Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Burma Business Weekly
• Burma’s education policy under fire from academics
• ‘Too early to tell’: Col Hkun Okker on ceasefire talks
• Meikhtila one year on – 8,000 still displaced
• Chins affirm Geneva Call on sex crimes, child protection
• ASEAN People’s Forum kicks off in Rangoon

Burma Business Weekly Posted: 21 Mar 2014 04:13 AM PDT   Burma's foreign debt now nearly $US10 billion Burma is in debt to international institutions and foreign governments to the sum of $US9.5 billion as of the end of this fiscal year, according to Minister of Finance Dr Lin Aung. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, he said nearly the half the debt was owed to China with the rest divided among 16 other countries as well as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. No mention was made about fiscal policy nor whether Naypyidaw was taking steps to combat the national debt.   Garment sector to earn $1.5 billion in exports this year Income from garment exports could increase to US$1.5 billion once the US and EU have entered the Burmese market, according to Khine Khine Nwe, secretary of Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association. The statement was made during a contract signing between Burmese and Australian merchants in Rangoon on Monday. The garment sector brought in an estimated US$1 billion in the 2013-14 fiscal year, up from $800 million the previous year. Easing of economic sanctions in 2013 has bolstered investment and exports in the garment sector.   Burma sets parboiled rice export goal of 300,000 tons The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) says 11 new factories will increase the export of parboiled rice tenfold. This financial year, only around 30,000 tons was exported, the low figure due to infrastructure limits, the MRF says. "We are building 10 factories, and each will produce 100 tons per day," said MRF chairman Chit Khine. "Seven of those are close to completion. Myanmar Economic Holdings have completed the 11th factory, with a 250 ton per day production capacity."   Vietnam Airlines introduces new routes to Burma           Vietnam Airlines has announced it will begin flights to Burma this summer with the launch of a Hanoi- Rangoon- Hanoi route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and a Ho Chi Minh [Saigon]- Rangoon- Ho Chi Minh flight service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Burma and Vietnam recently agreed a mutual 14-day free-visa-on-arrival system to encourage tourism.   FEC deadline nears Burma's Central Bank has announced that all FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) must be exchanged at banks handling foreign transactions by 31 March at the latest. A Central Bank official said the FEC equivalent of US$400,000 is still in circulation among the public. Valued at 1 dollar, the FECs came into being in February 1993 as an attempt to maintain government control over foreign currency exchange and service the national debt. It also looked to simplify Burma's complex and convoluted multiple exchange rates which long plagued the country's economy.   New bidders called on for airport construction tender Applicants have been recalled to place tender bids for the construction of Hantharwaddy Airport, planned to be the biggest in Burma. Talks between Korean company Incheon and the government broke down regarding the construction of the airport outside of Pegu. The second choice for the original tender, Singaporean company Yongnam Holdings, will be made to resubmit alongside other applicants, according to the Department of Civil Aviation. Applicants have been given a 22 April deadline.   Thai company won’t recall soft drinks containing fungus The Food Star Company, Thai producers of the soft drink "Deedo", have refused to recall their product in Burma after product testing showed fungus in samples of the beverage. The company, who said the fungus is a result of lengthy storage before the tests were conducted, will meet with the Burmese Food and Drug Administration Department on Wednesday. Food Star is in the midst of rolling out a US$7 million advertising campaign across ASEAN, including Burma. Product testing was conducted by the Myanmar Consumer Protection Association, a non-governmental consumer advocacy group.   Shwe gas slowly trickling to China Drilling delays are holding up movement of natural gas from the Bay of Bengal to China, Interfax reported on Monday. The parallel Shwe pipelines, owned by China National Petroleum Corporation and operated by a multinational consortium, run from Burma's Arakan coast to Yunnan, China. The natural gas pipeline began operating in July 2013, but is running far under projected capacity of 12 billion cubic metres per year, the report said. An adjacent crude oil pipeline has been mostly built but is not yet operational, some say due to opposition in southern China.   Foreign investment invited for Rangoon apartments Foreign investment is being sought for apartment projects in Rangoon as neither the Burmese government nor the private sector can fulfill the city's construction needs, said Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resettlement and Housing Development Aye Aye Myint, speaking at a forum in Rangoon's Traders Hotel. She said that a total of 7,000 apartments were being built every year but that current demand was for no less than 25,000.   17 foreign firms eye Thilawa SEZ No less than 17 foreign companies are bidding for contracts and land leases at Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), said Myanmar-Japan Thilawa Development Co Ltd Chairman Takashi Yanai. Speaking at an investors' meeting on Tuesday, Takashi said the majority of the firms are from Japan and Hong Kong, with interests ranging from garment industries to electronic to food processing. He said construction at the SEZ, which is situated 25km south of Rangoon, will begin in May and should be open for business in mid-2015. Related Stories Agriculture: Burma must ease export laws to encourage FDI Chin villages face food shortages following bad harvest BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY

