Thursday, May 2, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Army Says 6 Villagers Shot Dead in Detention in N. Rakhine

Posted: 02 May 2019 08:01 AM PDT

YANGON—Six villagers from northern Rakhine State's Rathedaung Township were shot dead while in Army detention at around 2.00 a.m. on Thursday, while eight others were wounded and four were missing, according to the Myanmar Army.

The shooting took place in Kyauk Tan village, situated 17 km north of the Ratheadung urban area.

Those killed and wounded were among 275 people temporarily held by the Army at a government school in the village since Tuesday. The Office of the Commander-in-Chief announced the detention on the same day, saying that men aged between 15 and 50 in Kyauktan village were held on suspicion of having ties with the Arakan Army (AA).

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw (Military) Information Team confirmed the deaths of six villagers and injuries to eight others to The Irrawaddy on Thursday. He said the Army had no choice but to open fire on the detainees as they tried to snatch guns from the soldiers.

On Thursday evening, the military information team released another announcement on the incident, mostly identical to what Brig-Gen. Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy but with the addition that four people were missing.

"Around 1 a.m., some [detainees] started to get wild, shouting at the security forces and attempting to attack them. We issued some warnings, including firing some warning shots. But it was in vain. They even tried to snatch the security forces' weapons. So, the security forces finally opened fire," he said.

The brigadier general said the Army overtook some AA camps on April 28 and 30 near Buthidaung Township. He added the Army was informed that some escaped AA members were taking shelter at Kyauktan village, and interrogated 275 men, assuring them that if they had no ties with the AA they would be released.

As of Thursday afternoon, all eight wounded had been taken to the General Hospital in Sittwe, Rakhine State's capital. But the bodies of those killed were still in the village and villagers were under interrogation, according to some locals.

A schoolteacher from Kyauk Tan village said dozens of soldiers came into the village at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday and then ordered a village official to publicly announce that the Army would be questioning residents.

The village official announced that those aged over 15 must come to the school and if they failed to follow the order, the military would not be responsible for the consequences if someone hid or was found during household inspections by soldiers and border police. Then, about 400 men were assembled at the village school.

Later on, some 100 people aged under 15 and above 60 were released.  Until evening, the situation was calm but at around 2.00 a.m., the villagers were awoken by gunshots and some artillery explosions.

A schoolteacher said, "We clearly heard about 20 gunshots in the school at night and some very loud screaming of villagers was heard from there."

At 11 a.m. Thursday morning, the Army allowed wounded persons to be transported for medical treatment. At around 12 a.m., patients were transported by boat to Zay Di Pyin model village's hospital for emergency care. They were expected to be brought to Sittwe Hospital in the afternoon.

Zay Di Pyin villager Zaw Myo Tun helped the wounded patients at his village and live-streamed the situation.

One patient whose abdomen was wrapped in a bandage said that while detainees were sleeping in the middle of the school sports pitch, a detainee who had been scared by the detention jumped over the fence and escaped. Soldiers fired at the man and more than 200 detainees stood up to see what was happening. Unexpectedly, soldiers surrounded them from both sides and fired into the crowd.

The Irrawaddy was unable to reach any eyewitnesses by phone on Thursday.

The schoolteacher said that as of 10 a.m. this morning, dozens of soldiers were stationed in the village. Emergency rescue teams, including members of the International Red Cross (ICRC) as well as lawmakers, have been banned from entering the village to pick up the bodies or patients.

Schoolteachers and multiple sources from the village identified the dead villagers as Zaw Latt, Maung Win, La Phyu Thee, Than Khae Aung, Maung Than Oo, Aung Zaw Linn and Kha Mwee Chay.

In April, apart from Kayuktan village, several clashes happened between the AA and Army troops in Rathedaung Township.

The post Army Says 6 Villagers Shot Dead in Detention in N. Rakhine appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Yangon Timeout

Posted: 02 May 2019 06:12 AM PDT

Silence is Golden Vol. 2 Launch

Silence is Golden is a DVD-magazine about contemporary art in Myanmar since the political changes of 2015 – 2019. Created by curator and artist Aung Myat Htay, the content features video interviews with some of Myanmar's most prominent contemporary artists including Htein Lin, Maung Di, Zun Ei Phyu, Sow Yu Nwe, Maung Day and more. The launch event will give attendees the opportunity to meet some of the featured artists and drinks and snacks will be provided.

May 3 | 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | The Japan Foundation | No.70 Nat Mauk Lane 1, Bahan Township

Yangon ICT Fair

The biggest companies and players in Myanmar's ICT industry will come together for a three-day fair held this weekend at Tatmadaw Hall. Meet representatives of Nippon, Prolink, Technoland, Vanguard Business Solutions and many more. Companies will offer special promotions on products throughout the event.

May 3 to 5 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Tatmadaw Hall | U Wisara Road, Dagon Township

Back to the 90s Party

Dance back to your youth at this 90s-themed party where DJ Eric will be playing the unmistakably cheesy top tunes from the 90s. Bicycle shorts, dungarees and other 90s attire are optional.

