Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Authentic Kachin Dishes Served in Fine-Dining Style

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 07:36 AM PDT

YANGON—Myanmar is home to several major ethnic groups and over 100 ethnicities in all, each with their own distinct culture and unique cuisine. Among the many authentic ethnic eateries to be found in Yangon, the country's largest city, is the Kachin restaurant Mu Ai.

The restaurant is located in a hidden-away spot on a small side street off Hledan Road, but it's easy to find. All you need to do is walk almost to the end of the road and you can't miss Mu Ai.

The restaurant's name means "delicious" in the Kachin language. Yes, the food is amazing—really delicious and so creative. The special thing about this restaurant is that they serve authentic Kachin food in fine-dining style.

The restaurant was surprisingly small, with only six tables, but it's clean, and the atmosphere has a pleasant vibe. The décor is very simple, limited to some traditional bags and a few photos of Kachin people hanging the wall.

The menu is wide ranging, with plenty of dishes to choose from. Various courses are served including appetizers, mains, soups, noodles and rice sets—all at very reasonable prices.

Prior to visiting Mu Ai I only knew a few Kachin dishes, like Kyat Kachin Chet (Kachin chicken curry), Kachin Pounded Goat Meat and Beef Noodles. So, I asked the chef to prepare a few dishes that I hadn't tried before.

He chose a few dishes from each section and cooked them immediately. They were freshly cooked to order—I had to wait a while, but it was worth it.

From the appetizer menu, the Kachin Chicken Taco (4,000 kyats) is a fusion dish mixing Kachin and Mexican styles served in a bamboo tube. It contained small pieces of chicken cooked in curry with phet phel, a traditional Kachin herb made from a leaf, as well as ginger and ground coriander, on a homemade taco shell.

Many of the ingredients use in Mu Ai's kitchen, including phet phel, sesame oil, chili and other Kachin herbs are sourced in Kachin State.

The dish included four tacos. The taste was a bit sweet but the flavor was really great. The homemade taco shell was soft, not crispy, and it made for a beautiful appetizer.

Shat Jam (herb and vegetable rice cooked with beef) /Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

The Shat Jam (2,500 kyats) is a rice set. It features rice cooked with vegetables and herbs, and came with three slices of cooked beef. (You can choose beef, pork or chicken.)

The plate was garnished with cucumber and carrots and topped with half a boiled egg. It came with its own sauce, and served on a banana leaf. The presentation of the dish was really pretty and it had my mouth watering.

The brown beef slices were so fresh; the meat, while not super tender, wasn't overdone. It was cooked medium—a bit chewy but perfect with the vegetable rice.

Kachin Chicken Stew cooked with phet phel, a traditional Kachin herb /Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

Kachin Yoe Yar Say Kyat Poun (Kachin traditional herb chicken stew, 7,500 kyats) is one of Mu Ai's main dishes. It features stewed chicken breast with Kachin herbs, ginseng liquor (made from pieces of ginseng root soaked in alcohol) and ginger.

The dish, while not a soup, has soup-like qualities. The chicken breast floats in a white broth containing ginseng liquor, topped with ginseng root. Even though it is a stew, the chicken meat is not over-cooked. When you cut the chicken, you can see the tenderness of the flesh. The soup was sweet, combining ginseng and ginger flavors.

Kachin-style Pork Belly Stew/Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

Another main dish, Kachin Style Pork Belly Stew (7,500 kyats), was just as awesome and another triumph for the chef. That one was also served in a gravy-style curry, including two big cuts of pork belly. The juicy fat layer did not include too much fat and the meat was tender. The dish seemed at first glance to be too fatty, but it wasn't—the oil in the gravy curry in fact came from the pork.

Pounded Goat Meat and Kachin Chicken Taco served in bamboo tubes /Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

The last item was one of Mu Ai's signature dishes—the Pounded Goat Meat (4,000 kyats). This one was also served in a bamboo tube. Dried goat meat pieces are boiled and then pounded with lime, chili, Kachin herb and garlic. The strips of meat are really small and melt in the mouth; the ingredients are wonderfully fresh.

