with Arakanese villages; Thin Baw Gwe village was not on its list. CRR members could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Maungdaw district official U Ye Htut of the General Administration Department (GAD) could not be reached for comment on Monday.

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New Delhi Denies Indian Media Reports of Border Encroachment by Myanmar

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 06:21 AM PDT

YANGON — India's Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday denied claims reported in Indian media that boundary pillars along the border between the country's Manipur state and Myanmar had been shifted.

He dismissed as false a report that a border dispute had arisen over a border pillar allegedly installed by Myanmar authorities in Manipur's Tengnoupal district.

"The reports are completely baseless and unsubstantiated. This sector of the international boundary is settled and there is no confusion as to its alignment," ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a statement.

According to Indian media reports, Myanmar authorities on June 22 erected a "border pillar No. 81" at least 3 km inside Indian territory at Kwatha Khunou in Tengnoupal district. Indian media reported that local residents had made the allegations with the support of local politicians and social workers. They claimed the Manipur government gave away Indian territory to Myanmar to appease the "pro-China" government in New Delhi.

The pillar was erected about 5 miles from the Nan Phar Lone border market in Myanmar's Tamu Township. With the controversy flaring among local residents on both sides of the border, Tengnoupal district authorities prohibited gatherings of five or more people carrying weapons at night for a period of six months in some parts of the sub-division under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.

The Manipur State Congress Party criticized Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for failing to take action over the alleged incursion by the Myanmar government.

The spokesperson said that routine joint survey work had been carried out recently by the Indian and Myanmar survey departments, during which work had been done to construct subsidiary pillars in between the already settled main boundary pillars 81 and 82 along the "zero line", the agreed and settled international boundary.

The survey was done with the objective of apprising local residents on both sides of the border of the exact alignment of the international boundary. The survey is in accordance with the provisions of the India-Myanmar Boundary Agreement of 1967, to which both governments are fully committed, the spokesperson said.

"The allegation came from the local people; both sides investigated the issue. We found that the allegation was wrong. Myanmar didn't encroach on Indian territory," said U Mg Mg Latt, an Upper House lawmaker representing Tamu Township.

This is not the first time that local people have raised these allegations. Myanmar has experienced this several times in the past. The pillar was in the exact position that both sides agreed a long time ago. It is business as usual on the border, except for the prohibition order from 7 pm to 4 am near the border area, he added.

The Myanmar-India border stretches for over 1,600 km. Myanmar shares the border with four northeast Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

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Karenni State Puts Hold on Aung San Statue to Gauge Public Opinion

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 05:09 AM PDT

YANGON — The Karenni State government has postponed controversial plans to erect a statue of independence hero General Aung San in the state capital, Loikaw, following a local protest against the project.

During a meeting with opponents of the statue on Saturday, the state’s chief minister, L Phaung Sho, said he had discussed the plan with ward and township administrators, municipal officials and the committee on ethnic culture. He defended the project but acknowledged that some officials failed to do enough to gauge public opinion.

The meeting, which came three days after the protest, was also attended by lawmakers, political party officials, local administrators and ethnic armed groups.

Most representatives from the youth groups, armed groups and parties — even an NLD lawmaker — urged the state government to hold off on erecting the statue and halt construction until it gathered more feedback from the public. Most ward administrators, however, were in favor of going ahead with the project.

The state government had planned to unveil the statue on July 19 to mark Martyr’s Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the assassination of Gen Aung San and his cabinet members.

L Phaung Sho said another meeting would be held on July 20 and that a final decision would be made on the 30th.

"There is no project or plan that receives 100 percent approval. But if the majority supports it, the government will implement it," he said.

The chief minister instructed administrators to find out how much support there was for the statue in their wards and townships and report back to him by the 30th.

"Depending on the public opinion, on July 30 we will decide the date to continue the project," he said.

L Phaung Sho also vowed to honor the rights of ethnic minorities.

"If ethnic minorities want to put up a statue of ethnic minority leader, establish a committee for that and present the plans to me. I will accept it and allow it," he said.

Youth group representatives at Saturday’s meeting also asked the government to withdraw lawsuits against 11 people being prosecuted for distributing pamphlets last month critical of the statue project. But the chief minister said the cases would proceed.

Khun Thomas, from the Kayan New Generation Youth group, who attended the meeting, said he did not trust the ward and township officials to conduct an honest opinion poll or report the results accurately because most of them had already expressed their support for the statue.

He said youth groups would mount their own petition drive across the state seeking additional support to oppose the statue this week.

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Thai King Offers Robes to Monk Who Predicted Team Trapped in Cave Would Be Found

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 05:00 AM PDT

The king of Thailand has offered robes to Phra Khuva Boonchum, a Buddhist monk who held religious rites outside the cave from which 13 Thai youth soccer players and their coach are in the process of being rescued.