May 3 | 7 p.m. | The Penthouse | 8th Floor, Parkside One Building, 271-273 Bagayar Street, Sanchaung Township

Attachment — Art Exhibition by Ma Charm

Artist Ma Charm paints colorful abstract portraits featuring Myanmar women and the theme for this latest exhibition is attachment. Her paintings show attachment in various forms, be it to a pet, possession or person. This is her third solo exhibition and will run over three days this weekend.

May 3 to 5 | Gallery 65 | No. 65, Yaw Min Gyi Road, Dagon Township

Open Workshop at Turquoise Mountain

Witness the Turquoise Mountain artisans create handmade jewelry inspired by Myanmar's rich heritage. This event also sees the launch of a new line of Pippa Small-designed jewelry produced in collaboration with Turquoise Mountain, a non-profit organization which works in a number of countries and focuses on heritage restoration, traditional crafts and related skills and jobs.

May 4 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Turquoise Mountain Myanmar | 14-16, 21st Street (Lower Block), Latha Township

May the 4th Be With You

This is a quirky Star Wars-themed open house day at Climb O' Clock climbing center. Anyone who comes to climb dressed in Star Wars-themed clothing gets to climb for free all day on Saturday!

May 4 | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Climb O' Clock | 861 Zagar Street, South Okkalapa Township

Together Festival

This is said to be one of the biggest EDM festivals in Southeast Asia and now it's coming back to Yangon for a fifth year. DJs performing on the day include Jauz, Skimm, R3hab, Alison Wonderland and many other popular international acts. Tickets cost upwards of 35,000 kyats (general admission).

May 4 | 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. | Thuwannabhumi Event Park | Thanthuma Road, Thingangyun Township

Makers Market

This is the fifth Makers Market, a popular afternoon/evening event where you will find an exciting range of the finest locally made and handmade arts and crafts, clothing, food and food vendors and get the chance to meet the makers, designers and artists behind the products. Some interesting new vendors at this edition include Studio Art Face Myanmar, Apyone Myanmar Textiles and Moo Chuu Footwear.

May 5 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Karaweik Gardens | Kandawgyi Nature Park, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township

Cinco de Mayo Festival at Yangon Yangon

Cinco de Mayo is a major festival which celebrates Mexico's victory over the French empire in the 1860s. Today a bigger event in the United States that at home, this festival is more of a celebration of Mexican culture and is marked with colorful parades, parties and plenty of drinking. In honor of the day, Yangon Yangon has an event with three hours of free-flow Mexican beer, tacos and nachos. Tickets 30,000 kyats (early bird) and 35,000 kyats (at the door).

May 5 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Yangon Yangon | Sakura Tower, Bogyoke Aung San Street, Kyauktada Township

G Talk Yangon: Touching on Equality 

At this sixth G Talk event, Little Dragons organizers Bradley Edwards and Josh Peck will talk about how their organization works in Yangon to empower youth and promote gender equality, education and youth development through sport.

May 6 | 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Hotel G | 5 Alan Pya Pagoda Street, Dagon Township

Standup Asia Live Comedy

Andrew Netto is one of Malaysia's biggest comedians and a famous emcee who is headlining this next comedy event by Standup Asia at Park Royal Hotel this Wednesday. He will be supported by Canadian Brian Aylward and Malaysian Prakash Daniel for a night of giggles. Tickets $8.

May 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Club 5 | Park Royal Yangon, Alan Pya Pagoda Street, Dagon Township

The post Yangon Timeout appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Tensions High Following Mon-Karen Clash at Three Pagodas Pass

Posted: 02 May 2019 06:02 AM PDT

Military tensions have heightened between Mon and Karen rebels over a territorial dispute in the strategic area of Three Pagodas Pass in Karen State near the Thailand-Myanmar border following a skirmish on Monday, according to local sources.

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), blocked all roads into Tha Dein Village where the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) troops have a military base causing tensions to rise. Both sides have been closely watching the other's movements, with the KNLA calling in additional troops yesterday in preparation for an attack on the Mon group's base.

The New Mon State Party (NMSP) informed the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, on Wednesday about the KNLA blocking roads in the area, confining locals to the village, including ill persons requiring treatment at hospitals outside.

According to the NMSP, following their complaint, the KNLA reopened one road.

"They opened one road only for civilians to use but they continue to block other roads in order to stop our troops' movements," Nai Oung Thein, the NMSP's deputy liaison officer, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

If the KNLA come inside the village, he said, his army will fight.

"We will not go [out] to attack them, but if they come into our area, we are prepared to fight them back."

A small clash broke out on Monday between the KNLA and the MNLA in a disputed territory where NMSP staff are carrying out a logging project. When KNLA troops came in to stop the logging, the skirmish broke out.

"The main problem is that they accused us of cutting timber in an area where they control. But this is not true—that area is under our control," he said.

In explaining the details on Monday's clash, he said the KNLA offered to negotiate via a local who came to the logging project area. But as soon as he left, the KNLA began firing at the NMSP soldiers anyway.

"They fired shots first and the shells fell near our troops. Fortunately, none of us were hurt," said Nai Oung Thein.

The fighting continued for thirty minutes before the KNLA troops left the area, according to the NMSP. Neither party has reported any casualties following the clash.

Regarding the suggested negotiations on the territorial dispute Nai Oung Thein said he did not know yet whether his party's top level would agree to meet with the KNU.

