Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Amended Anti-Terror Bill passes lower house.
• Trade resumes at India-Burma border
• UWSA to send delegation to Naypyidaw
• Amending 59(f) will allow foreigners to exploit ‘simple’ Burmese, says Wirathu
• Is Burma on the right path to reform?
• The plight of internally displaced Kachin war victims

Amended Anti-Terror Bill passes lower house. Posted: 24 Feb 2014 04:59 AM PST The Lower House of Parliament in Burma passed an Anti-Terror Bill on Monday. Drafting of the bill began during a spate of bombings across Burma in 2013, including bombs in Rangoon's Traders Hotel on 14 October and at an event held by monk U Wirathu. The Anti-Terror Bill was introduced in the Upper House on 20 January, which passed it without amendments three days later. Despite last year's attacks, the Bill is designed largely to block funding for terrorism, and was prioritised alongside an Anti-Money Laundering Bill ahead of increased Burmese engagement with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body responsible for policy development in anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. In January, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Htun noted the importance of the bill in demonstrating Burma's resolve against international terror. Kyaw Kyaw Tun noted the potential for further foreign sanctions should they not assure terrorist financing is blocked in Burma. Related Stories Anti-corruption commission to be formed Burma Business Weekly – 21 Feb 2014 Govt urged to settle land grab claims by September Saw Hla Tun, secretary of the Lower House's Bill Committee, explained the amendments: "We amended the bill to meet with international standardisations, conform to agreements and conventions Burma has signed or ratified as well as resolutions by the United Nations Security Council." As well as anti-money laundering laws, the amended Bill as passed by the Lower House contains 72 articles including offences concerning nuclear and radioactive materials and atomic facilities. Burma signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency in September last year, paving the way for IAEA weapons inspections and beginning a process of de-mystifying Burma's nuclear secrets.

Trade resumes at India-Burma border Posted: 24 Feb 2014 04:20 AM PST Two days of protests at the Indo-Burma border town of Moreh have subsided pending action by the Burmese authorities to ensure the safety of Indians crossing into Burma for trade at the Namphalong market in Tamu, Sagaing Division. An Indian official told DVB on Monday that trade has almost returned to normalcy. The protests began on Friday, sparked by the discovery of two mutilated bodies near the Indian village of Jajanonomahai on 20 February. On 11 February, six Indian nationals entered Burma through the Moreh – Tamu border crossing after obtaining day trade permits from immigration authorities. Four returned the same day; two were said to have been abducted. Moreh immigration officers quickly sent a letter to Burmese authorities urging them to search for the missing traders, and to identify and apprehend their abductors. Nine days later the Moreh police, who were not allowed to enter Burma to investigate, were informed that the two men's bodies had been found on the Indian side. The bodies were recovered by the Moreh police with the assistance of Burmese authorities, then moved to Manipur capital Imphal for autopsy. Related Stories Kaladan project scheduled for mid-2014 completion Look west: where Burma meets India Burmese troops trying to set up base on Indian soil, says New Delhi Burmese police were not available for comment, though an Indian official told DVB that in a "surprising outcome", they seem to have "made an effort" to remedy the situation. Upon discovery of the bodies, community leaders mobilised local residents to blockade the border crossing on the Moreh side, effectively bringing trade to a standstill for two days. Burma and India signed a border trade agreement in 1995, and the movement of mainly Indian and Chinese commodities is the main source of livelihood in the area. Moreh locals said that despite the obstruction of commerce they supported the protests because they were extremely concerned about their personal safety, as most of them enter Burma almost daily for business. A similar incident occurred in 2013, but neither Indian nor Burmese officials would provide comment on the case. The protestors have dispersed, according to an Indian official, giving Burmese authorities a chance to respond. Indian daily The Hindu reported on Sunday that demonstrators vowed to resume the blockade if safety could not be guaranteed. The relationship between India and Burma in Moreh remains otherwise friendly, the official said, though the area has recently been a corner of controversy. Attempts to regulate commercial trade and crack down on what has long been a hotbed of drug and gun-running have necessitated sharpening up boundaries that were casually established in 1972. In so doing, some ethnic villages have been split straight down the middle, while others claim that Burma is inching over into Indian territory. The people of northeast India – a remote and largely undeveloped region still struggling with conflict between the Indian government and several ethnic separatist movements – depend heavily on cross-border commerce. Regionally referred to as a bandh, commercial obstruction is a popular form of protest in parts of India and Nepal, where general strikes and blocked roads can have immediate and far-reaching impacts on geographically isolated villagers.

