Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Monsoon floods continue to wreak havoc in Burma
• Burma slammed for refusing to sign declaration on sexual violence
• ‘Elders’ urge action against anti-Muslim agitators
• Living in Limbo
• Families of stranded Kawthaung prisoners raise complaint with president
• Western shrimp imports ‘fuel’ trafficking of Burmese migrants

Monsoon floods continue to wreak havoc in Burma Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:19 AM PDT One person has been killed and more than 400 residents have been evacuated to safety after severe flooding in Naypyidaw's Lewe township. Aung Thaung, the National League for Democracy's (NLD's) Pyinmana township chairman, said the villages of Khayangine, Sinseik and Nyaunggon in Lewe were inundated after heaving rain on 24 September, causing the overflow of local creeks and a dam. He said one local youth who went swimming drowned but that more than 400 residents from the villages were evacuated to safety. "There was constant rain for the past two days which led to the overflow of creeks and a dam," he said. "The sluice gate on the Naypyidaw Airport Road was too small to control the flow, and it flooded nearby villages. "The village of Sinseik, which has around 100 households, was completely flooded while about two-thirds of Khayangine and half of Nyaunggon were inundated," he said. He said the 400 evacuees were taken to a shelter at Paungdaw Chatma Pagoda in Lewe by local Red Cross staffers and NLD members. He said they were provided food and water. Aung Thaung added that the water level in some areas reached up to about seven feet. Related Stories Burma counts cost of drought and flooding Hundreds of families evacuated in eastern Burma as floods hit Monsoon rains inundate Rangoon Further south, in Pegu division, residents from around 150 villages in Moenyo township were inundated by overflow from the Irrawaddy River and are in need of relief. Hlaing Win Kyaw, the NLD's social welfare wing member in Moenyo, said the floodwater, had reached the rooftops of many one-storey houses, forcing locals to move their families and livestock onto higher ground. He said on Thursday that after a week of floods, the water levels are finally beginning to subside. "But now locals are facing a food shortage," said Hlaing Win Kyaw. A local farmer from nearby Sinma village told DVB that this monsoon season marks the worst flooding in a decade, affecting more than 350 families in his village and destroying about 900 acres of farmland. According to the UN, nearly 50,000 people across the country have been displaced by heavy monsoon rains and flash floods this year, and some 70,000 acres of farmland flooded or destroyed. Local political parties such as the NLD have mobilised volunteers to help collect relief supplies and food for those who have been forced to abandon their homes, said Hlaing Win Kyaw.

