Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Amending constitution is imperative, Suu Kyi tells EU delegation
• A federal union means a federal army, says Aung Min
• RCSS play wait-and-see on nationwide ceasefire decision
• Gen Aung San image to appear on Burmese banknotes
• Thein Sein offers to accept pay cut
• Burma embassy plot mastermind wanted to avenge Rohingyas, say Indonesian prosecutors

Amending constitution is imperative, Suu Kyi tells EU delegation Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:22 AM PST Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday told a European Union business forum that investors should not ignore the country’s political challenges as it heads towards crucial 2015 elections. The veteran activist said constitutional amendment was imperative for the economic development of the nation, seen as a key regional developing market as it opens after decades of military rule. “Anybody that encourages business or investment or any other activity in Burma while at the same time totally ignoring the need to amend the constitution is not being pragmatic,” she said, using the country’s former name. It is now officially known as Myanmar. Related Stories Over 99 percent of Rangoonites support amending the constitution, says NLD The Lady doth protest too seldom EU may be breaching Burma arms embargo, say activists Suu Kyi also rejected suggestions that her party would slow economic progress if it came to power. She was speaking at a forum on supporting Burma’s transition that was hosted by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. “We believe in economic development rooted in social and political development of the country as a whole,” Suu Kyi said. The current constitution, crafted under the former military regime, notably would block Suu Kyi from becoming president after 2015 parliamentary elections because it excludes anyone whose spouses or children are foreign nationals. It also ensures that a quarter of the legislature is reserved for soldiers. Suu Kyi also threw her weight behind calls for a federal system, a key concern of the country’s numerous ethnic minority groups. “All of us want a federal union because that would ensure satisfaction and confidence in all our peoples,” she said. The democracy champion has faced criticism at home for her apparent reluctance to address religious violence in the western state of Arakan [Rakhine] and clashes between the army and rebels in northern Kachin. Burma has been beset by ethnic rebellions for decades. Tentative peace pacts have been signed with most armed groups but a nationwide ceasefire has so far remained elusive. President Thein Sein, who took power in 2011, has won international plaudits and the removal of most Western sanctions for changes including Suu Kyi’s participation in parliament and the release of political prisoners.

A federal union means a federal army, says Aung Min Posted: 14 Nov 2013 03:51 AM PST President's Office Minister Aung Min has said that if Burma becomes a federal union, it will inevitably need to adopt a federal constitution and establish a federal army. Aung Min, who is the Burmese government's chief negotiator in peace talks, made the comment on 10 November after discussing proposals by ethnic armed groups in Myitkyina, some six days after he received an 11-point plan agreed by an alliance of ethnic groups the week before in Laiza. "If Burma becomes a federal union … we will have a federal constitution and an armed forces that is in conformity with the federal union," he said. "This is acknowledged as the main principle of federalism, so there will be no challenge to it nor will there be anything to be worried about." Aung Min said the President Thein Sein is holding firmly to a policy of solving the armed conflict in Burma via political means. Related Stories RCSS play wait-and-see on nationwide ceasefire decision Civic groups take positive signs from Myitkyina talks Burmese army compromises for sake of peace, says Lt-Gen Myint Soe Ahead of last week's meeting in Myitkyina between the ethnic alliance and government officials, leaders of 18 ethnic armed groups met in the Kachin Independence Organisation's Laiza headquarters where 17 of the 18 signed an 11-point agreement pledging to work towards a nationwide ceasefire, with measures included to establish dialogue with Naypyidaw on steps to establish a federal union that guarantees ethnic equality and self-determination. Lt-Gen Myint Soe of the Ministry of Defence told DVB in Myitkyina that the federal union envisioned by the Burmese military is one that is in accordance with the 2008 constitution. Kachin leader Gen. Gun Maw Sumlat said a federal army must be established if Burma intends to establish a federal union. Meanwhile, a loose coalition of ethnic armed groups are looking to facilitate a conference in Law Khee La territory in Karen state in December ahead of talks in Hpa-an with the government delegation.

RCSS play wait-and-see on nationwide ceasefire decision Posted: 14 Nov 2013 02:07 AM PST The Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) has released a statement saying the group will only make a decision on the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement after it sees the results of the upcoming meeting between more than a dozen ethnic armed groups and a Burmese government delegation scheduled to be held next month in Karen state capital Hpa-an. In its 9 November statement, the RCSS said that with regards to the 11-point agreement reached at a conference in Laiza earlier in November, the RCSS is "completely in agreement in principle". Related Stories A federal union means a federal army, says Aung Min No peace without ethnic rights Civic groups take positive signs from Myitkyina talks "Concerning the signing of the [ceasefire] agreement, however, the RCSS will make a decision after approval by the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) and the upcoming meeting between the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC), over the 14-point Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement proposed by the Myanmar government, to be held at Hpa-an in Karen State in December 2013," the statement said. Maj Sai La, a Shan army spokesman, elaborated by saying that the RCSS will sign the agreement only if the talks in Hpa-an can guarantee a genuine ceasefire. "Although we already have a ceasefire agreement in place, there are still clashes taking place," he told DVB. "Therefore it is necessary that all concerned parties sign the agreement in order to end the clashes. "The relevant individuals – the decision-makers – were not present at the three previous meetings when we signed agreements, and this made it difficult to implement the agreements," he said. "When I say 'relevant individuals', I am talking about the commander-in-chief, the chief of staff and regional military commanders." Sai La said the RCSS will submit its viewpoints and suggestions to the ethnic coalition NCCT and the UPWC ahead of the Hpa-an talks. "We will be making the suggestion to hold separate negotiations for the ceasefire and for political dialogue," he said. "Military decision-makers should be included in the ceasefire talks," He said a date should be set to initiate political dialogue and noted that such a meeting should include all concerned parties, not only armed groups. The RCSS was the only armed group out of 18 represented at the Laiza talks on 30 October– 3 November which refused to sign an agreement to conditionally support a nationwide ceasefire.

