Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Govt denies Buddhist mob attacked, killed Muslims in Maungdaw
• HIV positive cyclist on awareness tour
• Burma’s para-archers shoot to win
• Foreign and domestic investors play by same rules: DICA
• Burma stock exchange may take some time

Govt denies Buddhist mob attacked, killed Muslims in Maungdaw Posted: 17 Jan 2014 04:30 AM PST The Burmese government denied on Friday that a Buddhist mob ripped through a town in an isolated strife-torn corner of the country this week, attacking Muslim women and children. Villagers and a rights group said more than a dozen people may have been killed, and that hundreds have fled their homes. “We have had no information about killings,” President’s spokesman Ye Htut told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Nations Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Burma's ancient city of Bagan. Burma, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million people, has been grappling with sectarian violence for nearly two years. More than 240 people have been killed and another 250,000 forced to flee their homes, most of them Muslims from the western state of Arakan. The northern tip of the state, where Tuesday’s violence occurred, is home to 80 percent of Burma's Rohingya Muslims, considered by the U.N. to be one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The region is also one of the most isolated in the country, with access to foreign journalists and humanitarian aid workers almost always either denied or heavily restricted. Chris Lewa of the Thailand-based Arakan Project, an advocacy group that has been documenting abuses against Rohingya for more than a decade, said details about the violence in Duchira Dan (Kilaidaung) village were still emerging, with many conflicting reports. The death toll could be anywhere from 10 to 60, said Lewa, whose sources range from a village administrator to witnesses. One described the slashed-up bodies of three acquaintances — two women and a 14-year-old boy — found in their homes. Related Stories Monk walks from Mandalay to Arakan in support of political prisoners Rohingya topic off limits for ASEAN talks Rohingya call on govt for inclusion in 2014 census Tensions have been building in the region since last month, when monks from a Buddhist extremist movement known as 969 arrived and started giving sermons by loudspeaker advocating the expulsion of all Rohingya. One resident said by phone that an initial flare-up followed the discovery of three bodies in a ditch near Duchira Dan village by several firewood collectors. Believing they were among several Rohingya who went missing after being detained by authorities, they alerted friends and neighbours, who returned with their cellphones to take pictures, said the man, who works as a volunteer English teacher. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals. That night, five police officers went to the village to confiscate the phones and check family lists, but the crowd turned on the officers, beating and chasing them off, said the man. The police returned at 2 a.m., saying one of the officers had gone missing, accusing villagers of either abducting or killing him. That triggered a security crackdown. Soldiers and police surrounded Duchira Dan, breaking down doors and looting livestock and other valuables, the English teacher said. Worried they would be arrested, all the men fled, leaving the women, children and elderly behind. Lewa said her sources reported that Rohingya women and children had been hacked to death, but the numbers varied widely. That some of the victims appeared to have been stabbed with knives, not shot or beaten, “would clearly indicate the massacre was committed by (Buddhist) Arakanese villagers, rather than the police or army,” the Arakan Project wrote in a briefing Thursday. The English teacher said 17 women and five children were killed. Another resident put the toll at 11. Ye Htut, the deputy information minister, said the “reports might be a cover-up, because of the policeman going missing.” Shwe Maung, a Muslim Lower House lawmaker who represents Buthidaung Township for the Union Solidarity and Development Party, told the local news agency Irrawaddy that he had received conflicting reports about the numbers of casualties. “A lot of people are missing,” he said. “Normally when they are missing family members, Rohingya people think they are dead.” Some of the Rohingya in northern Arakan State descend from families that have been there for generations. Others arrived more recently from neighbouring Bangladesh. All have been denied citizenship, rendering them stateless.

HIV positive cyclist on awareness tour Posted: 17 Jan 2014 04:16 AM PST Sarako has visited over 40 towns to date on his cycle tour across Burma to promote HIV awareness. The 35 year old Mandalay native has been living with HIV since 2005, and on 1 December 2013, World AIDS Day, he left Rangoon on a year long excursion to spread the word about disease prevention among 258 towns across Burma. "I'm taking the trail to raise awareness about HIV – to share my knowledge on preventing infection and my experiences as a person living with HIV," he said. On 14 January, Sarako arrived in Shan State capital Taunggyi, after passing through Pinlaung, Aungban, Pintaya and Lawksawk. He will head to Shan State's Panglong on Friday, then on to Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Chin, Mon and Arakan States. "I want to disprove the common misconception that once one has contracted HIV, he is as good as dead," he said, "by showing that I can still cycle from town to town – to give inspiration for others in the same situation." Sarako is also providing tips to locals for access to Non Governmental Organisations providing antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and supplies for those who are HIV positive.  Beyond medical assistance, many of the organisations also help people learn how to treat misconceptions and discrimination within their communities. Kyaw Thu, a former actor well-known across the country and now a renowned philanthropist, urged the public to show him support and help boost morale for HIV victims. "Cycling across the country is a hard task even for people with normal health conditions. I would like to urge the public to show him encouragement and help him," said Kyaw Thu. Sarako has been surviving on ARV supplies provided by a social assistance programme run by the National League for Democracy's lower house representative Phyu Phyu Thin. While not on the road, Sarako studies geography at Mandalay's Yadanabon University. According to United Nations estimates, there are around 240,000 people living with HIV in Burma. Related Stories Burma's para-archers shoot to win Burma stock exchange may take some time ASEAN Para Games 2014 opens in Naypyidaw

