Friday, February 15, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Seven University Students Jailed in Connection with Effigy Burnings

Posted: 15 Feb 2019 05:22 AM PST

MANDALAY—The Amarapura Court in Mandalay Region on Wednesday sentenced seven Yadanabon University students to three months in prison for burning ministers in effigy during a protest to demand better security on campus.

The students were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment under Article 435 of the Penal Code, which prohibits "mischief by fire", and two months' imprisonment under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law. The court ordered that the sentences be served concurrently.

On Dec. 28, 2018, three student protesters led by Yadanabon University Students' Union (YUSU) chair Ko Kyaw Thiha Ye Kyaw staged a demonstration to demand better security measures on their campus, citing the case of a student who was killed during a robbery on Dec. 25, as well as a rash of motorcycle thefts.

During the protest, they burned effigies of Mandalay Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung; Regional Minister of Electricity and Transport U Zar Ni Aung; Regional Minister of Border Affairs and Security Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Min; Union Deputy Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant-General Kyaw Swe; and the rector of Yadanabon University, Dr. Maung Maung Naing. They were arrested on the same day over the burnings.

Five days later on Jan. 2, four other students were arrested while demanding the release of the student union leaders.

All seven students—Ko Kyaw Thiha Ye Kyaw, Ko Ye Min Tun, Ko Ye Myo Swe, Ko Phone Myint Kyaw, Ko Myo Chit Aung (aka) Ba Chit, Ko Nay Win Kyaw and Ko Ye Lin Aung—initially had lawsuits opened against them on four charges and were brought before the township court on Jan. 11.

Ko Ye Myo Swe, a YUSU organizer, said after the verdict, before being taken to prison, that the seven would "continue our demands when we are out of prison."

Amarapura Township police acted as plaintiff in the case and sued the students under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law.

The deputy chief of the Amarapua Township General Administration Department also acted as plaintiff and sued them under articles 435, 505 (b) of the Penal Code, which relate to "intent to cause public fear or alarm" and Article 114, which relates to "abetting".

The official later dropped the last two charges, "as he cares for the education of those students and thus the judge delivered a verdict on the two charges [Article 435 of the Penal Code and Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law]," said Police Lieutenant-Colonel Myo Aung, the head of the Mandalay District Police Force.

Other student union members also met with Mandalay Region government officials on Jan. 24 and demanded the release of the student leaders, and the regional government promised to reduce the charges.

Yadanabon University has an enrollment of some 20,000 students in variety of subjects. Students have asked that the school provide them with better security and cleaner restrooms, but the rector has said there is no budget for that.

The post Seven University Students Jailed in Connection with Effigy Burnings appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rakhine State Lawmaker Suggests Union Govt Talk to AA to End Fighting

Posted: 15 Feb 2019 04:33 AM PST

YANGON — The Rakhine State legislature on Thursday agreed to schedule a debate on a proposal to call on the Union Parliament  to urge the national government to find a way to end the ongoing fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) in the north of the state.

Rakhine State lawmaker U Than Naing, of Rathedaung Constituency (1), submitted the urgent proposal Thursday, noting that the fighting has forced more than 6,000 people to flee their homes over the past two months.

"I would like to encourage the Union government via the state government to halt the armed conflict in Rakhine as soon as possible to show empathy for the lives of ethnic [minority] people who live in contested areas," he said.

He also cited a controversial press conferences in Naypyitaw during which a military spokesman said that State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had in private directed the armed forces to crush the AA soon after the ethnic armed group staged a deadly attack on a police post in Rakhine’s Maungdaw Township.

"Because she gave instructions for the fighting, I believe she can also order a truce,” said U Than Naing, a member of the Arakan National Party (ANP), which dominates the state legislature.

He suggested the Union government hold negotiations with the AA to bring the fighting to an end and forge a lasting peace.

Spokesmen for the Office of the President and the Office of the Commander-in-Chief could not be reached for comment.

Rakhine State ANP lawmaker U Tun Thar Sein, of Mrauk-U Constituency (1), said the state ministers had already endorsed the proposal and that the local legislature’s military-appointed lawmakers were also on board. But he said most of the ministers were not on hand for Thursday or Friday’s parliamentary sessions to answer questions, including chief minister U Nyi Pu.

The chief minister was appointed to the post by the ruling National League for Democracy, with whom the ANP has a contentious relationship.

On Friday, U Tun Thar Sein also submitted an urgent proposal for humanitarian assistance for the thousands of people displaced by the fighting, now relying mostly on donations from non-government aid groups. The state government has distributed aid to the displaced only once and blocked most international aid agencies from making aid deliveries of their own.

U Tun Thar Sein said the state government had a disaster management budget, approved by Parliament last year, that stood at about 30 billion kyats ($19.62 million) and could potentially be used to help the displaced families.

But the local lawmakers expressed doubts about the likelihood of negotiations, as the Union government labeled the AA a terrorist organization for killing 13 security force members in recent attacks and seized more than a dozen assault rifles and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

U Tun Thar Sein said the state’s ethnic Arakanese lawmakers had previously urged the Union government to take action on a number of other issues in Rakhine but to no avail.

"I would like to say that they should pay a little attention on the Rakhine Parliament," he said.

The post Rakhine State Lawmaker Suggests Union Govt Talk to AA to End Fighting appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Two Sentenced to Death for Killing NLD Lawyer U Ko Ni

Posted: 15 Feb 2019 02:08 AM PST

YANGON—Just over two years after the assassination of prominent lawyer U Ko Ni, a Yangon court on Friday sentenced two men to death and jailed two others for the killing.

