Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Federalism debate fractures Burma’s armed ethnic groups
- Activists slam Chinese pipeline as project goes operational
- ‘Student army’ to join uprising’s anniversary ceremonies in Rangoon
- Monsoon rains inundate eastern Karen state
| Federalism debate fractures Burma’s armed ethnic groups Posted: 30 Jul 2013 08:14 AM PDT Burma's armed ethnic groups have fallen out over how to develop a federal union in the former military dictatorship, resulting in two rival conferences to discuss plans to end decades of civil conflict. Inside sources say that a split has emerged between "hard-liners" and those who favour compromising with the government to amend the military-drafted 2008 constitution, which currently grants Naypyidaw control over ethnic minority territories. The dispute has contributed to a major rift in Burma's ethnic movement, culminating in Burma's leading ethnic umbrella group, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), severing ties with the multi-ethnic Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC), which was set up to coordinate negotiations with Naypyidaw, in June. The UNFC is currently hosting an ethnic nationalities conference in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, to discuss federalism and strategies for political dialogue. Meanwhile, the WGEC is planning a similar event in mid-August, which analysts say might "cause confusion" among the ethnic populations. Some ethnic representatives are reportedly concerned that the working group's donor, the Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office (EBO), which coordinates with the controversial Myanmar Peace Support Initiative, wants them to join the government under the current constitution. UNFC spokesperson, Khun Okkar, confirmed to DVB that they were "cautious" about the EBO's agenda. "We haven't heard of the EBO directly pressuring ethnic groups – the EBO has no political mandate – however, they can indirectly pressure them … such as by discreetly advising them to work within the government's framework to change the constitution," he said. The UNFC has consistently called for the 2008 constitution to be re-written outside of parliament and for the government to agree on a timeframe for political dialogue. But the government has demanded that ethnic groups make amendments within Burma's existing legal framework, which would require the support of 75 percent of the military-dominated legislature. "It is our challenge, but we must struggle to change the 2008 constitution," the UNFC's technical team leader, Mahn Mahn, told DVB. "If you go inside the parliament you cannot change or establish a new constitution." But Harn Yawnghwe, Director of the EBO, insists that ethnic groups have to take a more pragmatic approach. "Everybody wants a federal union, but if you look at it realistically this government has a mandate only until 2015," he said. "There is no way you can get agreement on a complete federal union before 2015, but there are steps you can begin to take in that direction." "You are negotiating with a government, which is in power because of this constitution. So there's no way of getting around accepting this government if you want to talk to them, and there's no way of getting around accepting this constitution if you want to talk to them." The WGEC and the UNFC fell out in recent months over who should lead political negotiations with the government. The former wanted to establish a multi-ethnic negotiating team, while the latter says it already has one. Both groups say the other has no mandate to lead discussions. There is also growing internal discord within ethnic groups, including the Karen, Kachin and Chins. According to Yawnghwe, exiled political activists have largely sided with the UNFC, while members inside Burma have backed the working group. But he attributed the rift to "rumours" and "confusion" over the negotiating process. He added that ethnic groups should press the government to agree to "transitional measures" before 2015 and obtain guarantees that talks will continue after the next general election. "As a bargaining power, armed groups can say – and I agree with them – that there's no way they'll give up their arms until 2015, because there's no guarantee that anything will happen, but after 2015 they can start thinking about how to demobilise and integrate into the army." Both the WGEC, which first met in February 2012, and the UNFC have worked together to develop a common framework for negotiating the peace process. It includes plans to hold a second Panglong conference in 2014, where mechanisms for constitutional reform and self-determination will be discussed. However, no definitive timeframe has been decided between the two groups, or the government, and Khun Okkar insists that constitutional change must be formally agreed upon before the next general election. "It would be a loss for us if the current government only adopted the framework, but never reached a decision – we cannot let that happen," said Khun Okkar. "So we must have a decision that favours our approach before 2015." The first Panglong agreement – negotiated in 1947 by Burma's nationalist hero, Aung San – guaranteed ethnic minorities political autonomy and paved the way for the country's independence. Its provisions are largely seen as prerequisites to ending Burma's myriad ethnic conflicts, which have plagued the country for decades. "We believe that without any political agreement, even if we sign a nationwide ceasefire it will have no meaning," said Mahn Mahn. President Thein Sein recently reiterated his commitment to signing a national peace accord within "a matter of weeks". Some representatives from the government's negotiating team, including its leader Aung Min, have said that constitutional change and federalism are not completely off the agenda. "Everything will be open for discussion at the national dialogue," said the chairperson of the government-backed Myanmar Peace Centre, Min Zaw Oo. But many have questioned the government's sincerity, amid reports that land grabs and mass displacement are on the rise in Burma's border regions. The Burmese army has yet to withdraw troops from minority areas and ethnic leaders say most of the government's promises remain unfulfilled. |
| Activists slam Chinese pipeline as project goes operational Posted: 30 Jul 2013 04:41 AM PDT As natural gas began flowing from Burma's western coast to energy-hungry China earlier this week, activists from NGOs claim that local populations are still being sidelined by the project's developers. The watchdog group Myanmar-China Pipeline Watch Committee is calling on the Burmese government to renegotiate the contract in order to provide the state with a higher percentage of the pipeline's profits. During a press conference in Mandalay on Sunday, the activists called on the government to provide citizens who have had their land appropriated by the project with proper compensation. The committee also asked for increased transparency with regards to the use of the profits from the project, and they encouraged the government to direct the funds towards development in rural areas. The activists added that they were concerned about the pipeline’s environmental and safety record. China has signaled that their officials will be keeping a close eye on their southern neighbor as the pipeline goes operational and Burma continues to reach each to western countries after decades of international isolation. Earlier this month, the Burmese government forced the controversial Chinese-backed copper mine in Latpadaung to hand over a larger share of it profits to the Burmese state. The renegotiated contract came after extensive protests from local population, who claimed that thousands of acres of their land had been commandeered by the mine without compensation.