Gen Aung San image to appear on Burmese banknotes Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:54 AM PST The vice-president of the Central Bank of Myanmar, Daw Khin Saw Oo, told lower house MPs on Wednesday that the bank was planning to issue new banknotes featuring the image of Burma's national hero, Aung San, as well as other prominent Burmese leaders. Khin Saw Oo was speaking in response to a proposal by MP Thein Nyunt who said that his proposal had been accepted due to "changes in the political environment". Related Stories Locals upset after upper house speaker snatches historic notebook Remembering the martyrs and their hopes for Burma Burma to give central bank more autonomy "The political environment has notably changed," he said. "I served this emergency proposal to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the 1300 revolution [a 1938 general strike] and stated solid reasons for doing so. "I acknowledge the response of the Central Bank's vice president to print banknotes with images of our country's most prominent leaders. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the parliament speaker, without whose approval we would not have been able to discuss it." The Central Bank vice-president did not elaborate on which "prominent leaders" would be featured on the new banknotes. The current notes in circulation display images of a white elephant and a lion. Regarded as Burma’s independence hero, Gen. Aung San is the father of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He was shot dead in 1947 ahead of Burmese independence. His image previously appeared on 15-kyat bills as late as the 1980s.

Thein Sein offers to accept pay cut Posted: 13 Nov 2013 11:06 PM PST Burmese President Thein Sein has offered to take a pay cut from his current salary of 5 million kyat (US$5,000), the amount currently approved by parliament. The president, who is a little over halfway through his five-year term, sent the message to the parliamentary session of the upper house on Wednesday. Related Stories President Thein Sein blames 'outsiders' for Sandoway riots Peace process will lead to national reconciliation, says Thein Sein President Thein Sein meets 88 Generation leaders Although Article-3 of the Law on Salaries, Allowances and Insignias of Union-Level Persons permits the president to enjoy a 5-million-kyat salary, he has been withdrawing only 1.5 million kyat every month since he has been in office. Upper house representative Aung Kyi Nyunt said the Bill Committee recently submitted a proposal to amend the Law on Salaries, Allowances and Insignias of Union-Level Persons. Deputy Finance Minister Maung Maung Thein, when invited by the upper house speaker Khin Aung Myint to address the matter, said the president should not be seen as an individual but as an institution. He suggested the salary should be set at around 3 to 4 million kyat – the same amount a general manager from an average company gets paid. "The upper house speaker also said that it would be inappropriate for the parliament to decide how much salary the president should enjoy and suggested the Minister of Finance should recommend an amount based on the country's financial situation," said Aung Kyi Nyunt. "Therefore the parliament will make a decision based on this."

Burma embassy plot mastermind wanted to avenge Rohingyas, say Indonesian prosecutors Posted: 13 Nov 2013 08:51 PM PST The alleged mastermind of a plot to bomb the Burmese embassy in Indonesia led a group of Islamic extremists intent on avenging the “massacre” of Rohingya Muslims, a court heard Wednesday. Sigit Indrajid, 23, is the fourth person to go on trial this week over the plan to attack the mission in Jakarta in May and could face the death penalty if found guilty. The plot was a sign of rising anger in Muslim-majority Indonesia at the plight of the persecuted Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Burma, also known as Myanmar, many of whom have died in sectarian unrest since last year. The attack was foiled on May 2, the day before it was due to take place, when police arrested two men on a motorbike carrying a backpack full of pipe-bombs. Prosecutor Heru Anggoro told the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday at the start of Indrajid’s trial that the suspect had called his accomplices to his house in April to outline the plan. “He invited them to carry out an attack on the Burmese embassy in retaliation for the massacre of Rohingya Muslims,” he said, reading out the charges against him. “The actions of the accused and his group members could have resulted in casualties and sparked fear and trauma in the community.” Indrajid met some of his accomplices on Facebook, where he posted messages about the need to avenge the killing of the Rohingya, Anggoro told the court. Two days before the planned attack, the group — part of a network called Negara Islam Indonesia (The Islamic State of Indonesia) — gathered to construct the bombs out of easily available chemicals. Related Stories Burma embassy bomb plot suspect appears in Indonesian court Namhkam festival cancelled in wake of bombings Bombings were an attempt to deter foreign investment, says Burma's police chief The night before, the alleged mastermind and another man waited in central Jakarta near the embassy for their accomplices to arrive on motorbike with the bombs. But police got there first, arresting the two men as they drove to the rendezvous, the prosecutor said. When he found out what had happened, Indrajid, who was radicalised after attending sermons by an extremist preacher at a central Jakarta mosque, fled to Lampung province on western Sumatra island. But he was arrested at a port in Jakarta on May 22 as he attempted to return to the capital. Indrajid faces three charges under tough anti-terror laws that carry the death penalty, including conspiracy to commit an act of terror. There have been a string of attacks on minority Muslims in Burma since last year, mostly in the Rohingya’s western home state of Rakhine. Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands made homeless.

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