Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Term ‘Rohingya’ struck from census
• Burma’s peace process must be ‘all-inclusive’, say The Elders
• Burma’s first census in 30 years begins
• NLD’s Win Tin remains in intensive care
• Sittwe violence ‘organised, structured’: Malteser International

Term ‘Rohingya’ struck from census Posted: 30 Mar 2014 03:57 AM PDT Census-taking in Sittwe, Arakan State, will go ahead as of March 31, as a boycott organised by the All Rakhine Committee for the Census (ARCC) has been called off. The group met with Immigration Minister Khin Yi on Saturday in the wake of last week's mob violence in Sittwe — where international aid offices were ransacked and looted as an anti-census protest turned ugly. As per ARCC demands, the Ministry of Information has now instructed census enumerators, who as of Sunday began their task in a selection of townships in Arakan State, not to enter the word “Rohingya” on any census form, regardless of what the subject might indicate. According to Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut, the term “Rohingya” will not be available to those surveyed. “It will be acceptable if they write ‘Bengali’," Ye Htut is reported to have said. "We won’t accept them as ‘Rohingya'.” Aung Win is an activist and community leader in Aung Mingalar, a Rohingya enclave of 4,000 in Sittwe that exists under strict curfew and 24-hour police protection. Speaking to DVB on Sunday evening, Aung Win said that enumerators have not yet reached Aung Mingalar but have already interviewed Rohingya families in other areas of Arakan State. He said that in those cases, enumerators have either entered the code for Bengali — 1410 — or left the space blank. Asked for a reaction by DVB Aung Win said that "we are not boycotting, but we are not satisfied and we have no choice but to move forward with the international community". Burma's western Arakan State is home to the vast majority of the nation's Rohingya Muslim population, estimated at around 800,000. In Arakan, protests calling for a boycott of the census have been ongoing for several weeks as the government previously rejected calls to forbid the term “Rohingya” from being entered on census questionnaires. Rakhine Buddhists prefer to use the term “Bengali”, as it reinforces the notion that the Rohingya are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Neither term features on the government's list of 135 "official races" which provides the basis for citizenship, as per a 1982 ruling. "As soon as we received confirmation that our needs have been met we stopped our boycott,” ARCC representative Than Htun told DVB on Sunday. Yet while the shift by the government seems to have facilitated the count going ahead in Arakan state, the government's new standpoint may now contradict commitments made to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and donor nations. "In accordance with international standards and human rights principles and as a part of its agreement with the UN and donors, the government has made a commitment that everyone who is in the country will be counted in the census and that all respondents will have the option to self-identify their ethnicity," the UNFPA stated shortly before the government's back-flip. "This commitment cannot be honoured selectively in the face of intimidation or threats of violence," the UNFPA statement of 28 March read. Related Stories Burma’s first census in 30 years begins Sittwe violence ‘organised, structured’: Malteser International Intl community 'deeply concerned' over Sittwe riots The shift by the government has drawn the ire of the UK, who with a contribution of US$16 million is the principle donor to the $60 million census project. The British Embassy in Rangoon responded to the government's move by stating that: "The [Burmese] government has committed to run the census in line with international standards, including allowing all respondents the option to self-identify their ethnicity. We are concerned by recent reports that this may not be met." Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, believes that the politicisation of ethnicity in Burma is a breach of human rights in itself. "The problem is not that Rohingya and others are not listed as recognised ethnic groups," said Farmaner. "The problem is that there is a list at all. All ethnicities should be allowed to self-identify in the census, but this should not be connected with citizenship rights."

Burma’s peace process must be ‘all-inclusive’, say The Elders Posted: 30 Mar 2014 02:25 AM PDT Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, emphasised the importance of inclusiveness in Burma's peace process during an interview with DVB on Friday. Ahtisaari and Brundtland were speaking as representatives of The Elders, an independent group of former world leaders which uses their experience and influence to promote peace, justice and human rights worldwide. Other members include former US President Jimmy Carter and ex-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Concluding a short trip to Burma and Thailand during which they met with Burma's President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, House Speaker Shwe Mann and chief peace negotiator Aung Min, the European mediators said, "Both parties [in the peace process] have to have more patience than they have ever had … The government has to make this as all-inclusive as possible." Speaking to DVB editor Aye Chan in Chiang Mai, Ahtisaari stressed: "People have not been listened to in the past. Now is the time to be inclusive. Try to listen to all those who want to express their views. "People have to feel they have a stake in the [peace] process. When they can express their views and concerns – and these are discussed – this paves the way for a totally new beginning in the society." Related Stories 'Too early to tell': Col Hkun Okker on ceasefire talks Thein Sein visits Kachin State on 'peace mission' KNU wants genuine peace before dam construction resumes Challenged on Norway's leading role in Burma's peace process, Dr Brundtland said, "When I think about the role that Norway has played over a long time in many difficult situations – carrying money through the diplomats' pockets to the resistance against Apartheid and many other situations – Norway has been early in many cases across the world, over many decades, to try to help support peace. Stressing that she was no longer representing the Norwegian government, Brundtland said, "I can assess that Norway has the intention to help the people of Myanmar. And to help the people in the ethnic areas and states we have visited." The Finnish statesman added that, as The Elders, they would continue to emphasise to the various donor countries the importance of ensuring that that displaced persons and refugees in neighboring countries receive the necessary funding. "Sometimes the donor community moves so fast that they think that they [Burma's refugees and IDPs] don't need any more, and that's not the case," Ahtisaari said. In a statement, the two veteran leaders reiterated their call: "The Elders encourage the government of Myanmar to strive for greater inclusiveness, to overcome decades of mistrust within society and reflect the full diversity and talents of Myanmar's population." In a statement, the two veteran leaders reiterated their call: "The Elders encourage the government of Myanmar to strive for greater inclusiveness, to overcome decades of mistrust within society and reflect the full diversity and talents of Myanmar's population."

