Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma

Latpadaung protestor hit with charges for demonstrating without permission

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 04:50 AM PDT

Authorities in Sagaing division's Monywa charged protest organiser Naw Ohn Hla for demonstrating without permission after she was arrested earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the activist was reportedly charged under the peaceful procession and peaceful assembly law, which stipulates that demonstrators must file for permission five days in advance of the event and applications can be rejected at the authorities' discretion.

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On Tuesday, about 50 locals, including Naw Ohn Hla, staged a demonstration in Monywa calling for the suspension of the controversial Latpadaung copper mine and demanded that authorities expose the police officers responsible for violently assaulting a protest camp last November.

The group also called on authorities to amend the 2008 military-backed constitution and urged President Office's Minister Hla Htun to step down as the chairman of the Committee to Implement Recommendations made by the Latpadaung Investigation Commission.

Naw Ohn Hla and nine other were arrested for protesting without permission and taken to Monywa Police Stations as angry locals gathered in front of the station demanding their release.

Around 9pm on Tuesday evening, authorities released the nine protesters arrested earlier in the day, while Naw Ohn Hla remained behind bars in the Monywa jail.

Naw Ohn Hla is regarded as a veteran protest leader in the country and is known for leading weekly 'prayer demonstrations' at Shwedagon pagoda starting in 2004 and was later arrested for participating in the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

The activist has now throw her weight behind locals displaced by the Latpadaung copper mine that is responsible for the confiscation of about 7,800 acres of farmland in total and forcefully relocated farmers from 66 villages.

 

Football officials issue stiff punishments to players, coaches following Naypyidaw melee

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 04:05 AM PDT

The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) handed out a range of punishments on Tuesday to players and coaches from the Naypyidaw Football Club and Yangon United after fighting and hooliganism brought a violent, premature end to this year's Myanmar National League final earlier this month.

According to a statement released by the MFF, Naypyidaw FC has been ordered to cover half of the cost for repairing the Wunna Theikdi stadium that was vandalised during a series of brawls on 4 August.  The team was also hit an 11-match suspicion on their home turf during 2014-15 football season.

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The violence kicked off after Yangon United scored a goal during a penalty kick at 32 minutes into the match. Following the penalty, a Naypyidaw fan rushed the pitch and tried to assault one the referees, which kicked off a series of brawls on the field and in the stands in the newly finished Wunna Theikdi stadium. As authorities struggled to contain the violence, referees stopped the match minutes later.

Well-known sports columnist and member of the MFF's disciplinary committee Khin Maung Htwe decried the fighting at the season final, but said the situation could have been prevented.

"It was a very ugly incident we've never had this in our history before," said Khin Maung Htwe. "I think everyone deserves blame for this – the situation could have been avoided."

On Tuesday, the MFF sought to punish the coaches and players who played an instrumental role in the violence.  Naypyidaw FC's Khine Htoo was handed a season ban, while the club's Zaw Lin will be forced to sit out his first five matches next season and was fined 500,000 kyat (US$ 512).

The club's Tin Zaw Moe and Zaw Myo Oo were also handed five-match bans and will have to pay 200,000 kyat (US$ 205) in fines each. The team's coach Myo Hlang Win and assistance coach Myo Win will also miss three matches next season and pay 500,000 kyat in fines each.

Yangon United's assistance coach Tin Maung Htun and player Kyi Linn were also slammed with three match bans and 500,000 Kyat fines.

The violence casts a nasty shadow on the country's sporting sector as Burma prepares to host the Southeast Asia Games for the first time in December.

Burma's football fans have a history of participating in violent brawls during matches in the country and at away games. In July 2011, a World Cup qualifying football match in Rangoon between Burma's national team and Oman was abruptly canceled during the second half after Burmese supporters threw water bottles and stones at the visiting team.

Press council meets with NLD to discuss disputed draft media bill

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 01:46 AM PDT

Burma's interim press council met with the representatives from the National League for Democracy (NLD), including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Naypyidaw on Tuesday as the temporary advisory board attempts to shore up support for a new media bill drafted by the group that stirred up controversy after several of its key provisions were rejected by the Ministry of Information (MOI) in July.

