Democratic Voice of Burma

---

• Protestors greet UN’s Quintana in Sittwe
• Bicycle to Burma – DVB talks to Hugh Bergin
• NLD cancels literary event after pressure over Muslim speakers
• Shan group defends training from Burma Armed Forces
• Burma preparing to ratify chemical weapons ban: Ye Htut
• New visa limit for foreign journalists in Burma

Protestors greet UN’s Quintana in Sittwe Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:37 AM PST Tomas Ojea Quintana met with protest as he arrived in western Burma's Arakan State on Friday during his last visit to the country as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma. Nyo Aye, protest leader and member of the Rakhine Women's Network said the protestors gathered in five areas along Quintana's route from the Sittwe Airport to the town's prison and displacement camps, demanding that he get out of town. "We don't want him here," she said. "This is the ninth time he is in town and every single time he comes here, he only pays attention to Bengalis, and we are protesting his biases." Many Burma nationals use the term Bengali to refer to the ethnic Rohingya Muslim minority, which are not recognised as one of Burma's official ethnic groups, and are legally denied citizenship. Rohingya Muslims have been termed by the United Nations as among the world's most persecuted peoples. Quintana visited the Sittwe Prison and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the area, and also met with representatives from the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP). Khin Maung Gree, Central Committee member of the RNDP, told DVB after his meeting with the rapporteur, "We explained to him our movement for constitutional reforms, and how their [the UN] approach on the [communal riots] was wrong. "We pointed out how the Arakanese, as a minority, never had any sympathy from international organisations or protection by the government." Related Stories NGOs say Burma's military continues to abuse Malaysian task force to investigate attempted hit of Arakanese leaders All 1,300 Rohingyas now deported to Burma, says Thai official On 11 February, before heading to Burma, Quintana expressed that he hoped to be able to assess what steps the Burmese government has taken to improve the human rights situation in Arakan State, which has suffered several bouts of ethno-religious violence since June 2012. The most recent outbreak in the troubled state has prompted reports from the UN and other credible sources that dozens of Muslims were brutally killed in a retaliatory massacre in the state's northern Maungdaw township. Incessant calls for independent investigations have been refused by the government, which has denied that a massacre took place and undertaken its own probe into the events. The UN official is scheduled to visit Kachin State and Karen State as well as the area surrounding the Latpadaung Copper Mine in Sagaing Division. Quintana also plans to meet with government and parliament officials before leaving the country on 19 February.

Bicycle to Burma – DVB talks to Hugh Bergin Posted: 14 Feb 2014 03:36 AM PST DVB Interview International caught up with Hugh Bergin, an Irishman who cycled from his hometown Kilkenny in Ireland to Burma to raise money for Karen refugees. His eight-month journey covered 15,000 km and took him through some of the highest and driest places on earth. Starting in Ireland, he cycled through 19 countries; passing through Europe, central Asia, the Himalayan foothills, Pakistan and India. The aim of the trip was to raise awareness and funding for two local charities – a hospice in his home country and the educational part of the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC). "There's a real desire to be included and to participate in any future negotiations with regard to the educational policy that is happening at the moment in Myanmar," said Bergin. Hugh said he has always had an interest in Burma and recently has learnt more about the Karen ethnic minority. Related Stories Think deeply, gain knowledge and work for positive change: King Zero Sidewalk classroom offers tuition for street children Pedal Power "I learned a bit more about the country and the repression that has taken place over the last few decades with the ethnic minorities," he said. Hugh said it was important that the Karen people are involved in the peace process and any negotiations about their future. "I was learning about the refugees on the border with Thailand, there is a strong desire to be included in a future Burma and any peace agreements that they are involved as well. That they aren't just given a solution," he said. Bergin had to cope with extreme heat as he cycled through the hot, dry sands of the Kazakh desert in Kazakhstan. "That was a bit of an eye opener for me. I realised, OK Hugh, now it's getting serious," he said. "I had to cross the Kazakh desert which took about seven or eight days on the bicycle through sand. There was no habitation. No water. That was probably the most physically challenging part of the journey." One of the most difficult parts of the trip was dealing with the monotony of cycling through the flat desert landscape. "Day after day, week after week, you would have nothing but 365 degree horizons around you, with nothing to stimulate you visually. Every single day it was an endless horizon," he said. Although he was cycling on his own, Hugh said the people he met were so welcoming that he didn't feel alone. "It was very difficult for people to understand [what I was doing] but I have to say without fail I was met with total friendliness and welcome all across my journey," he said. Arriving at Mae Sot on Christmas Eve, Hugh received a big welcome from the Karen people. "I was bowled over with the welcome when I arrived," said Hugh. "Christmas day there was a huge, big feast prepared, with lots of people there." So far Hugh and his "Bicycle to Burma" campaign has raised over US$4000 and the money will go towards on-going educational programmes set up by the KRC to train teachers. "So the idea is that the Karen community would have articulate and educated people who can represent the needs and requirements of their community," he said. "With education, people can compete and negotiate with the broader world outside of their own community." You can read more about Hugh Bergin's trip or donate to his cause on: www.bicycletoburma.com