Burma’s education policy under fire from academics Posted: 21 Mar 2014 04:04 AM PDT A new education bill submitted to Parliament on 20 March has come under fire by the National Network for Education Reform (NNER), an independent oversight body. The committee says that the bill would effectively bring the entire education sector under strict government control. Burma is preparing to upgrade its deeply neglected educational system by advancing two parliamentary proposals, one drafted by the NNER and the other written by the government's Education Promotion Implementation Committee (EPIC). The latter bill is currently under review, while the status of the NNER proposal is unverified at time of writing. Dr Thein Lwin, a key member of the NNER, said that though the EPIC version did include a few recommendations from NNER's education reform agenda, it is still largely exclusionary and contains provisions that are unacceptable to many education professionals. Among contested elements are government control over curriculum, which the NNER believes could result in the marginalisation and eventual disappearance of ethnic languages, which have long been under threat by the central government's educational approach. Section five, article five of the draft explicitly institutionalises the Burmese language in primary schools, said Dr Thein Lwin. Another NNER member, Ye Win, took issue with the bill's treatment of disabled students, which he claims will be greatly marginalised by the new policy. “Section five only mentions that disabled people and those with low IQ will be supported by the special education section. The disabled should be included in both special ed programmes and universal education programmes. That's how they can become integrated into society. Now, it seems they are being isolated," he said. Despite Burma's astoundingly high literacy rate, many of the country's estimated 60 million people are live in crippling poverty, which poses additional challenges to children who wish to continue primary studies. While the government offers free education for all children of primary school age, many in rural areas leave their direly under-resourced schools to work and support their families. Education reform has become a major priority of the Thein Sein government, but new policies remain opaque. Related Stories Chinese NGO aims to tackle poverty in Burma through microloans NLD appeal for school funds Suu Kyi and Yeoh launch health and education foundation

‘Too early to tell’: Col Hkun Okker on ceasefire talks Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:59 AM PDT Members of Burma's ethnic armed groups recently met for two days in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they selected representatives to work with government negotiators on a draft of the country's long-awaited nationwide ceasefire agreement, which is expected to be finalised by August 2014. DVB's Aye Nai interviewed Col Hkun Okker, a member of the ethnic delegates' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) about the results of the meeting and the challenges of finding lasting peace in Burma.   Q: What was discussed during the NCCT meetings in Chiang Mai? A: This was mainly a follow-up to the meeting we had in Rangoon with the Union Peace Making Working Committee (UPMWC). There we agreed to draft a single text for the nationwide ceasefire agreement, which would include seven sections. The document will be drafted by 18 people, nine from the government and nine from ethnic armed groups. Implementing this plan was the basis of our discussions.   Q: What results came out of the meeting? A: We discussed a policy for choosing those nine representatives. There will be permanent representatives and a few alternate representatives. This is our policy. We also delegated duties for drafting provisions in the agreement's seven sections.   Q: Who will be representing the NCCT during the drafting process, and who will be representing the government? A: I don’t know details about the government's team, but according to Aung Min, he will lead three representatives from the government. I don’t know who the other two people will be. From the Hluttaw [Parliament] side, Thein Zaw will lead the three representatives but I don’t know who the two others are. I do not know which three people will represent the Burmese military. On our side, Pado Kwe Htoo Win will be the leader, and two other alternate leaders will be chosen. Another five to six members will be selected from our 16-member NCCT team. Our policy is that there be five or six permanent representatives and the others will alternate.   Q: When will the joint committee start work? A: At the beginning of April.   Q: When can people see the draft? A: It is difficult to say as we haven’t even started writing it. I don’t know how long it will take.   Q: Some army leaders have said that they aim to sign the agreement before 1 August. From the perspective of the ethnic armed groups, is this timeframe important, and when would you like to see the process concluded? A: If we can work fast, it may even be earlier than August. I am hesitant to estimate the time, however. We will only know once we are actually working on it. We'll need to negotiate with the joint committee. It is too early to tell.   Q: In the joint-committee meetings, how much will you be able to negotiate on federal army and federal union issues? A: I don’t know yet. But for establishing a federal union, both sides have already agreed and not much needs to be negotiated. As for the federal army issue, we have agreed to continue discuss this as we enter political dialogue. So there is not much to negotiate during the ceasefire drafting process.   Q: What do you think about the government peace team, which comprises executive, parliament and military representatives? A: We see it as comprehensive. Parliament needs to approve the agreement we reach in order for it to become legislation, so the participation of the Hluttaw will make the process faster. We won’t need to hold separate parliamentary sessions to explain the agreement. Those delegates can explain the draft to the rest of the legislature. As for the military, if the senior officials join and agree on the conditions of the ceasefire, it will be easier for the army to keep their promises. The ceasefire will be stronger.