The NMSP liaison office has attempted to arrange a negotiation session with their opponent's liason office, but invites to the KNU side have gone unanswered.

When The Irrawaddy tried to contact the KNU liaison office at Three Pagodas Pass for comment, the relevant persons were unavailable.

The disputed area been seen peace since the NMSP signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar government in 1995. Both the KNU and the NMSP later made verbal agreements to work towards local development and economic improvement, especially in that area of forestry.

When the NMSP carried out a logging project there in the past, they agreed to give the KNU 400 Thai baht for every ton of timber they harvested. But this time, the KNU did not accept the payment, and instead insisted the area belongs to them only.

The post Tensions High Following Mon-Karen Clash at Three Pagodas Pass appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

With the Bear and the Dragon, Myanmar Military Plays Safe

Posted: 02 May 2019 05:43 AM PDT

Military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's high-level visits to China and Russia in April demonstrated that Myanmar's once isolated military continues to diversify while keeping its traditional allies happy.

During his visit to China, the message from the commander-in-chief in Myanmar was loud and clear: "Myanmar regards China as an eternal friend and a strategic partnercountry," reads a press release issued by Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's office as he was meeting with top civilian and military officials in Beijing.

The visit came ahead of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to China to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum and, more importantly, send a message toWa rebels as they were holding their 30th anniversary celebrations.

Myanmar needs China's support and understanding more than ever.

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh since August 2017 to escape a military crackdown triggered by coordinated attacks on security posts in Rakhine State by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. The UN called the military's actions a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."

Last year, China voted against the UN Human Rights Council's move to establish a body to investigate possible genocide in Myanmar.

"Myanmar is thankful for China as a good neighbor for its correct stance and standing against the international community over the Rakhine State issue," the commander-in-chief said. Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing also told Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing that Myanmar's military was ready to cooperate on implementing China's ambitious BRI, which he said includes a host of projects that could benefit Myanmar. This statement should appease the Chinese.

But behind the handshakes and smiles between the two leaders, there is uneasiness. (The most recent visit was Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's fifth. His first overseas visit as commander-in-chief of military forces was to Vietnam in 2011—a move seen by observers as snubbing "big brother" China.)

An SU-30 fighter jet / Scramble Magazine

'External Destructive Elements'

Diplomatic relations between Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China were established in 1950. They remain complicated due to China's economic and geopolitical interest in the country, unresolved border issues and Beijing's backing of ethnic insurgents in Myanmar along the Chinese border.

Underneath the rhetoric during his visit, the really pressing issue between China and Myanmar (which share a border that is more than 2,000 km long) is the powerful ethnic armies stationed along China's border with Myanmar. These groups, known collectively as the "Northern Alliance", are well funded, well armed, resourceful and backed by China.

During the visit, China requested that Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing extend the military's unilateral ceasefire. On Tuesday, the Army announced that the ceasefire has been extended until June.

In a limited edition, 99-page paper released in 2016, the Myanmar military specifically mentioned the military build-up of neighboring countries, and in particular China's involvement with ethnic armed groups along the border, though the paper also lauded China's emergence as a 21st-century power.

In the paper it mentioned "external and internal destructive elements who oppose national reconciliation and the development of border areas."

Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing is no stranger to Chinese and ethnic insurgents along the shared border.

In August 2009, then General Min Aung Hlaing, who was at that time chief of Special Operations 2, led an offensive against one of the ethnic groups in the region, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), forcing over 30,000 refugees to flee to the Chinese side.

The surprise offensive undoubtedly strained relations between the two countries, particularly as the Kokang are ethnically Chinese.

Beijing warned the junta at the time to "properly handle domestic problems and maintain stability on the China-Myanmar border." A headline in The New York Times bore the bold headline: "Myanmar Army Routs Ethnic Chinese Rebels in the North."

Chinese President Xi Jinping receives Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 10. / Commander-in-Chief's Office website

The Kokang are a Han Chinese group, and generally speak Mandarin. The MNDAA is led by Peng Jiasheng, who is believed to be hiding in China or in nearby Wa territory.

The conflict erupted again 2015 when the Kokang rebels launched an offensive to retake their former headquarters, Laukkai.

The Myanmar Army mobilized troops and employed air power to quell the offensive, prompting the Chinese to ask the two sides to resolve the dispute peacefully so that refugees who had fled across the border could return home.

Then-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing claimed he would defend Myanmar's sovereignty by driving out foreign ethnic nationals, specifically the ethnic Kokang Chinese. This no doubt upset the Chinese.

Myanmar's generals have always been cautious in their dealings with China, and Beijing has long been suspected of supporting certain armed ethnic groups in northern Myanmar, particularly the United Wa State Army and the Kokang.

Therefore, the issue of stability along the border with China was discussed during the recent visit. Myanmar promised to ensure stability in border areas and Beijing repeated its commitment to support peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar. But in reality, this is going to be difficult. Ethnic rebels based along the China-Myanmar border have developed not only lucrative trade ties but also patron-client relations with China. The Myanmar military's containment strategy over ethnic armed groups along the border definitely needs to be defined and reviewed.

Toys for Boys in Russia

After his China visit, Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing went to Russia in the same month to attend the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security. Myanmar shares no border with Russia and there are no proxy armies in Russia's pocket fighting against Myanmar; this means the two sides can get straight down to business.

