Thursday, October 11, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Naypyitaw Govt Resumes Stalled Probe of Land Allegedly Owned By U Thein Sein

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 08:09 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — The Naypyitaw Council has approved a request to resume an investigation into land purchases in Ottarathiri Township where former President U Thein Sein and members of his cabinet are accused of having acquired some 900 acres without going through proper channels.

An investigation had begun with the council’s approval in late August but was soon suspended for unexplained reasons.

U Maung Maung Swe, a member of Mandalay Region’s Upper House of Parliament who was leading the original task force, asked the council to once again approve the investigation. The council approved the request after consulting with and securing a positive recommendation from union Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Minister U Aung Thu, who also chairs the Central Committee for the Management of Vacant and Virgin Land.

The team will include both lawmakers and government officials.

"The council approved my proposal because of the complaints from farmers. A team recently investigated the issue after the farmers complained to them. But there were some difficulties, so I sought the approval of the council," he said.

The lawmaker denied widespread speculation that the investigation was deliberately targeting U Thein Sein and his former ministers. He insisted it was started without any consideration of who the owners were.

"Plans have been submitted to expropriate 12,000 acres of land. We are just focusing on whether they got the permits to use the land properly and whether they are really using it. It is just an easygoing case,” U Maung Maung Swe said.

The land acquired by the former president and 15 others was approved for growing three types of cash crops — mangos, rubber and agarwood. A source close to the business community has told The Irrawaddy that the land was sold to anyone who could buy at least 50 acres at 50,000 kyats ($31) per acre.

"If you ask me whether we can investigate all the cases that involve the land, we have to say no. We have plans to go step by step and we will investigated the matter in accordance with the instructions," U Maung Maung Swe said.

Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein.

The post Naypyitaw Govt Resumes Stalled Probe of Land Allegedly Owned By U Thein Sein appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Visit one of Myanmar’s Idyllic Seaside Getaways this Beach Season

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 08:02 AM PDT

Myanmar is home to many of the region's most beautiful beaches, some of which remain hidden gems. Most are unspoiled and undiscovered by the masses. And Myanmar's beaches face west, offering spectacular sunsets.

Beach season is coming; October to March are the perfect months in which to relax on the beach because the weather is pleasingly cool and comfortable. Some of Myanmar's major holidays, like the Thadinkyunt Festival (Lighting Festival) are on the way, and hotels are offering promotions ahead of the high travel season.

To help you get ready for the beach season, The Irrawaddy has compiled this list of the most popular beaches in Myanmar and some of the hotels that are offering promotion plans and packages.

The mermaid statue on Ngapali Beach / The Irrawaddy

Ngapali

Ngapali Beach is one of the most well-known and beautiful beaches in Myanmar. It is also one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. The beach is located 7 km from Thandwe, in Rakhine State, and is famous for its pristine white sand, palm trees, crystal clear water and clean environment.

As a popular tourist destination, the beach has plenty of activities to keep you busy, from water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking, to cycling on the beach. The beach offers the most stunning sunset view.

It's a bit far from Yangon. You'll need to ride 16 hours by bus to get there, so most people fly. There are several daily flights from Yangon to Thandwe. The flight takes 45 minutes. You can ask your hotel to arrange a pick-up.

A couple walk along the sand and relax at Ngapali Beach.

For accommodation, there are a few budget hotels as well as high-end hotels, resorts and villas, so there is plenty of choice. Ngapali Beach offers a luxury stay with breathtaking views. And yes, there are a lot of fresh seafood restaurants there.

Accommodation Promotions

Pleasant View Resort

Pleasant View Resort is one of the most beautiful resorts in Ngapali Beach. They offer spectacular views of Ngapali. The resort has four different room types and the first 10 customers who book a room for this coming holiday will get one free dinner for two. The room prices range from 145,000 to 230,000 kyats.

Thandwe Beach Hotel

Thandwe Beach Hotel is a 3-star hotel near Zeebyugon Village and Ngapali Junction. The hotel has bungalow sea-view rooms and garden views. They offer special October promotions ranging from 80,000 to 180,000 kyats for four different rooms types. This promotion is for only locals, however.

Ngwe Saung

Ngwe Saung Beach is located on the Myanmar shore of the Bay of Bengal in Ayeyarwaddy Region. It is also one of the most famous beaches in Myanmar. It is popular with both foreigners and local people for its silvery, sandy beach, cleanliness and peaceful environment.

It's also a good place to swim and take long walks along the beautiful beach. The beach is always packed during the holidays and beach season because it's only 260 km from Yangon. It takes about five hours to drive there, depending on what transportation you use.

Like Ngapali Beach, this beach also has a variety of water sports on offer. Some hotels are far from the village, giving them the feel of a private beach getaway. There are plenty of fresh seafood restaurants and vendors, and you can order home-cooked seafood from villagers as well.

People frolic in the pool at a hotel on Ngwe Saung Beach.

Riding a beach motorbike is a popular activity, and you can also ride a horse.

The popular beach has a wide range of accommodation choices including budget stays, tents and high-end resorts and villas. The sunset is breathtaking. It's a perfect place for people who don't have much time to travel and need a nice weekend getaway spot.

There are plenty of bus lines traveling to Ngwe Saung every day.

Accommodation Promotion

Eskala Hotel and Resort

Eskala Hotel and Resort is one of the prettiest accommodation spots on Ngwe Saung. Their pool has stunning views of the beach and the sunset.