Delivering its long-awaited verdict, the court sentenced hired gunman Kyi Lin—who shot the lawyer dead in broad daylight on Jan. 29, 2017 outside Yangon International Airport and then killed taxi driver U Ne Win as he tried to apprehend the shooter—to death plus an additional 20 years' imprisonment for the killings.

Former Lieutenant Aung Win Zaw, an accomplice of Kyi Lin, was also sentenced to death after he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Zeya Phyo, a former captain with the Military Intelligence unit, was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor for causing the disappearance of evidence of an offense. Aung Win Tun was sentenced to a three-year prison term for harboring one of the men.

Aung Win Zaw, who received the death penalty for his role as an accomplice to U Ko Ni's assassin Kyi Lin, leaves the Yangon Northern District Court on Feb. 15, 2019 after the verdict was announced. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

The alleged mastermind of the killing, former Lieutenant-Colonel Aung Win Khaing, remains at large after fleeing, at least initially, to Naypyitaw, which has Myanmar's most extensive surveillance network. According to CCTV footage, he was last seen near the city's National Herbal Park in the first week of February 2017. The Home Affairs Ministry said a warrant has been issued for Aung Win Khaing's arrest and that his picture has been sent to Interpol and police forces across Southeast Asia.

While leaving the Yangon Northern District Court after the verdict was announced, one of the convicted assassins shouted, "They don't do anything to those in Naypyitaw. But I have been handed a prison sentence." It was not clear whom he meant by "those in Naypyitaw".

U Khin Aung Htay, a plaintiff lawyer, told the media after the verdict that he was not satisfied with the verdict against Zeya Phyo, who previously faced charges of premeditated murder as well as aiding and abetting an offender. He said he would appeal to a higher court.

Zeya Phyo, a convicted conspirator in the murder of U Ko Ni, leaves the Yangon Northern District Court on Feb. 15, 2019 after the verdict was announced. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

The verdict followed a trial that included more than 100 court hearings. The court heard from 72 plaintiff witnesses and 40 defense witnesses.

In an interview with The Irrawaddy last month, prosecution lawyer U Nay La said justice would not be served unless and until all the masterminds are identified.

"The mastermind must be unveiled sometime in the future for the sake of justice. This is what I believe," he said.

Many have speculated that U Ko Ni was targeted because of his strong criticism of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution. The constitutional expert and legal adviser to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) had long advocated for constitutional reforms to reduce the military's dominant political role. He is also believed to have played a key role in advising the NLD to create the position of state counselor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the party's landslide victory in the 2015 elections.

Deputy Director of Yangon High Court U Ye Lwin told the media that carrying out the executions would be the responsibility of the Prisons Department, after the Supreme Court of Myanmar approves the sentences.

Aung Win Tun appears at Yangon's Northern District Court in February 2018. He was sentenced to a three-year prison term on Feb. 15, 2019 for harboring one of the other men convicted of playing a key role in lawyer U Ko Ni's killing. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

No death sentences have been carried out in Myanmar since 1988. Currently, there are over 100 people awaiting execution.

U Nay La said in his interview with The Irrawaddy that those who are sentenced to death typically have their sentences commuted to an indefinite jail sentence, then, when another amnesty is granted, their sentence is commuted to 20 years in prison, which is considered life imprisonment in Myanmar. Then, in labor camps, their sentence is reduced again through the parole process, he said.

For this reason, he said, those who are sentenced to death don't really fear execution "and can eat well and stay at ease in prison as the maximum jail sentence the convicts on death row face is just 10 to 15 years".

The post Two Sentenced to Death for Killing NLD Lawyer U Ko Ni appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Latest Refugees From Myanmar Stranded in Bangladesh, Volunteer Group Says

Posted: 15 Feb 2019 01:47 AM PST

YANGON — More than 200 refugees who have fled the fighting in Chin State between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) and taken shelter in Bangladesh are receiving no government support and being ordered to leave, according to a volunteer aid group.

The ethnic Chin, Khami, Mro and Arakanese left their homes in the villages of Kin Ta Lin and Kha Maung Wa, in Chin State's Paletwa Township, on Feb. 3.

"Border Guard Bangladesh said it would not allow anyone, Buddhist or Muslim, to enter Bangladesh. It asked the displaced people to go back to Myanmar or some other place within three days," said U Win Thein, who leads a Bangladesh-based volunteer group that helps displaced people.

He said officials in Bangladesh’s Bandarban District issued the order during a press conference there on Tuesday. The same day, he added, eight households from among the refugees left for the Indian border and 40 headed back toward Myanmar.

"There is a town called Pi on the Bangladeshi border, and there is a big mountain nearby. Displaced people are staying there, and nearby Mro and Chin villages are supplying them with food. We deliver food to them secretly because we do not have official permission to help them," said U Win Thein.

Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Momen told local reporters that his government closed the border gates on Feb. 7 so that no more displaced people could enter the country from Myanmar.

The Times of India reported that Border Guard Bangladesh has also deployed more troops along the border with Myanmar.

AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said his group had found more than 100 people who had fled Paletwa Township and guided them to Bangladesh, hoping the Bangladeshi government would provide them with humanitarian assistance.

On Feb. 8, however, state-run newspapers reported that the AA had taken more than 200 Paletwa residents to Bangladesh, including 38 primary school students, after abducting them.