On Saturday, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun went to see the monk, who is known as Maing Hpone Sayadaw in Myanmar, and offered him robes, Thai News newspaper reported.

The monk became a household name in Thailand after accurately predicting, before their location had been discovered, that the boys and their coach would be found alive within two days. "They are all still there; they will be found in one or two days," he told media at the time.

The offering of the Royal Kathin Robes is part of Thailand's Buddhist culture, which it shares with Myanmar.

The Shan monk has visited the Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai three times since the saga began.

Each time, he has held religious ceremonies and prayed. Top generals and officials welcomed him inside the cave, where he held religious rites.

The day after his second visit, the rain that had been pouring down in the area for days stopped and the missing group was located. Many Thais believe the monk's intervention prompted the hiatus in the rain.

A lifelong vegetarian famous for his long, solitary periods of meditation in caves in Thailand, Bhutan and Shan State, the monk's Burmese name derives from Mong Phong (pronounced "Maing Hpone" in Burmese) village in eastern Shan State, where he spent time at a forest retreat when he was 16.

Revered for his highly moral conduct, Maing Hpone Sayadaw has many devotees in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. He survives on fruits and biscuits, and always walks barefoot, no matter the weather. The monk's followers include generals in Myanmar and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Apart from his solitary retreats, during which he maintains total silence, Maing Hpone Sayadaw (aka Phra Khuva Boonchum) is well known for his generosity; he donates everything that is offered to him to others.

The monk moves between temples in Shan State and Thailand. His followers regularly visit him at the temples, and their numbers are expected to grow following his recent media exposure.

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400 Returned IDPs Facing Food Shortages in Kachin State

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 04:49 AM PDT

Two local Kachin aid groups have appealed to other aid organizations to help provide food for almost 400 ethnic Kachin IDPs who returned to their three villages in Injangyang Township, northern Kachin State, last month.

The 397 IDPs went back to the villages of Njang Yang, Nlawt Yang and Ngyeng Kawng on June 18 and 19 after the Kachin State government told some religious leaders to send the IDPs home as there had been no fighting in Injangyang Township recently.

"We can say it was okay for them for to return to their villages. Their houses were not destroyed by fighting, so they could go straight back to stay in their homes," said Seng Nu, program coordinator with the Myitkyina-based Karuna Mission Social Solidarity (KMSS), which is one of two groups providing assistance to the IDPs.

"For food, we only have enough for one month, and we do not have any agreement with other aid groups to provide food for them for other months," she said. "Therefore, we are still appealing for food from other organizations."

The IDPs initially stayed at Tanghpre IDP camp in Injangyang Township, where KMSS and the Diocese of Myitkyina-Myanmar provided food for them. They fled from their homes when the Myanmar Army launched a major military offensive against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in April.

The resettlement plan was set in motion after the Myanmar Army, Kachin State Government, and lawmakers told some senior Kachin Catholic leaders to send the IDPs back to their villages. The authorities firstly told the bishop in Myitkyina, who then passed the order on to the parish priest. But the two religious leaders did not discuss what help the IDPs would need with local aid groups.

"It was a personal decision to send the IDPs back, not an organizational one," said a statement issued on June 26 from the Diocese of Myitkyina-Myanmar, the second aid group helping the IDPs.

Seng Nu said those who work with the IDPs did not know anything about the resettlement plan. "For the KMSS, as soon as we heard they had gone back to their villages, we went to find them to see what condition they were in."

The Myanmar Army and KIA have not recently engaged in hostilities in Injangyang Township. But the IDPs will not be safe if they try to find food in the jungle. Therefore, the two local aid groups said that they would need supplies until October.

Groups that work with IDPs normally send them back home when they feel it is safe for them to return. The aid groups provide sufficient food to help the IDPs stay at their village based on the resettlement plan.

"Based on our timeframe, and their demands, they will need food until on October," Seng Nu said.

There are more than 10,000 IDPs in Kachin State. Some IDP camps are in government-controlled areas, but there are also some in KIA-held areas near the Chinese border.

The government wants to shut down some IDP camps in Kachin, northern Shan, and Karen State, as well as in Rakhine, but it has not revealed details of its plan yet.

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Two Reuters Reporters Charged With Violating Official Secrets Act

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 04:28 AM PDT

YANGON — Yangon's Northern District Court on Monday charged two Reuters reporters with breaching the Official Secrets Act for allegedly obtaining secret government documents.

They are charged with violating Section 3 [1] [c] of the colonial-era law, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Ko Wa Lone, 32, and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, pleaded not guilty on grounds that they had no intention of harming the government's interest.

They told the court that they were simply doing their jobs as reporters, and neither collected nor copied the documents.