Burma slammed for refusing to sign declaration on sexual violence Posted: 26 Sep 2013 04:59 AM PDT Human rights groups have condemned Burma for refusing to sign a new international declaration condemning sexual violence in conflict, which they say highlights its indifference to abuses perpetrated by the military. Burma's army has been accused of using rape as a systematic weapon of war targeting ethnic minority groups – for which nobody has been held to account. "For many ethnic women, rape by Burmese army soldiers is a daily fear, and justice seems to be just a distant dream," said Zoya Phan, campaign manager at Burma Campaign UK (BCUK). The declaration, which was initiated by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, was endorsed by 113 countries at the General Assembly of the UN in New York on Tuesday. Burma was among 80 nations that did not sign. The new declaration prohibits amnesties for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict and allows them to be captured anywhere in the world. Hague reportedly described it as "a milestone towards shattering impunity for those who commit horrific crimes during times of war." It also includes a pledge to sign a new international protocol aimed at ensuring that evidence of sexual violence stands up in court. Burma's refusal to sign has raised concerns about the quasi-civilian regime’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence in a country marred by decades of civil conflict and allegations of rape. "Since Thein Sein became President, there has been renewed conflict in Kachin state and Shan state, and Burma Campaign UK has received an increased number of reports of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army, BCUK said in a statement on Wednesday. "Thein Sein and his government do not even acknowledge that such abuses take place." Journalist Thin Lei Win from the Thomson Reuters Foundation took to Twitter to express her frustration. "As a woman and a Burmese I find that extremely disappointing," she tweeted, adding that backing the declaration would have showed an "intent and understanding" that such violence won't be condoned. Although Thein Sein has been credited for signing peace deals with 10 out of 11 major armed ethnic groups since taking office, allegations of serious abuses including rape continue to emerge. In May 2012, a 59-year-old Kachin grandmother was allegedly gang-raped and stabbed by Burmese soldiers when found hiding in a local church. The case has never been investigated by authorities. In 2002, the Shan Women's Action Network published a controversial report accusing the Burmese army of using rape as a weapon of war against ethnic minority women. Despite detailed case studies documenting 173 cases of rape or sexual violence between 1996 and 2001, the report provoked a furious backlash from the military junta who dismissed it as "fabricated". Related Stories SSA-North pushed back by Burmese army assault If not now, then when? The need for a nationwide ceasefire Time to End Sexual Violence In Burma As recently as last year, President's Office Minister Aung Min told RFA that the report was written "after hearing things with one ear". Women's rights activists say the government simply does not want to face up to the crimes committed by the military regime. Burma's 2008 constitution protects the army from prosecution for crimes committed during previous conflicts, and the government has yet to signal any interest in mechanisms for transitional justice. In a recent op-ed for DVB, Zoya Phan praised Hague's initiative but warned that it should not be selectively applied to countries depending on trade or commercial interests. "For decades rape has been used by the Burmese army in conflict zones, and despite 'reforms' it continues to this day," she wrote. "William Hague has said it is time to act, and that should include acting for the women of Burma as well."

‘Elders’ urge action against anti-Muslim agitators Posted: 26 Sep 2013 04:47 AM PDT Former world leaders led by ex-US president Jimmy Carter appealed Thursday for an end to impunity over a wave of anti-Muslim attacks in Burma. The call came at the end of a three-day visit to the formerly military-ruled country by the group—known as “The Elders”—for talks with reformist President Thein Sein, religious leaders and civil society groups. “The Elders call for an end to impunity for the perpetrators of violence against the Muslim community and for the meaningful realisation of the right to freedom of religion,” they said in a statement. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway and deputy chair of The Elders, said it could take decades to overcome “the ingrained prejudices promoted by extremist voices in parts of the country”. Related Stories Living in Limbo Suu Kyi: I cannot personally stop anti-Muslim violence in Burma Religious leaders sign ‘peace agreement’ Violence against minority Muslims in the western state of Rakhine should “be halted as a priority,” she said. “No one can afford to ignore these senseless, destructive, repeated acts of brutality.” Religious violence—mostly targeting Muslims—has exposed deep rifts in Buddhist-majority Burma, casting a shadow over widely praised political reforms since military rule ended in 2011. Around 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of violence since June 2012. Clashes in Rakhine state last year left about 200 people dead, mostly Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship by Burma. Rights groups have accused Burma security forces of complicity in the violence, while anti-Muslim riots elsewhere in the country have appeared well organised. The Elders—founded by former South African President Nelson Mandela in 2007—also appealed for an end to the country’s conflicts between the military and ethnic-minority rebels, and for the release of all remaining political prisoners. "We were impressed by the pace with which reforms are proceeding. Burma is becoming a more open society,” Carter said. “The release of political prisoners is particularly encouraging. We trust there will be no political prisoners by the end of the year, as the president has pledged,” he added.