This beach season, they have a special discount on bookings—15 percent off all room types from Oct. 1-20.

Sunny Paradise Hotel

This one is near the village and very convenient for lunch or dinner spots. It is a mid-range hotel and has an infinity pool, but the beach is a bit crowded. They also offer 30 percent off for all room types from Oct. 1-19.

Chaung Thar

Chaung Thar is very close to Yangon and Ngwe Saung. It's only a four-hour drive from Yangon. The beach is not as pretty as Ngapali or Ngwe Saung, but it's famous for its plentiful, cheap, fresh seafood.

The sand isn't white and is always packed with locals, especially on weekends and holidays.

Accommodation prices are rather high considering the fact that the beach really isn't that pretty. But if you search you'll find some bargains.

Accommodation Promotion

Azura Beach Resort Chaung Tha

Azura is a popular place to stay in Chaung Tha. The beachfront hotel has a pool and garden. They have two types of promotion plans: a weekday package and a weekend package.

The weekday package costs 46,000 kyats per person including round-trip bus ticket, breakfast, dinner and one night's stay at the hotel. The weekend package is 49,000 kyats per person, and includes the same features as the weekday package.

So, the beach season is on the way. Choose one of the beaches above and have a very relaxing "beachcation" on your holidays. Don't forget to book a room before you go!

The post Visit one of Myanmar's Idyllic Seaside Getaways this Beach Season appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Armed Groups Agree to Join Peace Summit

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 06:26 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Ethnic armed groups meeting in Thailand this week have agreed to join a summit with Myanmar’s state counselor and military chief aimed at reviving the country’s stalled peace process after convincing them to change the venue.

The government had proposed holding the summit on Monday in rural Mandalay, away from any urban distractions. But the armed groups proposed either Yangon or Naypyitaw and, after negotiating with government officials over the phone, settled on the latter, according to armed group leaders.

"As this high-level informal talk will not be a detailed discussion and will be more about the policies that will be helpful to the ongoing peace process, we decided to join," said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, vice chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU).

On Saturday the KNU released a statement proposing the summit be delayed because the armed groups needed more time to prepare.

Leaders from the 10 armed groups signed up to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement met in Chiang Mai on Wednesday and Thursday, as members of the Peace Process Steering Team, to decide whether to join.

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win said the KNU and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) had both considered not attending the three-day summit but, after some headed discussion, decided they would go as a unified bloc.

U Than Kha, chairman of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, said the Steering Team would sent some of its senior members, including General Saw Mutu Sae Poe of the KNU and General Yawd Serk of the RCSS.

"We hope the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] will provide an environment where every stakeholder can cooperate," he said.

The summit will be the first time the armed group leaders will have sat at a table with both State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The peace process has recently stalled over the military’s demands that the armed groups promise not to secede from the union as a precondition to further negotiations and that they agree to a single national army.

The summit was proposed to find a way through the impasse. Discussion is also expected to include the timeline for future peace talks, a review of the current framework for the peace process, making the process more inclusive, minority rights and how to establish a federal system of government.

The post Armed Groups Agree to Join Peace Summit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Three Arakanese Youth Activists Held in Rakhine

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 06:18 AM PDT

YANGON – Three Arakanese, one from the Arakan National Party (ANP) and two township representatives of the Arakan Youth Conference (AYC), have been arrested by Sittwe police.

The AYC announced on Wednesday that its representative Ko Khine Bo Bo, aka Khine Thaw, was captured by police in his hometown of Pauk Taw, Rakhine State, on Wednesday and transported by boat to Sittwe under police custody today.

Also on Wednesday, ANP party member Ko May Yu Tun, aka Zaw Win, was arrested at the office of Sittwe Civil Society Organization Network. His arrest comes just days after Sittwe police detained Arakanese social activist Ko Aung Zaw Lin, a third-year university student from Sittwe, who is the AYC's representative for Buthidaung Township.

Police officer U Aye Kyaw from Sittwe Police Station confirmed the detention of Zaw Win and Aung Zaw Lin, saying their arrests are related to the death of military intelligence Corporal Win Htike, aka Phoe Lone, on Sept. 25, without providing any further evidence.

Pauk Taw Township representative for the Arakan Youth Conference (AYC) Khine Thaw who was arrested by police on Wednesday. / AYC / Facebook

The army intelligence official was gunned down at close range while he, his wife and child were walking around a market festival in Sittwe on Sept. 25. The police officer said that a case of homicide has been opened against May Yu Tun under Article 302 of the Penal Code and the Sittwe court has allowed for him to be remanded until Oct. 22.

Both Aung Zaw Lin and Khine Thaw had already been summoned by police for questioning the day following the shooting, and were released a few hours later.

An AYC information committee member told The Irrawaddy under the condition of anonymity that authorities had opened murder cases against the three detainees under Article 302. He urged the authorities to have transparency and announce the reason for their arbitrary arrests. The Ministry of Home Affairs had not issued any statements regarding the detention of the three Arakanese as of Thursday.

The AYC member said the arbitrary arrests Arakanese youth sparks fear and increases tensions between the government and the ethnic Arakanese community.

“Some AYC members are now overwhelmingly concerned by state surveillance as members of the police are going around the city in plain clothes,” he said.