Defense lawyer U Khin Maung Zaw told reporters after the court hearing that the defense would seek to refute the judge's ruling "that Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo were caught with state information on that day [Dec. 12] and which stated that they collected and noted down secret government information, either to share with the enemy or to use against the interests of the government by possessing or distributing them."

The defense lawyer said that he was "dissatisfied" with the court's decision but still hoped to win the case. He said the defense would do its best at future hearings and expected to complete making its case in the next two months.

In upcoming hearings the court will hear from six defense witnesses, including the two reporters, U Khin Maung Zaw said. The reporters are scheduled to testify on July 16.

The pair has been in pretrial detention since their arrests on Dec. 12. At the time they were arrested, they were investigating the executions of 10 Rohingya men and boys by Myanmar Army soldiers in Inn Din village in northern Rakhine State. Reuters subsequently published an in-depth story on the massacre, which drew on the reporting of Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo. In April, the military announced that seven soldiers had been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for their roles in the extrajudicial killings.

Reuters president and editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler said the news organization was "deeply disappointed" with the ruling and called the case against the reporters "baseless".

"These Reuters journalists were doing their jobs in an independent and impartial way, and there are no facts or evidence to suggest that they've done anything wrong or broken any law," he said in a statement.

"Today's decision casts serious doubt on Myanmar's commitment to press freedom and the rule of law."

The defense lawyers told The Irrawaddy that there is still hope that the case will be dismissed after the court hears from the defense witnesses.

In 2014, five reporters from the Unity Journal were charged under Section 3 [1] [a] of the Official Secrets Act and eventually sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. Their sentences were reduced to seven years on appeal to the regional court.

International press-freedom advocacy organizations including Article 19, Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists released statements Monday calling for the charges against the two reporters to be dropped.

"Today's decision renders the judiciary complicit in a farcical miscarriage of justice," said Matthew Bugher, head of Article 19's Asia Program. "Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo took great personal risks to cast light on events largely hidden from the public's view. Instead of dragging them through preposterous legal proceedings, the government should commend the journalists for their indispensable role in promoting accountability."

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New Yangon City Challenges Regional Govt Transparency

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 02:04 AM PDT

On May 2, 2018, the New Yangon Development Company (NYDC), the company owned by the Yangon regional government to undertake the New Yangon City project, announced that China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) would develop the new city project. Interestingly, NYDC has emphasized that CCCC has not yet been granted the project. Under the Swiss Challenge model, other companies can submit counter-proposals during the bidding process and CCCC can decide to match the funding amount or forego the project if there is a proposal with a lower bid. NYDC insists that the arrangement will increase transparency and efficiency of the project.

The Swiss Challenge is not unique, but it is also not a prevailing practice. It has been adopted in the Philippines, Italy, Taiwan, Guam, as well as at the sub-national level in India and Australia. A study conducted by the World Bank on infrastructure projects in the Philippines in 2000 highlights some potential problems of the Swiss Challenge. The report states that other competitors perceive that they are disadvantaged in the bidding process because the original proposers have an established relationship with the authorities. They also have less time to prepare the counter-proposal in the bidding process. It also finds that the original proposers usually win the contracts.

NYDC may assure the public that CCCC will not be favored in the bidding process. A fundamental question is whether the regional Parliament had a chance to discuss the project design and the Swiss Challenge model before CCCC was entrusted with the project development. Article 190(b) of the 2008 Constitution stipulates that "bills relating to regional plans, annual budgets and taxation of the Region or State, which are to be submitted exclusively by the Region or State government, shall be submitted to the Region or State Hluttaw in accord with the prescribed procedures."

As the National League for Democracy (NLD) has promised change in its governance, a detailed proposal and budget should be submitted to the regional Parliament for discussion to uphold transparency and accountability. It is exactly what NLD lawmaker Daw Sandar Min of Seikgyi Kanaungto 1 constituency points out – members of the Parliament have a duty to discuss projects that affect voters.

The success of the project is contingent upon people's support. NYDC's town hall meeting initiative is appreciated. However, people, including the regional government, still know very little about the project and the implementation plan of the project. For instance, how will the government resettle the affected communities? The investment of the Myanmar government will be substituted by land. How much land will be involved and for how many years? When will CCCC submit the development plan to the NYDC and how much time will other companies have to challenge the original proposal? Are there legal ramifications if the project needs to be reviewed or redesigned under the agreement signed between NYDC and CCCC. If CCCC finally gets the contract, how can the government ensure local employment in the construction of the project?

There is no doubt that Myanmar needs economic development, but lessons from previous projects must be learned. Projects that do not have the free, informed and prior consent from the public might trigger international disputes, as we have seen with the Myitsone Dam and the Letpadaung Copper Mine. The NLD is urged to conduct a participatory consultation in the New Yangon City project and review the Swiss Challenge model to avoid backlash in the course of project development.