Living in Limbo Posted: 26 Sep 2013 03:26 AM PDT Six months after anti-Muslim violence raged through the central Burmese town of Meikhtila, some 3,000 residents remain in makeshift camps. The government wants to relocate the residents to new apartment buildings away from their original homes. Grandmother Daw Ni Ni remains in a displacement camp on the edge of town and is unsure of when or where she will be moved. Daw Ni Ni has been living in the shelter for six months and shares a tiny room with her daughter and two grandchildren. When her house was torched during the anti-Muslim violence in March, the land ownership documents for her property were destroyed. The authorities have said they will give her new papers so she can rebuild her house but no one has told her when. "They said our land documents would be issued so we went to check, but they couldn't tell us anything," said Daw Ni Ni. Daw Ni Ni's husband was one of the 43 people who were killed during the riots. More than 10,000 people, mostly Muslims, were driven from their homes, as Buddhist mobs torched whole neighbourhoods, destroying shops, homes and mosques. Related Stories 'Elders' urge action against anti-Muslim agitators Thousands of Meikhtila displaced remain homeless Suu Kyi: I cannot personally stop anti-Muslim violence in Burma Daw Ni Ni said she is tired of waiting for government help and just wants to go home. "Whether the government wishes to assist us or not, it's time for us to stand on our own feet," she said. Many of the displaced Muslim residents of Meikhtila have suffered severe trauma and this has prompted some doctors to call for a counseling service to be put in place in the camps. "Clinics should be set up with psychiatrists and counselors appointed to counsel [the IDPs] individually as well as in groups to heal their mental wounds," said Dr Myint Oo, secretary of the Committee for Medical Ethics at the General Practitioners' Society. He went on to say that those in charge of displacement camps have a responsibility to ease the fears and anxieties of the IDPs and to avoid making the camps feel like prisons. To do this, he suggests allowing religious leaders to make visits. "We must allow all religious leaders to have communication with the IDPs and ensure they are not left isolated," said Dr Myint Oo. "The most important things are to avoid detestable speech and to treat everyone equally," he said. In the meantime, those remaining in the camps outside Meikhtila face continued uncertainty. Many of them say they feel as though they have been forgotten.

Families of stranded Kawthaung prisoners raise complaint with president Posted: 26 Sep 2013 03:06 AM PDT The families of inmates who have been stranded for seven days on an island near Moulmein while being transferred from Kawthaung prison said on Wednesday that they were sending a letter of complaint to Burmese President Thein Sein. Some 170 inmates from Kawthaung prison in Tenasserim division were taken by boat to be transferred to various unspecified locations by prison authorities after a riot broke out in the prison nearly two weeks ago, leading to a confrontation with security forces. Burma's state media reported that one inmate was killed and seven others injured, though it did not imply whether this happened during the altercation with police or in a fight that broke out earlier among prisoners. Prison authorities subsequently decided to transfer 170 prisoners to other jails; however, according to local sources, some 120 prisoners have been stranded on an island near Moulmein for about seven days after their boat was forced to dock there due to bad weather. "We are sending a letter of complaint to the president today," said Myo Lwin, a resident in Kawthaung, speaking to DVB on Wednesday. "We are worried for the 120 inmates who have been stranded on the island for seven days now. We also informed the ICRC [International Red Cross] about this situation." He said the Kawthaung district administrator had told the concerned families that the inmates and security guards were taking shelter from bad weather on the island, but were not actually stranded there. Related Stories One killed, 7 injured in Kawthaung prison riot Immigration officials relax restrictions for tourists travelling overland Political prisoners walk free Myo Lwin said the families of more than 70 inmates had co-signed the letter to be sent to Thein Sein regarding the prison authorities' treatment on their loved ones. He said the families had received pledges of support from the Democratic Party-Myanmar and the National League for Democracy, as well as civil society groups such as the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (88GPOS). "Transferring prison inmates in such a manner is very ugly – we are calling on the government to inform the families where their loved ones were being sent to, and to form a committee to investigate this incident," said Min Lwin of the 88GPOS.