All the dishes are very creative and tasty; the chef uses very fresh ingredients and removes the fat from the meat before cooking; this is why the meat isn't that juicy. They don't use a lot of oil; some dishes have none at all.

Sesame Rice Ball /Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

Padang Laroi, 33, is the tall, apron-clad chef and co-founder of Mu Ai. He creates the restaurant's menu and designs the presentation of the food.

"We opened Mu Ai two years ago, but in a different location, in North Okkala. Many of our customers asked us to move closer to the downtown area," Ko Padang Laroi said.

Ko Padang Laroi is from Bhamo, a town in Kachin State. He has nine siblings, but he was the one who joined his mother in the kitchen to cook meals for the family. He has been passionate about cooking since childhood.

"My mom is a really good cook and always knows which herbs or ingredients are good for us. I learned everything from her, though I wasn't planning to become a chef at that time," he said.

After his matriculation exam, he traveled to Yangon to attend university. He graduated with a business degree after receiving a scholarship from the Graceworks Myanmar organization of the Australian Council for International Development.

"I chose food as my main subject and learned everything about food for several years, and received job training at some famous local hotels," he said.

Then, he decided to open a restaurant that presented Kachin cuisine in a fine-dining context. He has put many of the lessons he learned in his scholarship program to use at the new restaurant.

The cozy interior of the Kachin restaurant Mu Ai /Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy

"The food presentation is fine dining, but the flavors are still Kachin flavors. Some dishes are fusion and some limit the use of local herbs, because most people would find them too strong. So, I have tried to present flavors that are agreeable to a broader audience," the chef explained.

Most of Mu Ai's regular customers are foreigners living near the shop who have become lunchtime regulars.

"Some are from Italy, some are Japanese and we have some other European customers. We also have local customers as well," Ko Padang Laroi said.

Overall, the food was amazing, and the presentation was really outstanding, living up to the chef's description of traditional Kachin food served in fine-dining style. The prices are really reasonable considering the quality of the food.

So, you don't need to travel far from Yangon to taste authentic Kachin cuisine: Just take a ride to Hledan 1st Street.

The post Authentic Kachin Dishes Served in Fine-Dining Style appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Spokesman Says Govt Should Do More to Shield Military

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 06:58 AM PDT

U Nanda Hla Myint, spokesman for the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), recently sat down with The Irrawaddy senior reporter Htet Naing to discuss the party's views on the current political landscape, the Rakhine issue, the November by-election and the country’s democratic transition.

We heard that the ex-generals are forming a political party. Some of the party leaders are former USDP members. So did they split from the USDP?

I have no comment about ex-generals forming a political party. Party leader U Soe Maung was once a USDP member, and contested the election as a USDP candidate.

But he has officially resigned from the party, and we have no comment about him forming a political party according to his beliefs and political ideas. He neither cooperated nor consulted with us [to form another party]. It is not the case that he has split from our party.

U Soe Maung served as the President's Office minister under the previous government. So will former President U Thein Sein support his party?

Former President U Thein Sein remains a member of our party. He served as the chairman of our party. After our party’s 2016 conference, he continued to support the party as the patron of the party's leading committee. But then he retired from the leading committee after handing down the party to the younger generation, saying that he wanted to lead a peaceful life due to his age and health.

However, he is the parent and patron of our party. We hold him in esteem, and he remains a party member. So I'd say that he is on our side.

There are allegations that the USDP, illegally and without transparency, took over all the property and buildings owned by the government-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association when it was transformed into a political party in 2010. What do you want to say about that?

The USDP has acquired all the land and buildings in line with the law. In this era of democracy and transparency, you can review the law if you think certain things were done against the law in the past. We deny the untrue allegations that we stole public property. We don't accept those allegations.

In this era, legal action can be taken anytime if we act unlawfully. So I'd say that both our party and the public will not believe or accept those allegations.