Like China, Russia is not interested in issues of democracy, human rights and press freedom in Myanmar. It is a relationship of convenience between the two.

A rebel soldier of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army places an ammunition belt around the neck of another soldier at a military base in Kokang region on March 10, 2015. / Reuters

During the visit, Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's delegation visited several military facilities. Russia is currently assembling six Sukhoi SU-30SM fighter jets for Myanmarunder a contract worth about US$204 million (310.66 billion kyats) signed between the two nations last year. Previously, Myanmar bought MiG29B fighter jets and Yak-130 trainer aircraft from Russia. Myanmar also operates Mi-17, Mi-24 and Mi-35 combat helicopters.

At a press conference, Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing praised Russia's military hardware, saying it was "very useful" for the Tatmadaw in key locations in Myanmar.

Upon meeting Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu said, "I have learned that the Myanmar delegation visited Russian arms manufacturing enterprises and examined their production and manufacturing capacity. Now you have an independent opinion of our capabilities."

Interestingly, Shoigu said Russia considers Myanmar to be a reliable ally and strategic partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

Russia and Myanmar established ties in 1948, and three years later opened embassies in each other's countries. Like China, Russia also voted at the U.N Security Council to block a resolution on Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Myanmar was the fifth-biggest importer of Russian weapons and aircraft in 2014, spending $20.4 million on Russian weapons in that year. Additionally, Myanmar sends officers to Russian military academies for training. (The Tatmadaw also sends officers to India, China, Japan and Israel.)

China is one of Myanmar's biggest trading partners but trade between Myanmar and Russia is very modest. Russia has invested in the energy sector but Russian businessmen still see Myanmar as a risky market.

However, Myanmar imports machinery, industrial equipment and vehicles, chemical products and metals from Russia and exports rice and textiles to the country.

Myanmar military troops take part in an exercise in the Irrawaddy Delta region on Feb. 3, 2018. / REUTERS

But defense ties between the two are strong, as Myanmar military leaders look beyond China to search for advanced and reliable weapons.

Moreover, Myanmar also sees Russia as a helpful "big brother" to counterbalance the influence of China, India and Western powers. Some observers see Myanmar as a strategic market for Russia, which is eyeing increased arms sales in the region.

Submarines Next?

Interestingly, Myanmar's military delegation paid a visit to St. Petersburg's Admiralteyskie Verfy Shipyard, one of the largest in Russia. There, the senior general and his team studied the manufacture, repair and maintenance of submarines.

It is an open secret that Myanmar's leaders want to acquire submarines, as the country has recently built up its naval capabilities. Over the past decade, Myanmar naval officers have undergone technical training in Russia, India and Pakistan. It is believed that Myanmar generals have been looking at several types of submarines, with diesel-powered models being the most likely option, as they are the best fit for Myanmar's waters.

When the military conducted its Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield 2019 in the Bay of Bengal, Commodore Moe Aung, Navy chief of staff, told the press that Myanmar was planning to buy submarines.

The Royal Thai Navy signed a contract with China to buy a diesel-electric submarine in May 2017. The vessel is expected to be delivered by 2023.

In 2017, the Bangladesh Navy also bought two refurbished Type 035G (Ming class) submarines from China.

Over the past decade, the Myanmar Navy has upgraded its frigates, corvettes and missile boats, and improved its domestic shipyards with help from foreign countries, especially China and Russia. Looking at Thailand and Bangladesh, the Myanmar Navy wants to safeguard its long coastline and foreign and maritime security threats, as well as tackle human trafficking, arms smuggling, terrorism and drug trafficking.

Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation view the manufacture, repair and maintenance of submarines the Admiralteyskie Verfy Shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 16. / Commander-in-Chief Office's website

In 2008, Myanmar and Bangladesh sent warships into the Bay of Bengal amid escalating tensions over a vast disputed gas find. And with growing unresolved migration issues along the border, Myanmar military leaders no doubt see Bangladesh as a threat.

In 2001-02, Myanmar engaged in serious military skirmishes with Thailand on the northern border in Mae Sai-Tachilek.

Thailand scrambled F-16 jet fighters in the border region and successfully disrupted communications between commanders and frontline troops. Myanmar's generals were humiliated and subsequently bought Russian-made MiG-29 jet fighters and missiles, and even sent secret military delegations to North Korea to buy more weapons.

'Guardian of the State'

According to the 2016 defense strategy paper, in which the military outlined its strategies and policies, one of its key goals is to build a strong, competent and modern patriotic force to serve as the guardian of the state. The military has also improved relations with neighbors including Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Japan and Russia.

The immediate concern Myanmar and the military face is continuing pressure from the West, including sanctions.

This week, the European Union extended an arms embargo and placed sanctions on 14 top military and border officials. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told the media that most of the military's weaponry systems come not from the EU, "but from Russia and China, so Myanmar will not be affected very much."

With Western sanctions on Myanmar remaining in place, Myanmar generals will have zero chance to forge military relations with the U.S., the E.U. and others in the West.

It is true that Myanmar's generals will have to contend with regional and traditional allies. The military is accused of human rights violations while wanting to retain its national political role. It is impossible that the generals will get a welcome reception in the West.

