Tuesday, December 18, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Couple, Children Murdered in Thailand

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 05:53 AM PST

YANGON — A Myanmar couple and their children, including a four-month-old baby, were murdered in the Thai border town of Mae Sot on Sunday, according to a community volunteer.

U Zayar, vice chairman of the People’s Volunteer Association, said he visited the family’s hut — where the attack occurred — with local police. He said the victims included the baby; husband, 47; wife, 45; and their other child, who was 4.

"All four were bludgeoned to death. The four-month-old was beaten in the face and died near its mother. The others were beaten on the head. The four-year-old was beaten and thrown into a lake in front of the hut," he said.

Two bloodstained iron rods and a bloody piece of wood found near their bodies were collected as evidence by the police, he added.

U Zayar said the couple made a living cutting sugar cane or tending cattle in the area, and that the wife’s three other children from a previous marriage were away from home when the attack occurred.

He said the woman’s 19-year-old daughter told police that her parents had a quarrel with a neighbor couple and their friend over a cow the night of the attack. He said the three were seen leaving the area that night and that police were searching for them as suspects.

"The three suspects, including a couple living in the same compound and a male friend of theirs, ran away the same night. They had a quarrel with the victims earlier. The police suspect that they killed the victims and are looking for them," U Zayar said.

A police official in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township, across the border from Mae Sot, said Myanmar police would cooperate with their Thai counterparts to investigate the case.

Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein.

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Army’s Willingness to Sit Down with FPNCC Members Shows China’s Growing Clout

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 05:14 AM PST

China has stepped up its role in the peace process in Myanmar, especially as it relates to conflicts along the China-Myanmar border in northern Shan State. Beijing understands that stability and peace on the border will benefit both countries.

In particular, China is playing an important role as peace broker between the Myanmar Army and members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC). Sun Guoxiang, special envoy for Asian affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, is Beijing's go-between tasked with convincing the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) to sit down with the FPNCC in peace negotiations.

On several occasions Sun has traveled to Naypyitaw to meet with military leaders, then traveled to the border to relay their messages to FPNCC members. Previously, Sun had found it difficult to convince the Myanmar Army to enter peace negotiations with the FPNCC. Until recently, the Tatmadaw refused to accept the participation of the Arakan Army (AA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in peace negotiations.

Given the difficulty of convincing Myanmar military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Sun sometimes resorted to telling FPNCC members at meetings how nicely dressed the senior general's wife was dressed, and describing her traditional attire. The FPNCC leaders wanted to hear a message regarding peace negotiations, but instead had to listen to talk of Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing's wife.

And while some FPNCC leaders may have found the discussion of Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing's wife meaningless, they themselves had nothing to say to Sun. At that time, the FPNCC leaders believed that the peace mission from China was a failure.

According to statements issued last week, however, the Myanmar Peace Commission has accepted the participation of the AA, TNLA and MNDAA in peace negotiations. The FPNCC members and China both feel that some progress has been made in peace negotiations, with this change of heart by the Myanmar Army.

If China is able to broker a peace agreement between the Myanmar Army and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), it could bring the armed conflicts in northern Shan State and Arakan State to an end.

The Chinese Embassy in Yangon even issued a statement last week welcoming both the MPC's statement and a joint statement from the AA, TNLA and MNDAA agreeing to work toward further peace negotiations.

China places an emphasis on peace negotiations and would continue to provide the necessary support for the process, the embassy statement said.

China put a lot of pressure on the Myanmar Army to accept the participation of the three groups, according to some FPNCC leaders. Myanmar and China have agreed to build a railway from Muse in northern Shan to Mandalay. According to the FNPCC members, China is using such projects as economic leverage over Myanmar's military leadership.

The railway project between the two countries forms part of a proposed economic corridor that is itself part of Beijing's huge regional infrastructure development strategy known as the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang said at the October signing of a memorandum of understanding to build the project.

During his speech, the ambassador made a point of saying that the project will support economic development, peace and stability in northern Shan State.

China the priority for Myanmar military

The Myanmar government and military's view of China has not always been so rosy. The previous government of former President U Thein Sein courted favor from Western countries to support the peace process and economic development. At that time, China was a lesser priority for Naypyitaw.

