Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Burma and the politics of ASEAN slogans
• Parliament approves plan to accept US$260 million loan from World Bank
• NLD plans nationwide youth conference
• Home deliveries in rural Burma
• Suu Kyi, Dalai Lama to speak at Czech human rights forum
• Ta’ang army suspends talks with govt as clashes continue
• Thai firm cements deal in Moulmein

Burma and the politics of ASEAN slogans Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:53 AM PDT After a series of closed door discussions and numerous rephrasing by policy-makers including foreign experts, Burma has finally picked the theme “Moving forward in unity towards a peaceful and prosperous community” for its engagement with ASEAN next year. Like previous ASEAN chairs, the title reflects Naypyidaw's agenda and priorities when it takes up the grouping’s helm in 126 days. The 10-word slogan, the longest ever in ASEAN history, was recently given a personal nod by President Thein Sein. Earlier a few versions were put forward for consideration focusing on the centrality of ASEAN, economic cooperation and community building as well as ongoing political and economic reforms. The chosen theme was neutral and encompassing. “It is very comprehensive,” said a senior ASEAN official, who attended the ASEAN Economic Ministerial meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, where Burma made the official announcement. After ASEAN leaders endorsed the 2014 chair in November 2011, Burma has studied the themes and performances of each chair since 2008 when the bloc's charter was adopted. That year, Singapore chaired ASEAN with an impressive theme “One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia,” echoing the island’s desire to increase the grouping’s profile beyond Southeast Asia. Thailand succeeded Singapore with a major task to implement the new charter. Bangkok was true to its slogan, “ASEAN Charter for ASEAN People,” with packed programmes for civil society groups’ participation, which scared a few ASEAN leaders away. Then came Vietnam with a simple theme: “Towards the ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action.” It did not take long for the chair to find out that spurning common actions among the ASEAN members were an uphill task. Indonesia took over Vietnam’s chair with a shoo-in goal, “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations.” As the only ASEAN member in the G-20, Indonesia wanted to be the ASEAN voice among the world’s most economically advanced countries. ASEAN's position was uplifted. But it was temporary. Last year, Cambodia’s messianic theme of “One Community, One Destiny” had the opposite effect. As the last country to join ASEAN in 1999, the practice of the "ASEAN way" had yet to sink in. But Cambodia should be credited for narrowing development gaps among the old and new ASEAN members but very few people took notice. “Our People, Our Future Together” is the current theme advocated by the chair, Brunei. True to form and substance, every move the chair has initiated is based on consultations and consensus. The remaining four months will be smooth, paving the way for a conservative but holistic approach for the next ASEAN chair. Burma has good reasons to be cautious about the role. First, Naypyidaw will serve as the chair for the first time–16 years after its admission. It skipped the 2005 slot due to its domestic crisis along with pressure from ASEAN colleagues. It does not want to adopt an “overtly” forward-looking tone as it could sound a bit patronising. Second, the theme must be topical enough to reflect norms and values as well as the inspiration of the ASEAN and its peoples. In this case, Burma had to forego the so-called non-ASEAN elements related to their reforms. Finally, it must also resonate well with the situation at home. The chair’s domestic condition will certainly dominate next year’s ASEAN agenda, especially the situation in Arakan state and the fate of the Rohingya people. Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei will almost certainly raise the issue. This time the chair cannot get away scot-free. Burma turned down the planned ASEAN special meeting in October to discuss the Rohingya issue, which was later cancelled. Concerned ASEAN countries affected by the influx of Rohingya prefer a regional solution. Much is at stake for Burma over its handling of such a sensitive issue with transnational and international impacts. It will serve as a barometer of the depth and scope of its ongoing democratic reforms. As a late comer, Burma is still learning from the ASEAN experience. After Indonesia turned towards democracy in 1998, it took a few years until it opened up and discussed internal problems with ASEAN. But at the recent ASEAN annual meeting, Jakarta voluntarily reported on its human rights situation to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights. Burma was lucky that the deadline for ASEAN integration was postponed to 31 December 2015. That means it has an additional year to prepare for the realisation of a single economic community, after which Malaysia will take the chair. But as the theme suggests, Burma is confident that it can now become a catalyst for community-building in ASEAN.