Two Reuters reporters were sentenced to seven years in prison under the current government. Do you think it will impact press freedom?

The U Thein Sein government prioritized press freedom. It was under his government that private media were allowed. His government paved the way for free speech, which resulted in today's press freedom. The stance of our party is to prioritize press freedom.

But regarding the case of the two Reuters reporters, every citizen in the country must respect and adhere to the existing laws. I have no comment about the ruling of the court. History will decide if it is right or wrong.

If the two reporters think the verdict is unfair for them, they can appeal. We have no comment about the decision of the judicial branch. But the policy of our party is to support press freedom in a democracy.

The International Criminal Court has decided that it has jurisdiction over Myanmar regarding the Rakhine issue. How will it impact Myanmar's politics?

We are not an ICC member, so the ICC can't exercise jurisdiction over Myanmar. The ICC is still discussing whether it is possible to exercise jurisdiction over Myanmar through Bangladesh, which is a signatory and member of the [Rome] Statue.

There are a variety of factors that have yet to be fulfilled for the ICC to take action against the government and Tatmadaw [Myanmar military]. A lot of strong evidence is still needed. There are still difficulties and I think it is unlikely that the ICC will be able to exercise jurisdiction over Myanmar.

Does the government provide protection to the Tatmadaw, which is facing various allegations and is under international pressures because of the Rakhine issue? What do you think? Does the government need to protect the Tatmadaw?

Personally, I think there is a need to provide proper and adequate protection. We can draw the conclusion from previous cases that there was no proper protection. In fact, we are a sovereign state. Though the US approached the Rakhine issue from the human rights perspective, Washington pulled out of the [UN] Human Rights Commission when Israel, whose people are not its citizens, was affected.

The armed forces in each and every country have to protect the sovereignty and citizens of their country. The Tatmadaw protects our citizens and does not commit human rights abuses as claimed by the international community. We don't accept that. We assume that it is a blatant insult to the sovereignty of our country.

The government should also not accept international pressures under the pretext of human rights. The Tatmadaw is part of the government, so allegations against the Tatmadaw are allegation against the government. So for the sake of the national interests and national security, the government must decisively repel international pressures against anyone, not only the Tatmadaw. But the government has not yet done enough in that regard.

What will the USDP do in the 2020 election if it doesn’t win in the coming by-election?

How can you say we won't win it? We are a big political party, and we have served as a government. We have proven our capacity and our performance to the people. People can compare us with the current government.

After we became the opposition, we have only engaged in smart politics. We are not an opposition that puts the government into a tight corner, that incites people to take to the streets or to riot. We will support all the good actions of the government peacefully.

But when the interests of the country and citizens are at risk, or when there are policies and actions that would trouble the country, we will inform the people and make demands of the government. We will release statements and provide solutions.

We haven't put the country and people into a tight corner as the opposition. We believe that we will get a certain degree of public support if people can objectively assess all the things we have done. So we will win a certain number of seats in the by-election.

We will prove ourselves with hard work and win the trust of the people. And we believe that people will also trust and vote for us in the 2020 election.

Do you think the country’s democratic transition is irreversible, or can it be reversed?

To make a comparison, the USDP government led by President U Thein Sein emerged after the 2010 election and managed the country from 2011 to 2016. His cabinet systematically developed short-term and long-term plans for five to 30 years in coordination [with other political actors]. So nobody asked during those five years whether the country would reverse, and people were not concerned about it.

Two years into the NLD's administration, people have started to worry about a possible reversal. The reversal they fear is a military coup. They are worried about it.

It depends on the policies and actions of the current government. It has the responsibility to implement the right policies and provide the right leadership to ensure stability and prevent a reversal during the transition period. Whether democracy will reverse depends on the management of the government. The Constitution clearly states that the Tatmadaw has to provide protection if the sovereignty of the country is at risk, so my understanding is that we need not worry [about a coup] unless and until that happens. Cooperation, effort and leadership by the government will be the key to prevent it.