U Win Thein said the refugees had planned to find shelter elsewhere in Paletwa or neighboring Kyauktaw Township but thought it too dangerous and finally headed for Bangladesh.

"The UNHCR [the U.N.’s refugee agency] went there to help them, but the Bangladeshi government didn't let them. The Red Cross also sent three trucks [with relief supplies], but the Bangladeshi government didn't let them, either," he said.

"I am afraid we will only be able to provide relief supplies one more time. The problem is that we can't go to that area. We are not allowed to go there," he added.

Chin State Social Affairs Minister Pau Lun Min Thang said he had little information about the refugees’ current situation.

"So far we have not received any update about them, and we don't know if they went to Bangladesh by themselves or if they were brought there by the AA," he told The Irrawaddy.

He said the Myanmar military had increased security in Kin Ta Lin and Kha Maung Wa villages and that the state government was taking care of more than 3,000 displaced people taking shelter at camps in Paletwa.

"All the state government can do is help the people who are in trouble. The lives of many young people have been ruined by the fighting. I am sorry for that. We can do nothing so long as there is fighting. I hope peace talks are held as soon as possible," the minister said.

Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry could not be reached for a comment.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and AA has forced more than 1,000 people from their homes in Rathaedang, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships over recent months.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Latest Refugees From Myanmar Stranded in Bangladesh, Volunteer Group Says appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Slow Progress on Access to Sex Education Frustrates Experts

Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:31 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—It remains a common view in Myanmar society that promoting access to safe-sex resources—by, for example, making condoms available—is a source of shame, and criticism of those who use such resources makes it hard to raise awareness of safe-sex practices, according to public health experts.

Despite being aware that practicing safe sex can prevent sexually transmitted diseases and reduce unwanted pregnancies, many people fail to do so.

The country has seen a limited amount of progress; reproductive and adolescent health awareness programs have become more available as civil society groups, health departments and international organizations including UN agencies are conducting awareness-raising activities.

However, questions remain over the extent to which people, in both urban and remote rural areas, receive such information.

While some people may be familiar with the use of condoms—the best single method for preventing infection and pregnancy—stigmatization and other forms of criticism keep some people from using them, according to Dr. Yadanar, a public health expert and program analyst at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)'s Adolescent and Youth Program.

"[People] know that using a condom is a good form of protection, but they are reluctant to buy them, as they are shy. Someone might have the information and knowledge, but they dare not use it as there is an environment of blame and criticism toward those who are seen buying one," Dr. Yadanar said.

Thus, greater awareness is needed in regards to safe sex practices, Dr. Yadanar said. She reminded people that trusting a sex partner whose history one doesn't know, and failing to use protective measures, can have serious consequences.

"In Myanmar, people mostly use condoms, but sexually active youth tend to use emergency contraceptive pills. But condoms are the only method that provides protection against both infection by sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Some may use the method of external ejaculation, but this still carries a risk of pregnancy. There are still too few people, especially youth, getting access to this sort of information," she said.

Dr. Yadanar, a public health expert and program analyst at the UN Population Fund's Adolescent and Youth Program / Supplied

In 2015-16, Myanmar Demographics and Health Survey conducted a poll of sexually active adolescents aged 13 and above, but concerns about the general willingness of people in Myanmar to openly share information about sexual behavior has led some experts to believe that aspects of the sexual activity covered in the report were underreported.

During awareness education sessions, young people in Myanmar learn about sexualities and sexual behavior—topics that for many are strange and new. But some adults and elderly people fear that educating teens about sex will simply encourage them to become sexually active.

Dr. Yadanar said adults must accept that comprehensive sexuality education is based on a human rights approach, and that learning about sexuality, including the related anatomy and bodily functions, enhances mutual respect.

Additionally, more information needs to be made available to youth outside of the classroom, she said, so that they become aware of the importance of prevention. Dr. Yadanar said this would delay their initiation into sexual activity and lead to a reduction in risky sexual behavior.

According to a 2016 report on maternal mortality, which was based on the 2014 Myanmar population and housing census, there are about 2,800 maternal deaths annually in the country, resulting in an MMR (maternal mortality ratio—the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) of 282. It is the second-highest MMR among ASEAN nations, and more than double the Southeast Asian average of 140. Unwanted pregnancy is the third-largest contributing factor to maternal deaths in Myanmar.

Myanmar's MMR fell from 580 in 2009 to 200 in 2013, according to UN data cited in the 2013 Maternal Death Review in Myanmar issued by the Maternal and Reproductive Health Division of the Department of Health.

To promote comprehensive sexuality education, UNFPA together with the government launched the Love Question: Life Answer mobile application in late 2017. The app contains information about sexualities, safe sex and contraception, early marriage and unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV, puberty and menstruation, gender and body dilemmas, drug abuse and alcohol problems, and love and relationships.

More than 40,000 people have been using the app for over a year, Dr. Yadanar said. Among them, youth aged 18-24 comprise the biggest users. This group is generally the most interested in viewing information about sexual behaviors and sexualities, Dr. Yadanar said.

"But when compared to the total youth population, the number of users of the app is still very small, so too few people are accessing the information," she said. There are 23.4 million young people in Myanmar, according to the 2014 census, accounting for 46.5 percent of the total population.

As part of the campaign to raise awareness of the need for sex education, UNFPA also has a campaign titled, "If you don't want to — say no to sex."

"Just say no, if you are not ready or comfortable about having sex," Dr. Yadanar advised youth, adding that forcing someone to have sex without their consent is a violation of their rights and a crime.