But as Western countries have put increasing pressure and sanctions on the Myanmar Army and government over the crisis in Rakhine State and rights abuses against the Rohingya, Naypyitaw has increasingly turned to China. Given the large portion of Myanmar's economy that is controlled by the Tatmadaw, and China's increasing role in development projects, Beijing will find many ways to pressure the Myanmar Army to build peace.

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Peace Process Will Remain in Deadlock if Single Army Issue Cannot Be Resolved

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 05:04 AM PST

YANGON—The issue of establishing a single army will remain an obstacle to the ongoing peace process as long as the stakeholders of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) both hold their positions on the current conditions of the agreement, according to peace observers and stakeholders.

"The ideology of the single army is blurred, thus the conditions were raised when we talked about the issues," said Col. Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O Nationalities Liberation Organization during his remarks at the book launch of "Non-secession, Single Army and Self-Determination" published by the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS).

He said on Monday that the EAOs would raise questions about conditions of the would-be single army, including on its structure, responsibilities and so on, before fully agreeing on the issue. The Tatmadaw has urged them to accept the basic principles without knowing the full extent of the conditions of the proposed single army.

The issue of forming a single army has fallen behind other discussions because issues surrounding the security sector have not been able to move beyond the initial stages. Along with it, a common understanding of non-secession and self-determination—labeled as part of the package deal—has not been reached and thus the discussions have been stalled for nearly two years.

Although the National League for Democracy (NLD) government does not strongly object to the package deal—which includes conditions of non-secession, forming a single army and self-determination—no common understanding of the single army issue has yet been reached between the Tatmadaw and EAOs.

Khun Okkar said the Tatmadaw's immovable position on these three issues has delayed the peace process, and that solutions should be widely discussed between the negotiators.

In the MIPS publication, solutions and suggestions for overcoming the deadlock on the package deal were documented. They felt the need to focus on those issues since no agreement was reached at the third session of the 21st Panglong Peace Conference [in July], according to Salai Ngun Gung Lian, a researcher at the MIPS.

The book included examples from a number of different democratic states and their constitutional clauses on the issues of secession, single armed forces and self-determination.

The publication also highlighted three important suggestions on the single army issue: for the stakeholders to agree to a single army which protects the Union's borders and to form an army and state armed police force which would take responsibility for law and order in the states and regions close to the borders. It suggested that the army and the state armed police force be under the command of the Tatmadaw's commander-in-chief, but for the state armed police force to be a separate institution to the current Myanmar police force.

The suggestion caused confusion for observers who see the border guard forces and militia already in operation at Myanmar's borders to be similar to his suggested groups.

The Tatmadaw's forcing of the EAOs to form border guard forces back in 2009 resulted in renewed fighting, particularly between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army.

However, Salai Ngan Cung Lian told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the suggestions in the publication are not about border guard forces. He said more publications they expect to produce in the next six months will have further details on the analysis of the single army issue, as well as other suggestions.

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Parliament Approves $94M Loan From Korea For Govt Data Center

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 03:59 AM PST

YANGON — Myanmar's Union Parliament has approved a $93.8-million loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea to help pay for the construction of a centralized e-government data center.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communication proposed the loan earlier this month. On Tuesday, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved it by a vote of 453 to nine.

The three-year project is slated to start in January under the direction of the Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security. At a total cost of $104.3 million, it calls for an e-Government Integrated Data Center in Naypyitaw and a backup center in Thanlyin Township near Yangon.

Myanmar will cover what the Korean loan does not from the national budget.

Once the project is completed, people will receive better and around-the-clock e-government services covering everything from online payments to visa applications, according to Transportation and Communication Minister U Thant Sin Maung.

Last week, four lawmakers debated the proposed project in Parliament and raised questions about cyber security.

On Tuesday, the minister discussed some of the security measures that would be taken at both centers. He added that a draft cyber law addressing social media, personal data, child protection and other issues would be ready for their consideration in 30 weeks.

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Armed Group, Locals Report Myanmar Air Force Attack in Rakhine

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 03:11 AM PST

SITTWE, Rakhine State — The Myanmar military’s air force attacked positions held by the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw Township on Tuesday, according to locals and the armed group.

