Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Democratic Voice of Burma

Democratic Voice of Burma

Diplomatic delegation tours conflict-torn Arakan state

Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:34 AM PST

A delegation of foreign diplomats, led by US ambassador to Burma Derek Mitchell, visited the restive Arakan state this week to assess the impact of ongoing sectarian clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.

The delegation, made up of the US and Swiss ambassadors to Burma, as well as British diplomats, met with both Buddhist and Muslim communities on Monday and Tuesday in a bid to promote reconciliation.

It follows the latest outbreak out violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in western Burma, which has already displaced over 140,000 people and claimed some 200 lives since last year.

The team visited displacement camps in Sittwe, Maungdaw, Myebon and Pauktaw townships to offer assistance to affected communities.

"They are here to provide health and education assistance to communities on both sides," said Win Myaing, the government's spokesperson for Arakan state.

Aye Nu Sein, an official from the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, who met with the foreign officials in Sittwe, said she told them that the security situation remained precarious.

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"I told them that the Arakanese people are fed up because in addition to poor social, education and economic standards, we have absolutely no peace and security," Aye Nu Sein told DVB. "Every time a riot breaks out, the situation goes back to square one."

Immigration Minister Khin Yi and the secretary of the state-backed Arakan investigation committee, Kyaw Yin Hlaing, accompanied the delegation.

Khin Yi reportedly urged local leaders in Sittwe's Muslim quarter, Aung Minglar, to "cooperate" with the government in compiling a list of displaced Rohingyas. It follows a public backlash against a government scheme to force Rohingyas to register as "Bengalis" on a local survey – reflecting the government view that they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Some 800,000 Rohingya Muslims are estimated to live in western Burma, where they are denied citizenship and heavily persecuted. The region has been gripped by violence since last year when Muslims first clashed with Buddhists following the rape and murder of an Arakanese woman.

Sectarian clashes have since spread to other parts of Burma, including Mandalay and the commercial capital Rangoon.

The latest eruption of violence, which hit Pauktaw earlier this month, forced a number of aid organisations to scale back essential humanitarian services for displaced communities.

No peace without ethnic rights

Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:16 AM PST

A long festering war between the central government and the ethnic states has torn and divided Burma for over 60 years.

Can the current peace process, launched by President Thein Sein in 2011, bring about a lasting peace?

Last year the government signed a ceasefire with Karen rebels – ending one of the world's longest civil wars. But the ceasefire is tentative and Karen locals say the people are yet to benefit.

"It's already been a year, but we haven't seen any concrete thing that we can say is real peace," said Paul Sein Twa, Executive Director at the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network.

And in northern Burma ceasefires are being ignored.

"In the Shan state, SSA-North signed a ceasefire in December 2011, but fighting continues to date," said coordinator of the Kachin Peace Network, Khon Ja. "So that means the ceasefire agreement is nothing – it is just a piece of paper without implementation strategy."

Norway, the European Union and others have donated millions of dollars to support the peace process and to fund the state-backed Myanmar Peace Centre.

"The ceasefire is only step one," said Norwegian deputy Foreign Minister Larsen Torgeir. "A ceasefire is only a ceasefire. Then the important part is the political process which is just beginning."

Many ethnic groups see a contradiction between government policy and local realities. But they feel the peace process has been highly successful in boosting the government's image abroad and getting economic sanctions lifted.

"Nobody accepts the armed struggle now," said president's office minister Aung Min. "And we're trying to solve the political problems through political dialogue. This is the initial step.  We will have these meetings in Shan, Karen and other states to pave the way for peace."

The government's chief peace negotiator hasn't actually made any concrete steps towards withdrawing army battalions from ethnic states.

In fact, when President Thein Sein visited Europe – the Burmese army in Kachin state took no notice of calls for ceasefire and peace.

"On the 18th in the evening, the ceasefire was announced but on the morning of the 19th, there was mortar shooting in the Laiza area", said Khon Ja. "And also helicopter gunships and even fighter jets coming and shooting in the whole area."

Despite talks between the military and the Kachin Independence Organisation, no meaningful ceasefire agreement has been signed.