She reminded youth that the decision must be their own, and not a result of peer pressure or threats.

"Even if the sex is consensual, they must be aware of the consequences," she said. "To prevent unwanted consequences, do not forget to use a condom to prevent diseases and unwanted pregnancy."

The post Slow Progress on Access to Sex Education Frustrates Experts appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

E.U. Honors Myanmar Rights Defenders, Including Jailed Peace Activist

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 08:53 PM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — The European Union honored three Myanmar peace and human rights advocates, including jailed Kachin community leader Daw Nang Pu, with its 2019 Schuman Awards in Yangon on Thursday.

The other two recipients were peace advocate U Aung Kyaw Moe, who provided humanitarian aid to thousands of families after the 2017 Rakhine crisis, and lawyer U Robert Sann Aung, who often represents victims of human rights abuses.

Daw Nang Pu — a well known advocate for displaced people, gender equality and peace in Kachin State — is director of the Htoi Gender and Development Foundation and founder of the Kachin State Women’s Network.

"She has dedicated her life to helping some of the most marginalized members of the conflict-affected communities in Kachin," said Denmark Ambassador John Nielsen at the awards ceremony.

"Her foundation has rescued, counseled and defended the survivors of sexual violence in conflicts. Through her work, women who lost family members due to decades-long conflicts in Kachin have been empowered to rebuild their lives and livelihood," he added.

Nang Pu was sentenced to six months in prison in December along with two other ethnic Kachin for leading a peaceful protest calling for the rescue of thousands of civilians trapped by fighting between the Myanmar military and Kachin Independence Army. The Kachin communities also honored the trio with Kachin human rights awards this week.

"Nang Pu should be here today to accept this award," said her sister-in-law Nang Bawk, who accepted the award on her behalf.

"She can’t, because she is in prison,” she said. “But Nang Pu shared her words. She thanks the E.U. for this honor even though she thinks she does not deserve such an award. She added that she will keep working for peace in Kachin State whether she is honored with such an award or not."

The Schuman Award — named after former French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union — was established in 2017 to recognize Myanmar citizens who foster positive change in their communities and promote democracy, rule of law, peace and human rights.

"The Schuman Award is given every year as recognition of those who dare carry the flame for others," E.U. Ambassador Kristian Schmidt said.

He said the three winners “have decided to speak up for those who have no voice, those who are vulnerable, those demanding respect for basic human rights, not for themselves but for their fellow human beings,"

In 2017 the inaugural awards went to U Aung Myo Min of Equality Myanmar, Janan Lahtaw of the Nyein (Shalom) Foundation, and U Ko Ni, the slain lawyer and adviser to the ruling National League for Democracy.

Last year’s recipients were Ko Swe Win, chief editor of Myanmar Now, human rights activist Cheery Zahau, and women’s rights activist Daw Khin Than Htwe.

The post E.U. Honors Myanmar Rights Defenders, Including Jailed Peace Activist appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Healing Power of Painting

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 08:35 PM PST

YANGON—Not many people in Myanmar would swap a stethoscope for a brush. But Daw Khin May Kyi did just that, happily leaving behind a much-respected and well-paid career in the medical profession to become a full-time artist.

"If I had been close to the art sphere, I would have become an artist much earlier—in my youth. Only pencils and paintbrushes can give me pleasure now; I let go of the stethoscope. I served as a doctor for more than 40 years, and I loved that profession too," said the doctor-turned-artist.

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

At an exhibition later this month, the 66-year-old will showcase scenes of natural beauty she captured during her visit to see her children in Australia and on her travels across Myanmar.

Entitled "Beyond the Red Earth", her fourth exhibition will open at Gallery 65 on Yaw Min Gyi Road in Yangon's Dagon Township from Feb. 16-18.

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

"I'd like to share my experiences about the places I've visited, and I'd like to highlight through paintings how developed Australia is," the artist said.

Her paintings feature the grandeur of ancient churches and urban buildings, as well as peaceful rural scenes in Australia.

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

Her brushwork also shines through her depictions of the Bagan and Mandalay cultural zones, rural landscapes and colonial-era buildings in Myanmar.

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

 

"[In Australia] most of the heritage buildings can be preserved. Such buildings are hardly ever demolished [to build commercial structures]. And [Australian people] conserve the environment. I wish Myanmar was the same. There are many beautiful places in Myanmar. There are many beautiful places that are not yet known to outsiders," she said.

 

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

Over 30 watercolor and oil paints will be showcased at the exhibition, and can be purchased for between $80 and $600.

Daw Khin May Kyi previously held solo exhibitions in 2010, 2012 and 2015, and has also participated in group art exhibitions.

One of the works on show at 'Beyond the Red Earth', an exhibition of Daw Khin May Kyi's paintings and drawings at Gallery 65 in Yangon that opens this week. / Supplied

Her paintings reflect her love of nature and Myanmar culture and traditions, and her rejoicing at others' success and prosperity.

The post The Healing Power of Painting appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Infographic: The Suu Kyi Government’s Performance in Numbers

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 05:58 PM PST

YANGON — Nearly three years after taking office, the National League for Democracy (NLD) has garnered mixed reviews for its efforts to transform the country into a democracy.

While campaigning for the 2015 elections that swept it to power, the NLD published a 20-page manifesto outlining its plans for economic development, constitutional reform and peace.