U Maung Ni, a resident of the township’s Thalu Chaung village tract, said two military jet fighters started strafing a mountain range near his home with gunfire at about 8 a.m.

He said the attack has sent residents in at least six villages in the area fleeing their homes in fear.

Fighting between the military and the Arakan Army picked up in late November, with almost daily clashes in Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships.

On its Facebook page on Tuesday, the Arakan Army said the military started shelling its positions at about 10 a.m. and sent in two fighter gets for air support three hours later.

On Sunday, three soldiers were killed and more than 10 wounded in a rocket-propelled-grenade attack on a Myanmar military truck in Rathedaung. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, though the site was near territory contested by the Arakan Army.

After a meeting with the government’s Peace Commission on Wednesday, the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army offered to stop fighting with the military in return for the right to join the country’s formal peace talks.

Translated from Burmese by Nyein Nyein.

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A Special Christmas at Sedona

Posted: 18 Dec 2018 02:46 AM PST

YANGON—Sedona Hotel Yangon is one of a number of locations offering special festive dining and events for the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive period. Its renowned restaurants D'Cuisine, Du Fu and Orzo are offering a Merry Menu for families, friends and colleagues to get together and enjoy their tantalizing dishes for the month of December.

D'Cuisine will be serving its wide-ranging selection of well-known international dishes with a suitable festive theme. Highlights of the menu include grilled prawn, grilled mutton, crab soup and, of course, whole roasted turkey.

The buffet counters at D’Cuisine are decorated to bring Christmas cheer to all diners. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

Their popular buffet, priced at $33 per person on weekdays and $36 at weekends, features special Christmas dishes. A whole buffet counter is dedicated to Christmas-style dishes and diners have already been queueing for the roast turkey—including me.

The roasted turkey, served by the slice by a dedicated chef, should be paired with traditional accompaniments like roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts. The turkey meat is very tender and the taste is perfect, even without seasoning or sauces. With Christmas around the corner, it provides the perfect Christmas feeling.

D’Cuisine is decorated with plenty of festive cheer for the holiday. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

The other international dishes available at the buffet are as delicious as ever and have earned a well-deserved reputation year-round as one of Yangon's famous hotel buffets. All the ingredients are fresh and the food tastes great but there are more meat choices than vegetables, so vegetarians watch out!

The grilled mutton and beef servings are also favorites of mine. They are cooked to the customer's requested specification by the masterful grilling chefs, giving them a hot and freshly-cooked flavor.

The grill counter and chef. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

This buffet allows you to truly indulge as it comes with a free-flow of wine, beer, and soft drinks included in the price. The high quality of foods they serve means the price is totally worth it for spending the special Christmas moment with a loved one or family.

As they do every year, Sedona Hotel will celebrate the ringing in of the new year with a lavish New Year's Eve party which this year, titled Be Dazzled, is expected to be the biggest in town.

Diners enjoy selecting their lunch buffet at D’Cuisine. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

The party will showcase international entertainment with tango, jazz, Broadway and Hollywood performances as well as some of the most famous local performers headlined by Ni Ni Khin Zaw and the music band Oxygen, who will welcome in 2019 with the guests.

"Sedona Hotel Yangon will provide guests with great entertainment featuring international and local artists, and DJs to be held at the spacious and luxurious poolside area of the hotel," said Mr. Mok Kok Meng, general manager of Sedona Hotel Yangon.

A diner choosing from different international options and the special Christmas menu at D’Cuisine. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

The special dinner buffet set for the Be-Dazzled party will include French oysters, lobsters, Alaska crab legs, abalone, suckling pig and roasted whole lamb leg.

As well as the special food options, the party will have a lucky draw and other exciting surprises. The hotel's website has more information on tickets and other details.

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China Hopes For ‘Orderly’ Brexit, Calls For More Open EU Economy

Posted: 17 Dec 2018 08:34 PM PST

BEIJING — China hopes Britain’s exit from the European Union can happen in an orderly way and that the bloc will reduce hurdles to Chinese investment and keep its markets open, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, has watched Brexit nervously, worried not only about potential market turmoil from a disorderly departure but about losing Britain’s supportive voice for free trade within the EU.

“China hopes to see Brexit proceed in an orderly fashion and stands ready to advance China-EU and China-UK relations in parallel,” the ministry said in a lengthy policy document on EU ties.