Parliament approves plan to accept US$260 million loan from World Bank Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:30 AM PDT Burma's Union Parliament has approved a plan, recommended by President Thein Sein, to agree a US$261.5 million loan from the World Bank to support various development projects. The 40-year loan – at a fixed 0.75 percent interest rate – would be used to develop the communications sector and to improve schools, as well as pay for the construction of a compressed natural gas and biogas power plant in Mon state's Thaton township. In January, the World Bank announced that it would clear Burma's outstanding debt of some $900 million, allowing the country to reapply for grants and loans from international institutions. Related Stories Jared Bissinger: 'As far as challenges go, there's plenty' World Bank to assist Burma’s energy sector Burma announces major debt relief deal Meanwhile, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Monday that it will administer a Japanese loan of $1.2 million to help Burma improve statistics collection. The technical assistance grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction aims "to strengthen institutional, strategic, and technical capacity for collecting better statistics to chart the country’s development and progress" the bank said in a statement. “Timely, relevant, and accurate data is essential to understanding where the country [Burma] is today, and for future evidence-based decision making both within and outside government,” said Kaushal Joshi, the senior statistician with the Economics and Research Department at ADB. “Statistics help policymakers understand the economic, social, and environmental conditions, make decisions on economic growth, and design efforts to promote poverty reduction."

NLD plans nationwide youth conference Posted: 27 Aug 2013 04:28 AM PDT Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), said it plans to convene a nationwide youth conference to empower a younger generation of political activists to prepare for leadership positions in the future. Earlier this month, the NLD formed a central committee to facilitate the founding of youth committees across the country. Chairman Maung Maung Oo said they will also form committees at district and township levels. "Over the next three months, we will be embarking on a recruitment drive to attract members between the ages of 16 and 30," he said. "Once this is accomplished, we will set about planning the youth conference, hopefully for December or January." Related Stories Press council meets with NLD to discuss disputed draft media bill Officials target Rangoon township under new directive Suu Kyi calls for unity during final day of 8888 commemoration He said that the party hoped that this youth drive would stand it in good stead to win the general election in 2015. The NLD has had a youth wing since its formation in 1988. However, many of its members have criticised the central committee over the years for its intransigence and reluctance to change the old guard—many of the party's leaders, including Tin Oo and Win Tin, are octogenarians.

Home deliveries in rural Burma Posted: 27 Aug 2013 04:19 AM PDT Burma's Health Ministry has admitted that the country needs significantly more midwives. Senior health officials recently said that a mere 10,000 midwives are employed to cover 60,000 villages. In Rangoon's Bago division there are 3,000 people living in San San Lwin's village and the midwife has to travel to all the other villages in the area. "I am not very well, and one nurse should be nearby. I need a professional midwife so that my baby can be born properly," said San San Lwin, a schoolteacher with a daughter aged seven. Local resident Nyunt Ye doesn't have formal midwife training but often assists births around the village. Without a proper midwife to provide care, a mother can suffer complications during delivery. "The nurse was delayed. The mother couldn't bear it any longer and asked me to help her deliver the baby. I helped give birth to her daughter. Unfortunately the baby was already dead," Nyunt Ye said. Related Stories Tuberculosis cases reaching alarming rates in Burma Telenor talks to DVB The monk who heals bones For most mothers, giving birth in a hospital is not an option as they are too expensive. Thandar Oo had to borrow US $200 when she gave birth to her daughter. After selling many of her possessions she has still only paid back US $30. "Even though I sold all of my things, I still had to borrow US $70. Now I have paid back only US $30," she said. The government spends just 4 percent of its budget on the health sector and healthcare activist Dr Moe Myint says this needs to increase. Dr Moe Myint runs a training programme in collaboration with the health ministry, which aims to increase the number of midwives across the country. The programme aims to provide one midwife per 4,000 expectant mothers, and he says the number of auxiliary midwives needs to double. "There are only 20,000 stand-by midwives now. Some 40,000 are needed to complete the programme," Dr Moe Myint said. Until the government takes serious action to address the state of the healthcare sector, expectant mothers will continue to be put at risk from complications during birth.