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| ‘Student army’ to join uprising’s anniversary ceremonies in Rangoon Posted: 30 Jul 2013 04:28 AM PDT Members from the All-Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) are planning to travel to Rangoon next month to attend the 25th anniversary of the 8888 uprising. The commemoration of the nationwide uprisings and general strike that kicked off in 1988 will include exile activists and members of the rebel army for the first time. The ABSDF's spokesperson Sunny said the group was planning to stage a presentation about its 25 years of armed struggle along with a discussion about the group's political objectives. The spokesperson says that although the group has yet to achieve its key goals, including national reconciliation and the promulgation of a new constitution, the ABSDF remains committed to working toward their objectives amid the ongoing reform process in Burma. "Changes happening today can be regarded as an inception – from here, we are working to create better opportunities to place the country on the right path to move forward," said Sunny. Students formed the ABSDF after a series of military engineered crackdowns killed more than 3,000 people during a general uprising against Ne Win's dictatorship in 1988. During its peak in the 1990s, the student army had thousands of regular members and waged a guerrilla campaign against government forces largely from the mountains of Karen and Kachin state. The ABSDF has been linked with the ethnic resistant movements since its formation in 1988; however, the group has only fraction of the membership it once enjoyed in the early 1990s. In May, ABSDF representatives held preliminary talks with government peace negotiators in Rangoon, where they discussed a potential ceasefire and commencing a political dialogue between Naypyidaw and the rebel group. |
| Monsoon rains inundate eastern Karen state Posted: 30 Jul 2013 01:48 AM PDT Thousands of residents in Karen state have been relocated to shelters as fresh flooding continues to inundate Burma's eastern borderlands. According to locals living in Myawaddy along the Thai border, five residential areas in the town have been swamped by the Moei River's rising tide. More than 10,000 of the town's residents have been evacuated from their homes and are now being provided with shelter at Buddhist monasteries located on higher ground, reported the Karen National Union (KNU)'s Major Saw Leh Mu who is stationed at a liaison office in Myawaddy. "Ward-5 is now no longer accessible with small cars. Houses located on the low ground have been inundated, which is forcing residents to grab their belongings and flee," said Saw Leh Mu. Homes near the river's banks were reportedly swept away, while wards 2 and 5 that are located on low-lying ground have experienced heavy flooding as monsoon rains continue to soak the area. According to officials, the flooding has effectively halted trade that flows from the eastern border into inland Burma. On the opposite side of the river in Thailand's Mae Sot, the overflowing Moei River has forced the personnel at Mae Tao clinic to begin relocating their patients and evacuating their facilities. "The water has been rising for the past two days – we have had flooding in the past but not at this level," said Gay Paw, who works at the clinic. Currently, all of Mae Sot's schools have been closed along with the markets and factories located near to the river. According to reports from Thai agencies, the flooding in the area is the worst in ten years. In Karen state's capital Hpa-an to the west of Myawaddy, residents in the town's wards 1 and 2 have also been forced to flee their homes and take shelter at local monasteries as the Salween River's waters flood the city, while officials briefly evacuated the local hospital in nearby Hlaingbwe town. In Burma, the seasonal monsoon, which is responsible for a vast majority of the flooding in the region, typically kicks off in late May and dries up by the end of October. |
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