As you said, people are worried that the army may stage a coup again. Under the current government, there is increasing international intervention regarding the Rakhine issue. And there are also racial and religious conflicts. What issues could cause a reversal?

It can be caused by the weakening of the rule of law, increased foreign intervention, and foreign pressure. And we have to take underlying causes into consideration.

The main reason the Tatmadaw government switched to democracy is because the Tatmadaw thought it was time to change to a democracy according to the wishes of the people. So it paved the way for democracy, and political parties have joined it.

Of course there are a lot of challenges and difficulties during the transition period. But the Tatmadaw is the last front to safeguard our three main national cause. I mean if the union is at risk of breaking up, if we are at risk of losing sovereignty, if national solidarity is at risk and if the country is experiencing a period of anarchy, the Tatmadaw can't just stand by. If it stood by, it would be blamed by history.

To prevent this, the current government has to act with great caution, correct policies and correct management. The U Thein Sein government also faced a lot of challenges during the transition period, no less than now. But it managed to systematically control foreign pressure and domestic unrest.

The current government is under increased international pressure. There are nationalist problems, racial problems, religious conflicts, economic crisis, weak rule of law, and frequent clashes with ethnic armed groups.

So the current government should study what its predecessor did and how it maintained control under such circumstances. Based on its study, it may mend its weaknesses. If it can cooperate with better management based on that, there is no reason for a reversal.

The [current government] consults no one and cooperates with no one. If it thinks highly of itself and acts without regard for the opinions of others, then the situation that people dread may reoccur any time.

Is former military leader U Than Shwe still playing a role in Myanmar's politics? Does he still have political influence?

As far as I'm concerned, [former] Senior General Than Shwe has shunned politics since the USDP formed a government after the 2010 election. He is not involved in our party, either.

As far as I know, he now lives a peaceful life of reading and praying. He was sometimes mentioned in books, for example, written by U Shwe Mann, [according to which] he took Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to meet him. And President [U Thein Sein] pays his respects to him as his seniors in the Thadingyut.

When party leaders pay their respects to him, he reportedly says nothing about politics. I heard he said that he had handed [over the country] with trust and called for unity to spur greater development than during his time. He is no longer involved in politics. He does not discuss politics and lives a peaceful life, so I heard.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post USDP Spokesman Says Govt Should Do More to Shield Military appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Court Refuses Bail for Elderly Trio Detained Over Land Protest

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 04:54 AM PDT

MANDALAY — The Mandalay District Court on Wednesday denied bail to three residents of Patheingyi Township who were detained after protesting against the construction of a new cement factory in their area.

"The court said the case is still in the witness-questioning stage, so it cannot allow the trio to be bailed out," said U Sithu, their lawyer.

Daw Mya, Daw Mya Mya and U Than Paing of Aung Thabyay village were arrested in July after they refused to give up their land to make way for the expansion of a road in preparation for the building of the cement factory. A lawsuit was opened against them under regional road and transportation laws.

They staged a protest against the project after being told that they would not be compensated for the land.

A fourth detainee, Daw Aye, who was seriously ill at the time of her arrest in July, was earlier granted bail.

The Patheingyi Township Court rejected an initial appeal for bail submitted by the three detainees' families at the time of their arrest. In August, the lawyer submitted another bail appeal to the Mandalay District Court.

"It is a bailable offense and we don't understand why the court did not grant it. There is no danger that these three people will run away. They are old and too weak to stay in prison. The court should think about their health, too. We will submit another appeal to the divisional court," the lawyer said.

According to their families, Daw Mya and Daw Mya Mya are not in good health. They are suffering from depression due to their stay in prison and the constant fear of losing their land.

The trio is detained at Obo prison. Under the lawsuit opened against them at Patheingyi Township Court they face six months to three years' imprisonment.