About the author: Debby Chan Sze Wan is a Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Her research concerns business and human rights with a focus on Myanmar.

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Minister Rejects Fears of Debt Trap Over Chinese-Backed Port

Posted: 09 Jul 2018 12:54 AM PDT

YANGON — Commerce Minister U Thant Myint said Myanmar would not be overwhelmed by the financing of a deep-water port being built in Rakhine State’s Kyaukphyu Township, hoping to assuage public fears of a Chinese debt trap.

"We won't be burdened with debt like many think because we will implement the project step by step with available investment from local businessmen and in cooperation with China. We invite feedback [on the project] from experts,” the minister said in Yangon on Friday at a regular meeting between Vice President U Myint Swe and private businessmen.

"I think there is such speculation because some have concerns about the lack of information about the project. And some, I think, deliberately speculate to attack us," he added.

Some local media have raised concerns about the port following an Asia Times article by Bertil Lintner last week which argued that Myanmar risked falling into a debt trap with China over the project.

"Anyway, we pay heed to their analysis. Both we and the Chinese government think the project may create mutual benefits, and we will gain benefits, not disadvantages as others think," U Thant Myint said.

Plans to build the $10-billion deep-water port and special economic zone were first announced in 2007 while the country was under military rule.

The current government, led by the National League for Democracy, is not reviewing the project but has been holding negotiations with China's CITIC Group, which won the tender, said U Thant Myint.

"Negotiations are going well and it is likely that we'll reach an agreement soon. We are considering the need for huge investment and competent management," the minister said.

The two sides have agreed to implement the project in phases, he added.

U Thant Myint said the port will spur economic development and create jobs in Rakhine while also helping to develop China’s landlocked Yunnan Province,

CITIC Group will own a controlling 70 percent stake in the project and Myanmar the rest as part of the 75-year deal they struck.

Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to the Myanmar government, reportedly said recently that the $7.5-billion price tag on the project's port component was "crazy" and "absurd."

The government of former President U Thein Sein let a memorandum of understanding on the Chinese-backed Myitsone hydropower dam expire in 2014, nearly three years after he suspended the $3.9-billion project over concerns of a potential debt trap.

But Myanmar has to repay the Chinese state-owned developer the $800 million it had already spent on the project. Some say Beijing could leverage the debt in negotiations with Naypyitaw to get its way with the Kyaukphyu port.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Myanmar 2050

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 11:50 PM PDT

YANGON — Looking at Myanmar's current issues but avoiding directly criticizing the National League for Democracy government, experts laid out possible scenarios for the future at a talk in Yangon on Sunday.

Ten experts from the fields of art, literature, religion, technology, economics, environment, media and politics contributed their insights along with a few hundred participants in the discussion entitled "Myanmar 2050."

Highlighting the impact of climate change, the restriction of press freedom, environmental and social values, technology, and the promotion of education, experts and politicians stated that Myanmar would be the same 30 years from now if social changes did not start now.

"Myanmar is now in an emergency," said Dr. Thant Myint-U, a historian and chairman of the Yangon Heritage Trust. He went on to speak about a range of issues – including climate change, the economy, migration and inter-ethnic relations – facing the country.

"The people of Myanmar must radically rethink the lives they want and their position in the world to come. The failure of politics is a failure of the imagination," he said. "Myanmar needs a completely new story, a new vision of the future – one that can bring everyone together to address the real challenges to come."

Creating a space for intellectual research to be shared with the public, the organizer the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar said the discussion may or may not be critical, but that it would be a useful exercise for shaping future policy. ISP-Myanmar plans to organize such a scenario-building event – based on South Africa's Mont Fleur scenarios – every month.

U Aung Thu Nyein, the director of communications at ISP-Myanmar, said: "We have had very few talks given by intellectuals. Scholarly research is not widely published and is often left on the bookshelves. We want to create a space for discussion and interaction."

"We want to lay out food for thought for future visionary leadership, which is why we tried not to discuss current affairs that would result in directly criticizing the government."

The speakers did raise current issues though including food security, civil war, copyright infringement, ethics, social values, and a lack of creativity and innovation.

Geopolitical and demographic issues were also discussed including Myanmar nationals migrating to neighboring countries to seek job opportunities due to civil war and economic hardship.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, the general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), said achieving national reconciliation and ending civil war "depends entirely on leaders' integrity, good intentions, and keeping promises."

If peace is not attained by 2020, the country may still be fighting in 2050 and "it will be in deep trouble," he added.

Speakers said that the future would depend on leadership putting trust in the youth.

Min Zin, one of the speakers and the executive director of ISP-Myanmar, said that not only do the youth need to build their skills, but also the political landscape must allow them to use what they've learned.