Burma’s para-archers shoot to win Posted: 17 Jan 2014 03:56 AM PST Precision and nerves of steel is a recipe for success in archery, something that Burma turned out to possess. The Burmese Paralympic archery team led the charts for men's compound archery on Thursday, at the Para Games. “Thailand is a tough opponent for us, they have even won Paralympic medals in the past”, said Aung Thua, Compound Archery Coach. “For now, we are so far so good and hopeful to win some gold. We would love to see some support!” Both teams and individuals compete in the three day event, in three different classes; standing, wheelchair 1, and wheelchair 2, depending on the level of the athlete's disability. Burma is competing against 36 players from other ASEAN countries. Related Stories HIV positive cyclist on awareness tour Indonesia takes early lead at ASEAN Para Games ASEAN Para Games 2014 opens in Naypyidaw “We are new to the games, we are a little bit nervous but not scared”, said archer Moe Win. “Both we and our opponents have two hands each, so we are all fair and square. We are trying to keep our minds sharp and to take the best shot.” The archery competitions will go on until Saturday the 18th of January. So far Burma is number five in the overall tally with 15 gold medals, after Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Indonesia is topping the list with 41 golds.

Foreign and domestic investors play by same rules: DICA Posted: 17 Jan 2014 12:46 AM PST Burma's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) plans to reform the country's current investment laws to conform to regional norms, according to DICA director Aung Naing Oo. In light of the passage of a new Foreign Investment Law in 2012, Burma now has two separate laws to govern foreign and domestic enterprises, which is abnormal among its ASEAN counterparts. The DICA plans to merge the Foreign Investment Law and the Citizens Investment Law into a single, comprehensive statute. Although the regulations are "essentially the same," DICA is concerned that the existence of two distinct laws could lead to a misconception among foreign partners that they are not receiving the same treatment as domestic businesses. "Essentially, there are equal rights and opportunities provided for foreign and citizen investors, however, having two separate laws could give a wrong impression to foreign investors," said Aung Naing Oo. Related Stories Burma stock exchange may take some time Rohingya topic off limits for ASEAN talks Indonesia takes early lead at ASEAN Para Games The International Finance Cooperation (IFC), which is currently advising the Burmese government on foreign investment policy per an agreement in December 2012, has also recommended a single statute. "The IFC pledged technical assistance on transforming Burma into an investment friendly environment, in conformity with international standards – not only for Burmese or foreigners, but equally for both," said Aung Naing Oo. While the reform aims to assure investors of an equal playing field, many Burmese businesspeople think that locals deserve an edge. "Domestic enterprises should be provided greater opportunity than foreign ones – otherwise our economy will be dominated by countries with greater market influence and better techniques," said Win Kyaing, secretary of the Myanmar [Burma] Fisheries Federation. According to government statistics, foreign direct investment in Burma for the 2013-14 fiscal year amounted to US$1.8 billion, exceeding the total amount during the 2012-13 fiscal year by US$400 million. The DICA estimated the overall investment value in the 2013-14 fiscal year will reach US$3 billion. While the former pariah state has been speedily trying to tighten up its legal landscape since the installation of a nominally civilian government in 2011, some analysts warn that while major improvements are underway, business in Burma is still an "extreme risk" for investors, due to poor governance and chronic claims of human rights abuses.

Burma stock exchange may take some time Posted: 16 Jan 2014 08:21 PM PST The push to set up a stock market in Burma by 2015 is falling behind schedule, hit by a shortage of manpower and know-how. Fundraising demand among companies here is expanding along with the economy, and a stock market would greatly help funnel cash their way. Businesses can turn to banks for loans, but they are often loath to do so because Burmese financial institutions generally have little know-how in managing credit risk and therefore require that real estate be used as collateral. Without a bourse to supply growth money to companies, Burma’s economy will have a harder time climbing higher. The Southeast Asian country enacted a securities and exchange law in July to pave the way for the planned stock market. But moves to draw up an ordinance for enforcing the law, which includes specific trading rules, have been stymied. Now it looks like the ordinance, which was supposed to be prepared in 2013, will not be ready until spring. Currently, the government is working with Japan’s Finance Ministry, Japan Exchange Group and Daiwa Securities Group to create the basic framework for the market, such as clarifying the role of the securities and exchange commission and establishing disclosure rules for listed companies. Last month, Daiwa Securities Group signed an advisory agreement with Burma’s Asia Green Development Bank. Related Stories HIV positive cyclist on awareness tour Foreign and domestic investors play by same rules: DICA Rohingya topic off limits for ASEAN talks The progress, however, has been slow. “There are only a few officials engaging in practical operations on the Myanmar [Burma] side,” said a Japanese team member involved in the project. Those taking part say the officials generally lack expertise and have a limited knowledge of such basic concepts as insider trading. Delays in drawing up the trading and other rules will also push back the creation of the entity that operates the exchange, as well as hamper the establishment of brokerages. It is now looking increasingly less likely that the country will have a stock exchange up and running in 2015. Laos and Cambodia were the first among Southeast Asia’s least-developed countries to set up stock markets. But the sailing has not been smooth for either country. The Lao Securities Exchange started trading in January 2011. Two state-run companies – Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao, a commercial bank, and energy producer and supplier EDL-Generation — went public on that occasion. On 25 December, Lao World, a private exhibition operator, debuted on the exchange in what was the first initial public offering in about three years. In Laos, it is still customary for business owners to lend funds to each other. Opaque management practices are widespread at government-run companies, which tend to avoid disclosing financial data. The country has gotten caught up in a vicious cycle in which companies are becoming less motivated to go public and investors are therefore losing interest. The Cambodia Securities Exchange is home to only one listed company.

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