Suu Kyi, Dalai Lama to speak at Czech human rights forum Posted: 27 Aug 2013 03:12 AM PDT Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi and the Dalai Lama will attend a human rights forum in Prague next month, its spokesman said. Burma’s opposition leader and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, both Nobel peace laureates, will speak during the forum, spokesman Filip Sebek told AFP. He said no official talks were scheduled between the pair, but did not discount the possibility that they would meet in private – a meeting likely to anger China. Beijing, a powerful ally of Burma and major investor in the resource-rich nation, has branded the Dalai Lama an anti-China “separatist”. Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest until she was freed after controversial elections in 2010, is now an MP as part of sweeping reforms under a new quasi-civilian regime that came to power in 2011. She will be visiting the Czech Republic for the first time, after embarking on a landmark European tour last year. Related Stories Press council meets with NLD to discuss disputed draft media bill Suu Kyi calls for unity during final day of 8888 commemoration Thousands gather in Rangoon to mark anniversary of 8888 uprising The annual forum was launched by the late Czech Velvet Revolution icon Vaclav Havel and American Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in 1997. This year’s theme is “societies in transition”, with US folk singer and activist Joan Baez and South Africa’s last white president Frederik Willem de Klerk also in attendance. “The aim is to better understand what is needed during the transition from an authoritarian regime to a democracy but also to better understand the things that cause these processes to grind to a halt or lose their way,” executive director Jakub Klepal said in a statement.

Ta’ang army suspends talks with govt as clashes continue Posted: 27 Aug 2013 02:18 AM PDT The Ta'ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA) said it will be unable to proceed with peace talks with the Burmese government due to continued fighting between the ethnic armed group and the Burmese army. A delegation from the northern Shan state based TNLA, led by Lt-Col Tar Bone Kyaw, last met with the government's Union Peace-making Work Committee headed by President's Office Minister Aung Min on 31 July in Lashio, and had agreed to a second round of negotiations around 10 August in Namhsan, which is located in the Palaung Self-Administered Zone. However, the Palaung army said that clashes between the two sides have continued unabated in the interim. Captain Mai Aung Ko, spokesperson for the TNLA, said the continuation of hostilities could hamper the "mutual trust-building process". Speaking to DVB earlier this week, Mai Aung Ko said, "Continuing clashes with the Burma Army is hindering us from following up with the talks. This is very damaging to the peace process." He said there were two clashes in Kyaukme district's Mongngaw township on 7 and 12 August and one on 24 August in Muse district, adding that the TNLA was conducting anti-narcotic education field programmes in those areas at the time and was forced to exchange fire with the government forces when confronted. Related Stories Student army inks preliminary truce with govt Ethnic alliance hammers out ‘federal’ goals before next round of talks Kachin armed group reopens liaison office in Myitkyina The Palaung spokesman said that no government negotiator has been in contact with the TNLA regarding the clashes nor had his side approached the peace-making group. The TNLA, armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front, was formed in 2005 and is active in northern Shan state's Mongtong, Kutkai, Namhkam and Namhsan townships.

Thai firm cements deal in Moulmein Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:27 PM PDT Siam Cement Group (SCG) on Monday confirmed that it will proceed with plans to build a cement plant in Moulmein which it expects to open in mid-2016. In a statement on its website, Thailand's largest conglomerate said it will invest 12,400 million baht (US$413 million) in a facility that will include a 40 megawatt power plant with the latest in "clean" technology for internal power consumption, as well as supporting port facilities and other infrastructure. "SCG has solidified [its] position as one of Myanmar's [Burma's] market leaders in terms of dependable product attributes, brand exposure, supply chain efficiency, and depth of distribution channels," said Kan Trakulhoon, SCG president and CEO. "The Myanmar cement market is estimated at approximately 4 million tons in FY2012, and is forecasted to grow annually at 10 percent over the next 5 years." Related Stories Vietnam rues slow start in tapping Burmese markets Foreign trade exceeds $7 billion for first quarter Ooredoo vows to provide affordable telecoms service in Myanmar The Moulmein plant, when fully operational, will be SCG's largest foreign investment, and comes soon after announcements that it will construct cement plants in Indonesia and Cambodia. Mr Kan said the move is "in accordance with the company's strategy to become an ASEAN sustainable business leader." In December, SCG originally announced it intended to construct a factory in Tenasserim division with a view to opening retail stores in Rangoon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw and "one other city". It noted that cement is currently in short supply in Burma with only 15 cement factories throughout the country. Situated in Mon state some 300 km east of Rangoon by road, Moulmein offers SCG a long-term supply of limestone and is complemented by shipping access to Rangoon.

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