Aung Zaw Lin participates in a freedom of expression campaign earlier this year after his senior, Wai Han Aung (shown in the picture he is carrying), was charged under the High Treason Act for reportedly supporting the outlawed Arakan Army during a lecture in northern Rakhine State's Rathaedaung Township. Aung Zaw Lin was himself arrested on Tuesday. / Aung Zaw Lin / Facebook

Arakanese Lower House lawmaker Daw Khin Saw Wai said that the arrest of her party member May Yu Tun is totally unacceptable and irrelevant to the death of Cpl. Phoe Lone because her junior, May Yu Tun, had traveled alongside her and other Arakanese lawmakers during their by-election campaign trip to Ratheadaung Township between Sept. 23 and 28.

They were canvassing in Kan Pyin Village of Rathaedaung Township on Sept. 25, the day of the murder and they even they took a group photo near the entrance of Moe Sae Village, also in Rathedaung, on Sept. 28. Daw Khin Saw Wai posted the group photo on her Facebook page on Wednesday, in which May Yu Tun is pictured alongside her and other ANP members.

“The entire Kan Pyin village knows that May Yu Tun was there on September 25. Police can ask every villager there.”

She urged the authorities to explain the arrest transparently.

Despite The Irrawaddy's multiple attempts to call police officers in Sittwe for comment on Thursday, all were rejected.

The post Three Arakanese Youth Activists Held in Rakhine appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

What Yangon Lawmakers Say About the City’s Crime Wave

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 05:49 AM PDT

YANGON—Yangon's increasingly insecure residents have raised concerns about the deteriorating rule of law in the commercial capital amid a crime wave that has seen a rise in pickpocketing and muggings in public places, as well as more serious offenses such as gang fights and murders.

Gang-related murders in Tamwe, Mingalar Taungnyunt and Hlaingtharyar in September shocked Yangon residents as violent criminals blatantly challenged the rule of law.

The Irrawaddy asked Yangon regional lawmakers for their thoughts on the reasons for the rise in crime, and the growing problem of lawlessness in Yangon.

U Hla Htay (lawmaker, Mingalar Taungnyunt Township)

More serious mugging cases have occurred in crowded townships, especially in downtown areas. I'd say the security apparatus is weak. Township police stations are understaffed. And they also have to do other duties such as office work and so on. So they don't have the manpower to provide security effectively. This is the worst thing. Criminals know this and take advantage of it.

The rise in crime figures is a challenge to the rule of law. Are those with responsibility for enforcing the law capable of it? If not, the crime problem will only get worse, and the challenge will become bigger.

The responsible departments have to add personnel if necessary, and design plans [to curb crime]. They must also ensure public participation. In the past, when necessary, crime control plans were carried out, and harsh penalties were imposed. There were harsh crackdowns and [criminals] were arrested. If those responsible for security make a concerted effort, [Yangon] will be a lot more peaceful.

U Nay Phone Latt (lawmaker, Thingangyun Township)

There are probably various reasons for the increase in crime these days. There is a need to find out if it is being done deliberately to stir up trouble [for political reasons]. There is a need to find out the reasons behind the increase. If the increase is not [politically motivated], it might be mainly connected with the drug problem. There is increased consumption of alcohol and drugs [among the public]. Another factor is financial hardship. Why do people commit crimes? I am sure if people were able to make a decent living by working, they wouldn't turn to crime.

Those who commit crimes are usually unemployed people who indulge themselves in alcohol and drugs. There is a need to control this. There will always be a certain level of crime, no matter how hard we try to control it. It concerns the rule of law. Criminals must be held accountable and given just punishments. But if the crime level is unusually high, there is a need to consider the things I've said. The problem can be solved only by taking these things into consideration.

There is a need to find out whether or not the crime wave is [being orchestrated for political reasons]. It is not unusual for the crime rate to increase in the run-up to an election. There is also a need to consider whether political dirty tricks are being played. The most important thing is to solve the crimes effectively, justly and impartially. Only then will people respect the law. The problem [with law enforcement] is that money talks in trials. Some cases are not even brought to the court when there is much money involved. There is a need to pay more attention to this issue.

Daw Kyi Pyar (lawmaker, Kyauktada Township)

Crimes have increased in big cities like Yangon and Mandalay lately. It was expected. It is not unusual in a country that is undergoing a transition. We are under international pressure and facing problems that have attracted international attention. The government is new, and there are many people who oppose the democratic transition. I feel that crime has increased recently.

Most of the recent crimes involved ex-convicts. It is said that some are forced [to commit crimes] due to financial hardship. But, as far as I'm concerned, most muggings and burglaries are committed by the same people. They commit crimes and are imprisoned. Prison should be a place where they can reform, but instead it is a place where they meet other criminals. Some will learn their lesson and live a moral life after they are released. But I've found that some become worse. It might be difficult to teach prisoners to become good people again. Prison alone can't make them good people; there is also a need to create an environment [that encourages them turn over a new leaf.]

There is also a need to provide proper security for people who inform [on criminals]. People will inform [about crimes] only if they feel secure. The Home Affairs Ministry is mainly responsible for this. And the judicial branch is still weak, I think.

U Than Naing Oo (lawmaker, Pabedan Township)

I have found there are two reasons for the increase in crime. One is that people have become very poor. [Many] don't work, but use drugs and alcohol. Another reason is that criminals are sometimes released as part of amnesties.