Kyaw Min Swe, the press council's general secretary, said the group's officials met with Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders in Naypyidaw's parliament building on Tuesday afternoon to explain their recent dispute with the MOI over the media bill drafted by the council.

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"We explained to the [NLD officials] about the media bill drafted by the council and the dispute with the Ministry of Information over it, and our wish is for the NLD representatives in both the upper and the lower houses to join the parliamentary discussion on the bill when it is proposed to the legislative body," said Kyaw Min Swe

According to the body's general secretary, the NLD's representatives agreed to participate in the discussion once an MP presents the bill to the parliament.

After meeting with the NLD, the press council officials sat down with the parliament's speaker Thura Shwe Mann and a group of hluttaw officials.

"Based on my own study on the bill, there are both pros and cons and the parliament might have to debate when it's submitted," said Hla Swe, the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party's upper house representative.

"I trust that the parliamentary representatives are capable of seeing the pros and cons and they will join the debate."

The council's round of meetings in Naypyidaw follow talks earlier this week with the MOI in Rangoon, where Burma's Information Minister Aung Kyi pledged to negotiate with the press board over the 17 articles the ministry initially struck down on 9 July.

While the temporary advisory board pushed the government to develop a timeframe for future negotiations on Monday, the press council's secretary told DVB during an interview in late July the group would ultimately accept the parliament's decision once they've debated and passed the bill into law.

UN calls for talks in Burma after latest clash in Arakan state

Posted: 13 Aug 2013 09:37 PM PDT

The United Nations has called for dialogue after another violent clash in a camp for dispossessed Rohingya Muslims in western Burma, as its human rights envoy toured the strife-torn area Tuesday.

At least one person was killed and around 10 injured last Friday in the latest violence in Arakan state, reported the UNHCR.

Conflict between local Buddhist and Muslim communities in the state last year left some 200 dead and 140,000 homeless.

“UNHCR is reiterating its call for peaceful dialogue and confidence-building between the (internally displaced persons) and government. We believe this is key to avoiding further violence,” spokesman Adrian Edwards said in Geneva.

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The statement coincides with a visit by the UN’s outspoken human rights envoy for Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana, who has made Arakan state his first stop during a ten-day trip to the country.

In March, after anti-Muslim violence spread into central Burma and left dozens dead, Quintana said the reluctance of security forces to crack down on the unrest suggested a possible state link to the fighting – a claim rejected by the government.

Attacks against Muslims – who make up an estimated four percent of Burma’s population – have exposed deep fractures in the Buddhist-majority nation and cast a shadow over its emergence from army rule.

Quintana has visited several areas in Arakan state, including a Rohingya-majority area and a camp for Muslims left homeless in the violence, according to Win Myaing, spokesman for the Arakan state government.

Tensions in Arakan have remained high since two outbreaks of violence in June and October last year left around 200 people dead, mainly Rohingya who are seen by many in Burma as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Communities were torn apart in the fighting, with whole neighbourhoods reduced to ashes, and a sense of deep distrust between Muslims, Buddhists and the security forces pervades.

In June, five Muslims including three Rohingya women were killed by security forces who opened fire during disputes in two separate incidents in camps in Arakan state.

UNHCR said the latest conflict broke out at a camp for displaced Muslims on Friday when a body was found in a waterway near Sittwe.

An argument between camp residents and local police over the cause of death and handling of the corpse is thought to have led to a violent confrontation in which four Muslims sustained gunshot wounds, with one later dying.

Edwards said in a statement that humanitarian workers were unable to access the area over the weekend, but had been able to re-enter the camp as tensions eased on Monday.

A police source said two people had died of their injuries.

Win Myaing put the number of wounded at 10 and told AFP that “the situation is calm now”.

Reformist President Thein Sein earlier this summer denied accusations by Human Rights Watch of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya. They are denied citizenship by Burma, leaving them effectively stateless.

Thousands have fled the camps in Arakan state, with many taking to the seas in flimsy boats and some later drowning.
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