When it comes to the Bear and the Dragon, history teaches Myanmar's military leaders that their best bet is to play safe.

Aung Zaw is founding editor-in-chief of The Irrawaddy.

The post With the Bear and the Dragon, Myanmar Military Plays Safe appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Struggle Continues for Myanmar Migrants in Thailand

Posted: 02 May 2019 05:20 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—Myanmar migrant workers and advocacy groups in Thailand have called for their rights to minimum wages, safety at work, better accesses to social security and smoother work permit and visa extension application processes on International Labor Day, or May Day.

While many migrant workers participated in the May Day march in Phang-nga, southern Thailand, dozens more gathered for a discussion event on Wednesday in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, alongside migrant rights advocates and experts, to share their experiences with the Thai government authorities.

Nang Mya, a Myanmar housemaid working in Chiang Mai, said she doesn't get paid a full minimum wage despite working for eight hours a day.

"I want to earn the daily minimum wage (320 Thai baht in Chiang Mai), but I get 300 baht per day. When I asked my employer [about it], they said they could only give that amount," she said, adding that even though her pay doesn't meet the minimum, her job here earns her more than she earned in Myanmar.

Ko Latt, who works at a shop which sells Buddhist shrines said that even though he earns above the minimum wage, he doesn't receive payment for overtime.

"I have been working in Thailand for six years and I do not get days off for public holidays. If I take leave on those days, I do not get paid. And there is no payment for extra hours after eight hours a day. There is no lunch break either. The accommodation is bad too. If I get sick, the employer would not care and there are no labor rights," he told The Irrawaddy.

Other difficulties faced by migrant workers from Myanmar are higher costs for visa extensions, for obtaining official documents and social security issues, said Pi Thong Khan, adviser in migrant affairs at the Migrant Assistant Program (MAP) based in Chiang Mai.

"They (migrant workers) are worried about what to do when their visas expire next year," she said, saying the window during which migrants must renew their visas is between just 20 and 30 days. Additionally, an inadequate number of one-stop government service centers has led to the centers being packed with thousands of migrants which created more opportunities for brokers to exploit migrants.

To tackle illegal migration and to reduce issues with undocumented migrants, the Thai and Myanmar governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2009 and since then have introduced a number of schemes to improve the documentation process for those working in Thailand unofficially.

Many Myanmar migrants who had been working in Thailand for decades were unable to travel from one province to another until the government began issuing temporary Myanmar passports in 2009. Then, in 2013, there was a renewed push for migrants in Thailand to apply for regular passports which are valid for five years. To obtain these passports, however, all have to go through a national verification process to prove that they are Myanmar citizens, and to do this they must have national identification cards and household registration documents. And these are hard to come by.

"The passport should be one that migrants can use for a long time, and the cost should be reduced," Pi Thong Khan said, referring to the additional broker fees which migrant workers often have to pay in order to get the help of agents to overcome the complicated application processes.

"We don't want to have to go through brokers, as [we] have to pay them more fees than the normal costs," she added.

Despite these difficulties, as of September 2018 there are over 2.2 million people  Myanmar workers officially registered in Thailand. Myanmar workers make up the highest number of foreign workers followed at some distance by Cambodia (more than 820,000 workers) and Laos (nearly 300,000) who are registered.

Among the 2.2 million workers, those with certificates of identification make up more than one million. Those whose visas will expire in March 2020 are more than 777,000.

Labor rights groups estimate there could be tens of thousands more undocumented, particularly in the agriculture sector, construction and seasonal industries.

Jai Han, a construction worker who has been working in Thailand for 10 years said it would be good if "the Myanmar government could help migrant workers who hold certificates of identity to get official passports with the help of the embassy instead of [them having to go] back to Myanmar."

He also requested for the Thai government "to help migrants access safe working environments, to allow visa extensions for their dependents and to give migrant better work opportunities and not restrict them."

Although there are demands from migrant workers for better labor rights and from labor advocates for better government policies, the visa and passport processes are the same as ever, according to U Htoo Chit, director of the Foundation for Education Development, based in Phang-nga, southern Thailand.

He said he has seen many more Thai employers encourage their employees to obtain the official documents compared to previous decades, but that the government has not yet provided policies to smoothen processes for migrant workers.

Since the 2009 MOU process was introduced, many more in the fishery sector—considered the most exploited sector employing migrants—have become legal. There are now more than 20,000 official laborers working in Thai waters, he added. Last year, the Thai and Myanmar governments agreed to increase employment efforts aiming to hire more than 42,000 workers.

"We explained to the workers that having certificates of identity and going through national verification is good for them, but many of them could not afford the high cost [compared to their wages]," he said.

He added that for those who have had to leave their homes in Myanmar due to civil war and those who are not members of the indigenous ethnic groups, like Gurkhas and Muslims, the troublesome verification processes continue to hamper their efforts in obtaining the necessary official documents.

The post The Struggle Continues for Myanmar Migrants in Thailand appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

11 Years after Cyclone Nargis, Many Are Still Feeling Its Effects

Posted: 02 May 2019 04:50 AM PDT

Eleven years ago today, Myanmar experienced the worst natural disaster in its recorded history as Cyclone Nargis, generating winds of over 200 kph and torrential rainfall, took the lives of some 130,000 people.