The EU and China are often at loggerheads over trade and other issues, with the EU sharing many of the same concerns as the United States about market access, trade imbalances and intellectual property rights protection.

The bloc is China’s largest trading partner while China is its biggest trading partner after the United States.

The EU has been pressing for better access to the Chinese market for its companies, while China has complained about what it sees as unfair restrictions on Chinese investments in the EU.

Despite events such as Brexit, China said the EU has remained committed to integration, pressed on with reforms and played a major role in regional and international affairs.

Beijing has promised to look at the possibility of reaching a “top notch” free trade deal with Britain post-Brexit.
The Brexit process is currently deadlocked with just over 100 days until Britain is due to leave the EU.
On trade, China’s white paper said the EU should ease high-tech export controls on China and facilitate mutual investment.

The government will significantly ease market access and endeavor to foster a “stable, fair, transparent, law-based and predictable business environment that protects the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investment and treats Chinese and foreign firms registered in China as equals,” it said.

“China hopes that the EU will keep its investment market open, reduce and eliminate investment hurdles and discriminatory barriers, and provide Chinese companies investing in Europe a fair, transparent and predictable policy environment and protect their legitimate rights and interests.”

The EU last month provisionally agreed on rules for a far-reaching system to coordinate scrutiny of foreign investments into Europe, notably from China in the wake of a surge in Chinese investments, to end what a negotiator called “European naivety.”

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Ten Things to do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 17 Dec 2018 08:19 PM PST

Album Noize Game 2

Noize Gamer performs at a promotional event for their second album.

Dec. 18, 5 p.m. Junction City Level 2, Event Area. Free entry.

Ayatori

A game that involves making figures out of string.

Dec. 19, 2 p.m to 3 p.m. Japan Culture House, Room 322B, 2nd Floor, Bldg. C, Pearl Condo, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road. Free entry. Register at 09-459 148 405.

Open Mic Night

The last open mic night of 2018.

Dec. 20, 8 p.m. till late. YangonYangon Rooftop Bar. 01-255 131

Dumpu Dinki: Strangers are friends you haven't met yet

A play about the whole cosmos of human relationships, in which trust and confidence eventually prevail.

Dec. 21, 6.30 p.m. Goethe Institut Myanmar, corner of Kabar Aye Pagoda Road and Nat Mauk Street, Bahan Tsp. 01-937 6160.

Mom and Kalay Fair

Kid's fashion show, magic show, joker show and contests for children.

Dec. 21-23, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Junction City (Level 2, Promotion Area). Register at 09-760 89 89 22

Myanmar Music Wave

The biggest music festival in Myanmar

Dec. 21-22, 4.30 p.m. till late. Tickets 5,000 kyats to 72,000 kyats at 09-451 010 789

Anyar Pwe Zay

Visitors can choose from several traditional Myanmar meals.

Dec. 22, 6 p.m. Tickets at UKK, No. (314/A), U Wisara Road, Kamayut Tsp.

Serpentine

Artist Soe Yu Nwe showcases her works.

Dec. 15-29. Myanm/art, No. 98, Third Floor, Bogalay Zay Street.

Avijja

"Ignorance" is the subject of artist Ye Min's third solo exhibition.

Dec. 15-21. Nawaday Tharlar Gallery, No.304, 20/B, Yawmingyi Road, Dagon Tsp.

Ultramarine Blue

The second solo exhibition by Zarni.

Dec. 22-24. Gallery 65, No.65, Yaw Min Gyi Road, Dagon Tsp.

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Japan to Buy More Stealth Jets, Radar to Counter China, Russia

Posted: 17 Dec 2018 08:14 PM PST

TOKYO—Japan will accelerate spending on advanced stealth fighters, long-range missiles and other equipment over the next five years to support US forces facing China’s military in the Western Pacific, two new government defense papers said.

The plans are the clearest indication yet of Japan’s ambition to become a regional power as a military build-up by China and a resurgent Russia puts pressure on its US ally.

“The United States remains the world’s most powerful nation, but national rivalries are surfacing and we recognize the importance of the strategic competition with both China and Russia as they challenge the regional order,” said a 10-year defense program outline approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government on Tuesday.