"It's really frightening and the trust is lost by the Kachin civil society, especially for people living in that specific area", Khon Ja continued. "So that means the president's announcement of ceasefire is not really trustworthy."

With or without ceasefire agreements, civilians in conflict zones are still living in fear of the Burmese army.

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In Karen state, the army seems to be preparing for a renewed war.

"What we see in the area is that instead of relocating or reducing their army, they are reinforcing and fortifying their camps, said Paul Sein Twa.

There is little trust between the ethnic nationalities and the government. But if peace agreements aren't upheld, a sustainable peace will be hard to achieve.

Big investment projects are also standing in the way of the peace process. The ethnic states are rich in natural gas, gold, timber, jade and rubies – yet the local people are among the poorest in Burma.

Khon Ja pointed to the fact that the conflict areas with the highest density of fighting are closely linked to where the investment sites are.

"The people lost their land and property and some of them lost their lives. So it means these investments aren't really supporting the people or the country, but supporting cronies, investors and a handful of people in government."

To move forward Paul Sein Twa says transparency is the key.

"So definitely the economic projects need to be reviewed. They have to bring those projects on the table transparently."

Khon Ja also said: "These foreign investment projects are not supporting the peace process but fuelling existing conflicts."

The attempt to build a huge dam in Kachin state, which was opposed by the Kachin people, sparked renewed fighting which prompted President Thein Sein to suspend the project.

"We need foreign investment and a national economic strategy but some projects are really dangerous, such as mega-dams," said Khon Ja.

In February 2013 the Deputy Minister of Power Myint Zaw told the parliament that six hydropower dams had been approved for the Salween River, without any meaningful consultation.

"We have only read this project has been approved by the government, without any public discussion", said Paul Sein Twa.

A government advisor told DVB that the current government had inherited signed agreements and contracts from the previous regime that Burma had to honour.

"But these projects are not just government projects, these are the people's projects that belong to the whole nation. There is need for a review", said Paul Sein Twa.

A Chinese backed copper mine in the Latpadaung mountain range has been met with fierce public opposition. Despite ongoing protests, the project has restarted.

"There is no space for the voice of civil society, said Khon Ja.

But if the government pushes ahead with big projects, opposed by the local people, it could derail the peace talks.

President Thein Sein has called for a nationwide ceasefire conference in November with the armed ethnic groups. The ethnic leaders are united in pushing the government to accept a federal union. The Karen, Shan and Kachin say a lasting peace can only be possible with full rights for ethnic nationalities.

Peace now depends on an enlightened response from the central government. Are they ready to share power in the spirit of the landmark Panglong Agreement, which paved the way for the Union of Burma?

This is a historic opportunity for peace based on a Panglong 2.

Burma amends controversial publishing law

Posted: 13 Nov 2013 01:27 AM PST

Burma's parliament has agreed to amend parts of a controversial new publishing bill, which critics say is being used to re-introduce censorship in the former military dictatorship.

The law will obligate all media enterprises to register with the government or risk legal penalties, and has been compared to the draconian, junta-era legislation it is set to replace.

But on Monday the lower house of parliament agreed to abolish prison sentences and reduce financial penalties for those found to be printing or publishing without registration.

An earlier draft imposed a possible six month jail term and 10 million kyat (US$11,621) fine for media groups operating without a licence.

Ye Htun, a representative in the lower house told DVB that article 20 of the Printing and Publication Enterprise Bill now issued a maximum penalty of 300,000 kyat (US$308).

"Imposing a fine of 50 million to 100 million kyat may harm small time local printing and publication businesses that usually run with just one copier," said Ye Htun. "So the [lower house] has amended the article to only impose fines from 100,000 to 300,000 kyat as a warning to [those printing or publishing without registration]."

Another controversial element of the bill, which had prohibited criticisms of Burma's 2008 military-drafted constitution, was also removed. However, the law still bans the publication of material that "insults" religion, expresses nudity, undermines the "rule of law" or harms ethnic unity.

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The lower house's Sports, Culture and Public Relations Committee and the Bill Committee participated in discussions of the bill on 11 November. It has already been discussed in both the lower house and the upper house of parliament and is now set for debate in the bicameral legislature before being signed into law.