The administration’s record on economic reform has been mixed. The government has had some big successes, including the release of the overarching Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, a new Companies Law and some financial and banking sector regulation reforms. However, reform efforts have also been slowed down by some major setbacks, from a weakening currency to high inflation, armed conflict and shifting policies.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) declined significantly following news of the 2017 Rohingya crisis, which badly tarnished the country's image. Western investors have grown increasingly cautious of Myanmar.

Overall trade volume has increased under the NLD—exports especially—though the current account deficit has hardly budged.

Meanwhile, the peace process is faltering and efforts at constitutional reform are just beginning.

Myanmar has also seen improvements in international measures of corruption, civil liberties and political rights, but the arrests of several journalists have sent its press freedom ranking tumbling.

Here, The Irrawaddy illustrates the fluctuations in the country’s GDP, FDI, current account, trade volume, inflation and measures of civil liberty, political freedom and press freedom from the previous administration to the present.

The NLD's economic team, its policies and strategies

The team is playing a major role in the economic policies, strategies and actions of the current government.

The post Infographic: The Suu Kyi Government's Performance in Numbers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kashmir Car Bomb Kills 44; India Demands Pakistan Act Against Militants

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 05:44 PM PST

SRINAGAR, India — A suicide bomber rammed a car into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir on Thursday, killing 44 of them in the deadliest attack in decades on security forces in the disputed region, raising tensions with arch foe Pakistan.

The Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack. The Indian government accused Pakistan of letting militant groups operate from its soil and called on it to take action.

Islamabad said it rejected the suggestion it was linked to the attack.

Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region at the heart of decades of hostility between India and Pakistan. The neighbors both rule parts of the region while claiming the entire territory as theirs.

The explosion targeting a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was heard from several miles away, according to witnesses. Mohammad Yunis, a journalist who reached the site minutes later, told Reuters he saw blood and body parts scattered along a 100-meter stretch of the main highway running through the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We demand that Pakistan stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory and dismantle the infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries,” the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement hours after the attack.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a matter of “grave concern.” But in a brief statement early on Friday it added, “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations.”

Islamabad has previously denied New Delhi’s accusations that it gives material help to the militants fighting Indian rule in Muslim-majority Kashmir. It says it gives only moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination.

The White House urged Pakistan in a statement “to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil.” It said the attack strengthens U.S. resolve to step up counter-terrorism cooperation with India.

Television images showed a mangled car amid rubble and snow around the site. Reuters photos showed tens of policemen surveying damaged vehicles and one policeman was seen carrying a plastic cover with guns inside.

The death toll stood at 44, a senior police official said.

The Central Reserve Force Police is a paramilitary organization that is working with the Indian military to quell the 30-year insurgency in Kashmir.

“I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

Indian forces have sporadically battled Islamist militants in mountainous Kashmir since an armed revolt in 1989 in which tens of thousands were killed, but car bombings are rare.

A video circulating on social media on Thursday purportedly featured the suicide bomber, and showed a young man holding a gun and threatening more attacks. Reuters was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the video.

The Indian foreign ministry accused the Pakistani government of giving the militant group Jaish a free run in Pakistan, saying it has allowed the group’s leader, Masood Azhar, “to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity.”

The last major attack in Kashmir was in 2016 when militants raided an Indian army camp in Uri, killing 20 soldiers.

Tension with Pakistan rose after that incident when New Delhi said the attackers had come from Pakistan to stage the assault. Pakistan denied any involvement.

Modi under pressure

The attack could put Modi, who faces a general election due by May, under political pressure to act against the militants and Pakistan.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, a spokesman for the main opposition Congress party, accused Modi of compromising on security.

“Zero political action & Zero policy to tackle terror has led to an alarming security situation,” Surjewala said in one of a series of tweets.

Kanwal Sibal, a former top diplomat, said a diplomatic response from India would not be enough.

“They will have to do something, otherwise I think it will be very difficult for government to absorb this blow and [it will] be seen to be doing nothing,” Sibal told Reuters.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad group is one of the most powerful militant groups operating in Kashmir. It was blamed for a 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament that led to India deploying its military on the border with Pakistan.

In a statement carried by the GNS news agency, a spokesman for the group said dozens of security force vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

Arun Jaitley, a senior minister in Modi’s cabinet, said India would retaliate, tweeting that “terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson for their heinous act.”

On Wednesday, an explosion at a school in Kashmir wounded a dozen students. The cause of the blast remains unclear.

The post Kashmir Car Bomb Kills 44; India Demands Pakistan Act Against Militants appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Tanintharyi to ‘Discipline’ Local Officials

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 05:08 AM PST

YANGON — State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi warned that her government would take “decisive action” against officials who harm the public interest during a trip Wednesday to Tanintharyi Region, where a crowd urged her to sack the local chief minister.

Speaking at a ceremony in Myeik Township marking the birthday of her late father, independence hero Gen. Aung San, she reminded government officials that they work for the benefit of the people and must carry out their duties "truthfully and transparently."

Afterward, dozens of locals waited for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi outside the Pale Yadanar Hall, where she met with local government officials, lawmakers and some residents. Some held signs urging her to replace Tanintharyi’s chief minister, Daw Lei Lei Maw, and planning and finance minister, U Phyo Win Tun, as well as U Aung Soe, who chairs her party’s regional committee.

Those who attended the meeting also complained that the regional government was inefficient, being mismanaged and losing public support. Daw Lei Lei Maw and the other regional ministers were present.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attends a meeting with local residents in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region, on Wednesday. / State Counselor’s Office

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she came to Tanintharyi because she had heard of the complaints and promised to resolve them.