UWSA to send delegation to Naypyidaw Posted: 24 Feb 2014 03:50 AM PST The United Wa State Army (UWSA) will send a delegation to Naypyidaw on 1 March in the lead-up to the nationwide census, set to begin in March. The UWSA, an ethnic armed group based in self-administered Shan State Special Region 2, will be sending representatives to Burma's capital for the first time in five years, said spokesperson Aung Myint. "Currently, we have agreed to conduct the census in our territory and have made necessary preparations," he said, adding that the UWSA will send a delegation of about 20 people, including seven or eight executive officials, to the conference, which is being initiated to coordinate census preparations in various parts of the country. On 16 February, a group of government officials led by Deputy Immigration Minister Brig- Gen Win Myint travelled to UWSA headquarters in Pangkham (also known as Phangsang) for similar discussions. While no accurate demographics exist as yet, Shan State Special Region 2 is thought to be home to about 450,000 people from around 14 distinct ethnic groups. Related Stories Ethnic groups resist census, object to question of ethnicity Census 'needlessly divisive' in ethnic areas: ICG Ceasefire plan awaits SSA-S, UWSA consent The UWSA recently announced that the census will be conducted early, beginning on 15 March, as opposed to the nationwide 30 March start date. Officials said that the head-start is meant to account for inexperienced enumerators and poor transportation. Aung Myint said the process is expected to go smoothly, as the government will be sending trained personnel to assist their work. China-border-based analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw said it would be difficult to work out the exact number of ethnic populations in the area because many Chinese nationals have crossed the border and begun settling in. "The influx of Chinese nationals from across the border has increased tremendously since 1989," he said, "and the Burmese government – in trying hard to stay on good terms with the Wa – is likely to just accept any list the Wa gives them, which means there won't be accurate numbers for the ethnic populations." Burma is preparing to conduct its first nationwide census in three decades, though information from the last survey is highly contested. Criticisms of the upcoming census process have surfaced in recent weeks, as some worry that questions about ethnicity and religion could exacerbate existing tensions. The country officially recognises 135 ethnicities, and has an estimated population of about 60 million people. The census is scheduled to begin on 30 March and will continue until 10 April this year.

Amending 59(f) will allow foreigners to exploit ‘simple’ Burmese, says Wirathu Posted: 24 Feb 2014 03:43 AM PST National League for Democracy (NLD) veteran Win Tin met with nationalist Buddhist monk U Wirathu on Saturday at the Masoeyein Monastery in Mandalay. The pair discussed the opposition party's efforts to amend the 2008 Constitution, specifically Article 59(f) which prohibits party chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming Burmese president due to her children's foreign citizenship. The controversial monk — who is spearheading a campaign to pass a law that effectively bans interfaith marriage — has been outspoken in his support of maintaining the clause, which he claims is in place to protect Burma's national race and religion. Win Tin countered that the NLD is working peacefully to amend the Constitution in conformity with public sentiment. "We believe the Constitution is flawed," the senior NLD politician said. "It was written without input or consent from the people of Burma. We seek to amend it in conformity with the will of the people and with the softest approach we can muster. Related Stories Literary repression violates basic rights: PEN Changes to Constitution must be made in time for 2015 elections: Shwe Mann NLD and 88 Generation unite for constitutional reform "With regard to important passages such as Article 59(f) and those providing the military with leadership roles, we are beginning to see more diverging opinions," Win Tin told the monk. In response, U Wirathu said he had no issue with Suu Kyi becoming president, only that he was worried that amending the clause would permit foreigners to exploit Burmese people and allow them to take over leadership roles in the country. "I too wish to see Article 59(f) amended — I am absolutely in support of [Suu Kyi]," he stated. "But it will ultimately allow those who are not ethnic nationalities to exploit the Burmese people who are simple and naïve. Our people are not ready for this kind of deceit — they don't have high enough intelligence." U Wirathu also suggested that, instead of seeking the presidency, Suu Kyi might consider becoming a "ringleader" who could wield influence on the president. Win Tin replied saying that the Nobel Peace prize winner has the capacity to lead the country if the people can only help to "open the path" for her — by amending the Constitution.

