Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Business Weekly
• DVB Debate: Is now the time for education reform?
• Ten jailed for protesting Shwe Gas project
• Suu Kyi says NLD’s 25-year struggle was worth it
• New showrooms race ahead as old car dealers go bust
• Karen, Mon armies schedule informal talks with govt on Saturday
• UN calls on Burma to urgently address Rohingya grievances
• Ex-political prisoners detail torture methods at Insein

Business Weekly Posted: 27 Sep 2013 04:47 AM PDT Ups and downs The Burmese currency rose by just one kyat this week against the US dollar. The buying rate on Thursday was 970, compared to 971 last week; the selling rate was 977 as opposed to 978 the week before. The price of gold dropped, following suit with the global market. It now stands at 694,600 kyat per tical, down 4,000 kyat from last week. Fuel prices remain the same: petrol is 814 kyat per litre, diesel is at 920, and octane 920.   Telecoms operators face delay Norway's Telenor and Qatar's Ooredoo, which were awarded Burma's first mobile telecoms licences in June, face a delay in the launch of their operations. Tor Odland, Vice President of Communications at Telenor, confirmed to NRK that it would not receive its licence by the end of September as originally expected, blaming legal formalities. Burmese President Thein Sein has reportedly suggested a number of amendments to the Telecommunications Bill which was passed by parliament in August. According to political sources, the proposed changes will be discussed when parliament resumes in early October, and the licences are expected to be approved shortly thereafter. Currently less than 10 percent of Burma's population is estimated to have access to a telephone.   Exim exec talks up bilateral trade with Burma The twin factors of traditional goodwill for India and the increasing focus on promoting trade among neighbouring countries will give a boost to bilateral trade between India and Burma, says David Rasquinha, the executive director of Exim Bank of India. According to the Deccan Herald on 27 September, Rasquinha emphasised trade possibilities in the technology, energy and infrastructure sectors, speaking in Bangalore on Wednesday. He is also reported as saying that the Indian government is actively considering a US$500 million line of credit to Burma to step up exports from India, and noted that Delhi has already extended $247.4 million to the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank.   Vietnamese propose new industrial zone in Rangoon A Ho Chi Minh City-based property developer has initiated a proposal to build a Vietnam–Burma Industrial Zone that will offer Vietnamese firms an opportunity to set up plants in Rangoon. C.T Group executives submitted the plan at a meeting with Burma's Vice-president Nyan Tun in Naypyidaw in late August, the company said in a press release last week. The plan is reportedly supported by several Vietnamese firms who have often found it difficult to find production locations in Burma.   Central Bank admits to US$7bn in overseas accounts The Central Bank of Myanmar last week announced that Burma has parked more than US$7 billion worth of foreign reserves in overseas bank accounts, rejecting reports that the figure was much larger – up to $11bn – and had led to the World Bank refusing to cancel its debt. According to a report in Asia Times, Central Bank chairman Kyaw Kyaw Maung denied earlier reports that the Burmese government held up to $11 billion in five overseas accounts, which had prompted the World Bank to stand firm on recouping the country’s loans.   World Bank approves US$140m power plant loan for Mon state The World Bank on Tuesday approved a US$140 million interest-free loan to boost electricity access in Burma where over 70 percent of the population live in darkness. The project, which will replace aging gas turbines in Mon state, is expected to produce 250 percent more electricity by developing a sustainable, modern and efficient power plant, according to the Bank. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/world-bank-approves-us140-million-electricity-loan-for-burma/32795   Real estate agents agree fixed commission rates Moe Moe, an official from the Myanmar Real Estate Services Association, told DVB last week that the Association has fixed service charges for real estate deals: three percent for the seller for properties worth less than 10 million kyat; and two percent for those over 10 million kyat. As for leases or rentals: either three percent of the deposit or the equivalent of one month's rent. She said these have been the standard commission fees charged by real estate agents for years, but that the Association was now making it official.   Modern new train to run Rangoon circuit A new air-conditioned train with six carriages and more than 300 seats will start running the Yangon Circular Railway Line at the beginning of October, according to a Lower Burma Myanmar Railways official. He said the train will run eight times a day. Some 90,000 commuters travel on Rangoon's rail network every day.   Nestlé takes leap into Burma Swiss food and beverages giant Nestlé has set up a subsidiary in Burma, after receiving permission from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, industry media reported on 25 September. Famous in Europe for its chocolate-based products, Nestlé has 468 factories in 86 countries around the world, it says on its website. The company currently employs about 330,000 people around the world.   Thailand, Burma agree to speed up Dawei development Thailand and Burma have agreed to speed up the development of the Dawei Economic Zone, following talks between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Burma's parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann in Bangkok on Monday. Yingluck reportedly told him that officials from various Thai state enterprises were conducting an economic study on infrastructure in Dawei, such as transportation and power and water supply. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/thailand-burma-aim-to-speed-up-dawei-development-myanmar-investment/32775