The military government of the time declared Irrawaddy, Yangon and Bago regions, along with Mon and Karen states, as disaster areas. The Irrawaddy Delta bore the brunt of the disaster, with over 2 million people affected, including more than 100,000 fatalities.

While the cyclone caused catastrophic destruction, the situation was worsened by the government's failure to undertake real-time search and rescue operations, and its decision to restrict international aid.

While rehabilitation programs were launched, many Irrawaddy Delta residents left their hometowns to make a living in other parts of the country, as the industry that provided their major livelihood, fishing, was destroyed by the cyclone. More than a decade on, many families are still struggling to put the nightmare behind them.

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Township Lawmaker Accuses Hotels of Spoiling Ngapali’s Natural Beauty

Posted: 02 May 2019 04:25 AM PDT

SITTWE—A proposal was submitted on Monday to take legal action against hotels encroaching on Ngapali Beach, in the Thandwe region of southern Rakhine State.

Thandwe Township lawmaker Nai Kyue Aye submitted the proposal, saying that nine beachfront hotels—Aureum Palace Hotel, Jasmine Hotel, Amazing Hotel, Ngapali Paradise Hotel, Hilton Hotel, PVI Hotel, BT Bay Hotel, Memento Hotel and Jade Marina Hotel—have encroached on the sand area on the ocean side of their properties.

Those hotels, he said, have spoiled the natural beauty of the beach by constructing swimming pools, retaining walls, restaurants and security guard posts on the beach next to their hotels detracting from the beach's beauty.

In 2016, Ngapali was voted the top beach destination in Asia in TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards. Now, it is not even in TripAdvisor's list of top 25 beaches in the world.

According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism guidelines on coastal beach resort areas, construction sites must be 50 meters back from the high-tide mark, must avoid building walls or fences that block views of the beach and must not use beach sand.

Of the nine hotels that have encroached on the beach, the Thandwe Township municipality has filed a lawsuit only against the Aureum Hotel, said the lawmaker.

The Rakhine State parliament has approved discussing Nai Kyue Aye's proposal. Rakhine State minister for planning and finance U Kyaw Aye Thein said he would make a field inspection this week.

Rakhine State Parliament Speaker U San Kyaw Hla called for a speedy investigation into the case.

According to the Thandwe branch of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Ngapali has 35 licensed hotels and guesthouses providing at least 1,300 rooms to tourists. There are also dozens of unlicensed hotels.

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Thai King Surprises with Royal Wedding Ahead of Coronation

Posted: 02 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

BANGKOK—Just days before his official coronation, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Wednesday married the deputy head of his personal guard force and gave her the title Queen Suthida.

The surprise announcement was carried in the Royal Gazette, and footage from Wednesday’s wedding ceremony was later shown on the nightly Royal News segment aired on all Thai television channels.

Vajiralongkorn, 66, also known by the title King Rama X, became constitutional monarch after the death of his revered father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne.

He is due to be officially crowned in elaborate Buddhist and Brahmin ceremonies on Saturday, followed by a procession through Bangkok the next day.

In 2014, Vajiralongkorn appointed Suthida Tidjai, a former flight attendant for Thai Airways, as a deputy commander of his bodyguard unit.

Some royal observers and foreign media had linked Suthida romantically with the king, but the palace had previously never acknowledged a relationship between them.

The king made Suthida a full general in the Royal Thai Army in December 2016, and the deputy commander of the king’s personal guard in 2017. He also made her a Thanpuying, a royal title meaning Lady.

Among the dignitaries at the wedding were Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of the military junta that has run Thailand since a 2014 army coup, as well as other members of the royal family and palace advisers, the wedding footage showed.

Vajiralongkorn has previously been married and divorced three times and has seven children.

While the king took the throne after the death of his father, his formal coronation follows a mourning period for King Bhumibol, whose royal cremation was held a year after his death.

The post Thai King Surprises with Royal Wedding Ahead of Coronation appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

President’s €35.7M Hydropower Loan Plan Presented to Union Parliament

Posted: 02 May 2019 01:49 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW—Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Tun Naing presented President U Win Myint's proposal to obtain €35.7 million (60 billion kyats) in loans from the French Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to be used for major repairs on five hydropower plants throughout Myanmar, to the Union Parliament on Tuesday.

The ministry said that hydropower plants, the main source of power production in Myanmar, are short of water due to rising temperatures across the country. The proposal comes at a time when the commercial capital Yangon and other major cities are experiencing frequent blackouts.

"After repairs, those plants will be able to produce an additional 81 million kilowatts in total per year," said the deputy minister.

According to the ministry, the five hydropower plants to be repaired are the Ye Nwe and Zaung Tu power plants in Bago Region, the Mone Chaung power plant in Magwe Region, the Kin Tar power plant in Mandalay and the Thapan Seik power plant in Sagaing Region.

The renovations will be phased over five years and scheduled to be completed in 2024. The loan will have to be repaid in 20 years at an interest rate of 0.68 percent.

Hydropower plants need major repairs every 10 years, according to the deputy minister. However, these five hydropower plants have not been repaired in between 10 and 30 years, and thus cannot operate at full capacity.