Recently, crimes have taken place in major cities. It might not be a coincidence. The public, the Home Affairs Ministry and responsible authorities should join hands to find an answer. Criminals can be divided into two groups—one group blatantly challenges the rule of law, and the other takes advantage of weak law enforcement.

U Kyaw Zeya (lawmaker, Dagon Township)

In Yangon…many people are unemployed, while those who are employed are poorly paid. Crime has increased due to high unemployment. Those who live on low incomes can't make ends meet, and think of doing something illegal. This has led to crimes. I can understand high crime levels in suburban areas like Hlaingtharyar, Shwepyithar and the new Dagon townships. But the fact that muggings are even taking place in my constituency, Dagon Township, a downtown area, shows that the rule of law is weak.

The Home Affairs Ministry has launched an "Eagle" campaign [to combat crime]. It is said the campaign is a community-based one. Tireless efforts were made, but only in the first few days of the campaign. Police manuals 1 and 2 have been released. Even if those manuals are not implemented 100 percent—even if they were just 70 percent implemented—then special operations [against crime] would be unnecessary. The police and the Home Affairs Ministry, I think, have been poor in taking real-time action.

If people weren't suffering from financial hardship, the crime rate might decline. [But now] unemployment is high. And there are more wayward youths. Drugs are abundant and can be bought easily.

U Nyi Nyi (lawmaker, South Dagon Township)

Yes, it is true that the crime rate has increased, especially in impoverished parts of satellite towns. We need more police in response to the growing population. There is also a need to enhance the capacity of the police force. That will help reduce crime.

Some people have questioned the rule of law. There can't be peace in the country without rule of law. The police are not the only ones responsible for the rule of law. The city administration is also responsible for it. By administration, I mean administrators at different levels, from the lowest level to the district level. Similarly, each and every citizen of the country has a responsibility to cooperate, I'd say.

The post What Yangon Lawmakers Say About the City's Crime Wave appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Launches First Inquiry into Agricultural Chemicals and Their Effects

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 05:32 AM PDT

YANGON—The Upper House of Parliament's agriculture committee has launched its very first parliamentary inquiry into chemicals used in agriculture and their effects on the health and quality of life of farmers, workers and consumers across the country, according to the committee chair.

Myanmar's Upper House of Parliament and chair of the Agriculture Committee, U Aung Kyi Nyunt, told The Irrawaddy, "we will [make an] inquiry into agriculture chemical products used by farmers and how they have been using the chemical products which were imported legally or illegally. We will also [investigate] the chemical residues effects on agriculture."

"[The committee is] concerned about the impact of residues from herbicides and fertilizers in crops and produce. Chemicals affect farmers' health, as well as the health of consumers and the environment. We will try to understand how to limit the harmful effects of agricultural chemical residues on produce and crops," said U Aung Kyi Nyunt.

According to a 2016 report by the World Bank and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), Myanmar farmers widely use urea and compound fertilizers for paddy production in both monsoon and dry seasons, but often at inefficient application rates and in inappropriate nutrient compositions. Moreover, the report pointed out that the problem was caused by the lack of agricultural research and the government's public education.

The inquiry process is supported by the United Nations Development Programme and is said to be the first time in the history of Myanmar that a parliamentary inquiry is to be conducted in agriculture. The committee has put out a public call for submissions from the government, civil society, the private sector and individuals.

U Aung Kyi Nyunt said the committee has distributed questionnaires to lawmakers who can investigate the use of chemical products by people in their constituencies.

The questionnaires roughly include questions on the name of the chemical products, the brand name, the expiry date, the country of origin and the reason for using the products.

The committee will collect the data from related departments, lawmakers, experts and local people. It said the inquiry is open to all and they will accept information from any people, organization or local NGO interested in contributing their data, he said.

"We have a plan to hold hearings to further explore the information received. Afterwards, we will produce a final written report including key conclusions and recommendations for the government on addressing the problem through new policy solutions," he added.

The post Myanmar Launches First Inquiry into Agricultural Chemicals and Their Effects appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dishonoring Gov’t, Causing Public Distrust Motives for Eleven Media Group Lawsuit

Posted: 11 Oct 2018 02:56 AM PDT

YANGON—One day after filing a lawsuit against three local journalists for their alleged offenses against the state, the Yangon regional government revealed their reasons behind the suing of two editors and one reporter from Eleven Media Group.

Managing editors U Kyaw Zaw Lin and Nari Min and chief reporter U Phyo Wai Win were arrested on Wednesday and charged under Article 505 (b) of Myanmar's Penal Code for publishing "incorrect information" about the government. The plaintiff is the director of Yangon's government office, U Aung Kyaw Khaing.

The story in question, written by U Phyo Wai Win under the pseudonym Phyo Wai, criticizes the Yangon government for wasting public money due to mismanagement, citing examples including a government loan for the purchasing of a fleet of school buses which was obtained from two private banks without Parliament's approval and irregularities in the government's Yangon Metropolitan Public Company, where more than 600,000 shares are under the regional planning and finance minister's name.

The Yangon government owns 51 percent of shares in the company and the 64-billion-kyat ($41.6 million) investment was approved by Parliament.

In the public announcement made on Thursday, the Yangon Regional Government's Office denied that the shares are under the minister's name, saying he is involved in the company as a member of the board of directors on behalf of the government.

