Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Census enumerators pass tough early challenges
• Forecast improves for Burmese meteorologists
• Peace efforts bearing fruit, says Khin Maung Swe
• Fire in Henzada kills one
• U Bein Bridge feels the strains of age
• Agriculture: Burma must ease export laws to encourage FDI
• Shans plan their own census

Census enumerators pass tough early challenges Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:27 AM PDT The census has been completed early in three far-flung regions of Burma. Families in Putao, Kachin State, at the foot of the Burmese Himalayas have been counted, along with households in the Coco Islands off the coast of Rangoon and those in the Chinese border town of Mongla. Khin Khin Soe, director of the Population Department — a wing of the Ministry of Immigration and Population — said the census was taken in the three disparate areas ahead of the 30 March date due to difficulty of access. "Getting to Putao was a big challenge — our staff hiked on foot for two weeks to reach some towns in the district such as Kaunglanfu and Pannandin, and the snow starts to melt around the beginning of March making transportation even more difficult," said Khin Khin Soe. Sai Yi, an ethnic official from the self-administrated Shan State Special Region 4 — Mongla region — said census taking went smoothly in the area thanks to preceding training by the Immigration Ministry. "We started the census count on 20 February after the government training. We finished on 12 March," said Sai Yi. Meanwhile, officials in the ethnically Wa region — Shan State Special Region 2 — are to begin their training on 17 March and start gathering data five days ahead of the nationwide schedule. Shan state has proven to be treacherous terrain for census planners. Several minority ethnic groups in the state say they plan to conduct a population count on their own terms and separate from the government-sanctioned nationwide census scheduled to begin at end of this month. Intermittent fighting between the Shan State Army South and government troops has also plagued the region of late. The nationwide census, conducted for the first time in 30 years, will start for the majority of the country on 30 March and end on 10 April. Related Stories Shans plan their own census Census begins in Burma's Kachin State Census convention kicks off in Naypyidaw

Forecast improves for Burmese meteorologists Posted: 13 Mar 2014 03:44 AM PDT The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) says it is striving to improve its weather forecasting service in Burma. Since 2008 the DMH has been providing one-day forecasts for 14 towns in each of Burma's administrative regions and states. This year, the DMH is stepping up its work, hoping to provide three-day forecasts for more than 100 towns across the country. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), assisted by international meteorological experts, has pledged support for the installation of a second radar system, with installations in Rangoon, Mandalay and Kyaukphyu, Arakan State. Despite the added range that the second radar system will bring, a general lack of scientific equipment and expertise remains a problem for the meteorologists, who are concerned about their ability to provide safety recommendations. The DMH remains unable to accurately measure UV rays hitting Burma, as they do not have the correct equipment. "Currently, we don't have a device that can measure ultraviolet rays so we have to judge it by other factors such as temperature," said Kyaw Moe Oo, deputy director of the DMH. Kyaw Moe Oo said the department is to get assistance from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to announce warnings to the public on potentially damaging UV spikes. Questioned on the topic of El Niño, the band of abnormally warm ocean water temperatures that causes heatwave across south Asia, Kyaw Moe Oo said it was unlikely to affect Burma this summer. He said according to international weather monitors, the chance of Burma being hit by the full effect of El Niño's this year is only five percent. Temperatures are rising nevertheless as summer sets in, Dr Khin San Wai of Jivitadana Sangha Hospital in Rangoon has noted a surge in the amount of patients being admitted with heat-related conditions. According to the doctor, the majority of patients are young children and the elderly. Dr Khin San Wai issued advice: "The only way to deal with this is to stay out of the hot sunlight – especially the elderly and young children – if one must, then be sure to wear at least a cap. "Also, there are cases of men drinking beer during daytime who then suffer from lethal heatstroke, so it's best to avoid that." Related Stories Japan pledges $96m development aid for Burma's ethnic states Japan's PM to unveil 60bn yen plan for Burma at summit: Kyodo Crawling, walking, but not yet running – ATMs in Burma