Four other villagers are also the subjects of lawsuits under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly Act at the same court for participating in the protests in July. Like the detainees, they were protesting the construction of the cement factory and the road-expansion project after being told they would not be compensated for their land.

Chinese-owned Myint Investment Company is constructing a coal-powered cement factory on over 600 acres of land in the Aung Thabyay village area, about 37 km north of Mandalay.

The post Court Refuses Bail for Elderly Trio Detained Over Land Protest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Victim Age Limit in Child Rape Cases Too Low: Women’s Rights Activists

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 04:45 AM PDT

YANGON — Women's rights activists have opposed setting the legal age limit of victims of child rape at 12 years old in a bill amending the Penal Code in order to give harsher punishments in cases of child rape.

The bill submitted to Parliament last month adds a specific provision on child rape under Article 376 of the Penal Code. Under the drafted provision, the punishment for the rape of a woman who is a person with disabilities or a child below 12 years of age is to be a '20-year imprisonment or imprisonment for the rest of life.'

A member of Upper House's bill committee and lawmaker U Aung Thein who submitted the bill to the Parliament on Aug. 10 told lawmakers that a separate punishment needs to be adopted to effectively deter rapists.

The existing punishment, according to Article 376 of the Penal Code, ranges from 10 to 20 year's imprisonment, but it does not identify a separate punishment for child rape.

Women's rights activists and members of the public have called for harsher penalties to be imposed on child rapists. However, activists have pointed out that setting the victim's age, for the rape to be considered child rape, at below 12 years old is contrary to existing laws and also provides a loophole for rapists in cases involving underage victims to avoid receiving harsher penalties.

Ma May Sabe Phyu, director of the Gender Equality Network, said she totally disagrees with the suggestion that only the rape of a victim under 12 years of age should be defined as child rape. She calls for the imposing of harsher penalties amid an increasing number of cases of sexual abuse and violence against underage girls.

Rape is the most common among those classed as 'major crimes' in Myanmar, with child rape cases making up 60 to 70 percent of all reported rapes. According to the Ministry of Home Affair's report published in February, there were a total of 1,405 rape cases in 2017—of which 897 were committed against minors under the age of 16. In 2016, of an overall 1,100 cases, 671 were child rape cases.

Meanwhile, under the current 1993 Child Law, a child is defined as a person under the age of 16. This means the rape of any victim below the age of 16 is to be considered child rape. Last month, however, a revision to the law was made by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and submitted to the parliament. In the revised law, the childhood status is to be extended to 18 years old in order to be in adherence with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which the country signed in 1991.

"How can we have children defined as different ages in separate laws? It should be consistent," Ma May Sabe Phyu said, adding the age should be set at under 18 years to be consistent with the revised Child Law and CRC, as well as to effectively protect underage girls.

Lawyer and director of Legal Clinic Myanmar Ma Hla Hla Yee said the proposed age bracket in the bill amending the Penal Code itself is also contrary to a provision under the Penal Code's Article 375 which says that with or without consent, sex between an adult and a minor under 16 years old is rape.

She also raised concerns over another provision under the bill. In the bill, Article 376 (2) states that a person who commits rape against his own wife, and who is over twelve years of age, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years, or with a fine, or both.

The lawyer said this provision would lead to an increase in child marriage.

Six Upper House lawmakers discussed the amendment to the Penal Code on Sept. 7. Two male lawmakers agreed that for the rape to be considered child rape, the victim's age should be set at under 12 years of age; two other male lawmakers urged for the age to be set at under 10 years old; while one male lawmaker urged for the age to be set at eight. Some of them suggested that the death penalty is issued against perpetrators of child rape.

Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, a women's rights activist who is now an Upper House lawmaker, disagreed with all of them. She suggested for the limit to be set at 16 years old, citing the significant rise in rapes against underage girls.

Ma May Sabe Phyu of Gender Equality Network said they would send suggestions regarding the amendments to the parliamentary commissions and that they are ready to negotiate with them.