The statement also mentioned that 539,500 shares in the company are owned by the government while 486,000 are owned by Myanmar Construction and Development Co. Ltd., a private company mostly made up of developers.

"The incorrect information published in Weekly Eleven prompted shareholders and officials from Myanmar Construction and Development to worry about public distrust in the company, as well as dishonoring the regional government," said the announcement citing the government's reasons behind filing the lawsuit.

Basically, the story in question was written based on lawmakers' discussions in parliament about the auditor general's report on the government's budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to Phyo Wai, the reporter-in-chief who wrote the analysis.

"As all of you see, I included [in the story] what lawmakers said. I didn't do anything wrong," he told the media gathered outside Tamwe Police Station on Wednesday.

Despite the government's claim that the editors and reporter published incorrect information, lawmakers—including some from the ruling National League for Democracy party—said the story was correct.

MP Daw Sandar Min and U Kyaw Zaya told the media that the story was not wrong as it was based on what they had discussed in parliament.

The auditor general's report on the government's budget was discussed by more than two dozen lawmakers in the parliament in previous weeks. Despite those discussions being open to debate, none of the government nor cabinet members disputed them, so they were recorded as they were.

The post Dishonoring Gov't, Causing Public Distrust Motives for Eleven Media Group Lawsuit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Indian Employers Under Pressure to Respond to Surge in #MeToo Allegations

Posted: 10 Oct 2018 11:25 PM PDT

NEW DELHI — Pressure is building on major Indian employers to take allegations of sexual harassment more seriously after a surge in the number of complaints against prominent public figures in the past week.

At least one major Indian newspaper, some politicians and women’s groups have said that the requirements of the 2013 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act need to be enforced by companies and organizations, and if necessary by the authorities.

The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States more than a year ago in response to accusations of sexual harassment and abuse by powerful men in the entertainment industry, gained traction in India in late September after the actress Tanushree Dutta said prominent actor Nana Patekar behaved inappropriately on the sets of a film they were shooting in 2008. Patekar has denied any wrongdoing.

Since then, more than a dozen men in the media, entertainment and art worlds have been accused of offences, ranging from sexual harassment to rape. A junior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was accused this week of inappropriate behavior by at least seven women.

India is traditionally a conservative country, where discussions about sex are still taboo for many and where women have long lagged behind men in workplace participation.

Hundreds of millions of Indians also work in the informal economy, or in small businesses where official channels of complaint are scarce, and the #MeToo movement is unlikely to have much leverage.

The 2013 sexual harassment law stipulates any organization with more than 10 employees should have an independent committee to investigate allegations.

But critics say many organizations are not adhering to the letter of the law, or only paying lip service to it.

"The committees required to address these complaints and grievances are either not properly constituted or simply do not exist," said TK Rajalakshmi, president of the India Women’s Press Corps, which lobbies for the rights of female journalists.

"The fact that many of the complaints have gone unheard despite being brought to the notice of the appropriate authorities is disturbing and a matter of grave concern."

An editorial in the Economic Times, one of India’s leading business publications, said on Tuesday that too often these committees have been "dysfunctional or ineffective."

"The cost of complaining has been too high," it said. "It is time to implement the law more effectively, both in letter and in spirit."

Fallout Spreads

M J Akbar, a former journalist who is now the minister of state for external affairs in Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, is one figure under increasing scrutiny.

Akbar, who is attending a conference in Nigeria, did not respond to text messages and phone calls requesting comment. His department, the foreign ministry, did not respond to requests for comment.

On Monday, journalist Priya Ramani said on Twitter that an article she wrote for Vogue India in October 2017 concerning sexual harassment by an unnamed editor was about Akbar. In that article, she had described him as "an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not taking no for an answer." Adding: "You know how to pinch, pat, rub, grab and assault."

The Indian Express newspaper then published a report late on Tuesday in which five other named women – all journalists too – accused Akbar of inappropriate behavior when he was an editor.

Reuters was able to speak to two of the five.

One of them, Kanika Gahlaut, said on one occasion Akbar had invited her to a breakfast meeting in his hotel room, but she did not turn up.

Another, Shutapa Paul, describes in a series of tweets a number of inappropriate comments and approaches by Akbar at meetings he arranged in a hotel and at his home in 2010-2011. He was editorial director of the news magazine India Today and she was a reporter in the Kolkata bureau at the time.

A seventh accuser, journalist Ghazala Wahab, said in a 2,300-word essay published on Wednesday by The Wire, an Indian online news site, that Akbar harassed her—both verbally and physically—over a six-month period in the 1990s.

The opposition Congress party and the government’s Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, said the allegations against Akbar should be investigated.

But some lawmakers from the ruling BJP, a Hindu nationalist party that stresses traditional family values, have questioned why some women making accusations against prominent figures have taken so long to air their claims.

"What is the point of alleging sexual abuse on a person 10 years later?" said BJP MP Udit Raj on Twitter.

One of the accusers of Akbar, Shutapa Paul, said she had waited years to tell her story because only now does she feel strong enough to go public. When the incidents happened she "struggled badly" with the trauma and stress, she said.

Father Figures

Also on Wednesday, TV director and writer Vinta Nanda told Reuters she was considering taking legal action after accusing the veteran actor Alok Nath of a 1999 assault in a Facebook post.