DVB Debate: Is now the time for education reform? Posted: 27 Sep 2013 04:44 AM PDT Burma's school system is in dire need of reform. The government spends just 5.8 percent of the national budget on education and so schools are poorly equipped, use outdated materials, and teacher training is politically motivated. On DVB Debate's panel this week: from the Federation of Student Unions (Organising Committee), D Nyein Linn; volunteer trainer from the Myanmar Debate Society, May Phyo Oo; and assistant lecturer for Oriental Studies at Dagon University, Dr Arkar Moe Thu. The panel focused strongly on teacher training. May Phyo oo said that such training needed to be monitored to examine the performance of the teachers.   “The Burmese education system has been on a low level for a long time … ‘We’re all about to drown!” (DVB Debate) "The training needs to be followed up with monitoring and evaluation to see if the teachers actually apply what they have learnt and how it affects the students," she said.Dr Arkar Moe Thu wanted to include the opinions of students and parents when reforming the education system. "Students, parents and teachers have opinions that play a significant role,” he said. He went on to say that many students only went to university just to get a degree, to which D Nyein Linn objected. "We, the students, were never allowed to question the teacher," said D Nyein Linn. "You say we just wanted to have a degree but we were victims of the system. What use can I make of a degree after graduating? We were given a certificate, nothing more." Studio guest and writer, Kaung Sett Naing, believed the government needed to change its attitude to education. "Why are the education standards so low? Because there is weak governance. So if one is looking to implement a student-centred system, the government needs to be the kind that focuses on the public," said Kaung Sett Naing. Related Stories Burma to survey discrimination against children with HIV DVB Debate: Should women lead? DVB Debate: Is social media taking over? May Phyo Oo stressed the importance of learning English in a developing nation. "In 2015, Burma will become a free trade nation while more foreign investment comes into the country. If the Burmese students and youths cannot speak proper English, it won't be good," said May Phyo Oo. The panel roundly agreed that now is the time to reform the education system and focus strongly on the importance of teacher training and implementing a student-centred system. Next week on DVB Debate: What impact will the next generation have on Burma's future? You can join the debate and watch the full programme in Burmese at www.dvbdebate.com Or share your views with us by commenting on our website at www.dvb.no

Ten jailed for protesting Shwe Gas project Posted: 27 Sep 2013 04:33 AM PDT Ten local residents in Arakan state's Kyaukphyu township were sentenced to three months in jail on Thursday for staging an unauthorised protest against a controversial China-backed gas pipeline. The demonstration was held on Maday Island in mid-April and attracted support from over 500 locals, who say the 800km pipeline linking Arakan state to China's Yunnan province has fuelled wide-scale environmental destruction and human rights abuses, while bringing few benefits. The group, led by Htun Kyi, was arrested a few days later and charged with protesting without permission under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. "The verdict was passed around 2pm in the afternoon: three months in prison with labour for each of the defendants," the group's lawyer Htein Linn told DVB, adding that his defendants had applied for permission to protest four times but it was repeatedly declined. Subsequently the protestors decided to proceed anyway and marched to the offices of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which operates the pipeline, where they issued a list of demands. The government has reportedly justified rejecting their applications on the basis of Section 144 of the criminal procedures code – an emergency decree introduced after last year's ethno-religious clashes between Buddhists and Muslims. But campaigners say it is only "selectively enforced" to silence peaceful dissent. Over 600 locals from around 17 villages in Kyaukphyu turned up in court on Thursday, and began chanting for the authorities to release the defendants immediately after the verdict was announced. "The protest was joined by pretty much by every resident on the island but in the end, only 10 got sentenced," said a local woman in front of the courthouse. "Now all 500 of us are here and we will not leave this spot until they are released." Related Stories World Bank approves US$140 million electricity loan for Burma Kyaukphyu lights up Foreign investors call for land price regulation in Burma Opponents of the pipeline have demanded compensation for confiscated land, the right to fish near the island, and for the company to provide job opportunities to the local community. But Maung Aye, a local resident and chairperson of the Kyaukphyu Development Committee, said that so far only two of the nine demands made by the protestors in April have been met by CNPC. "So far, they have [only] begun providing electricity for residents in the region and the government is now building a road around the island," said Maung Aye. But locals say they have lost their lands and livelihoods without being compensated, and continue to suffer as a result of the environmental damage caused by the project. Villagers across Burma have objected to the pipeline, which lacerates Arakan, Magwe, Mandalay and the conflict-torn northern Shan state, but April's protest was the first large-scale demonstration. Activists have condemned the government's "swift and severe" response to the protest as disproportionate and worrying. Htun Kyi and his nine co-defendants are the latest in a string of peaceful activists to be sentenced and jailed under Burma's reform-era peaceful assembly law which criminalises "unlawful" public gatherings. The Shwe Gas pipeline, which began pumping gas in late July, is a joint venture between the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation and the military-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), and is expected to earn Burma US$1.8 billion annually.