The post Victim Age Limit in Child Rape Cases Too Low: Women's Rights Activists appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Replacement Recommended for Ousted Yangon AG U Han Htoo

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 03:53 AM PDT

YANGON — The chief minister of Yangon has recommended a former director at the Union Attorney General’s Office to replace recently ousted Yangon Region Attorney General U Han Htoo, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly taking bribes to drop a murder case.

Yangon Region Parliament Speaker U Tin Maung Tun named Daw Khin Myo Kyi as the chief minister’s pick for the post on Wednesday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the recommendation within days.

Daw Khin Myo Kyi, 61, spent 34 years with the Union Attorney General’s Office, most of them as a law officer and the last two as a director before retiring in June.

U Han Htoo and five others, including a judge and police officer, were arrested on Sept. 13 for allegedly accepting a total of 72 million kyats (about $46,300) and other gifts to drop a case against three suspects in the murder of Facebook comedian Aung Yell Htwe.

U Han Htoo, who was fired within days, personally pocketed 15 million kyats from the father of one of the murder suspects, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On Monday, the Yangon High Court annulled a lower court's decision to drop the case into Aung Yell Htwe's fatal beating and release the three suspects.

On Tuesday, the High Court officially opened its own cases against U Han Htoo and his five alleged conspirators under two articles of the Anti-Corruption Law. The former attorney general faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

U Han Htoo’s arrest came after President U Win Myint publicly called on judicial officials not to shy away from high-profile cases, and followed a public outcry over the lower court’s decision to drop the murder case.

The post Replacement Recommended for Ousted Yangon AG U Han Htoo appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Yangon Govt to Clear Squatters from Main Roads

Posted: 26 Sep 2018 02:37 AM PDT

YANGON — The Yangon Region government will take legal action against those who squat or do business without permission on main roads in Yangon.

In response to a question by Twante Township lawmaker U Ne Naing Oo at the regional Parliament on Tuesday about the government's response to squatters on main roads, regional electricity, industry and transportation minister Daw Nilar Kyaw said that legal action would be taken under the Highways Law.

The regional government has sued squatters in 17 cases who opened shops or extended their housing into the boundaries of main roads in townships in the outskirts of Yangon such as Twante, Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Dala and Hlaingtharyar.

Seven additional cases are yet to be opened, said Daw Nilar Kyaw.

"According to the Highways Law, legal action will be taken against anyone who squats with road boundaries," she said.

Some people, lawmaker U Ne Naing Oo said, start with a stand to sell small snacks, then open a kiosk, and finally squat on main roads.

Ko Kaung Myat, a Yangon resident who has to travel frequently to Twante for work, said that drivers have to be very careful driving on Yangon-Twante highway.

"The main problem with roadside shops is that people drive at high speeds and it is dangerous for children who run onto the road from these shops," he said.

According to the 2014 Highways Law, which was then amended in 2015, opening eateries and shops within road boundaries without the permission of the Roads and Bridges Department is punishable by six months' imprisonment and/or a fine of a minimum 50,000 kyats to a maximum 500,000 kyats.

The law also prescribes a fine of a minimum 100,000 kyats to a maximum 500,000 kyats for constructing a building within road boundaries. Second-time violations carry a one-year jail sentence plus a fine of up to 1 million kyats.

The Department of Roads and Bridges under the Construction Ministry has reportedly warned road squatters across the country to leave as soon as possible or face legal action under the Highways Law.

The post Yangon Govt to Clear Squatters from Main Roads appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Army Corporal Fatally Shot in Sittwe

Posted: 25 Sep 2018 11:52 PM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — A member of the Military Security Affairs Office of the Myanmar Army was fatally shot in Rakhine State' Sittwe on Tuesday evening.

The victim, Win Htike (aka) Poe Lone, was a corporal with military security affairs. He was gunned down while he visited a fair with his family at Wingabar Grounds in the state capital, a police officer of Sittwe Township No. 2 Police Station confirmed to The Irrawaddy.