NLD cancels literary event after pressure over Muslim speakers Posted: 14 Feb 2014 03:27 AM PST A public literature talk organised by the National League for Democracy (NLD) was cancelled after harassment by nationalist monks. The Patriotic Burmese Monks Union (PBMU) pressured the planners to call off the 12 February event, scheduled to mark Burma's Union Day in Rangoon's North Okkalapa Township. Organiser Myo Htut called it off after around 30 monks arrived, angered by two of the event's four keynote speakers — NLD's High Court Lawyer Ko Ni and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society's Mya Aye — both Muslim. Related Stories Census 'needlessly divisive' in ethnic areas: ICG NLD supporters in Mandalay rally for charter change Suu Kyi rally in Taunggyi moved to vacant lot According to Myo Htut, PBMU member Thuseikta appealed to North Okkalapa Township Administration on 10 February objecting to the appointment of Ko Ni and Mya Aye as speakers, claiming that it would be inappropriate for Muslims to make public speeches on Union Day. Thuseikta then allegedly threatened organisers over the telephone.  The NLD attempted to negotiate with the PBMU but was unsuccessful. "We tried to make a point that it was a literature talk not a religious event," said Myo Htut. Mya Aye said the monks might have misunderstood the nature of the event. "They objected because of our religion, but would not even consider what we had to say — that there is nothing about race or religion in what we had done and what we were trying to achieve," he said. The NLD plans to hold a press event on 14 February to settle misunderstandings about the incident.

Shan group defends training from Burma Armed Forces Posted: 14 Feb 2014 02:12 AM PST A photo of Buddhist monks being trained with firearms has made the virtual rounds over the past week, igniting vitriolic and controversial commentary. The image, said to originate from Talawgyi  –  a Taileng (Red Shan) village close to Kachin State capital Myitkyina – shows uniformed men standing over several others who were robed and armed. Some of those in uniform donned badges signifying the Burma Army Northern Regional Military Command. Web commentators reacted fast, some claiming that the photo was forged in an attempt to discredit the Buddhist religion. The Shan Ethnic Affairs Organisation (SEAO) denied the training of monks, and defended military training from the Burmese armed forces, claiming that it makes minorities – such as the Red Shan – less vulnerable to abuse by other ethnic militias. Last year in Myitkyina, ethnic Shans gathered en masse to protest alleged human rights violations by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), including accusations of forced recruitment. Related Stories Fresh fighting in northeast Burma raises concern among ceasefire groups Yawd Serk bows out urging peace, compromise Burmese army still holds 10 Mansi villagers captive, says FBR DVB reported the release of 26 Red Shan by the KIA in January. The Taileng National Development Party (TNDP) believed at the time that as many as 51 people were being held against their will. SEAO deputy-chair Sai Sang Wai said the Burmese Army's Northern Regional Military Command has been providing militia training for local villagers in northern Burma for about two years. This has included the Shan population, serving as a defence against alleged KIA forced-recruitment drives. Training has not included religious practitioners, he said. According to Sai Sang Wai, men who appear to be monks might be young 'temporary monks' – men who enter the monastery for good karma, a common practice in Burma. "It was absolutely not military training for monks – I assume they were novices, temporary monks, and not from Talawgyi," said Sai San Wai, adding that the group will talk to local monasteries to prevent such scenes in the future. "The novices are like that – they'd also jump on motorbikes," he said. "What they did was inappropriate as it can tarnish the image of the Buddhist religion." Sai San Wei confirmed that some training sessions were carried out in January 2014, and said that the training drives down the incidence of forced-recruitment and extortion at the hands of the KIA.