Peace efforts bearing fruit, says Khin Maung Swe Posted: 13 Mar 2014 03:39 AM PDT Representatives of the 11-party Federal Democratic Alliance (FDA) met for a closed door meeting on Tuesday with the ethnic armed groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) to discuss Burma's ongoing peace process. Khin Maung Swe, chairman of the FDA and a leading member of the National Democratic Force, said NCCT leaders Nai Hongsa and Hkun Okker offered updates on the ceasefire negotiations with the Burmese government to other delegates at the meeting, which was hosted by Myanmar Peace Centre in Rangoon. "Nai Hongsa and Col Hkun Okker briefed us about their meeting with government negotiators in April when they discussed a framework towards signing a ceasefire," he said, before adding: "These peace talks are now bearing fruit." He said that FDA representatives urged the ethnic delegates to bring peace to the country ahead of elections in 2015. "We urged the NCCT to achieve a nationwide peace before 2015, so that holes in the 2008 constitution can be fixed, as well as enacting democratic reforms, human rights mechanisms and a framework for federalism," Khin Maung Swe said. "In return, they promised to try to initiate political dialogue this year." Related Stories SSA-S says it seeks separate ceasefire deal Government, ethnic groups one step closer to ceasefire Burma Army clashes with SSA-S, TNLA in Shan State Shein Tun, secretary of the Chin Development Party (CDP), said, "When the Tatmadaw [Burmese army] was formed in 1945, it had five Burmese battalions, six Karen battalions and three Chin Rifles Battalions, as well as Shan, Arakanese and Mon units, and it was officially called the Burmese Army. We reminded the government about this during peace negotiations and hope it will help bring about some progress [towards federalism]." The FDA was formed on 7 January this year of 11 political parties, including the NDF, CDP, Democratic Party-Myanmar, Democracy and Peace Party, the Party for Unity and Peace, and the Kayin People's Party. The NCCT met on 8- 9 March with representatives of the government's Internal Peace Making Working Committee in Rangoon where they reached an agreement to form a joint-committee to finalise the drafting of a nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Fire in Henzada kills one Posted: 13 Mar 2014 01:50 AM PDT A fire in Irrawaddy division's Henzada on Wednesday has killed one person and destroyed five houses. The blaze broke out in the town's Thonbingwin ward at around one o'clock in the afternoon, in the home of 83 year-old retired schoolteacher Hla Kyi. Locals said Hla Kyi, who had previously suffered from a stroke, was unable to escape the fire that devoured her home and four neighbouring houses. "Hla Kyi has not been well – she suffered from a paralytic stroke," said a local man. "She's our sister." Over 100 fire fighters from the town's fire department and auxiliary fire brigade rushed to the scene and had the blaze under control at two o'clock in the afternoon. Related Stories Irrawaddy farmers gain ground in land grab case Maungdaw investigation to overlook allegations of Rohingya massacre Shwe Maung may be 'responsible for defamation' over police allegations, says Ye Htut "The fire was too strong – we were unable to contain it, so we called the fire department – now trucks have arrived," said one local man. San Yu, from the auxiliary fire brigade, suffered a broken leg while attempting to put out the fire and was sent to Henzada hospital. Five families have been made homeless after the fire destroyed their homes. They are sheltering at a nearby primary school and have been given aid by the Red Cross and local civil society groups. It has not been confirmed what started the fire but locals suggest a stove that wasn't put out properly ignited and spread in the hot dry weather.

U Bein Bridge feels the strains of age Posted: 13 Mar 2014 12:27 AM PDT Conservationists and residents in Mandalay have expressed concerns over a lack of planning to protect the historical U Bein Bridge that spans across Taungthaman Lake in the town of Amarapura, one of the country's best known tourist attractions. Named after the mayor who ordered it built following the move of the Ava Kingdom to Amarapura, the U Bein Bridge was constructed around 1850. It spans 1.2 km and is thought to be the longest teak bridge in the world. The bridge was built from wood reclaimed from the former royal palace in Inwa. It features 1,086 pillars that stretch out of the water, some of which have been replaced with concrete in modern times. However, many of its teakwood beams and pillars are rotting, and critics say a lack of regulation is leading to the strain on the structure. "We see motorbikes casually rolling along the bridge and people running on it," said architect Win Maung. "This is destroying the bridge. Related Stories 50 arrested in raid on Moehti Moemi camp Tourists flock to Burma’s only synagogue Gold miners push for Mining Law "If we start now with efforts to preserve the bridge as a cultural heritage site, it may last another 100 to 150 years," he continued. "But if we continue to treat it like this, it will collapse in about 30 to 40 years." He said preserving the bridge should be set as a priority. Maung Maung Oo, the head of a Mandalay-based environment and heritage conservation group, Seinyaungso Activities, said fishery operators have been building ponds in Taungthaman Lake which manipulate the flow of water. He said the drainage is a huge threat to the lake's survival. "The only party that get profits from these ponds are the fishery operators themselves," he said. "But everyone has to pay the price." Mickey Hart, a historian based in Mandalay, said a "master plan" is needed to preserve the bridge systemically without damaging its cultural values. "We need a master plan for preserving the bridge and the lake; it is not something that can be done off-the-cuff," he said. "We need to consider how to renovate the bridge using materials that preserve its cultural values as well as preserving the lake. We must also manage the drainage and make the water cleaner without damaging the livelihoods of locals."