"He, his wife and their daughter visited the fair. Ko Poe Lone was buying ice cream for his daughter when his wife heard the gunshot. Then, she saw Ko Poe Lone fall down. He died on the way to the hospital," the police officer said.

His wife saw a man who she said was about 5 feet tall running from the scene. The corporal was shot in the back of the head.

Ko Poe Lone served in Sittwe Township military security affairs before being transferred to Yangon military security affairs. It is not immediately clear how long ago he was transferred to Yangon or why he was in Sittwe.

Police have opened a murder case and are looking for suspects.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Myanmar Army Corporal Fatally Shot in Sittwe appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Pope Defends China Deal on Bishops, Says He Will Have Final Say on Names

Posted: 25 Sep 2018 10:05 PM PDT

Pope Francis on Tuesday defended a landmark deal between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops, saying he, and not the Beijing government, will have the final say on who is named.

In his first public comments on the deal signed in Beijing on Saturday, he told reporters on the plane returning from a trip to the Baltics that while he realizes not everyone will understand the logic behind the agreement, he was confident in the “great faith” of Chinese Catholics.

“It’s not [that the government] names them. It is a dialogue. But the pope will appoint them. Let that be clear,” he said of the deal, which was more than 10 years in the making.

The deal gives the Vatican a long-desired say in the choice of bishops in China, though critics labeled the deal a sellout to the Communist government.

In future, new bishops first will be proposed by members of local Catholic communities together with Chinese authorities. The names of candidates will be sent to the Vatican.

China’s approximately 12 million Catholics have been split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. The Vatican said the absence of a deal could have led to a schism between Chinese Catholics that would have been difficult to heal.

“I think of the endurance of the Catholics who suffered. It is true that they will suffer. There is always suffering in an accord, but they have great faith,” the pope said.

With the agreement, which both sides have said is provisional, the Chinese government effectively recognizes the pope as leader of all Catholics in China.

Even before it was signed, the prospects of such an agreement had divided communities of Catholics across China, some of whom fear greater suppression should the Vatican cede more control to Beijing.

'No Improvisation'

The pope tried to allay these fears, saying, “When there is a peace accord or a negotiation, both sides lose something… and we will move ahead.”

“This was no improvisation. It is a journey, a real journey,” he said.

One of the most vocal critics has been Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 86-year-old former archbishop of Hong Kong.

“They’re giving the flock into the mouths of the wolves. It’s an incredible betrayal,” Zen told Reuters in an interview two days before the agreement was signed. Its details will not be published.

Asked about such opposition to the agreement, the pope said: “Let us pray for those who do not understand and for those who have been worshiping underground for so many years.”

As part of the deal, the pope recognized the legitimacy of the seven remaining state-appointed Chinese bishops who had been named without papal approval and that they had readmitted them into the Church.

A Vatican statement issued when the agreement was signed on Saturday said it was “not political but pastoral.”

It did not mention Taiwan, which the Vatican recognizes diplomatically and which China sees as a renegade province.

However, diplomats have said the accord was a possible precursor to a resumption in diplomatic relations with Beijing after 70 years. Beijing does not allow countries to have diplomatic relations with both China and Taiwan.

Taiwan now has formal relations with only 17 states and the Vatican is the only one in Europe.

The post Pope Defends China Deal on Bishops, Says He Will Have Final Say on Names appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Senior Diplomat Says Beijing, Washington Must Avoid Cold War Mentality

Posted: 25 Sep 2018 09:57 PM PDT

BEIJING — China and the United States can compete but should not view each other with a Cold War mentality and should avoid falling into a zero-sum game trap, the Chinese government’s top diplomat said, amid deteriorating ties between the superpowers.

Beijing and Washington are locked in an increasingly bitter trade war and are increasingly at odds over other issues, such as US support for self-ruled Taiwan which China claims, and US sanctions on China’s military for buying Russian weapons.

At a meeting with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said that the two countries would only lose if they confronted each other.