Ye Htun said that both the house of parliament agreed on the "important" clauses in the bill, although there were still several disagreements on smaller issues, which would be hashed out at the union parliament.

"We even removed the clause concerned with personal attacks aimed at discrediting an individual," said Ye Htun, referring to a new section that had been introduced by the upper house.

The Printing and Publishing Enterprise Bill was drafted by the Ministry of Information earlier this year and is one of several media laws currently being introduced in the country.

Earlier this month, Burma passed a new media bill, drafted by the Interim Press Council, which outlines the legal framework for the country's nascent fourth estate.

93-year-old independence fighter forced to beg to survive

Posted: 13 Nov 2013 12:31 AM PST

Ninety-three-year-old Thakin Hla Kyaing, who fought for Burma's independence in the 1930s, has been forced into begging to survive.

Recently, he became the focus of social media attention after someone posted a story about him on Facebook. But now the Myanmar Veterans Organisation has pledged to provide him monthly social assistance.

"The Military Retirees and Families Organisation have also contacted us to provide assistance for him", said retired Captain Min Thawdar Pegu. "Moreover, a union-level government minister has promised to build him a house and provide him monthly financial support."

He said that the Burmese army and the Veterans Organisation previously didn't know about his situation, but as soon as they found out began to work on a plan to help him out.

Hla Kyaing was 16 years old when he joined the Burmese nationalist party formally known as Dobama Asiayone Movement. The "Thakins" were initially a group of 30 young intellectuals within the party who later founded the Burma Independence Army, led by famous independence fighter Aung San.

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Hla Kyaing has fought against British forces as well as Japanese. He was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer-Three Stars, enjoying a salary of 55 kyat. He has also received an honorary Independence Mawgunwin Medal.

"I fought in the Shwetaung theatre, and in the campaign against the Japanese in west Tharawaddy, which was the biggest campaign", he said. "And I fought against the Karen when Bo Chit Shwe fell."

During military service, Hla Kyaing sustained an arm injury from an accident, and on his right ankle in battle. When the independence war ended, he relinquished his weapons and took retirement, starting a career painting dye and shoemaking. But he started begging to be able to pay his medical expenses.

"It was a desperate choice as I had no income", he said. "I keep my head down in embarrassment when I see someone I know pass by."

Hla Kyaing is also blind on one eye after an accident at home last year. But now, after his story became known through Facebook, sympathisers and the Veterans Organisations are pledging to offer him assistance.

Burma vows to build more power plants

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 11:17 PM PST

The Burmese government has pledged to build more power plants in order to meet public demand, following days of protests against a rise in electricity prices, state media reported on Wednesday.

Myanmar Minister of Electric Power Khin Maung Soe explained that the country faces an acute power shortage, with consumption increasing by 15 percent annually.

He blamed the shortfall on the government's failure to build seven new hydropower projects, three thermal and two coal-fired plants.

According to the New Light of Myanmar, three new 500 megawatt power stations – costing US$2.1 billion – would need to be constructed to meet electricity demands by 2015.

"Local and foreign companies are invited to make investments in the projects as the government alone cannot afford to implement it," said the report.

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The announcement follows days of protests against a planned price hike on electricity rates starting November 2013. But the government backed down on Tuesday, saying that the price hike would be postponed until the fiscal year 2014-2015.

“We will charge new electricity rates in the 2014-2015 fiscal year,” Khin Maung Soe reportedly told parliament.

The new prices would have seen electricity bills for most Burmese families rise by around 40 percent each month. The proposal provoked an angry backlash from locals who took the streets in Rangoon last week in protest.

“If we don't do this, the nation will face difficulties until 2020,” Khin Maung Soe told parliament, according to RFA. “We have electricity now because the previous government built power plants using international loans.”

Burma has an overall electricity generation capacity of only 4,000 megawatts, compared with 30,000 megawatts in neighbouring Thailand, which has a similar sized population.

Only 30 percent of Burma's population is estimated to have access to the national power grid – less than 7 percent among those living in rural areas.
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