Agriculture: Burma must ease export laws to encourage FDI Posted: 12 Mar 2014 10:21 PM PDT In an effort to restore Burma as a top world rice exporter, critics of the government have advocated for improving and revising current rice policies and export regulations. The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) has claimed that unless the government encourages foreign investors to invest in the rice industry, the country's hopes of ensuring domestic production and surplus for exporting are unlikely to come to fruition. The MRF might therefore have contradictory feelings toward the recent news that a Singapore company will invest in Burma's agriculture and logistics industries – two industries that could presumably facilitate the growth of rice business and exports. However, the current plans are focused on boosting coffee agriculture in the country, not rice. A joint-venture with a Swiss commodity trading company will include planting 3,700 hectares of robusta coffee in the Irrawaddy Delta region with plans to invest US$20 million over the next four years. Related Stories Serge Pun and partner to develop hotel at former railway HQ Chin villages face food shortages following bad harvest BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY The companies say the coffee will all be exported, and the Swiss company certainly has the experience in global coffee trade to make this happen. The Singapore-based company will also invest in Burma's dairy industry, although it looks to be heavily reliant on imports for now. Rice exports to China have dropped from about 3,500 tons daily to only 2,500 tons daily, amidst falling prices and currency fluctuations. The MRF has already been looking to other markets to boost exports and has reportedly finalized a deal with Ivory Coast and Togo to export 100,000 tons of rice there in March. The government set a goal of 3 million tons of exports for 2013-14 fiscal year, a nearly 50 percent increase from the 2.1 million tons exported in 2012-13 fiscal year, according to the Minister of Commerce. The USDA estimates Burma's rice exports in 2013-14 will reach only 750,000 tons (consistent with USDA's reports of 2012-13 numbers). The FAO projects that Burma's total rice production will increase somewhat in 2014, after localized floods and insect plagues produced a below-average main season harvest in 2013.   This article originally appeared in ORYZA on 12 March 2014. ORYZA is a media partner of DVB and the industry leader in data and analysis of international rice markets.

Shans plan their own census Posted: 12 Mar 2014 08:29 PM PDT Several minority ethnic groups in Shan State say they plan to conduct a population count on their own terms and separate from the government-sanctioned nationwide census scheduled to begin at end of this month. Win Myint, Shan State Minister for Intha Affairs, said the "Committee to Verify the Accurate Number of Ethnic Nationalities in Shan State" was formed last year and includes members of parliament and civil society representatives from various ethnic groups in the eastern Burmese state including Shan, Palaung, Pa-O, Kokang, Intha and Danu. "We aim to determine the exact populations of different ethnic groups under our own terms – but there is no plan to submit the findings to the government," said Win Myint, adding the committee hopes the figures will be useful when the country transforms into a federal union. "For the most part, we intend to use the count as a means of assessing the needs of local populations – ID cards, householder lists, and for social and education assistance." He said the process is set to begin after completion of the government census in April and that a three-month timeframe would be set, which could be extended to up to nine months if necessary. Sai Than Maung, a committee member and MP in the Shan State Regional Parliament, said the programme will also include local people who do not have national identification cards. Related Stories Census enumerators pass tough early challenges SSA-S says it seeks separate ceasefire deal Census begins in Burma's Kachin State "We are looking to help those thousands of people who have been forced to flee the country over the past 15 years – some of whom who don't have ID cards – by reissuing their personal documents and householder lists. We are talking with civil society organisations in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, as well as the regional government in Shan State to work out a plan for them," said Sai Than Maung. The budget for the project is estimated at 200 million kyat (US$200,000). The committee said it has now raised around 120 million kyat from local businessmen, civil society groups and individual donors. The Committee to Verify the Accurate Number of Ethnic Nationalities in Shan State was formed on 22 August 2013 with members of parliament, literary experts and influential figures from 84 Shan State townships with 10 representatives each per township. The confirmation that the Shan groups plan to work independently of the central government and other ethnic groups on the census comes just a day after the Shan State Army- South announced through DVB that it will not fully adhere to any nationwide ceasefire agreement, but will instead work towards a separate peace deal with the Burmese government. Meanwhile, the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) reported a clash with Burmese government forces close to its headquarters in northern Shan State's Kehsi Mansan Township on Tuesday morning. Sai La, spokesperson for the SSA-N said a four-hour battle took place in the vicinity of Pangse Hill about 15 miles from their Wanhai Headquarters when a Burmese army column deviated from its course and ran into rebel troops. He said several injuries were reported in the fight, but no loss of life.

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