Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Knife-wielding soldier tries to rob bank in Meikhtila
• Wind and rain ravage Shan state
• Coach’s embarrassing blunder costs Burma the semi-finals
• Karen farmers upgrade from cattle to machinery
• Burma’s football dream goes up in smoke

Knife-wielding soldier tries to rob bank in Meikhtila Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:47 AM PST A Burmese army captain was arrested on Tuesday morning in Mandalay division's Meikhtila after a failed solo attempt at robbing the military-owned Innwa Bank, according to a government statement. According to a report on the Ministry of Information's Facebook page, the knife-wielding robber has been identified as 26-year-old army captain Wai Yan Myo Kyaw, who is based in the neighbouring Sagaing division town of Kanbalu. He reportedly grabbed bank manager Mi Mi Yin and held her hostage at knifepoint shortly after walking into the bank. He then told the bank tellers to put all the money in a rucksack he had brought along. The robber then put his knife down on the counter, at which point Mi Mi Yin grabbed the opportunity to knock it away. She then screamed for help, prompting security guards to rush in and overpower Wai Yan Myo Kyaw. The robber was then tied up and taken from the scene to a nearby police station. Related Stories Living in Limbo Thousands of Meikhtila displaced remain homeless Quintana talks to DVB "He tried to rob the bank armed with only with a knife. I heard the bank staff screaming and saw motorbike taxi drivers run inside. The robber was apprehended and was taken to Meikhtila Police Station-2," said Khin Nan, a resident of Meikhtila who witnessed the incident. When contacted by DVB, an officer at Meikhtila Police Station-2 said the case was under investigation. The Innwa Bank, owned and operated by the Burmese military, is located in downtown Meikhtila and is regularly used by the army's Logistics Battalion based in the town. Residents said the bank is usually guarded by two policemen and two soldiers, and that no such incident had ever happened in the past to their knowledge.

Wind and rain ravage Shan state Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:30 AM PST Extreme weather in Shan state has inundated farmlands and destroyed homes, wiping out crops in Kengtung for the third time this year. Heavy rain lasting several days caused the Namhkun and Namhket creeks to overflow, flooding the surrounding farmlands and  causing the collapse of two bridges, connecting Kattauk and Yangain villages, and Yangpauk and Wantpan villages. Sai Hmu, secretary of the Yangain village-tract administration, said that at least five acres of watermelon and 50 acres of rice paddy in the area were destroyed. Additional damage is still being assessed. "The villagers would like some help. We are compiling a report of the destruction and will submit it to the township administration," said Sai Hmu. The flood water also reached into the lowlands of Katnalon, Kenglek, and 3rd and 4th wards in Kengtung, but the floods had subsided within a day. Damage to these areas was less severe, though some shop stalls in the town's market were also affected. Related Stories Four injured by landmine in southern Shan state Shan parties consider merger proposal Shan dam causes waves Nan Woe Phat, leader of local charity group Mawk Kwung Social Assistance Organisation, said silt left behind by the past two floods in August and September this year still remained in nearby Katwon village-tract, hindering local residents from rebuilding their homes, a full three months after the waters subsided. Kengtung township has been prone to yearly flooding since 1989, which environmentalists have attributed to deforestation and a build-up of sludge in the creeks in the region. Sai Win Myint, a member of the National League for Democracy's central executive committee, said that local authorities pledged to clear up the creeks about four years ago but have yet to begin. Also in Shan state, a 15-year old student was killed and nearly 46 homes were destroyed when severe winds tore through Wapya and Kukaw villages in the state's southern Danu Self-Administrated Zone. A local charity worker said that the young man, Zaw Min Htet, suffered a severe head injury and died in Pindaya hospital on Monday.

Coach’s embarrassing blunder costs Burma the semi-finals Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:49 PM PST Video: Burmese fans run riot after Burma's 1-0 defeat to Indonesia The head coach of the Burmese men's football team, Park Sung-Hwa, said at a press conference after Burma's 1-0 defeat to Indonesia on Monday that he was not aware the match was a head-to-head. According to the Kyemon Daily, the Korean admitted he only realised his team would be knocked out when, in the 90th minute, he saw an Indonesian player celebrating. "I was occupied with thoughts on who we would be facing next in the tournament in the semi-final and was not paying full attention to the match at hand," said Park. "I only realised about the head-to-head rule near the end of the game. I am the sole person responsible for this defeat," the newspaper reported him saying. Park Sung-Hwa, who has been coaching the team for four years, decided to use reserve players for the match and rest his best players, including Kyaw Ko Ko, considered the team's fiercest attacker. Related Stories Burma's football dream goes up in smoke Burmese ironman takes the gold Biased refereeing at SEA Games? The head-to-head ruling means that in the event that two teams are drawn in points – as in the case of Indonesia and Burma, each finishing with seven points – the team that won the match between the two qualifies, in this case Indonesia. When it became clear that Indonesia were going through to the semi-finals, many in the crowd turned hostile and started to rip up stadium chairs, and set fire to their shirts. Two fans managed to run onto the pitch but were taken away by security guards. Outside the stadium, hoards of incensed Burmese fans gathered in the streets and began chanting and throwing stones at riot police. A fire was started near the East Gate of the stadium and SEA Games-related billboards were set on fire and destroyed. Riot police moved in at 9:45pm and started making arrests. There were injuries reported on both sides. In the aftermath of the match, Burmese players and officials will also be licking their wounds; for coach Park, surely an alternative job is beckoning.