"Our job is to pass on knowledge and promote future leaders, who have to emerge from their communities. But for them to prove their skills, the political setting must be open to them," he said, adding that Myanmar must rely on more leaders rather than concentrating the power with only a few.

He urged those currently in leadership positions to reach out to younger generations and allow them to work. "If we aren't willing to do this, we will be in trouble. We are already in trouble," he said.

"We have been seeing only the old faces, even in the cabinet. The average age of cabinet members and ministers is about 65. It shows that we do not promote young leadership," he said, reflecting on the current NLD leadership.

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Activists Drop Reference to ’88 Uprising in Bid for Party Recognition

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 11:42 PM PDT

MANDALAY — The prospective Four Eights People's Party changed its proposed name to the People's Party on Sunday, following an order from the Union Election Commission (UEC) to come up with a new handle in response to public criticism.

The new name was chosen from several options proposed during a meeting the prospective party held in Mandalay on Sunday.

"We will drop Four Eights, and the new name is the People's Party," U Ko Ko Gyi, one of the organizers, said during a press conference.

He said the proposed party flag will be yellow and red with two hands holding a torch in the center and that the logo will consists of just the hands holding the torch.

Party officials said they would submit the new name, flag and logo to the UEC today, just ahead of the Friday deadline by which parties must register for November’s by-elections.

"We will submit the new name, flag and logo urgently because we do not want to lose the opportunity to register the party. However, we are not going to participate in the upcoming by-election," U Ko Ko Gyi said.

Once they are received, the UEC will publish them in state-run media to give the public a chance to respond.

"If there are still objections and disagreements, we have a plan B and will try our best to form a new political party," U Ko Ko Gyi said. "The challenges and hardships we have faced over our name have attracted a lot of interest and many people from different regions across the country have joined us, so we believe we will become a successful political party that can create better lives for the people."

The organizers said more than 200 people from across the country joined Sunday’s meeting.

The hopeful party plans to appoint U Ko Ko Gyi as chairman and U Ye Naing Aung as vice-chairman, but it has yet to reveal who else would comprise its central committee.

U Ko Ko Gyi and the others organizing the party rose to prominence as activists during the 1988 student uprising. But when they proposed the party’s first name in December, Four Eights, some objected that they were expropriating a reference to the uprising that belonged to the people and the UEC ordered them to come up with something else.

Critics said 8888, the date the uprising began, was a historic moment in the country’s long struggle against dictatorship and should not be used by a political party.

In March the organizers proposed the Four Eights People’s Party, but the public objected once more and the UEC ordered them to try again.

On Sunday, U Ye Naing Aung said they hoped their third attempt would steer clear of the controversy.

"We will make sure there's no sign or hint of the 1988 uprising in our party name and logo," he said.

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A Relaxing Staycation at the Shangri-La

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 10:26 PM PDT

With Myanmar's rainy season in full force, people aren't choosing to take weekend getaways. Instead, they are opting for relaxing staycations at local luxury hotels.

Staycations are perfect for those who want to take a vacation but don't have time to travel. People take a day trips to see the city's sights and then stay at a hotel, allowing them to relax with less stress, less travel and less planning.

Last weekend, I was invited to stay at the 5-star Shangri-La under their 'Monsoon Special Staycation Package.' It was a great break from the stress of work.

The package is only offered on the weekends, and I chose to stay Sunday night. I checked in at 2 p.m. with only a small bag including extra clothes to go to work the next morning.

The Hotel

This is the city's hottest hotel and it is located in a prime location downtown. It first opened in November 1996 as the Traders Hotel and was later rebranded as the Sule Shangri-La in 2014.

The hotel has 474 rooms and is just blocks away from the city's landmark Sule Pagoda, which is more than 2,000 years old and a major fixture in the city's business district.

The location is a popular spot for networking and gathering for both business people and tourists. The hotel design effortlessly mixes simplicity and elegance.

My weekend started with a quick 20 minute cab ride to the hotel, with no traffic because it was a Sunday. On the ride I planned how to spend my day there. When I arrived, a hotel's friendly communication executive Kay Thari led me to the reception desk to check in a took me to my room.

The hotel is also connected to Sule Square Mall allowing for shopping and dining at your doorstep.

A deluxe room, offered with Sule Shangri-La’s staycation package. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

Accommodation

The Monsoon Staycation Package offers a deluxe room and I requested one with a city view. The view wasn't great. There was construction on the other side of the road with a view of Shwedagon Pagoda in the background. But it still offered a different view than I get at home.

The room was spacious and clean, with a luxurious feel. The furniture was high quality and there was natural light coming in through a big window.