"I have come here to discipline the regional government," she told the crowd to loud applause.

In a letter to the central executive committee of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), more than 100 residents of Myeik and Dawei townships accused Daw Lei Lei Maw and U Aung Soe, who are related, of awarding business contracts and giving a paid government job to relatives.

The regional Parliament also sent a report on public complaints to President U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi last month. The report was signed by 14 regional lawmakers including the Parliament speaker.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has since started looking into the complaints. According to one regional lawmaker, commission members visited Tanintharyi earlier this month and met with both legislators and those who submitted the complaints.

On Wednesday, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she visited Myanmar’s states and regions to find out what was happening first hand, what problems locals were facing, what the government could do better to help them, and whether officials were doing a good job.

Tanintharyi is the fourth region or state she has visited this year. Since January she has also visited Chin, Kachin and Shan states. While in Tanintharyi, she will also visit Kawthaung and Dawei townships on Thursday and Friday and meet with local residents.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said some parts of the country were developing while others were not, and that she has heard from many people about their needs for better health care, education, water supplies, transportation and electricity and for the return of seized land. She said the government could not solve all their problems overnight but was working hard to address them.

"We have made promises to the public since we were founded,” she said of the NLD. “I’m not sure if the public has forgotten them, but we never forget them. The first promise is national reconciliation and peace and the rule of law."

The state counselor said her administration has also taken the first tentative steps toward fulfilling another key promise — amending the Constitution to create a federal and more democratic government.

"We never make a promise that we can't keep," she said.

The post Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Tanintharyi to ‘Discipline’ Local Officials appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gen. Aung San Statues Are Costing NLD Political Support in Ethnic States

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 04:26 AM PST

Disenchantment with the National League for Democracy (NLD) is growing over ongoing efforts to put up statues of General Aung San in the ethnic states—a campaign many accuse the ruling party of supporting. The pushback has been especially strong in Kayah State. Gen. Aung San is a hero to ethnic Bamar, but minority ethnic communities have their own heroes. Ethnic rights activists continue to protest the statues, seeing them as an attempt to destroy their account of local history.

Khun Be Du, a rights activist who led a protest against the Gen. Aung San statue in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah, accused the NLD of exploiting the independence hero.

"Gen. Aung San was a hero, so the NLD is building a statue to appear heroic by association," he said.

However, the party does not respect Gen. Aung San's historic political agreement with leaders of the country's ethnic groups, he said.

"[The agreement] is part of history, so they don't care about it. Today is their era, so they are confident they have done nothing wrong," he said.

Khun Be Du said the NLD's action was unfortunate, as it gained the party nothing while costing them the trust of other ethnic groups.

By continuing to implement the statue plan over the objections of local people, the NLD is generating tremendous ill will among a growing number of people, he said.

Senior NLD leaders have denied that the placement of statues reflects a party policy, or that the central leadership ordered representatives on the ground to implement it. Khun Be Du dismissed this denial. It is the party's policy, he said, adding that the statue campaign is part of a political game by the NLD.

So far, statues of Gen. Aung San have been put up in ethnic states including Mon, Kachin, Chin and Kayah. The result has been to whip up greater nationalist feeling among the ethnic communities. Anti-statue activity, which began in Mon State, is getting more vigorous.

The recent protests in Loikaw resemble those that took place two years ago in Mon State, which drew thousands of people.

Nai Wona, a Mon rights activist, said the anti-statue rallies were a relatively new experience for the Mon, who were not used to protesting. In contrast, he said the protests in Kayah State had a particularly strong nationalist flavor, and warned that they could lead to serious violence.

In Mon State, sensitivity over the public invocation of Gen. Aung San began when the NLD government named a new bridge after him over the opposition of local ethnic Mon. Later, a statue of Gen. Aung San was built in Mudon Township even after Mon community leaders including Buddhist monks came out against it.

The NLD government ignored the voices of the ethnic Mon, and the protest in Mon State in 2017 was not successful. However, Min Latt, another rights activist form Mon State, said the Mon was the first group to show ethnic groups how to fight the NLD government on the issue.

The international community and the majority of the people in the country have a lot of respect for State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the NLD. So, many people in the country did not dare to stand up against her government. However, the ethnic Mon were willing to do it first, Min Latt said.

The Mon's stand against the NLD wasn't successful, but it inspired other groups who wish to oppose the NLD, Min Latt said.

Fond memories of the NLD

Khun Be Du, the activist who led an anti-statue protest in Loikaw, said that when he was living in exile in Thailand he worked with many NLD members and admired them.

"We asked the military regime to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi together, with one voice," he said.

Khun Be Du is ethnic Kayan (a Karenni subgroup), and chairman of the Kayan National Party. He spent four years in prison after being arrested by the military regime in 2008 for organizing a campaign in his region against the 2008 Constitution.

He said that in 2004 he believed that the country would change politically if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were in charge.

"We believed she would be able to lay a good foundation for democracy and federalism in our country, which is what we ethnic people need," he said.

However, he lost trust when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi asked ethnic political party leaders to make room for her party's candidates in ethnic constituencies, as she was worried her party would not win the 2015 election.

But, she was not thinking about the ethnic parties' concerns; this is why he stopped trusting her, he said.

When the NLD gained political power, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi showed little tolerance for criticism of herself or her party, Khun Be Du said. For example, Dr. Aye Maung was detained under the NLD government despite being a respected Arakanese ethnic leader.