Those plants can currently generate a combined 565 million kilowatts per year, but they lose 246 kilowatts per year due to emergency shutdowns forced by mechanical breakdowns, the deputy minister told the Parliament.

Once repaired, the plants will be able to produce 646 million kilowatts in total, he said.

In the past, some repairs required were beyond the former government's budget, said Lower House lawmaker U Thant Zin Tun.

"These works must be done as the NLD (National League for Democracy) government fulfills the electricity demands as [ably] as it can," he told The Irrawaddy.

The proposal earmarks €5.4 million for repair of the Ye Nwe power plant, €3.3 million for the Mone Chaung power plant, €16.4 million for the Zaung Tu power plant, €2.4 million for the Kin Tar power plant, €6.5 million for the Thapan Seik power plant and €1.7 million for the hiring of a consultancy firm for the projects.

"Those plants are like old buildings. Inferior [equipment] was bought [by the previous government] as there was no money," said U Myat Thin Aung, chairperson of Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone. "The government will earn more [from electricity bills] if electricity can be supplied round the clock. I support repairing with loans."

Lawmakers wishing to debate the proposal are to register by May 3.

The post President's €35.7M Hydropower Loan Plan Presented to Union Parliament appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Leave My Country Alone, Sri Lanka President Tells Islamic State

Posted: 01 May 2019 09:46 PM PDT

COLOMBO—Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to “leave my country alone.”

Sirisena also warned it may be possible Islamic State had launched a “new strategy” by targeting smaller countries, Sky New said on Wednesday.

A government source told Reuters on Tuesday police and other security forces across the Buddhist-majority country had been ordered to remain on high alert because the militants were expected to try to strike again, before the holy month of Ramadan which starts on Monday.

Sirisena said authorities were aware of “a small group” of Sri Lankans who had travelled abroad to receive training from Islamic State over the past decade.

Investigations revealed the bombs used in the Easter attacks were made locally, the president said in the interview.

The suicide bombings on hotels and churches killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.

Police suspect members of two previously little-known groups—National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim—of carrying out the attacks.

On Monday, Islamic State's media network published a video message purporting to come from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists' now-defunct "caliphate" five years ago.

In the video, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Sri Lanka bombings were Islamic State’s response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria.

In the Sky News interview, Sirisena said he had a message for Islamic State: “Leave my country alone.”

Sri Lankan authorities have previously said that they suspect the attackers had international links, although the precise nature of those connections aren’t known. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol, as well as other undisclosed foreign agencies, are helping Sri Lanka with the probe.

Local intelligence officials believe that Zahran Hashim, a Tamil-speaking preacher from the east of the Indian Ocean island country, may have been a key player in plotting the Easter bombings. Officials believe he was one of nine suicide bombers.

The post Leave My Country Alone, Sri Lanka President Tells Islamic State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

K-Pop Stardom Lures Japanese Youth to Korea Despite Diplomatic Chill

Posted: 01 May 2019 09:39 PM PDT

SEOUL—Yuuka Hasumi put high school in Japan on hold and flew to South Korea in February to try her chances at becoming a K-pop star, even if that means long hours of vocal and dance training, no privacy, no boyfriend, and even no phone.

Hasumi, 17, joined Acopia School in Seoul, a prep school offering young Japanese a shot at K-pop stardom, teaching them the dance moves, the songs and also the language.

She is one of an estimated one million other K-pop star wannabes, from South Korea and abroad, hoping to get a shot at super competitive auditions by major talent agencies that will take on just a select few as “trainees.”

“It is tough,” Hasumi said in Japanese, drenched in sweat from a dance lesson she attended with 15-year-old friend Yuho Wakamatsu, also from Japan.

“Going through a strict training and taking my skill to a higher level to a perfect stage, I think that’s when it is good to make a debut,” she said.

Hasumi is one of 500 or so young Japanese who join Acopia each year, paying up to $3,000 a month for training and board.

The school also fixes auditions for its candidates with talent management companies that have been the driving force behind the “Korean-wave” pop culture that exploded onto the world stage in the past decade with acts such as global chart topping boy band BTS.

The influx of Japanese talent that is reshaping the K-pop industry comes at a time of increasingly bitter political acrimony between the two countries that has damaged diplomatic ties.

That the tension has done little to dent the K-pop craze among Japanese youth, and the willingness by Korean agencies to take on Japanese talent, speak to the strength of the ties between their people, according to one long-time observer.

“They’re nuts about BTS over there in Japan,” said Lee Soo-chul, board member of Seoul-Tokyo Forum, a private foundation with members of diplomats and business executives from both countries.

K-pop groups, and veteran Korean musicians, are selling out concert halls throughout Japan, said Lee, a former head of Samsung Group’s Japanese operations. “There is no Korea-Japan animosity there.”

Deep freeze

Tensions rooted in Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of Korea have risen after South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms for forced labor, and amid a perception in Korea that Japan’s leadership has not adequately atoned for its colonial past.

But the popularity of Korean culture and K-pop music is on the rise in Japan, with many fans and artists saying they are not bothered by the diplomatic tension.

"I might get criticized for being Japanese, but I want to stand on a stage and make [South Koreans] know Japanese can be this cool," said Rikuya Kawasaki, a 16-year-old Japanese K-pop star hopeful who auditioned unsuccessfully in Tokyo for Acopia School.