I couldn't resist collapsing onto the king-size bed in the center of the room. The sheets were soft and the pillows comfortable – it was like sinking into a fluffy marshmallow. Above the bed, were large windows framing Shwedagon Pagoda.

The room had a minibar, flat screen TV, 24-hour Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and an oversized soaking tub. There wasn't a standalone shower area.

I dropped my bag, slipped into the king-size bed and began my day of relaxation.

Hotel Amenities

A guest working out at the hotel gym. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

Gym

If you don't want to miss a daily workout even on vacation, the Shangri-La has a gym on the fifth floor complete with treadmills, stationary bikes, weights and more. There are also trainers available. Gym access is included in the staycation package and you can get your workout in at any time of day.

A spa where the therapist works out your back. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

Spa

On the same floor as the gym and pool is a spa. I signed up for a complimentary spa session, which is not included in the staycation package.

I choose an aromatherapy oil massage (US$50/hour) and chose my favorite smelling oil from the counter. You can also ask for staff recommendations.

The massage therapist led me to a massage room for one person, including a shower area. The spa music and aromatherapy made me sleepy. I got under the sheets and the massage began. After 60 minutes I was completed relaxed and loose. I'm really thankful that therapist Aye Aye Htwe gave a great massage and wasn't a talkative person. Then, I headed to the pool.

Hotel swimming. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

Pool

Over the gym, there is an outdoor swimming pool with plenty of deck chairs to lounge around on. Most hotel pools have a strong chlorine smell but not this one. There is also a trainer who stays near the pool at all times. Pool access is also included in the staycation package.

I got to the pool in the evening after my massage. There was one foreign family, with the parents teaching a little girl to swim, and a group of friends playing in the pool and taking photos. It wasn't the best place to snap pictures but it was still pretty.

When the sun went down, I went back to the room to take a proper shower in the huge bathtub before dinner.

A chef cooking for hotel guests at Cafe Sule. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

Food

I choose the weekend international buffet as my dinner at Café Sule. The dining room was decorated beautifully but it was a bit crowded, possibly because it was a weekend.

I chose a table with comfortable chairs with a view of the road outside. The international buffet includes Western, Eastern, European and Halal foods, along with a big dessert counter. Most of the food was delicious and the service was impeccable. It cost $32 per person that night and the price changes weekly.

After dinner, I went to my room with a full belly and read a book and watched movies until I fell asleep.

Boiled crab, prawns and mussels are served at Cafe Sule’s buffet. (Photo: Aung Kyaw Htet/ The Irrawaddy)

The next morning, I went to Café Sule for the breakfast that was included in the package. The buffet was excellent and offered a ton of choices.

I checked out of the room at 10 a.m. and crossed the road to my office and back to normal life. Overall, the Shangri-La staycations are $99 for two people and it's really worth the cost. I'd definitely recommend a break from the stress of everyday life with a relaxing staycation package.

The post A Relaxing Staycation at the Shangri-La appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Australian Doctor Plays Crucial Role in Thai Cave Rescue Mission: Paper

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 10:12 PM PDT

An Australian doctor is at the center of the ongoing attempt to rescue the young soccer players and their coach trapped in the Tham Luang cave in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai Province.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Richard Harris, an anesthetist from Adelaide, Australia, has been one of the international dive experts seconded to assist with the difficult and dangerous rescue mission.

Dr. Harris on Saturday undertook the dangerous dive to reach the 12 Thai boys and their coach and later gave the final approval on the boys' health, clearing the way for the rescue attempt which commenced yesterday and succeed in bringing out four of the survivors, the paper reported.

It is understood the British divers participating in the rescue specifically requested Dr. Harris and that he went back into the cave to help with the rescue effort.

David Strike, a dive event organizer, has known Dr. Harris for more than a decade. He said Dr. Harris had all the qualifications to undertake the rescue mission, according to the paper.

"He's been diving for over 30 years and readily embraced advances in diving technology to better help him explore and photograph caves in Australia and overseas," Strike told Fairfax Media.

"In the past few years he's been involved in cave-diving explorations in Australia, China, Christmas Island and New Zealand. He has an active interest in diving safety and accident investigation.

"Quite apart from his own cave exploration experiences, as an anesthetist and a medical professional who is also involved in retrieval medicine, he has always struck me as a person who is capable of calmly assessing any situation and then acting appropriately.

"Richard is just one member of a team of uniquely qualified and extraordinary people prepared to sacrifice their own comfort, safety and wellbeing for the benefit of others. It's an over-used term, but all of those involved are true heroes," Strike was quoted as saying by the paper.

The post Australian Doctor Plays Crucial Role in Thai Cave Rescue Mission: Paper appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

ANALYSIS: China’s ‘Firefighter’ Vice President Avoids Flames of US Trade War

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 08:58 PM PDT

BEIJING — As the flames of a trade war between China and the United States lick higher, one top Chinese leader expected to help handle relations with Washington has been conspicuous for not taking a public role in the dispute – Vice President Wang Qishan.