Western shrimp imports ‘fuel’ trafficking of Burmese migrants Posted: 26 Sep 2013 01:38 AM PDT Western demand for Thai-produced shrimps is fuelling an epidemic of abuses, including child and forced labour, among Burmese migrants working in the poorly-regulated industry, a new report warned on Thursday. The London-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) accused Thailand of using trafficking as an "inherent" part of its economic model in order to secure higher profits, while western companies continue to look the other way. Through in-depth interviews with several Burmese migrants, including children as young as 10, EJF uncovered a systematic pattern of abuses, fuelled by poor regulation, mismanagement and endemic corruption. The workers – who are mostly undocumented and trafficked to Thailand through disreputable brokers – spoke of being trapped in bondage, forced to work excruciating hours with no food and regularly beaten or abused by their employers. "If someone did not come to work they were scolded or beaten," one Burmese migrant working at the Suphan factory in Mahachai told EJF. "The brokers scolded us, using abusive words to those who didn't work fast enough." Others spoke of the horrors they witnessed en route to Mahachai, near Bangkok, from Myawaddy on the Thai-Burmese border. One migrant recalled being robbed by a gang of thugs, who demanded that their "navigators" hand over the women in the group. "They raped [the] girls in the bush one after another," he explained. The report specifically pins blame on western companies for failing to implement effective auditing and supply chain mechanisms, despite importing the vast majority of Thailand's shrimp produce. "The consumer and the retailer have an obligation to look at these issues and address them," Steve Trent, executive director at EJF, told DVB. "Our concern is that US retailers are not taking sufficient action against these kinds of abuses, which in some cases amounts to modern day slavery." The US consumes 46 percent of Thailand's shrimp exports, which is estimated at 540,000 tonnes each year. Thailand is also the UK's biggest exporter of shrimp. But most companies use ineffective global certification schemes that rely excessively on national laws and regulations, says EJF. Earlier this week, the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) identified serious flaws in Thailand's industry-led certification scheme, and highlighted practically non-existent labour union rights and criminal defamation laws as key impediments to workers' rights. The ILRF accused US-based companies, especially Walmart, of exploiting domestic legal gaps to boost their own earnings. It follows an investigation which accused the multinational corporation of profiting from the exploitation of workers in Thai shrimp factories. "Walmart is using its outsized footprint on global supply chains to exploit these workers," said Abby Mills, ILRF director of campaigns. "It is the largest buyer of imported, farm-raised shrimp in the United States, the largest market for Thai exporters, and can play producers off each other to get lower prices. That is Walmart's goal, and it unfortunately comes at a great human cost." Related Stories Burmese labour minister urged to fight for migrants in Malaysia Govt delegation heading to Malaysia amid migrant crackdown ILO warns of 'serious abuses' in Thai fishing industry EJF calls on companies to introduce their own independent audits and swiftly boycott local suppliers that are found in breach of basic labour standards. "Were this an issue of food hygiene, and if there were concerns about the sanitary conditions in these facilities then there would be blocks on the shrimps coming in fairly quickly," said Trent. "We think there needs to be a similar forceful and swift response when it comes to labour violations." The pre-processing stage of shrimp production, which takes place in so-called "peeling-sheds", was identified as particularly vulnerable to abuses. "I had to peel the shrimp shells and excrement," 11-year-old Aung Aye told EJF. "There were about eight or nine children in the factory." Trent added that Thailand's nationality verification scheme – which is intended to legally register all migrant workers in the Kingdom, but has been criticised as complicated, expensive and ineffectual – almost seems to have been "designed" to fail. "It's a drive for high profits at low cost," said Trent. "You have an issue of corruption at every level … specifically among statutory agencies that are designed to prevent these kinds of abuses." Around 650,000 workers, mostly from Burma, work in Thailand's export-driven shrimp industry, which is estimated to earn the government some US$1.5 billion annually. They are among 3-4 million migrant workers in Thailand, who mostly occupy low-skilled, labour-intensive and quasi-legal jobs. Thailand has been repeatedly criticised for its failure to address human trafficking in its fishery sector. For the fourth year running, it was ranked on the Tier 2 Watch List on the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons report. The emerging Southeast Asian giant is likely to be downgraded to Tier 3 status – which may carry trade sanctions – next year, unless it makes significant efforts to implement a successful counter-trafficking strategy. But campaigners say that global consumers must also play their role in tackling abuses in the supply chain. "I think [people in the west] eat [Thai] shrimp because they don't know how it is produced,” said Aung Aye. “If they knew, they wouldn't eat it."

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