Nath is best known for playing father figures on TV, much like the American actor Bill Cosby, who was sentenced to prison for sexual assault in September.

"All the allegations are false," Alok Nath’s lawyer, Ashok Saraogi, told Reuters. "We will file a suit seeking an injunction that she can’t be permitted to make such allegations and defame his reputation in the media."

The post Indian Employers Under Pressure to Respond to Surge in #MeToo Allegations appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US Says China Spy Charged with Trying to Steal Aviation Secrets

Posted: 10 Oct 2018 09:48 PM PDT

WASHINGTON — The US Justice Department said on Wednesday it had arrested and indicted a spy for China’s Ministry of State Security on charges of economic espionage and attempting to steal trade secrets from several US aviation and aerospace companies.

Chinese operative Yanjun Xu was detained in Belgium in April after a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe and extradited to the United States on Tuesday. The Washington Post reported he was lured to Belgium by US agents.

The FBI called it an unprecedented extradition and said the indictment showed the direct oversight of China’s government in economic espionage against the United States.

The charges come as Washington increases pressure on Beijing over its trade policies and alleged theft of US intellectual property.

Cybersecurity experts said the arrest was another sign of the escalating trade tensions between the two countries, adding they had seen increasing espionage by Beijing for business advantage.

“China is actively engaging in targeted and persistent intrusion attempts against multiple sectors of the economy, including biotech, defense, mining, pharmaceutical, professional services, transportation and more,” said CrowdStrike Chief Technology Officer Dmitri Alperovitch.

A US Department of Justice statement said Xu, a deputy division director for the State Security Department of China’s Jiangsu province, targeted several US aerospace companies, including GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric Co.

It described another unnamed firm as “one of the world’s largest aerospace firms, and a leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems,” and a third as a leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.

GE Aviation has supplied engines for large Boeing Co and Airbus SE aircraft, and is working on a new generation of engines for commercial planes and heavy-lift military helicopters.

The indictment against Xu said he targeted aviation firms since around December 2013. It also said he made contact with experts working for the firms and recruited them to travel to China, often for the initial purpose of delivering a university presentation and paying their costs and a stipend.

“This unprecedented extradition of a Chinese intelligence officer exposes the Chinese government’s direct oversight of economic espionage against the United States,” the statement quoted Bill Priestap, the FBI’s assistant director for counterintelligence, as saying.

John Demers, the assistant US attorney general for national security, said the case was not an isolated incident.

“It is part of an overall economic policy of developing China at American expense,” he said. “We cannot tolerate a nation stealing our firepower and the fruits of our brainpower.”

The Chinese Embassy and Xu’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy and attempt to commit economic espionage is 15 years, while that for conspiracy and attempt to steal trade secrets is 10 years.

The Ministry of State Security is China’s intelligence and security agency and is responsible for counterintelligence, foreign intelligence and political security.

Cybersecurity experts said former US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached an understanding in 2015 on cyber espionage, but the agreement appeared be withering away.

Chris Painter, the former US State Department official who negotiated the agreement, said in a Twitter post it was “not surprising that now the relationship has deteriorated, so has the agreement.”

Late last month, the Department of Justice reported the arrest of a Chinese citizen in Chicago on charges he covertly worked for a high-ranking Chinese intelligence official to help try to recruit engineers and scientists, including some who worked as US defense contractors.

NBC News on Tuesday quoted US officials as saying a professor at a top cancer research center in Houston facing child pornography charges was also under scrutiny for alleged economic espionage for China.

The post US Says China Spy Charged with Trying to Steal Aviation Secrets appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Did Kerala’s Dams Exacerbate India’s Once-in-Century Floods?

Posted: 10 Oct 2018 09:39 PM PDT

 

KOCHI/MUMBAI — Joby Pathrose, a farmer living a kilometer away from the usually languid Periyar river in southern India, was woken in the night by the sound of rushing waters. Hours later his plantations and everything he owned were completely submerged.

“There was absolutely no warning from the government side,” said Pathrose, describing the devastating flooding that hit his village of Okkal, in Kerala state, on Aug. 15. Pathrose says local authorities had advised his fields were safe, despite the incessant rains that battered Kerala at the peak of the monsoon.

More than 5 million people in Kerala were affected and over 200 were killed amid torrential rain and floods in August. The flooding, dubbed the worst to hit the southern state in nearly a century, caused billions of dollars of damage to fields, homes and other infrastructure.

As the rain intensified in mid-August state authorities were forced to release water from 35 dams to manage rising waters in reservoirs, many of which are used to generate hydroelectricity.

Pathrose and others living near the Periyar say the sudden opening of dam gates without proper warnings to those living downstream was a big factor in the devastation.

More than half a dozen experts who Reuters consulted were divided on the extent to which dam water spills contributed to the flooding, but almost all, including India’s Central Water Commission (CWC), said reservoir levels were too high ahead of the disaster.

“Because of this carelessness the disaster proportions were multiplied,” said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), a non-governmental body that advocates for better water management practices.

The release of dam water, sharply criticized by some water management experts, has put a focus on reservoir operations and the need for better flood mapping and warning systems in India.

State government officials say the severity of the flooding was due to a once-in-a-century storm that could not reasonably have been prepared for, and that the spilling of dam water had little impact.