Is Burma on the right path to reform? Posted: 23 Feb 2014 11:24 PM PST Several politicians and civic society leaders have weighed in on President Thein Sein's comments this weekend when he told a forum of businessmen in Rangoon that Burma's process of reform was on the "right path". Speaking to hundreds of business leaders and investors at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce office on Saturday, the Burmese president was quoted by state-run The New Light of Myanmar saying: "Since our government came into power, we have tried to institute policies grounded in accomplishing multi-sector reforms along with the political reforms, economic reforms and peace-building efforts. Because of these actions, I would like to add that the reform processes and transformations that have come about are on the right path." Following the statement, DVB contacted a broad spectrum of lawmakers, politicians and civil society leaders to gauge their reaction. Many conceded that Thein Sein's claim was valid – that Burma was a much-improved nation since his government came to power in March 2011; however some, like Khin Maung Swe, the chairman of the National Democratic Force (NDF), juxtaposed Thein Sein's economic policy with a host of other social issues where progress is not so clear. Related Stories Anti-corruption commission to be formed Making 'Rule of Law' a Reality in Burma Settlers forcibly evicted in Hlegu township "We have to assume, since he was talking to businessmen, that he meant we are on the right path for investment," said the NDF leader. "He was putting the stress on wooing investors – that's how I interpreted the 'right path' comment. "However, as far as issues such as political and economic reforms, social development, the peace process, ethnic affairs and constitutional reforms are concerned, I don't know if we are on the right path." Mya Aye of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society said it is still too early to claim Burma is on the right path. "I do agree that reforms have been carried out since President Thein Sein came into office," he said. "However, it is still a bit early to claim the country is heading in the right direction. "The civil war has been reduced and we are now seeing more efforts toward a nationwide ceasefire. But we are yet to implement the ceasefire. I am not being pessimistic, but frankly I do not agree with everything the president said. I don't believe that we should measure our economic situation on the amount of profits that businessmen make. It should be measured upon the improvements that ordinary people see in their lives." Phone Myint Aung, an Upper House representative from Rangoon Division, said the president's remarks could be interpreted to mean that Burma was previously on the "wrong path". "Basically, he meant to say we were previously going down the wrong path – towards military dictatorship –and we cannot really go back that way." Meanwhile, Dr Tint Swe, a former politician who was elected to be a parliamentary representative in 1990, said Burma cannot be on the right path without constitution reform. "In general, we can say the president's remark was valid – the government is really working as he claimed, and in the right direction. But from an in-depth, political point of view, there are a lot of issues to consider. "First of all, procedures are based upon the 2008 Constitution which was forcibly approved amid serious controversies and disagreements with the public," he said. "So we could be heading in the right direction but with the wrong principals. Without fundamentally changing the principals, all efforts may ultimately go down the drain."