When the NLD formed a government, it appointed ethnic ministers, but those ministers have no power, he said, adding that they were there merely for show. The NLD has done no work on behalf of ethnic groups since coming to power, he said.

The NLD's current actions do nothing to advance the country's political transition, something they said they would do with the cooperation of ethnic groups, Khun Be Du said. As a result, it is losing the political support of these groups, he said.

Khun Be Du said the ethnic Karenni have no choice but to fight against the NLD. "We have to confront them; this is our only option," he said.  The NLD has the mindset of all majority groups, he said; they do not care about minority groups.

The post Gen. Aung San Statues Are Costing NLD Political Support in Ethnic States appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Recovers ‘Important’ Equipment Seized by Shan Rebel Group

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 03:39 AM PST

YANGON — The Myanmar military says it has recovered equipment recently seized by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RSCC) in eastern Shan State.

"They are restricted military equipment — in other words, important equipment for the military. We have got them back," military spokesman Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy.

On Tuesday evening, about 50 RCSS members collecting money from motorists on the highway between Mong Ping and Kengtung stopped a vehicle ferrying two military commanders and seized the military equipment on board with them, the military’s True News Information Team said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said the ethnic armed group’s seizure of equipment it knew belonged to the military posed a major challenge to creating a lasting peace, adding that the military would take unspecified action if it was not returned immediately.

Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the RCSS returned the equipment on Wednesday evening.

"Relations will return to normal because we are also working toward peace," he added.

The RCSS could not be reached for comment.

On the Taifreedom website, the RCSS said the military had fired artillery at one of its posts near its headquarters in the town of Loi Tai Leng on Wednesday at noon, and at another of its posts in Mong Tong Township along the Thai-Myanmar border that evening.

The RCSS is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement but has not engaged in official peace talks with the government since October.

In December the military declared a unilateral four-month ceasefire effective through April in active conflict areas in north and northeast Myanmar.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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More Than 1,000 Flee Latest Fighting Between Rival Armed Groups in Shan State

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 02:53 AM PST

KYAUKMAE, Shan State — More than 1,000 residents of northern Shan State’s Kyaukme Township fled their homes between Saturday and Tuesday to escape fighting between two rival armed groups, the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS).

The families, mostly ethnic Bamar and Ta'ang, fled three villages and are taking shelter at monasteries in the urban center of the township. Most are women and children, as many of the men stayed behind to guard their properties.

"Because I fled my village in a hurry, I could not bring any belongings with me. I grow corn and paddy and I left behind my corn harvest and also my buffalos," said Ma Nan Hla Han, from Pan Lawk Village.

The families said there had been no fighting near their villages before.

Ko Thar Zaw, a Kyaukme resident assisting the families, said people continued to flee Lwei Sa Village on Wednesday.

"Only one-fourth of the people who have fled here are men; the rest are women and children," he said.

"I don't want to see fighting. I want to live a peaceful life. I am not afraid of soldiers, but I am afraid of guns," said Daw Khin Mar Swe, the headmistress of Nanpyin Village.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, non-governmental organizations and regional lawmakers have distributed relief supplies to the families, but many still do not have enough food.

"We want peace. The places that are suffering [from fighting] want peace the most. Because there is no peace, people are struggling just to survive, not to mention to secure their livelihoods," said U Tin Maung Oo, a trustee of a community-based committee that helps displaced people in Kyaukme.

While the RCSS is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, the SSPP is not.

The two armed groups have clashed repeatedly in Hsipaw, Kyaukme and Namtu townships in northern Shan State since November 2015. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, another armed group, is backing the SSPP.

According to the groups themselves, the RCSS and TNLA fought about 40 battles in 2018 alone.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post More Than 1,000 Flee Latest Fighting Between Rival Armed Groups in Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Yangon Timeout

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 01:59 AM PST

Amcham February Social Networking Night

This is a useful event for those in and around the Amcham networking circle and those looking to get involved. Make new connections and useful contacts as well as keeping up to date with like-minded attendees.

Feb. 15 | 7 p.m. | Sedona Hotel Yangon | Kabar Aye Pagoda Road | Tickets 20,000 kyats (Amcham members), 25,000 kyats (non-members)

Homage to Nature: Solo Exhibition by Kyaw Nyo

Artist Kyaw Nyo's first solo exhibition will be launched with an opening reception at the gallery on Saturday Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. This body of work is an intricate study of the details and landscapes of nature and Myanmar's native trees using his signature abstract style. The opening will include a demonstration by the artist and children are invited to join in.

Feb. 16 to 19 | River Gallery | 33/35, 37th& 38th Streets, Kyauktada Township

WHO I AM: Identity and Belonging in Myanmar

What does the word identity mean to people in Myanmar? How do they see themselves and their place in society? How do they want to be seen by others? This photography exhibition is the result of a photography workshop for youth organized by The Heinrich Boell Foundation and lead by photographer Yu Yu Myint Than. The images are presented in addition to twelve collaborative portraits shot by French portrait photographer Nico Djavanshir. Opening event on Saturday Feb. 16 at 3 p.m.

Feb. 16 to 26 | Pansuriya Gallery | 100 Bogalayzay Street, Botahtaung Township

Creative Platform Series: Formulating our Future

In this event of the Creative Platform art talk series hosted by The Japan Foundation and Myanm/art, hear a talk by Thai artist and researcher Henry Tan. The artist likes to focus his work on the erosion of individual beliefs and culturally grounded understanding with regard to contemporary technologies of communication and control.