Burma’s first census in 30 years begins Posted: 30 Mar 2014 12:16 AM PDT Burma’s first census in more than 30 years began on Sunday morning. DVB captured some scenes of enumerators preparing the census questionnaires, leaving their stations, and interviewing the residents of Dala and Bahan townships in Rangoon. The census will take place from 30 March to 10 April. More than 120,000 schoolteachers have been trained to work as enumerators to conduct the population survey across the country. The UN’s Population fund (UNFPA) says the results will help donor countries evaluate needs and demographics for future development projects. "In terms of involvement, every person in Myanmar [Burma] will be involved in the census. This is a chance for each household to speak of their living conditions and their needs," said Janet Jackson, Myanmar Representative of the UNFPA. In response to calls for a boycott of the census from some sections of Burmese society, Jackson said, "Myanmar's first census in 30 years will provide population data that is needed to promote inclusive development that can benefit people from all groups. Postponing it now would lead to a delay of several years in making this data available to planners, undermining development efforts and the reform process. Large-scale non-participation would be detrimental to efforts for social and economic development of all areas of Myanmar." Full interview: https://www.dvb.no/interview/building-consensus-on-the-census-burma-myanmar/38747 Related Stories Term 'Rohingya' struck from census Intl community 'deeply concerned' over Sittwe riots Burma's badly needed census may have come too soon

NLD’s Win Tin remains in intensive care Posted: 29 Mar 2014 11:18 PM PDT National League for Democracy (NLD) veteran Win Tin remains unconsciousness in Rangoon General Hospital following an operation on his large intestine, fellow central executive committee member Win Myint confirmed to DVB on Sunday. Win Tin, who recently celebrated his 84th birthday, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit on Saturday for the operation following worrying fluctuations in blood pressure. The NLD patron had earlier been treated at Rangoon's Green Cross Hospital for muscle and nerve issues before being moved to Victoria Hospital for bowel treatment. On Saturday, he developed respiratory and blood pressure problems and a decision was made to take him to Rangoon General Hospital for an immediate operation. A former journalist, Win Tin was arrested by the former military junta in July 1989 as a leading light in the newly formed opposition party, the NLD. Charged with disseminating "anti-government propaganda", he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which he served 19. Related Stories NLD appeal for school funds Implementing Rule of Law requires shift in Burmese mindset Activist groups to register political prisoners past and present While Win Tin languished in prison in 2005, then aged 75, Amnesty International noted: "U Win Tin was imprisoned because of his senior position in the National League for Democracy, and was sentenced to further years in prison for his attempts to inform the United Nations of ongoing human rights violations in prisons in Myanmar [Burma]. "He has been in a poor state of health, exacerbated by his treatment in prison, which has included torture, inadequate access to medical treatment, being held in a cell designed for military dogs, without bedding, and being deprived of food and water for long periods of time." Last month, Win Tin met with nationalist Buddhist monk Wirathu at the Masoeyein Monastery in Mandalay where the pair discussed the opposition party's efforts to amend the 2008 Constitution.

Sittwe violence ‘organised, structured’: Malteser International Posted: 29 Mar 2014 09:43 PM PDT Last week, violence broke out in Arakan state's capital Sittwe. The violence kicked off when local residents observed a foreign staffer of humanitarian NGO Malteser International, remove a flag from outside their offices. Houses and offices of international aid organisations were ransacked and 71 aid workers, including 32 foreigners, were evacuated. Spokesperson for Malteser International, Johannes Kaltenbach, spoke to DVB about why he thinks a mob of Buddhist Arakanese turned on humanitarian workers in Sittwe last Wednesday. "I definitely don't think that this event was related to Malteser staff mistreating a Buddhist flag," Kaltenbach said. "I think this is more a side-event; maybe the groups were waiting for something to grab on to so they could start." Related Stories Term 'Rohingya' struck from census Sittwe riot damages Arakanese image: RNDP leader Intl community 'deeply concerned' over Sittwe riots Kaltenbach said the crowd seemed organised and suggests because of this the subsequent ransacking of aid offices could not have been a spontaneous act. "Immediately it was a very large group. It expanded the next day over town. [It was] very organised as if they had a list with addresses where they could go," he said. "It was actually [felt] in some cases very structured. So that for us makes it highly impossible that this is a spontaneous act of inflamed people in revenge [for] one of our staff members." Kaltenbach said the programme coordinator, who took down the flag, was a very experienced member of staff and knew to be respectful of local culture. "She has been doing this kind of work for decades. Malteser International and our staff are well aware of the local culture. So all these rumours that are flying around that our staff member had worn the flag as a skirt or used it as a piece of clothing, from the info we have, is not true," he said. "Actually that flag was returned to the owner. Indeed, it was taken down politely, because it is our principle as a humanitarian organisation not to display any religious or political symbols whatsoever." However Kaltenbach said at that point the damage had already been done. "The people on the ground were so tense that they had perceived probably any touching of the flag as an insult." Kaltenbach said Malteser International has good relations with the local community. "I would like to add that Malteser International have been in Myanmar [Burma] since 2001. We have very good relations with communities wherever we work. It is very important to us because it is the core of our work," he said. "We are not here for ourselves. We are actually here for the communities." "We also have good relations with the Ministry for Health who have been supportive so far, and we have great respect for the local culture here," he said.   Malteser International is a relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. They provide emergency relief after disasters and support recovery efforts in 25 countries worldwide.

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