The plight of internally displaced Kachin war victims Posted: 23 Feb 2014 09:27 PM PST The fresh outbreak of armed clashes between the Burma Army and forces of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its ramifications on the government's peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups are bound to be hot topics in political circles, but it is doubtful the fate of innocent civilians caught up in the crossfires of these conflicts will receive the same kind of attention. The renewed fighting of June 2011 that breached a 17-year old ceasefire, and the Army's continued attacks on KIO positions despite promises to deescalate hostilities, have generated close to 120,000 internally displaced people (IDP), scattered in camps across Kachin and northern Shan states. It has been more than two years, but the prospect of returning home remains a distant dream for these camp dwellers. As can be imagined, camp life for the displaced is fraught with all kinds of anxieties and day-to-day challenges. A 2012 Oxfam funded protection assessment survey jointly carried out by 6 local organisations aiding the IDPs, finds that living in cramped, dilapidated, shared spaces has created situations for social problems like adultery, domestic violence, drug abuse, and human trafficking to occur. The survey cites "lack of access to any type of income" as the principal concern from the IDP perspective. Food security apparently is not that much of a concern, at least in easy to access camps, due to the generosity of local and international donors, and the fine work being done by NGOs looking after them. Rather, the lack of livelihood opportunities to supplement their other needs – chief among them the support of their children's education – is uppermost in the minds of IDPs. The overwhelming wish of the IDPs, the majority of whom are farmers, is to go back and work on their own farms, to once again enjoy the fruits of their labour without having to depend on handouts. Added to these socio-economic woes are the physical and emotional scars that many IDPs bear from encounters with a brutal and lawless army. Their trauma is again being relived as they find themselves in situations of close proximity to government troops making ever-deeper incursions into KIO held territory where the majority of camps are located. The safety issue of IDPs came to the forefront with the arrest and torture of Lahtaw Brang Shawng in 2012, while taking shelter in a church-run camp in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. The issue received further attention when in October 2013, government troops raided Namlin Pa, a village hosting a large IDP camp. The resulting looting, killing and torture, caused IDPs and villagers alike to flee, and increased the IDP population by about 2,000. Incidentally, it is interesting to note that for the first time in the more than two years that thousands of Kachin IDPs have been huddling in makeshift camps along its borders, China has decided to provide aid to the IDPs through its Red Cross. Though any kind of aid is appreciated, Kachins cannot but fail to recall the time when Chinese authorities pushed out Kachin refugees seeking refuge inside its borders, forcing them to return to a conflict zone, violating the UN Refugee Convention Principle of Non-refoulement. Related Stories Poppy replacement in Shan State will take time, money Timber ban, effective in April, leads to wood export rush Military secures Hpakant area after 37-ton jade slab found. Also at this stage, it would not be remiss to reflect on the fact that China is behind some of the root causes that displaced a large number of the Kachin population. Consider the areas where fresh clashes have occurred between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and government troops. These are the very areas where joint economic interests of China and Burma are at stake, like the twin pipelines supplying oil and gas from the Arakan coast to China's Yunnan province, to name one. The army seems determined to wrest control of these areas from the KIA – peace negotiations or not – in order to protect these joint ventures. They have been aided and abetted in this by the Chinese who have allowed them to sneak in arms, troops and supplies through Chinese soil, bypassing KIA positions, according to Kachin sources on both sides of the border. Kachin State, with its rich natural resources and potential for hydro-electric power, has been a magnet for Chinese as well as other foreign investors. The Transnational Institute of the Netherlands reported in February 2013 that since 1988, Kachin State has received $8.3 billion, or 25 percent of all foreign direct investment (FDI), making it the primary recipient ahead of two other resource rich ethnic states. All the while, the government and its cronies have maintained a stranglehold on the state's resource trade, grabbing land and destroying the environment at will. It is the inequity in resource sharing, on top of other mitigating factors such as the denial of political rights, that has led to the resumption of the Kachin war of June 2011. As Gen Gun Maw, deputy chief of the KIA and a key peace talks negotiator explained, "There are many reasons for going to war, and we can say that business interests are one of them." The new clashes and continued incursions into KIO held territory have dissipated initial hopes of a breakthrough in the peace talks between the government and the KIO. Gen Gun Maw, in a February 17 interview with Irrawaddy has said the KIO, "now needs to reconsider how much it will be involved in the peace process." The sad reality for the IDPs in all this is that their much-anticipated hopes of returning to their farms and villages seem more remote than ever – for some, maybe not in their lifetime. Pangmu Shayi is a political analyst at the Kachinland News.

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