Known in Chinese government circles as “the firefighter” for his central role in tackling issues like corruption and domestic financial problems, Wang also has experience dealing with the United States – leading annual economic talks with Washington when he was a vice premier.

As a result, Wang had been tipped by foreign diplomats to take a central position in handling US President Donald Trump’s administration when he became vice president.

These expectations had been heightened when prior to his appointment in March, Wang had private meetings with US ambassador to China Terry Branstad, and with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. He also held closed-door meetings with US executives in recent months, sources in the US business community say.

But aside from the occasional public meeting with US visitors – the last time was in mid-May when he met US business executives in Beijing – and the odd appearance elsewhere, including at a forum in Russia in late May, Wang has kept a low profile.

The week before last, for example, the only news he appeared to make was when he met Bangladesh’s foreign minister and when he was appointed honorary president of the Chinese Red Cross.

For some China watchers his absence is a bad omen for the state of Sino-US relations despite Trump’s continued insistence that Xi is a close friend. If there was going to be a breakthrough in the trade row anytime soon then they would expect Wang to be taking a more prominent role.

“Wang Qishan would be crazy to get on a plane until there were far greater assurances there is a deal to be had and the deal would stick,” said Scott Kennedy, deputy director of the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Trump's Latest Threat

One source with knowledge of Wang’s meetings with US business leaders said the vice president is only going to get involved when “he can have a clear view of how he can negotiate a solid outcome.” When there is something to be negotiated, Wang will probably insert himself in some way, this person said.

Neither the foreign ministry nor the cabinet’s spokesman’s office responded to a request for comment on Wang and his role in the US trade dispute. There is no public contact information for the vice president’s office.

The last round of trade talks with Washington, led for China by Vice Premier Liu He, failed to head off a US decision to impose punitive tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese imports on Friday, with another $16 billion of goods to be targeted in a second phase. China retaliated with its own increased tariffs on $34 billion of US imports to China.

Perhaps most worrying of all for China, Trump warned the US administration may ultimately target more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods, or roughly the total amount that the United States imported from China last year.

China has indicated it will respond with its own measures against the US each time Washington ratchets up the tariffs.

Wang’s diplomacy has been low-key and behind the scenes, and there is no sign he has lost his status as a key decision maker and political player, diplomats say.

A smoker who is 70 this month, Wang is more senior than both the Chinese government’s most senior diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, and Politburo member Yang Jiechi, who heads the Communist Party’s foreign affairs commission.

Unlike the urbane, Harvard-educated Vice Premier Liu, Wang does not speak English, though he has a penchant for no-nonsense, direct talk behind closed doors, those who have seen him in action say.

Close to Xi

A senior Western diplomat said Beijing appeared to be reluctant for Wang to get involved after Liu had the rug pulled out from under him by Trump’s reneging on a previously agreed “consensus” to resolve the trade spat in May.

Wang is extremely close to President Xi Jinping and reports directly to him, meaning if a similar thing had happened to Wang it would be seen as a personal snub to Xi, the diplomat said.

“You can embarrass the vice premier but not the vice president,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Beijing has struggled to work out what Washington really wants, especially given the US trade negotiating team has been split between those who tend to favor free trade and those who are more protectionist, a source with ties to the Chinese leadership told Reuters. This has led to confusing and sometimes contradictory statements from different officials.

“It’s reneging on one’s words,” said the source, quoting a saying attributed to ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius that state media has increasingly used to refer to the US administration’s struggle to give a single unified message.

The post ANALYSIS: China's 'Firefighter' Vice President Avoids Flames of US Trade War appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Japan Races to Find Survivors of Floods that Killed Nearly 100

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 08:47 PM PDT

MIHARA, Japan — Rescuers in Japan dug through mud and rubble on Monday, racing to find survivors after torrential rains unleashed widespread floods and landslides that killed nearly 100, with dozens missing.

Rain tapered off across the western region battered by last week’s downpour, revealing blue skies and scorching sun forecast to push temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86°F), fueling fears of heatstroke in areas cut off from power or water.

“We cannot take baths, the toilet doesn’t work and our food stockpile is running low,” said Yumeko Matsui, whose home in the city of Mihara has been without water since Saturday.

“Bottled water and bottled tea are all gone from convenience stores and other shops,” the 23-year-old nursery school worker said at an emergency water supply station.

About 12,700 customers had no electricity on Monday, power companies said. Tens of thousands had no water, Japanese media said.

The death toll from the rains reached at least 94 after floodwaters forced several million people from their homes, NHK national television said, the highest toll since 98 people were killed in a typhoon in 2004.

