Democratic Voice of Burma

---

• Ten ethnic organisations accept current census platform
• Burma’s foreign minister meets his Seoul mate
• Speaker urges laws to protect Burma’s national race, religion
• Moehti Moemi miners bring protest to Rangoon

Ten ethnic organisations accept current census platform Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:06 AM PST Representatives from 10 ethnic organisations told Immigration Minister Khin Yi on Wednesday that they are prepared to shelve concerns over categorisation of ethnic groups in Burma until after the census has been conducted. The collective previously opined that the official listing of 135 distinct ethnic groups could cause discord, hence the questionnaire should be adjusted to avoid controversy. Thus far Burma's ethnic groups have been fervent in their criticism of a census that the International Crisis Group have too labelled "divisive"; the new statement is the fist indication of a changing sentiment. Salai Izak Khin of the Chin National Action Committee on the Census (CNACC) said that the list of 135 ethnic groups does need to be altered. While they maintained that the number – which originated from the British colonial administration – is problematic, Salai Izak Khin, said that changing the roster can wait. "We decided to facilitate a negotiation with ethnic groups to resolve the issue after its [the census] completion," said Salai Izak Khin. He said the representatives and the minister agreed on the formation of post-census committees to rework the list of ethnic identities. According to the current list, there are 135 distinct officially recognised ethnic groups under eight "major national ethnic races": Kachin, Karenni (Kayah), Karen (Kayin), Chin, Bamar, Mon, Arakanese (Rakhine) and Shan. Several ethnic sub-groups have objected to their ethnicities being listed as distinct groups, claiming that it causes disharmony and damages nationwide peace efforts. Burma has an estimated population of 60 million people, though no census has been conducted in over thirty years. Results of the 1983 census, however, which estimated the population at around 30 million, are heavily contested because enumerators had no access to large swathes of the country under rebel control. The 2014 census will begin on March 30 and end on 10 April. Related Stories UWSA to send delegation to Naypyidaw Development needed to ensure peace: KPC Arakanese monk makes pilgrimage to Mrauk U for peace, development

Burma’s foreign minister meets his Seoul mate Posted: 27 Feb 2014 02:44 AM PST Burma's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin met South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in Seoul on Thursday to discuss bilateral ties. They are expected to discuss economic cooperation and ways to boost ties between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), among other issues. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1975 but have had a rocky history. In 2005 South Korea ended a long-standing programme to provide development loans to Burma, citing human rights abuses. But as Burma's economy opens up after decades of isolation, South Korean companies have proven themselves to be serious contenders in many of the country's emerging industries. In December South Korean KDB Daewoo Securities announced that it will invest nearly US$200 million in construction in Burma's former capital Rangoon. Related Stories President orders local investigation into Maungdaw clash ASEAN chief lines up Burma visit Indonesia and Burma FMs discuss ASEAN chair Last month Burma signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to improve agricultural ties and expertise exchange. Burma is the chair country of this year’s ASEAN summit. Last month Burma hosted its first foreign ministers meeting in Bagan - the first major gathering of the group under Burma's debut year-long stewardship. Burma has been a member of ASEAN since 1997, but was previously prevented from playing host to the group's meetings and summits because of its pariah status in the international community.

Speaker urges laws to protect Burma’s national race, religion Posted: 27 Feb 2014 02:16 AM PST Burma's Parliamentary Speaker Shwe Mann urged relevant ministries to draft laws protecting national race and religion during Thursday's assembly. The recommendation follows a message from President Thein Sein recommending legislative action on a petition he received in July 2013 from the Organisation for Protection of National Race and Religion (OPNRR), headed by Ashin Tilawka Biwuntha (also known as Tiloka Bhivamsa), member of the government appointed National Head Monks Committee. Upon Thein Sein's receipt of the petition, which was forwarded to the Speaker, 1.3 million people had signed in favour of creating legislation to protect national race and religion. Since that time, the OPNRR said that they have gathered nearly three million additional supporters. In his message to the Speaker, Thein Sein declared that as the 2008 Constitution contained no provisions to govern "much delicate religious issues", oversight should defer to the Parliament. Related Stories Burmese react to Fortify 'persecution' report DVB Debate: Constitutional conundrum Rohingya crisis: Burma govt implicated in 'Crimes against Humanity' The OPNRR independently drafted four laws: the Faith Conversion Bill; the Marriage Bill; the Monogamy Bill; and the Population Control Bill. The group urged that the drafts, which have been handed over to relevant governing bodies, be submitted to Parliament "in any way possible" to "resolve racial inequality" and to preserve the "national race" and Buddhist religion. Pe Than, a member of Burma's Parliament, explained that, "The Speaker urged concerned government bodies to see to proposing the bills, for example, the Religious Ministry for the Religion Conversion Bill; the Supreme Court for the Monogamy Bill; and the Immigration Ministry for the Population Control Bill, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission." Ashin Parmouhka, a member of OPNRR, claims that the laws are necessary to prevent further racial and religious violence in the country, which since 2012 has suffered several bouts of deadly communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims that overwhelmingly affected the latter. "If you want to see peace and an end to religious and racial conflict in Burma, these laws must be adopted," he said. "If you want more conflicts and unrest in the country, then don't adopt the laws." Critics of the push for racial and religious protection laws say that not only are they exclusionary and divisive, but the proposal could be damaging to women's rights, as they contain provisions that heavily restrict freedoms of marriage and childbearing. "I see the decision… as a violation of women's rights and also freedom of faith," said renowned writer and dissident Htet Myat. "I don't see any alarming threats to religion and disorderly behaviour by women that would warrant these laws." Though the proposal was originally submitted to Thein Sein in July of last year, it has just now entered into parliamentary discourse. On Tuesday news of leaked official documents buttressed claims by international rights bodies that Burma has enforced orders so restrictive to the basic rights of minorities – namely Rohingya Muslims – as to implicate the government in crimes against humanity.

Moehti Moemi miners bring protest to Rangoon Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:27 AM PST Workers and small-time operators from central Burma's Moehti Moemi gold mine staged a demonstration in front of the High Court in Rangoon on Wednesday, calling for the government to mediate their dispute with the National Prosperity Public Company Limited (NPPCL). The miners have been camping in a Buddhist monastery compound in Mandalay Division's Yamethin, after they were kicked out of the mine compound. But local authorities have ordered the miners to move out of the monastery by 28 February or face forceful eviction. "We sent letters to authorities pleading to allow us to stay at the temple and promising to do chores," said a miner at the protest. The protesters also denounced a report in the state-run Burmese-language newspaper Kyemon (The Mirror) that claimed 54 small time operators had been paid compensation by the NPPCL totalling 308 million Kyat (US $313,400). Related Stories Sizing up the energy giants Military secures Hpakant area after 37-ton jade slab found. Court date set for prominent ex-political prisoner They said the report was erroneous and insisted they hadn't received any money from the company. "This is not the case, none of us are yet to receive a penny," said one miner. Miners at Moehti Moemi have been staging protests since June 2012, when mining conglomerate, NPPCL, was awarded a tender license to operate at the mine and small-time operations were shut down. Since then, negotiations between the miners and the company have failed to yield any tangible results. The miners sought permission to protest under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, however Rangoon authorities denied their request. "We are not protesting but only expressing our will," protestor Myo Min said. "We have reached out to various government departments regarding our issues but they are yet to help mediate the situation and so we are gathering here."

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