Suu Kyi says NLD’s 25-year struggle was worth it Posted: 27 Sep 2013 03:22 AM PDT In a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Friday, Aung San Suu Kyi insisted the party's decades-long struggle had been worth it. She added that the party continued to extend a "hand of friendship and peace" to the Burmese military. While hundreds of NLD cadres and supporters crammed into the party headquarters in central Rangoon, hundreds more gathered outside where a screen had been erected for the occasion of the party's so-called "Silver Jubilee". "We have been able to survive for the last 25 years because of the help and support of people from all over the world who believe in the same values we believe," said Suu Kyi, switching to English. Related Stories NUP calls for constitution to be amended, not re-written NLD plans nationwide youth conference Press council meets with NLD to discuss disputed draft media bill "To survive was an achievement," she said, reiterating that for 24 of the party's 25 years the NLD did not have the freedom to operate openly. She emphasised that national reconciliation remains a priority for the party, and that it still held out a "hand of friendship and peace" to the country's military. In 1990 the NLD won general elections with a landslide victory which was never recognised by the military junta. Many NLD leaders and supporters were arrested or fled into exile in the coming years while Suu Kyi spent nearly 15 under house arrest.

New showrooms race ahead as old car dealers go bust Posted: 27 Sep 2013 12:45 AM PDT New import laws in Burma have led to a drop in car prices that has made cars affordable for ordinary people. One of the most noticeable changes in the country over the past two years is the staggering number of new cars to hit the streets as the country undergoes political and economic reforms. More than 150,000 vehicles have been imported since the government launched a car exchange scheme allowing people to trade in their old cars. Car showrooms have opened up all over Rangoon, and new models appear on the street every day. Sales Director at KIA Motors, Kyaw Thura, said nowadays the average person can afford to buy their own car. Related Stories Business Weekly Business weekly BUSINESS WEEKLY "At first the government let people change their old cars for new cars. Then later, they changed the policy so that every adult who has a national registration card was allowed to import cars. Things are really improving," said Kyaw Thura. The rusty rundown vehicles that filled the streets for decades have at last been abandoned for scrap to make way for tens of thousands of new cars imported in the last two years. But the drop in car prices is putting former car dealers out of business. Ba Htay, a former car salesman, invested thousands of dollars to bypass import laws and bought cars at hugely inflated prices. But when the government made it easier to import cars, prices fell dramatically. "Of course I lost money," said Ba Htay. "Just before the government allowed people to substitute their old cars. I had just bought a car and when I sold it I lost US$7000. That was the last time I did this." And several former car salesmen have taken to driving or renting their cars as taxis because it brings in more reliable earnings than the risk of selling them. "Before I could live for a month on the profit.  Now if I buy and re-sell a car I will lose money," said Ba Htay.