“China and the United States can have competition, but should not use a Cold War mentality to view each other, and nor should they slip into the trap of a zero-sum game,” a Foreign Ministry statement on Wednesday quoted Wang as saying.

“Recently, certain US forces domestically have been continually blackening China’s name, creating antagonistic feeling, which has caused serious harm to the atmosphere of Sino-US ties,” Wang added, without naming names.

If that continues, it will lead relations down the wrong path, which is not in the interest of either country or the international community, he said.

China hopes the United States meets it halfway so they can have a “correct perception” of each other, and prevent this negative momentum from spreading to ensure relations don’t stray from the correct track, Wang added.

China has been angered this week alone by the imposition of new US tariffs on Chinese imports as well as a planned arms sale to democratic Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as sacred Chinese territory.

In a Wednesday editorial, the state-run China Daily said the Taiwan weapons sale would only worsen already poor ties with China.

“Now that the Trump administration is aggressively seeking to challenge China’s interests on both the economic and military fronts, one wonders whether Washington wants to permanently damage Sino-US relations,” the official English-language newspaper said.

“And since the Trump administration is trying to jettison all principles that govern bilateral relations in a desperate bid to suit its own purpose, China should not only prepare for the worst but also be ready to appropriately respond to the US’ provocations.”

US President Donald Trump’s top trade official said on Tuesday that changing China’s economic policies to become more market-oriented “is not going to be easy” even with tariffs now in place on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The post China Senior Diplomat Says Beijing, Washington Must Avoid Cold War Mentality appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Indonesian Activists Abseil Down Palm Refinery Tanks in Deforestation Protest

Posted: 25 Sep 2018 09:53 PM PDT

JAKARTA — Environmentalists abseiled down storage tanks and unfurled banners at a palm oil refinery in Indonesia on Tuesday in protest at deforestation of the country’s tropical forests.

They draped banners saying “drop dirty palm oil now,” while other activists clung to the anchor of a cargo ship near the facility operated by a unit of Singapore’s Wilmar International, the world’s biggest palm oil trader.

A spokeswoman for refinery operator PT Multi Nabati Sulawesi said operations at the plant in northern Sulawesi were unaffected.

“They are there illegally, so we plan to report them to the police,” she told Reuters.

Wilmar described Greenpeace’s action as “a criminal act of trespassing and vandalism” that posed a safety risk to the activists and Wilmar staff.

“No organization is above the law, and we urge Greenpeace to adopt a collaborative mindset and work with the palm oil industry to take genuine and positive action,” it said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

“We are disappointed with the allegations made by Greenpeace that discredits the genuine efforts and progress made by Wilmar and the palm industry to promote the sustainable development of palm oil.”

Supply chains

Wilmar added that it had a system in place to monitor its supply chains and had previously suspended suppliers for not meeting sustainability requirements.

The 30 activists, including 23 members of campaign group Greenpeace, planned to stay at the facility until 10:00 GMT, said Kiki Taufik, head of the Greenpeace forests campaign in Indonesia.

The demonstration is unusual in the Southeast Asian nation, where most protests take the form of marches or rallies.

“We need to do this without a permit, but we take the risk because we believe this action will make the companies and the public hear us,” Taufik said by mobile phone from a rubber dinghy circling the cargo ship moored near the refinery.

Indonesia is the world’s top producer of palm oil, an edible oil used in everything from chocolate to shampoo. Concerns about the amount of forest and peatland cleared for plantations have plagued the palm oil industry for years.

The president’s office last week issued a moratorium on new permits for palm plantations for three years in what it said was part of an effort to protect forests.

Environmentalists have increased pressure on companies and governments in Indonesia and Malaysia to “clean up” their supply chains and put an end to deforestation.

“If we don’t hold companies accountable, the environment will continue to face a threat from industry,” Taufik said.

The post Indonesian Activists Abseil Down Palm Refinery Tanks in Deforestation Protest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)