The United States, followed by China, North Korea and Russia, are the countries that most influenced Japan’s latest military thinking, the paper said.

China, the world’s second biggest economy, is deploying more ships and aircraft to patrol waters near Japan, while North Korea has yet to fulfil a pledge to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs.

Russia, which continues to probe Japanese air defenses, said on Monday it had built new barracks for troops on a northern island it captured from Japan at the end of World War Two.

More stealth fighters

Japan plans to buy 45 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighters, worth about $4 billion, in addition to the 42 jets already on order, according to a separate five-year procurement plan approved on Tuesday.

The new planes will include 18 short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) B variants of the F-35 that planners want to deploy on Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea.

The islands are part of a chain stretching past Taiwan and down to the Philippines that has marked the limit of Chinese military dominance east of the disputed South China Sea.

The navy’s two large helicopter carriers, the Izumo and Kaga, will be modified to accommodate F-35B operations, the paper said.

The 248-meter (814-feet) long Izumo-class ships are as big as any of Japan’s aircraft carriers in World War Two.

The ships will need reinforced decks to withstand the heat blast from F-35 engines and could be fitted with ramps to aid short take-offs, two defense ministry officials told Reuters.

Trade war threat

The new F-35 order may also help Japan avert a trade war with the United States.

US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs on Japanese car imports, thanked Abe for buying the F-35s when the two met at a summit in Argentina this month.

Other US-made equipment on Japan’s shopping list includes two land-based Aegis Ashore air defense radars to defend against North Korean missiles, four Boeing Co KC-46 Pegasus refueling planes to extend the range of Japanese aircraft, and nine Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye early-warning planes.

Japan plans to spend 25.5 trillion yen ($224.7 billion) on military equipment over the next five years, 6.4 percent higher than the previous five-year plan. Cost-cutting will free up another 2 trillion yen for purchases, the procurement paper said.

Japan only spends about 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but the size of its economy means it already has one of the world’s largest militaries.

“The budget is increasing and there has been an acceleration to deploy capability as soon as possible,” Robert Morrissey, head of Raytheon Co.’s unit in Japan, said this month.

Wary of North Korean promises to abandon ballistic missile development, Japan’s military is buying longer-range Raytheon SM-3 interceptor missiles to strike enemy warheads in space.

The defense papers assessed non-traditional military threats as well. A new joint-forces cyber unit will bolster Japan’s defenses against cyber attacks. More electronic warfare capabilities are planned.

Japan’s air force will also get its first space unit to help keep tabs on potential adversaries high above the Earth’s atmosphere.

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U.N. Security Council Mulls Myanmar Action; Russia, China Boycott Talks

Posted: 17 Dec 2018 08:05 PM PST

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council is considering action to push Myanmar to work with the United Nations to address the Rohingya refugee crisis, although China and Russia have so far boycotted talks on a British-drafted resolution, diplomats said on Monday.

The draft resolution aims to put a timeline on Myanmar allowing the return of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from neighboring Bangladesh and addressing accountability, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Rohingya have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State since August last year, when attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations, the United States, Britain and others described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies the accusations of ethnic cleansing.

The draft resolution would warn that the 15-member Security Council could consider further steps, including sanctions, if there was not enough progress made by Myanmar, diplomats said. It would also ask U.N. officials to report back regularly to the council.

It was unclear if or when the draft resolution could be put to a vote. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass.

“I think it’s inappropriate, untimely and useless,” Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told Reuters on Monday.

China’s U.N. ambassador, Ma Zhaoxu, declined to comment. Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador, Hau Do Suan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The draft was circulated to council members late last month and diplomats said that there had been several rounds of discussions. Russia and China attended an initial meeting but have not taken part in any further talks, diplomats said.

The text would push Myanmar to implement a memorandum of understanding with the U.N. development and refugee agencies that Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government signed in June, as well recommendations made by the Rakhine Advisory Commission that was led by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan.

The draft resolution does not include a referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, diplomats said.

U.N. Security Council envoys traveled to Bangladesh and Myanmar in late April.

In October, China, backed by Russia, failed to stop a Security Council briefing by the chair of a U.N. inquiry that accused Myanmar’s military of genocide against Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar has rejected the findings of the U.N. report.

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