Karen, Mon armies schedule informal talks with govt on Saturday Posted: 27 Sep 2013 12:21 AM PDT Four Mon and Karen armed groups that have already signed ceasefire agreements with the Burmese government are expected to meet with the Union Peace-making Work Committee on 28 September. Hla Maung Shwe of Myanmar Peace Centre confirmed to DVB that the the New Mon State Party and the Karen National Union, along with its former breakaway members the KNU/ KNLA Peace Council and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, have scheduled an informal meeting with government peace negotiators led by President's Office Minister Aung Min in Mon state capital Moulmein on Saturday. "Minister Aung Min has invited the four ceasefire groups for a meeting on the afternoon of 28 September to talk about the current peace process and future plans," said Hla Maung Shwe. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Mon National Seminar, which takes place in Moulmein from 28 to 30 September and will be attended by various Mon ethnic political parties, armed groups and civil society groups. Related Stories Without self-determination, revolution will go on: Mon militia Three KNU/KNLA-Peace Union members killed during shooting in Hpa-an Armed Mon group calls on army to return abducted members

UN calls on Burma to urgently address Rohingya grievances Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:11 PM PDT A group of Western and Asian governments are lauding Burma’s progress toward democracy but warning outbreaks of communal violence could undermine the reforms. Foreign ministers meeting Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly said in a statement that Burma urgently needs to address the political and economic grievances of the Rohingyas, including the question of their citizenship. The Rohingyas are a minority Muslim group that has suffered badly in sectarian clashes over the past year with majority Buddhists. Oftentimes, security forces have stood by. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said there’s much to be done to ensure accountability for the perpetrators. In a sign of the shifting international attitudes toward Burma, the former pariah nation was for the first time invited to the “Group of Friends on Myanmar/Burma” meeting. Related Stories Bangladesh parliament debates birth control for Rohingya refugees UN aid reaches Laiza for first time in almost two years UN's Nambiar concludes low-key visit to Burma Representing the British government at the annual meeting of the Group of Friends of Burma at the UN General Assembly on 26 September, FCO Minister of State for Asia Hugo Swire said, "We welcome the continued engagement of the UN and its member states in Burma to help assist the country through the challenges of transition to democracy. This was an important opportunity to share that message and to welcome continued progress in Burma. We were pleased that the Burmese government attended the Group of Friends forum for the first time, evidence that they are also willing to engage. "I stressed the importance of continued action to keep reforms on track, particularly the need to tackle violence and discrimination against Muslims and other religious minorities, to maintain progress towards nationwide peace, and to address the plight of the Rohingya community. I hope the government will support the need to reform the Constitution, a necessary undertaking if the 2015 elections are to be seen as credible."

Ex-political prisoners detail torture methods at Insein Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:41 PM PDT A group of former political prisoners held a press conference for the first time on Wednesday when they revealed how they were subjected to torture in Insein prison 23 years ago. The former inmates said they were speaking out to commemorate the date, 25 September 1990, when Burmese security forces cracked down on Buddhist monks at Shwetaung Monastery in Rangoon's Mingalar Taungnyunt township. Speaking to assembled media, each former prisoner recounted personal experiences, most of which were centred around their protest in prison when the military regime refused to hand over power to the National League for Democracy four months after the opposition party's election victory. Thet Tin, who was incarcerated on "Death Row", said he was repeatedly clubbed on the back of his head while shackled. He told journalists he attempted to block the attack with his left hand, which was left permanently crooked as a result. He said the officers would not stop beating him until he complied by speaking "like a woman" for their amusement. "They told me to cry, 'I'm afraid! I'm afraid!' and ordered me to speak in a woman's voice, addressing myself in the feminine form shin [as opposed to bya for males]," said Thet Tin. Another jailed activist, who was not identified by name, said, "The prison guards beat my all over my body – on the head, arms, legs and the back. I was blindfolded and bumped into the wall with my head – I passed out." Related Stories President Thein Sein meets 88 Generation leaders Jailed anti-mine activist Naw Ohn Hla transferred New prisoners, same cages Another former death row inmate, Myint Sein, described how they were also subjected to both physical and psychological torture. "Around 6am in the morning, they started blaring traditional music at us, then dragged us from our cells," he said. "They covered our heads with bags and took turns beating us up. Sometimes it didn't stop until the evening and we were not given any food or water." Myint Sein said that officers, possibly from military intelligence, would appear and insist that the political activists dress like women and use the feminine form of address when responding to orders. He said the guards used to play the traditional Burmese song, "Sar-U" very loudly when torture was taking place. Some inmates believed it was to mask the cries of prisoners being beaten; others said it was a psychological torture aimed at instilling fear every time they heard that tune. Other well-known political activists at the press conference who were involved in the 1990 prison protest were Ko Yu and Naing Aung, and writers Thaw Ka and Moe Thu.

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