Another 58 were missing, NHK added.

Industry operations have also been hit, with Mazda Motor Corp saying it was forced to close its head office in Hiroshima on Monday.

The automaker, which suspended operations at several plants because of the rains last week, said the halt would continue at two plants until Tuesday, as it cannot receive components, though both were undamaged.

Refineries and oil terminals were not affected, but blocked roads limited access to one Showa Shell oil terminal in the city, causing gas and diesel shortages nearby.

At one landslide in Hiroshima, shattered piles of lumber marked the sites of former homes, television images showed. Others had been tossed upside down.

“Nobody’s heard from my next door neighbor,” one man told NHK. “I hope they find him soon.”

Water still swirled through most of the hard-hit city of Kurashiki, despite ebbing floods that opened the route to a hospital where nearly 100 patients and staff had been stranded on Sunday.

Thousands flocked to evacuation centers in the city’s district of Mabi.

“Nobody has anything to wear. We need shirts, trousers, underwear, socks and even shoes,” its mayor, Kaori Ito, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Although evacuation orders were scaled back from the weekend, nearly 2 million people still face orders or advice to keep away from homes, fire and disaster officials said.

An emergency management center has been set up at the prime minister’s office, with about 54,000 rescuers, drawn from the military, police and fire departments, fanning out across the west and southwest.

Japan monitors weather conditions and issues warnings early, but its dense population means every bit of usable land is built on in the mostly mountainous nation, leaving it prone to disasters.

The post Japan Races to Find Survivors of Floods that Killed Nearly 100 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Cave: Four Boys Saved, the Rest Wait for Rescue to Resume Monday

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 08:39 PM PDT

CHIANG RAI, Thailand — Four of 12 Thai schoolboys were rescued from a flooded cave on Sunday in a daring and dangerous operation to save the children and their soccer coach, who have been trapped underground for more than two weeks.

The operation to rescue the remaining eight boys – some as young as 11 and weak swimmers – and the coach was called off at nightfall until Monday to give the divers time to replenish oxygen supplies and ensure all preparations were complete.

Thirteen foreign divers and five members of Thailand’s elite navy SEAL unit guided the boys to safety through narrow, submerged passageways that claimed the life of a former Thai navy diver on Friday.

“Today was the best day, the best situation in terms of the weather, the health of the boys, our water management for our rescue effort,” the head of the rescue operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, told a news conference.

“Today we managed to rescue and send back four children to Chiang Rai Prachanukrua Hospital safely.”

The rescuers needed at least 10 hours to prepare for their next operation, involving about 90 divers in total, 50 of them from foreign countries, he said.

A helicopter flew the four boys to the nearby city of Chiang Rai, where they were taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Their ordeal has drawn huge media attention in Thailand and abroad, and getting the boys out safely could be a boost for Thailand’s junta ahead of a general election next year.

“Today is D-Day,” Narongsak had earlier told reporters.

Bursts of heavy monsoon rain soaked the Tham Luang Cave area in northern Chiang Rai province on Sunday and storms were expected in coming weeks, increasing the risks in what has been called a “war with water and time” to save the team.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16, went missing with their 25-year-old coach after soccer practice on June 23, setting out on an adventure to explore the cave complex near the border with Myanmar and celebrate a boy’s birthday.

The rescue teams had rehearsed the plan for several days, Narongsak said, and had managed to drain the cave water level considerably, but needed to move fast.

“Conditions Must Be Stable"

“If we wait and the rain comes in the next few days we will be tired again from pumping and our readiness would drop. If that’s the case, then we have to reassess the situation,” he said.

“We can only carry on the operation once we are ready and this will be done soon, because the air tank and other systems have to be reinstalled,” he told reporters later.

“…I can’t give you an exact number but it should be more than 10 hours but not exceeding 20 hours. The conditions must be stable like today before we can continue the operation.”

An Australian doctor checked the health of the boys on Saturday night and gave the all-clear for the operation to proceed.

The boys were discovered by British divers Richard Stanton and John Volanthen on Monday.

Of the 13-strong foreign dive team – mainly from Europe – three escorted the children, while the remainder were positioned along the dangerous first kilometer stretch, where the boys had to navigate through submerged passageways in some places no more than two feet wide.

The area outside the Chiang Rai hospital was cordoned off by police. Down the street, vendors were told by loudspeaker to “keep off the road” and to “not obstruct the transfer mission."

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the military junta that seized power in 2014, planned to visit the cave site on Monday, a government spokesman said.

His visit with relatives and rescue officials last week was criticized by some Thais as opportunistic as his government faced pro-democracy protests in the capital Bangkok in recent months

The post Thai Cave: Four Boys Saved, the Rest Wait for Rescue to Resume Monday appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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