No Emergency Plans

Reuters has learned the two largest reservoirs in Kerala – Idukki and Idamalayar – have been operating for years without any emergency action plans – a basic requirement for major dams worldwide. The reservoirs also lack “rule curves," another key safety protocol that dictates the level of water that can safely be maintained behind a dam at any point given seasonal factors.

These protocols, while recommended by the CWC, are not yet mandated by law. CWC says it is merely an advisory body and it hopes a new dam safety bill, under federal consideration, will make dam operators more accountable.

Reuters has also analyzed historical data that shows both reservoirs were at more than 90 percent of their full capacity on Aug. 2, or more than double their 10-year historical averages for that time of the year.

Dam management experts who spoke to Reuters said such levels were dangerously high for the middle of India’s monsoon season.

“One of the key advantages of a dam is it can help moderate floods,” said SANDRP’s Thakkar, an engineering graduate from the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai. “That didn’t happen as Kerala’s dams were already full by end-July. Dams aren’t supposed to be full before the end of the monsoons.”

India’s monsoon season runs from June through September, and southern states such as Kerala also typically receive heavy rain in the months of October and November as monsoon winds reverse.

The data also shows that if the water levels in Idukki and Idamalayar had been slowly lowered to closer to their historical averages in the two weeks before the worst flooding began they would have been able to absorb all the rain that fell during the mid-August storm.

“The release could have started earlier so that by Aug. 9 there would have been left-over capacities in the reservoirs to store the water,” said Biswajit Mukhopadhyay, director of water resources at U.S-based engineering firm IEA, who analyzed some of the publicly available data at the request of Reuters.

N.S. Pillai, chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), a state-run body that manages most of Kerala’s big dams, said that was a “highly hypothetical and imaginary conclusion." Heavy rain had not been forecast and blaming the dams for the flooding was “not justifiable," he said.

Full Reservoirs

Still, dozens of flood victims interviewed by Reuters, who live in villages dotting the banks of Kerala’s biggest river, the ‎244 km (152 mile) Periyar, say they faced no floods despite torrential rain in late July and early August. All of them said waters only rose overnight on Aug. 15.

That was when more intense rainfall forced KSEB to rapidly ramp-up releases of water from Idukki and Idamalayar reservoirs, which feed into the Periyar.

Water management experts note state authorities and the KSEB issued an alert on Idukki’s high water levels on July 31, when the reservoir was 92 percent full, but only began a slow release of water on Aug. 9, when levels were at 98 percent. Data shows Idamalayar spills began only when it exceeded its full capacity on Aug. 9.

James Wilson, who works for the Kerala government as special officer on a inter-state water advisory committee, said blaming KSEB was unfair, as Kerala’s dams only have the capacity to store less than a tenth of the state’s annual rainfall, and even less in years of extreme rainfall.

“However you prepare you have a problem with these type of events,” said Wilson, adding Kerala’s steep hills and relatively short river lengths give officials little time to react to freak rainfall.

CWC also said the rain in Kerala would have led to flooding regardless of whether water had been spilled from the dams.

“The release from reservoirs had only a minor role in flood augmentation,” said CWC in a report seen by Reuters.

The report noted however, that most of the dams were already “at or very close to” full reservoir levels just before the most intense rain, and it called for a review of water storage norms at all major reservoirs in Kerala. It also shows nearly half the outflows into the Periyar between the peak flood days of Aug. 15 to Aug. 17 were from within the catchment areas of big dams.

Blame Game

While opposition parties in Kerala have demanded a judicial probe into the release of dam water, state officials have blamed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for poor forecasts and the release of water into Idukki reservoir from Mullaperiyar – a dam managed by next-door Tamil Nadu state – for exacerbating the flooding.

In court filings, Tamil Nadu said the water released from the Mullaperiyar dam only constituted a small part of the spill from the much bigger Idukki reservoir.

The IMD has also responded, saying it “issued all necessary severe weather warnings."

KSEB’s Pillai said forecasts failed to predict the intensity of the rain.

“If reliable forecasting is done in respect of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall, we can manage dam operations very efficiently,” said Pillai, warning that more conservative water storage would lower KSEB’s power generation ability.

“If somebody strongly believes these dams should be used for flood control, I can only differ with them,” he said.

Nayan Sharma, an expert on river engineering and a former professor at IIT Roorkee, says hydroelectric dams incentivize operators to stockpile water as turbines are most efficient at full reservoir levels.

Inadequate Warnings?

In January, CWC published guidelines for preparing operating manuals for dams. It even cited examples of plans to be followed to prevent the need for “heavy peak flood releases in panic."

This came after a 2017 report from India’s Comptroller and Auditor General, the government spending watchdog, criticized the lack of dam operating manuals and emergency action plans (EAPs) for reservoirs in many states.

Kerala’s revenue secretary and head of disaster management, P.H. Kurien, told Reuters he has twice written to KSEB requesting EAPs and has yet to receive them.

KSEB’s Pillai said EAPs and dam operation manuals were still being prepared. CWC said it was working with Kerala’s government to speed this up. The Kerala Chief Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Authorities in towns visited by Reuters, meanwhile, say that evacuation warnings were given.

“We made repeated microphone announcements about the opening of dam gates and asked people to move to safe places,” said N.R. Jayaraj, deputy superintendent of police in Aluva, a town on the Periyar’s banks that was badly hit by the floods.

Many people interviewed by Reuters who live close to the Periyar said they got no warnings at all, while those that did said the information provided was inadequate.