For schools and agencies, Japan’s music market—the second largest after the United States and bigger than China—is a big prize and many have been on a campaign to recruit Japanese talent.

“It will be good if Japan and South Korea will get along through music,” Hasumi told Reuters during a break from her Korean language class.

Some Japanese transplants have already made it big. The three Japanese members of the girl band Twice helped make the group the second most popular act in Japan, after BTS.

Their success has prompted JYP Entertainment, the South Korean agency backing Twice, to plan the launch of an idol group comprising only Japanese girls.

JYP declined to comment for this story.

Agency officials are reluctant to discuss their success in Japan and the infusion of Japanese talent, wary of fueling a politically charged backlash, industry sources said.

Hard road to stardom

There’s no shortage of Japanese hopefuls willing to train under talent agencies’ watchful eye, some having left successful careers back home in search of K-pop fame.

“I've heard stories about no free time or not being able to do what I want. But, I think all of K-pop stars who are now performing have gone down the same road,” said Nao Niitsu, a 19-year-old college freshman from Tokyo.

During a visit to Seoul paid for by her mother, herself a die-hard BTS fan, Niitsu auditioned for 10 agencies and was accepted by five.

Debut is elusive, unlike in Japan where it is easier for idols to get a start and then can hone their skills and work on their appeal with the fans.

Miyu Takeuchi said it wasn’t a difficult decision to leave a 10-year career with a top idol band AKB48 back home in Japan to sign with the K-pop agency Mystic Entertainment in March as a trainee.

Even with her experience, she has seven hours of vocal training a day and two-hour dance lessons twice a week, plus early morning Korean lessons.

She is not allowed to have a boyfriend but she says she has no regrets, despite the fact there is no guarantee she will make it.

“I don’t know how long my training period will be, but it has to reach a point where my coaches and management company say ‘Miyu, you are a professional!'”

The post K-Pop Stardom Lures Japanese Youth to Korea Despite Diplomatic Chill appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai King’s Elaborate Coronation by Numbers

Posted: 01 May 2019 09:16 PM PDT

BANGKOK—Thailand’s coronation ceremonies for King Maha Vajiralongkorn on May 4-6 will be the first the Southeast Asian nation has seen in 69 years, when the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned in 1950.

A monarch’s coronation is given the utmost priority in Thailand, where kings have traditionally long held a divine status, and that is reflected in some astounding numbers.

– 1,000,000,000 — Total cost in Thai baht of the coronation ceremonies, equal to about US$31.2 million.

– 69 — Years since Thailand’s last coronation, in 1950.

– 12 — The 12th coronation for kings of the reigning Chakri dynasty.

– Up to 200,000 — The number of citizens expected to line streets in Bangkok to view the ceremony. Millions will watch on television.

– 40,000 — Security personnel deployed during the ceremonies.

– 41,000 — Temples nationwide where monks will pray simultaneously and bless the king as he receives a golden plaque with his official name and title.

– 17,568 — Number of royal volunteers in Bangkok across the three days of the coronation.

– 795 — Number of “salute” gunpowder pellets fired by the armed forces—including army, navy, and air force—separately over three days of the ceremonies.

– 1,000,000 — value in baht (about $31,340) of one limited-edition platinum coin to mark the coronation. More than 200 orders have been made.

May 4: Bathing and crowning

– 10:09 — The time in the morning when coronation ceremonies officially begin on Saturday with purification rites. Nine is an especially auspicious number in Thai culture.

– 117 — Sources of water from around the country that have been brought to Bangkok to be blessed by Buddhist monks before being combined for the royal purification rituals on May 4. The sources include five major rivers, four sacred pools, across 77 provinces.

– 8 — Sides of the wood-carved throne on which the king will sit to receive the waters of purification. The eight sides represent cardinal and ordinal directions on a compass. The number eight is also auspicious.

– 1,000 — Streams of water that will from the canopied fountain that showers the king’s head in the ablution ceremony.

– 7.3 — Weight in kilograms, equal to 16 pounds, of the intricate gold-and-gem-inlaid crown that will be placed on the king’s head in the ceremony. The multi-tiered crown is 66 centimeters (26 inches) tall.

– 9 — Tiers of the royal umbrella under which the king will officially ascend to become a living god according to Thai beliefs.

– 4 — Ancient cannons from the 19th century, used specifically for the coronation, which will fire 10 volleys each.

– 343 — Personnel physically carrying the king in a royal palanquin from the Grand Palace to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to proclaim himself the Royal Patron of Buddhism, ending the first day of the ceremony.

May 5: Procession

– More than 1,300 — Number of personnel and officials in the Royal Procession, including the prime minister, members of the cabinet, a cavalry, and a marching band.

– 7 — Distance in kilometers the royal procession will cover on foot, from the Grand Palace to three temples and back, walking at about 75 steps per minute.

– 16 — Personnel carrying the royal palanquin, changing every 500 meters.

– 500 — Length of the royal procession of more than 1,300 personnel, in meters.

– 6 — Royal songs composed by late King Bhumibol that will be played by the marching band in the royal procession.

The post Thai King’s Elaborate Coronation by Numbers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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