Karen farmers upgrade from cattle to machinery Posted: 16 Dec 2013 10:31 PM PST As border trade with Thailand opens up in eastern Burma, and due to increasing cattle smuggling to the neighbouring country, farmers in Kawkareik township in the Karen state are now beginning to use machines instead of their traditional beasts of burden to harvest crops. "The difference between using machinery and cattle is that with cattle you can't get a lot of work done", said farmer Maung Aye. "You can save time with combine harvesters. We really envied people who were using them." Previously local farmers only used buffaloes or oxen to plough their fields, but the new combine harvesters make it quicker and easier come harvest season. "Using machinery is more progressive – also for the country – and more profitable," said farmer Htet Aung. "Using cattle, you get a higher quality of rice and better soil, but it's still more convenient to use the machines." Related Stories Michaungkan protestors agree to close rally camp for three months Funeral rites for land grab protestors in Michaungkan Farmers protest flooding caused by fishery dam Agriculture is the main industry in Burma and employs more than 70 percent of the workforce. Rice is the country's main crop and naturally, the work is very dependent on monsoonal rains. "Using the combine harvesters instead of cattle reduces waste and it's faster, so it's convenient with the weather – with the machines you can get the harvesting done before the rainy season," said Htet Aung. Though their cattle are now out of work, the farmers hope this new mechanised form of harvesting will bless them with higher yields and more profits.

Burma’s football dream goes up in smoke Posted: 16 Dec 2013 08:28 PM PST The Burmese men's football team crashed out of the SEA Games in disastrous fashion to Indonesia on a night that will be remembered more for the disgraceful scenes after the match, when disgruntled fans set fires and confronted riot police in the streets of eastern Rangoon. It had all started out with such high expectations – after two wins and a draw with Thailand, all Burma required was a draw against Indonesia to qualify on Monday night. To make things easier for the Burmese, Thailand had just faltered in the game before, tying 0-0 with Cambodia, allowing the host nation a golden opportunity to top the group. BEFORE: Burmese fans in a festive mood ahead of the match. Inevitably, Burmese coach Park Sung-Wha's tactics will be subject to scrutiny as the post-mortem of this match is sure to be investigated on several fronts, not least of all a Vietnamese referee who incensed the home crowd with his decisions. In front of a festive 30,000 crowd at the Thuwunna Stadium, Burma immediately began the game nervously. The decision to rest Kyaw Ko Ko, who has been the team's most deadly attacker, perhaps resonated a sense that the Burmese were as good as through the group stage and could save energy for the semi-final on Thursday. According to the SEA Games sports writer: "Throughout the first 45 minutes, Myanmar [Burma] seemed stagnant and withdrawn from the flow of play, apparently looking to see out a 0-0 game and play on the counter. At the break, Indonesia owned 63 percent of possession, while the hosts managed but a single shot on goal." Indonesia scored a penalty in the 35th minute and Burma never looked like reclaiming the game. Unable to penetrate the Indonesian defence in the second half, Burma was reduced to shooting from outside the box, but to little effect. Clearly frustrated, Burma's Ye Lin Aung was sent off in the 88th minute for a callous elbow to the head of an Indonesian player as the ball rolled harmlessly out of play. As the clock ticked down, the home fans became agitated and then incensed. At least two managed to breach the grandstand defenses and invade the pitch. Seats were torn up by Burma's supporters and thrown over the barricade; some rocks were thrown onto the park too. Related Stories Coach’s embarrassing blunder costs Burma the semi-finals Burmese ironman takes the gold Biased refereeing at SEA Games? With no less than six minutes of extra time to steal an equaliser, Burma threw everything at the Indonesian defence, but it came to nothing. At the final whistle, the Indonesians knelt to the ground in relief while Burma's players crumpled to the ground in despair. Immediately after the game a fire was reported to have been started near the East Gate of the stadium with distraught and drunken fans burning their Burma shirts. Firefighters were called to the scene, and some 2,000 riot police stood by anxiously. SEA games-related billboards were set on fire and destroyed. Fans pelted stones at the riot police who protected themselves from a distance with shields. As the crowd filtered out of the stadium more stone-throwing took place nearby at the intersection of Waizayantar Road and Laydauntkan Road in Thingyangun township. At 9:45pm, riot police began moving in and making arrests. Injuries to both police and fans were reported before calm was restored. Telephone access was also cut to the area, and to compound a night of misery, the SEA Games website itself was hacked by disgruntled fans who demanded a review of the refereeing decisions that led to Burma's defeat.

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