Meikhtila one year on – 8,000 still displaced Posted: 20 Mar 2014 11:29 PM PDT On the first anniversary of horrific communal violence in the central Burmese town of Meikhtila, some 8,000 people, mostly Muslims, are still living in shelters. Elder resident U Win said, "There are still more than 8,000 people in the five rescue centers outside town. In our Chan Aye Tharyar quarter, about 200 houses are at the finishing stage. As soon as these are finished, we will accommodate these people." Related Stories Police seize land, cut down toddy trees Defamation case on hold: Thais urged to probe Rohingya smuggling MSF face expulsion from Burma Some 400 individual homes are being constructed in Chan Aye Tharyar, built with donations collected by the Young Nat Mosque in Rangoon, said Khin Nan, a house construction committee member, though he acknowledged they were still short of funds. "The shortage of donations is partly due to media reports saying that the new buildings are financed by the government," he said. "That's why the pace of construction has been slow." In efforts to ensure order on the anniversary of an anti-Muslim riot, in which at least 13 people were killed, police have beefed up security around the town, locals said. An innocuous argument between a Muslim and a Buddhist in a local gold shop on 20 March 2013 ignited the violence. A Buddhist mob then lynched Muslim residents and razed houses to the ground, provoking revenge attacks. Some 10,000 people were forced to flee to shelters in rescue camps.

Chins affirm Geneva Call on sex crimes, child protection Posted: 20 Mar 2014 08:53 PM PDT The Chin National Front (CNF), together with its armed wing the Chin National Army (CNA), signed Geneva Call documents in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19 March, committing to the "highest international norms in terms of child protection and prohibition of sexual violence". In inking two "Deeds of Commitment", the CNF formally agrees not to recruit or use children under the age of 18 in hostilities and puts every effort into protecting them from the effects of conflict. According to a statement released by Geneva Call, the CNF also reaffirms its determination to strictly prohibit all forms of sexual violence in a region where cases of sexual violence have often been reported. Paul Sitha, CNF Secretary-I, said: “Our signing of these two Deeds of Commitment clearly indicates the priority that we give to seeking to reduce the risk of harm to those who are not involved in the conflict. As with anti-personnel mines, we will actively take steps to ensure that the terms of the two new instruments are complied with.” Geneva Call, a non-governmental organization that engages armed non-State actors towards respect of international humanitarian norms, said that the recent signing by the CNF came after years of engagement, training and workshop in the past. In 2006, the Chin rebel group, which has been fighting for self-determination, democracy and federalism, had signed the Deed of Commitment banning anti-personnel mines. The CNF reached ceasefire agreements with the central government of Burma in 2012. Meanwhile, Chin researcher Salai Vum Za Piang, aka Salai PP, highlighted during his presentation in Delhi, India that the vast majority of land in Chin State is unsuitable for cultivation. The Chin member of Burma’s delegates travelling to the neighbouring country to participate in environmental training said that only about 33 percent can be used for agriculture-based business in Burma’s western state. Salai PP, a researcher at the Myanmar Development Resource Institute, added that 67 percent of land in the country’s least developed state is unusable for agricultural purposes according to the research survey. One of the main reasons cited is the region’s steep and rugged mountainous geography. At his meeting with Chin refugee communities in the Indian city last week, he described poverty as one of the most serious challenges facing Chin people during Burma’s current political transition period. He mentioned that Chin State has a migration issue triggered by poverty, adding: “It [poverty] has pushed us to go away from our native land to other countries.” These articles were originally published in Chinland Guardian on 20 March 2014.