“We were told the dam gates would be opened and we’d have to be alert, but no one was warned to expect this much water,” said K.C. Anupama, who works at a school in Neriamangalam, adding the school is 20 feet above the river and was still flooded.

“No one in their wildest dream thought this would happen. No one thought waters would get here.”

The post Did Kerala’s Dams Exacerbate India’s Once-in-Century Floods? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Abandoned by Banks, Indonesia’s Poor Farmers Turn to Crowdfunding

Posted: 10 Oct 2018 09:32 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesian poultry farmer Yohanes Sugihtononugroho faced ruin four years ago when plummeting prices forced him to slaughter all 100,000 of his chickens and shutter his business.

He blamed large-scale poultry farmers who carried out a mass cull after their birds fell sick, flooding the market and sending prices tumbling.

“We were a small player fighting tooth and nail every day,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “When it all came crashing down, I was really depressed and didn’t know what I then wanted to do with my life.”

Instead of turning his back on farming, the 26-year-old decided to help others struggling financially by setting up CROWDE, a mobile crowdfunding platform that allows users to invest as little as $1 in thousands of farms across Indonesia.

Most of Asia-Pacific’s 422 million farms are run by smallholders with less than 2 hectares of land each.

The majority of farmers in the region face an uphill battle to access credit, leaving them unable to modernize, boost yields, diversify into new crops, or stay afloat when hit by extreme weather fuelled by climate change.

CROWDE’s app aims to change that by making it easier for people to invest in Indonesian farmers — whether producers of beef, poultry, fish, rice or chilli — and share in the profits.

Agents for CROWDE go into villages across the sprawling archipelago to persuade farmers to sign up. To date, the scheme has attracted about 14,000 farmers and 22,000 investors who have pledged $4 million-$5 million, said Sugihtononugroho.

CROWDE farmers do not receive cash, but instead get equipment like tools, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, which CROWDE buys at a lower rate from agricultural suppliers.

When crops are harvested or animals slaughtered, CROWDE links farmers with buyers and suppliers to get them the best deals, and already has agreements with major supermarkets.

“I know the farmers I’m helping,” said Sugihtononugroho, whose startup takes a 3 percent share of all money invested to run the app. “I’m going to every village — from west to east Java — talking to farmers.”

Informal loans

Asia-Pacific is home to 4.3 billion people and more than half depend on agriculture for a living, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Because agriculture is seasonal, farmers often have to wait until harvest time before their work generates any revenue.

Many are subsistence farmers whose incomes cannot stretch to cover emergencies — like school fees, a sick family member or losses caused by disasters.

The bulk of investment in the region’s farms comes from small, private and domestic lenders, including family savings, friends, buyers, traders and loan sharks.

But that informal system leaves poor farmers vulnerable to indebtedness after crop losses.

“In India you have horror stories of farmers who end up committing suicide,” said Akmal Siddiq, head of rural development and food security at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila.

As well as holding farmers back, informal lending can also hinder growth in the value chain because traders and buyers who offer loans cannot invest that money in their own businesses.

Less than 10 percent of investments in agriculture in Asia-Pacific come from formal financial service providers like banks, experts say.

Banks tend to have fewer branches in rural areas and lending to farmers with no collateral is seen as too risky, driving interest rates higher than for urban loans.

Without access to financial services, Asian farmers struggle to pay premiums for crop insurance, join certification schemes that open up new markets, use the latest technologies or buy hardier seeds — dampening yields as a result.

Farmers cannot afford to upgrade their practices to supply higher-paying markets for export and big retailers, said Eva Galvez Nogales, an agriculture officer at the FAO in Bangkok.

“They cannot increase the quality of their products or make investments required for that,” she said.

Government help

In developing countries, supply and demand for agricultural products are often badly managed by governments, leading to price fluctuations, said the ADB’s Siddiq.

In addition, post-harvest losses due to spoilage caused by poor packing, long transport times or inadequate cooling range between 25 and 45 percent, he said.

After reaching market, Asian farmers tend to receive only about 30 percent of a food’s sale price, he added.

With such high risks, policy makers must take the lead and introduce state-backed crop insurance schemes and regulation to boost formal lending and banking services, food experts said.

Supportive measures could include lending quotas for the agriculture sector, interest rate caps for farmers and rules requiring banks to expand into rural areas, they added.

Alongside credit, they urged banks to offer farmers insurance, financial management, savings accounts and technical assistance by creating partnerships spanning the value chain.

Bangladesh has had some success in promoting private-sector micro-finance institutions, which offer small loans and do not ask for collateral in many cases, experts said.

India, which has a third of Asia-Pacific’s farms, has made strides in federal schemes for weather-based crop insurance, while China is using apps to get financial services to farmers.

Alibaba Group, China’s biggest e-commerce firm, meanwhile has devised a system that uses big data and artificial-intelligence algorithms to provide loans to Chinese farmers.

The FAO’s Galvez Nogales said formal lenders must also offer products targeting women farmers because they contribute the most labor but often lack access to farming income and assets.

At Indonesian startup CROWDE, the initial target is to get 100,000 farmers to join the scheme and then foster their growth.

“We want to help and empower every farmer,” said Sugihtononugroho.

The post Abandoned by Banks, Indonesia’s Poor Farmers Turn to Crowdfunding appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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