Feb. 16 | 6 p.m. | Myanm/art | 3FL, 98 Bogalayzay Street, Botahtaung Township

YouthSpeak Forum: Women Empowerment Towards Economic Growth

YouthSpeak Forum is a series of events that connects today’s youth leaders with business professionals to have meaningful conversations about pressing global issues. This edition will focus on Sustainable Development Goal 5 which is to ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life as well as to give women equal rights to economic resources.

Feb. 16 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | National Management Degree College | Botahtaung Pagoda Road

The Reasonibilists Live

The Reasonibilists are an up-and-coming young Myanmar band whose music fuses many different elements, with influences including The Smiths and The National. Their upbeat and catchy riffs, combined with a mix of melancholic lyrical themes brings out a unique vibe.

Feb. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Union Bar & Grill | 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung Township

Trashion to Passion Art Installation 

Organized by Thant Myanmar in association with those behind art gallery Wired on 39 Street, this is a public, interactive art installation raising awareness about plastic pollution in our oceans.

Feb. 16 | 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Mahabandoola Park | Kyauktada Township

Maker's Market

By the second edition of this monthly market event, it had already become a sensation. On this third Marker's Market, spend an afternoon or evening with the family or friends in the outdoors and peruse top homegrown locally-sourced crafts, arts, food and fashion. Alala, Swap Up Yangon, Lilla, Nicco, Chin Chilli, Wolf Kitchen, Jamunmai and Sunflower Organic Dye Textile are just a few fantastic local brands that will be there this weekend.

Feb. 17 | 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Karaweik Gardens | Kandawgyi Nature Park, Yangon, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township

Myanmar Entrepreneurs Monthly Meetup

This month's theme focuses on Lifestyle and attendees will have a chance to meet and chat with special guest Lynn Yang Wolf, founder and director of Wolf Kitchen. MMEN is a platform for entrepreneurs and investors to gather, share ideas on doing business in Myanmar, learn from each other on key areas or even form partnerships.

Feb. 18 | 8:30 p.m. | Signature Fine Dining & Garden Bistro | Corner of Kabar Aye Pagoda Street and Kan Yeik Thar Street

World Press Photo 6×6 Global Talent Exhibition

A special exhibition of the World Press Photo Foundation's 6×6 Global Talent Program will showcase stories by each of the six talents from Southeast Asia and Oceania, Africa, South America, Europe and North and Central America in the outdoors for all members of the public to see. World Press Photo encourages diverse accounts of the world that present stories from different perspectives.

Feb. 18 to March 5 | Mahabandoola Park | Kyauktada Township

Four Hands Art Exhibition

This is a duet exhibition by artists Christine Fayon and Htoo Aung Kyaw. The artists use different mediums and though they are not from the same cultural or religious background nor do they have the same way of living or thinking, they have exactly the same aim: to show that art is universal.

Feb. 20 to 24 | OK Art Gallery | North Side of Aung San Stadium, Gyoe Phyu Road

The post Yangon Timeout appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Proposes Single Amendment to Constitution

Posted: 14 Feb 2019 12:55 AM PST

MAYPYITAW — The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has put forward a bill to amend Article 261 of the Constitution that would, if approved, see regional chief ministers elected by local legislatures rather than appointed by the president.

Lower House USDP lawmaker U Thaung Aye, who submitted the proposal, said the change would benefit ethnic minorities.

"This will contribute to national unity, ethnic rights and to freedom and justice," he told reporters in Naypyitaw on Wednesday.

The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) submitted an urgent proposal to the Union Parliament to form a committee to draft amendments to the military-drafter Constitution on Feb 8. Despite opposition from military-appointed lawmakers and the military-backed USDP, Parliament approved it decisively.

While the NLD is likely to propose a raft of changes to the charter — which grants the military special powers and privileges — the USDP is suggesting just one.

According to Chapter 12 of the Constitution, a bill to amend the charter must be submitted by at least 20 percent of lawmakers in Parliament. Since the USDP lacks the numbers, it collaborated with the military and some ethnic minority parties to submit its proposal.

The NLD constitutes 59 percent of Parliament, ethnic minority parties 11 percent, the USDP 5 percent, and the military — as guaranteed by the Constitution — 25 percent. U Thaung Aye, an ex-general, declined to comment on which ethnic minority parties the USDP cooperated with.

Brig. Gen. Maung Maung, who leads military-appointed lawmakers in Parliament, said he did not know the details of the bill.

Lawmaker Daw Khin Saw Wai, of the Arakan National Party, suggested that her party did not cooperated with the USDP to submit the bill but said it has wanted to change Article 261 for a long time.

"I think the time is right. As the USDP cooperated with the Tatmadaw [military], the proposed amendment should be a success," she told The Irrawaddy.

Article 261 (d) states that the person appointed by the president as the chief minister of a region or state shall not be refused by the region or state parliament unless it can clearly prove that the person does not meet the qualifications for the post.

"Our policy is to change what needs to be changed, and we have begun with what is needed most for the people and our ethnic brethren," said U Thaung Aye.

At an event in October to mark the third anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing spoke in favor of local legislatures electing chief ministers.

A meeting to form the committee to draft the constitutional amendments on Friday was postponed when the military and USDP objected to appointing its members based on how many seats each party holds in the Union Parliament. They want an equal numbers of seats on the committee for each party.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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