ASEAN People’s Forum kicks off in Rangoon Posted: 20 Mar 2014 08:30 PM PDT Burma's assumption of the ASEAN chair this year was as a significant milestone for its reformist government, eager to cast off its reputation as the ten-country bloc's human rights bête noire. For Burmese civil society organisations, the ASEAN chairmanship has brought with it opportunities unimaginable in the recent past. Starting on Friday, Burma will host the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People's Forum (ACSC/APF) for the first time, marking the tenth occasion the event has been held. Taking place each year before the first of two annual ASEAN summits, the ACSC/APF aims to bring together civil society actors from around the region to facilitate dialogue on transnational and country-specific issues, guiding the regional agenda towards establishing what its organisers refer to as a "people-centred ASEAN." Over 1,200 individuals – from all ten ASEAN countries as well as East Timor – are expected to attend the three-day conference, held at the Myanmar Convention Centre in suburban Rangoon. Burma joined ASEAN in 1997 under the bloc's controversial policy of "constructive engagement," perceived by many outside observers to be commercial ploy at the expense of the country's citizens. Regional civil society networks responded by pushing Burmese issues to the top of their collective agenda, urging the bloc to take action on the country's dire human rights record and incessant civil strife. Related Stories ASEAN on the move Rangoon hosts ASEAN Film Festival ASEAN military chiefs plan Malacca Strait exercise But despite this historical focus on Burmese issues within the APF, Burmese voices have historically been underrepresented, claims Aung Myo Min, a prominent human rights activist and member of the forum's steering committee. "In the previous APF, we did not have the chance to send many people from Burma; most people were from exile groups, because it was easier for them to go and they were free to speak out about the situation," he said. Despite the Burmese government's traditional wariness of civil society, Naypyidaw has shown a surprising tolerance for the APF, going so far as to send Aung Min, the minister of the president's office and a key figure in ongoing peace negotiations, to deliver the forum's keynote address. "We have [had] to work hard to convince the authorities that this is a parallel event led by civil society," Aung Myo Min said. "We have had regular meetings with the concerned government agencies. That helped us a lot to take all kinds of misunderstandings and misinformation away. This is a really good sign." Other governments have not always been so hospitable. The 2012 iteration of the forum, held in Phnom Penh, was marred by interference from the Cambodian government, which applied behind-the-scenes pressure on the hosting venue to shut down workshops, and delegated a government-linked organisation to run a rival event simultaneously. In 2010, representatives from a number of NGOs were denied visas to attend that year's event in Vietnam, coinciding with Hanoi's assumption of the ASEAN chair. Although the Burmese government retains legal means to stifle dissent, a new law outlining its legal relationship with civil society may, in fact, prove to be one of the most progressive in the region. Last July, the government proposed a bill that would require all civil society organizations to register with the government, giving it effective veto over freedom of association, and prescribing stiff penalties for transgressors. But in October, a revised version of the Association Act was widely commended by parliamentarians and civil society actors alike, and Aung Myo Min claims it will be passed into law soon. The revised draft does not oblige local civil society organisations to register with the authorities, although international NGOs will be required to do so. All mention of punishment has been stricken from the final version. As far as Aung Myo Min is concerned, the new law is a positive development, as it will serve to facilitate cooperation between the government and civil society. "For local NGOs who want to run nationwide programs across state and division [lines], it's better to register, because you get more urgent and immediate action [from the government] in case of emergencies," he said. Although the Burmese government might appear to have given the forum its unconditional blessing, freedoms of speech and association are still far from assured as Burma's transition to democracy progresses. Ongoing conflict and repression targeting minorities and the poor tells a different story from the narrative of progress the government seeks to propagate. Burma's civilianised government is decidedly more fragile than its counterparts in Cambodia and Vietnam, and negative signals to the international community – like cracking down on foreign activists – could serve to undermine its hard-won legitimacy in the run-up to the nationwide polls scheduled to occur next year. As reforms consolidate, it is difficult to state with certainty what kinds of pressures Burma's increasingly vibrant civil society will face moving forward. "It's not a happily-ever-after scenario; I think it's going to be a reality check for most regional activists who haven't been here yet," an organiser, who asked not to be named, told DVB. "How far can we push the envelope without jeopardising [Burmese civil society's] future safety?"

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