Burma preparing to ratify chemical weapons ban: Ye Htut Posted: 13 Feb 2014 10:25 PM PST Burma is making preparations to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international arms control treaty employed by 98 percent of the world, according to President's spokesperson Ye Htut. Burma became signatory to the convention upon its establishment in 1993, but over the course of two decades has not become an implementing member. "From what I know," the spokesperson told DVB by phone, "we have signed the convention but have yet to ratify it… a country is obligated to comply with convention principles once they have signed [even if] their legislative body is yet to ratify, which requires amending domestic laws to conform to the convention. "We have advisors and trainers currently in discussion to provide technical assistance for follow up procedures to comply with ratification; adopting laws and forming necessary bodies such as inquiry groups," he said. Related Stories New visa limit for foreign journalists in Burma Report shows scepticism over Burma’s press freedom Burma busy arresting journalists, not ratifying CW treaty The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – the implementing body for the CWC – said that Burma has been urged to take action on the matter. "As it does with all non-States Parties and Signatory States, the OPCW has made regular overtures to Myanmar through official channels to join the CWC without delay," said OPCW spokesperson Michael Luhan. According to Luhan, Burma has sent delegations to OPCW conferences, and in 2013 a team of experts from the OPCW were received in Burma for a technical assistance visit. The issue became pressing in early February, when a CEO and four correspondents of Unity Weekly journal were arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act for publishing a report about an alleged chemical weapon factory in Pauk, Magwe Division. Several others, including an administrative worker and the wife of a local correspondent, were also called in for questioning. As the media frenzy began to subside, questions of credibility began to surface. Ye Htut quickly denied the allegations by assuring journalists that "our country is a signatory state for the Chemical Weapons Convention – it was just a defence related factory, but not a chemical weapon factory." This turned out to be a somewhat misleading response. Luhan explained that, "As Myanmar is not yet a CWC State Party, the OPCW has no mandate to conduct verification activities in the country and hence cannot comment or speculate upon such reports." The convention has 190 State Parties, representing over 98 percent of the world's population. Two countries have signed but not yet ratified the treaty – Burma and Israel — while four nations have not acceded to the treaty: Angola, North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan.

New visa limit for foreign journalists in Burma Posted: 13 Feb 2014 09:30 PM PST Burmese authorities have introduced new visa regulations for foreign correspondents as of early February, limiting foreign journalists to one month visas, instead of the previous three month stay. Ye Htut, Deputy-Information Minister and government spokesperson, said foreign journalists were previously allowed a longer stay because of the SEA Games, a regional sporting event held in Burma last December. The government no longer sees the extended stay as necessary, he said. "For correspondents working at a foreign news bureau, they will be granted multiple six month visas, and those providing occasional news coverage will get up to one month stay," said Ye Htut. "Journalists covering a specific event – like an ASEAN meeting – will be granted two days before the event and two additional days after." He said the government decided to change the regulations because foreign journalists have been staying in the country long-term, without working at a bureau or contacting the Foreign Correspondent's Club. Several events slated for 2014 are expected to draw attention from international media, like nationwide ceasefire talks, constitutional reform and the lead-up to Burma's 2015 elections. Related Stories Burma preparing to ratify chemical weapons ban: Ye Htut Report shows scepticism over Burma’s press freedom Burma busy arresting journalists, not ratifying CW treaty Zaw Thet Htwe, member of the interim Press Council, said 2014 will bring major challenges for media freedom. "We have a lot of concerns over whether media freedom will keep the same pace as in 2012-13, as we have already seen journalists and editors jailed and prosecuted while the parliament is taking its time to adopt new laws," said Zaw Thet Htwe. "And now this happens, which shows that media workers and journalists in Burma will continue to walk an uncertain path." An annual report by international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RWB) offered a similar premonition on Wednesday; though Burma's world ranking for press freedom has risen over the past few years, recent setbacks have "caused worry", according to Benjamin Ismail, head of RWB Asia-Pacific Desk. "We are skeptical, and we will have to wait and see if Burma can really pose itself as a regional model," he said. Kyaw Zwa Moe, editor of Rangoon-based Irrawaddy News, said the abrupt change of visa regulations has made operations difficult. "It's difficult for us with these abrupt changes – last year, we used to be granted three month visas and allowed to extend them multiple times," said Kyaw Zwa Moe. "It is questionable," he said, "why there are changes all of a sudden." Several incidents — including the detention and questioning of journalists and an inert media regulation package — have brought Burma's perceived media progress under intense scrutiny since late last year.

You are subscribed to email updates from DVB Multimedia Group | DVB Multimedia Group To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610